Telephone Flat Geothermal Development Project Final EIS/EIR

3.10.2.4.2 Winter Dispersed Recreational Uses

Although the majority of dispersed recreation use occurs during the summer, there is dispersed recreation use of the area during the late fall, winter, and spring months for recreational activities such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Snowmobiling occurs in the Medicine Lake Highlands area as part of the Tri-Forest Snowmobile Trail area in the Klamath, Modoc, and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. This area includes a network of approximately 260 miles of signed, groomed snowmobile trails linking four snowmobile parks (USFS 1996). Snowmobile trails are prioritized for grooming, and trails leading directly from the snowmobile parks to Medicine Lake are among the first to be groomed (BLM et al. 1998).

Medicine Lake is a major destination point in the Tri-Forest Snowmobile Trail area for many snowmobilers, and there are several snowmobile parks and staging areas in the Project vicinity (see Figure 3.10.4). One of these popular destinations for snowmobilers is a play area located approximately 2 miles northwest of the proposed power plant site, approximately ½-mile southwest of Mount Hoffman, off a groomed trail that proceeds from Alcohol Crater through Arnica Sink to Primary Forest Road 77/Primary Forest Road 49 northwest of the Medicine Lake Lava Flow. Several other groomed and ungroomed snowmobile trails and play areas are located in the proposed Project vicinity. Groomed trails use many of the larger roads in the Project area including Primary Forest Route 97; and Forest roads 43N99, 43N53, and 44N75. These trails encircle areas in the vicinity, including the Lyons Peak Loop (includes Red Shale Butte and Lyons Peak), Undertakers Loop (includes Alcohol Crater and area north of Undertakers Camp), and Bullseye Loop (includes Bullseye Lake and area southwest of the lake). Another play area is located south of Undertakers Camp off of Primary Forest Road 97 (USFS 1996).

Access to the Medicine Lake vicinity is generally from:

The north starting at the Doorknob Snowmobile Park;
The west starting at the Fourcorners-Medicine Lake Snowmobile Park;
The south starting at Forest Route 49 from the end of the plowed road; and
The southwest starting at the Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park.

The Doorknob and Fourcorners-Medicine Lake Snowmobile Parks serve as the primary and most heavily used access points. The Doorknob Snowmobile Park is located along Primary Forest Route 49, approximately 7 miles north of the proposed power plant site. This snowmobile park is managed by the Modoc National Forest. Primary access to the park is through the Lava Beds National Monument and access to the snowmobile park is maintained by the NPS under contract to the Modoc National Forest.

The Fourcorners-Medicine Lake Snowmobile Park is located approximately 10 miles northwest of Alcohol Crater. License plate checks by USFS personnel over the last several years indicate that about 80 percent of the users of the Fourcorners-Medicine Lake Snowmobile Park are from Oregon (primarily Klamath Falls and Medford). The remaining 20 percent of users are generally from locations in California such as Yreka, Dorris, Redding, and Chico (BLM et al. 1998). Access to the Fourcorners-Medicine Lake Snowmobile Park is primarily via Primary Forest Route 15, which is managed and maintained by the Klamath National Forest. Only a few snowmobiles start from the Pilgrim Creek Snowmobile Park near McCloud and travel to Medicine Lake, because of the distance and the need to carry extra fuel.

Snowmobiling generally begins with the first snow of the season and extends well into April and May. For most of that period, snowmobilers stage at one of the snowmobile parks to begin their trip. However, as the snow levels rise in elevation during the springtime and the snowmobile parks become dry, visitors motor as far up the Forest road system as practical to unload equipment and begin their snowmobile trip. In a normal snow year, this late season snowmobile use pattern typically occurs for a 4-6 week period (BLM et al. 1998).

Use of the Eastern Siskiyou Winter Trails portion of the Tri-Forest Snowmobile Trail has increased by an estimated 20 - 25 percent per year over the past three years. As many as 200 to 250 visitors may frequent Medicine Lake on holiday weekends during the winter (BLM et al. 1998).

3.10.2.5 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum

Most of the area in the vicinity of the Proposed Action has an ROS allocation of Roaded Natural. In the Medicine Lake Management Area, there are also two areas that have other ROS allocations. The ROS allocation for the Mount Hoffman Released Roadless Area is Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized, and the Medicine Lake and Glass Mountain Lava Flows are both allocated as Semi-Primitive Wilderness (USFS, 1991a). The wellfield, power plant area, and transmission line spurs are in the portion of the Forest with the ROS allocation of Roaded Natural.

Medicine Lake and Glass Mountain Lava Flows are considered Semi-Primitive Wilderness as they do not meet the remoteness and size requirements of being wildernesses. However, they do meet the criteria for primitive classification when assessed for their social and managerial setting. Medicine Lake and Glass Mountain Glass Flows are also designated Geologic Special Interest Areas, which are to be preserved in their undisturbed condition to provide educational, scientific and recreational opportunities (see Figure 3.10.2).

3.10.3 Environmental Consequences

3.10.3.1 Significance Criteria

Appendix G to the CEQA Guidelines identifies the following as normally having a significant effect on the environment:

Conflict with established recreational...uses of the area.

The following significance criteria were developed to determine if the Project effects on recreational resources could potentially be significant based on information from USFS documents, concerns expressed during public scoping, and comments made regarding similar projects in the vicinity. The Project effects would be considered significant if:

The location of the proposed geothermal facilities would significantly alter regional recreation use patterns and/or preclude existing recreation uses from taking place in the region;
An inconsistency with an existing Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) designation for an area would occur that would result in a substantial deterioration of the recreational experience designated as appropriate for that ROS;
The sights, sounds, or odors emanating from the Project would be sufficient individually or collectively to detract substantially from the Forest visitor’s recreational experience; or
The Project would result in impacts which would substantively diminish recreational opportunities at the Lava Beds National Monument.

3.10.3.2 Assessment Methodology

The Proposed Action and Project Alternatives were compared to the recreational planning information obtained from USFS and NPS to determine the potential for, and expected severity of, conflicts with existing and planned recreational uses.

3.10.3.3 Proposed Action

The Proposed Action would construct, operate and decommission a geothermal power plant, geothermal wells and pipelines, and electrical transmission line in the Medicine Lake Management Area on the Modoc National Forest. There are developed and dispersed recreational uses in the vicinity of the Proposed Action that could be potentially impacted by implementation of the Project.

3.10.3.3.1 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action

Construction Phase

The construction phase would be expected to have potentially adverse effects on recreational resources due to the number and variety of simultaneous activities that could occur. These activities would occur from spring to fall when the snow accumulation does not restrict roadway access to the Project vicinity. Developed recreational users would likely be most affected by construction impacts as the dispersed recreational users can generally leave or avoid the area of disturbance (hunters, hikers, rock collectors, firewood gatherers, etc.) temporarily if they are so inclined. Activities that would occur during the construction phase include well pad construction, well drilling, installation and assembly of the pipeline, construction of the power plant, installation of the transmission line, and transport of heavy equipment and materials.

The developed recreational users that may be affected are predominantly at Medicine Lake, but developed recreational facilities are also available at Payne Springs, Blanche Lake and Bullseye Lake. According to the Modoc National Forest LRMP, Medicine Lake (and all other developed recreation areas in Modoc National Forest) has been managed at the Developed Recreation Site Management Prescription (Low Standard) level which provides the following management direction for leasable minerals, “apply no-surface-occupancy stipulations.” The Proposed Action is consistent with this stipulation as it does not propose any surface facilities in the developed recreational area at Medicine Lake. The LRMP provides for geothermal resources to be developed in the proximity of developed recreational uses as it is a leasable mineral resource.

The Proposed Action is expected to occur in the portion of the Forest with the ROS allocation of Roaded Natural. This ROS allocation allows for “resource modifications and utilization practices” that are evident but “harmonize with the natural environment.” Activities associated with this ROS allocation typically include power boating, snowmobiling, off-highway vehicle (OHV) touring, and trailer camping. It is expected that in terms of noise and odor levels the Proposed Action would be similar in magnitude to these typical uses during the construction phase. Construction activities are proposed to occur in accordance with the applicable noise ordinance for the area. Construction of the transmission line, power plant site, and well pads would be during daylight hours on approximately 12-hour shifts. Night construction would commence at the power plant site only after the turbine-generator building is constructed and 24-hour work schedules can be established inside the building. Drilling operations would be 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

This ROS allocation allows for “moderate to high frequency of contact on roads and low to moderate frequency on trails away from roads.” Traffic analysis concludes that although traffic levels on access roads are expected to increase, traffic congestion levels would remain at acceptable conditions (see Section 3.11).

The NPS has expressed concern that the Project would have adverse effects on the recreational experience of visitors to the Lava Beds National Monument as a result of potential diminished visibility from air emissions, visibility of Project facilities from vantage points in the Monument, and potential construction traffic through the Monument (Personal Communication—Craig Dorman, Park Superintendent, LBNM; June 11, 1997). The Project wellfield and power plant site would be located within the Medicine Lake basin and would not be visible from the Monument. Other potential adverse effects are discussed in the individual air quality and transportation resource sections of this EIS/EIR (see Sections 3.4 and 3.11, respectively).

Impact 3.10.3.3-1: The Project would result in sights, sounds or odors that would collectively detract from the Forest visitor’s recreational experience. Existing dispersed recreational uses allowed in the area of the Proposed Action consist of motorized vehicles of different types (off-highway, water, and snow vehicles) with the associated noise and air emissions. Developed recreational uses also allow for trailer camping and power boating. Intrusional impacts ( i.e., visual, noise and air quality effects) associated with the construction phase are individually addressed in other sections of this document. There is no practical way to measure the collective intrusional impact from the Project on recreation in the Project vicinity.

Significance of the Impact: This impact is considered to be below the level of significance and no mitigation measures are required. Measures to reduce the adverse effects of the Project on individual environmental resources (i.e., air quality, noise, visual, and transportation resources) are discussed in Sections 3.4, 3.7, 3.8, and 3.11 of this EIS/EIR, respectively.

As the Proposed Action is expected to conform with the Management Prescription and ROS allocation for the area during construction, and it is expected to result in a less than significant adverse intrusional impact, Special Stipulation No. 1 of the Supplemented EA (USFS and BLM 1984), which requires the land management objectives of the critical resources of the area to be met, is also satisfied.

Operation Phase

Due to the reduction in activities and personnel required for Project operations compared to the construction phase, recreational impacts during the spring to fall seasons are not expected to exceed those identified previously for developed recreational resources, ROS allocations, or substantially detract from a Forest visitor’s recreational experience. Recreational uses are expected to return to pre-Proposed Action levels, for both developed and dispersed uses. Special Stipulation No. 1 of the Supplemented EA (USFS and BLM 1984), which requires the land management objectives of the critical resources of the area to be met, is thus satisfied. However, unlike the construction phase, operations are proposed to occur year-round, and thus would potentially impact winter recreational activities.

Primary Forest Route 97 is proposed to be plowed to its junction with 43N53; 43N53 from its junction with Primary Forest Route 97 north to well pad 68-8; unnamed east-west access road from 43N53 past the power plant site to 43N21; and 43N21 south from its junction with unnamed east-west access road to its junction with Primary Forest Route 97 (see Section ). Snowmobile trails in the vicinity of the Proposed Action are presented in Figure 3.10.3. The amount of trail to be directly impacted by the Proposed Action would be a small segment of the Tri-Forest Snowmobile Trail system (i.e., about 2% of the groomed trails in the system), but the trails in the vicinity of the Project wellfield are reported to be particularly prized by snowmobilers as the area is at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet, an elevation higher than most of the rest of the snowmobile trails in the Tri-Forest area. Snow arrives earlier and melts later in this area than in other local areas. Areas in which existing snowmobile trails would compete with the roadways proposed for snowplowing or where existing snowmobile trails and proposed snowplowed roads would parallel or cross are shown on Figure 3.10.5.

Impact 3.10.3.3-2: Snowplowing Project access roads will eliminate or damage sections of designated groomed snowmobile trails which align with Primary Forest Route 97 and Forest Roads 43N53 and 43N21. The Project would plow an area near the junction of Primary Forest Route 97 and 43N53 for public winter parking which would provide a potential access benefit to snowmobile users.

Significance of the Impact: Despite the improved winter access to the Medicine Lake Highlands and increased parking that would be provided by the Project, this impact is considered potentially significant. The following mitigation measures are provided which would reduce the adverse effects of the Project to below the level of significance.

Mitigation Measure 3.10.3.3-2a: The Project Applicant shall make space available adjacent, or reasonably parallel, to snowplowed access roads to allow grooming and continuing use of existing designated snowmobile trails in the Project area. Snowmobile crossings of snowplowed access roads shall be clearly marked both along the snowmobile trail and the snowplowed access road warning of the crossing.

Mitigation Measure 3.10.3.3-2b: The Project Applicant shall make available emergency first aid assistance at the power plant to snowmobilers. The emergency assistance made available shall include telecommunications for retrieval by ambulance service or other emergency transport. One or more employees on site during winter operations shall be trained in emergency first aid for injuries typically associated with snowmobiling accidents and exposure to cold weather. Signs from the snowmobile trail to the power plant site shall be posted over the seasonal period when snowmobiling is conducted in the vicinity of the Project.

Impact 3.10.3.3-3: The temperature of the geothermal fluid at the wellhead is expected to exceed 330 F. The geothermal pipelines would be insulated with 3-inches of insulation wrapped in sheet metal which is expected to substantially limit heat loss from the pipelines, and the external surface of the insulated geothermal pipelines is expected to be comfortable to the touch. However, there is concern that heat from the geothermal fluid in the pipelines could melt the snow above the pipeline resulting in trenches, creating areas of softer snow, or exposing pipeline obstacles that could pose a safety hazard to snowmobile riders.

Significance of the Impact: The effect of geothermal pipelines on snow cover under all potential conditions which may be experienced in the Project area is uncertain. This impact is considered potentially significant. The following mitigation measures are provided to reduce the adverse effects of this impact to below the level of significance.

Mitigation Measure 3.10.3.3-3a: Poles and warning signs marking the location of geothermal pipelines, visible above accumulated snow levels, shall be placed on or adjacent to those geothermal pipelines which parallel or cross snowmobile trails.

Mitigation Measure 3.10.3.3-3b: Geothermal pipeline corridors which cross access roads in the Project area, and which seasonally are used as existing designated snowmobile trails, shall be routed below ground within bridge/culvert road crossings.

Decommissioning Phase

Due to the reduction in activities and personnel required for the decommissioning phase compared to the construction phase, decommissioning impacts during the spring to fall seasons are not expected to exceed those identified for the construction phase for developed recreational resources, ROS allocations, or substantially detract from a Forest visitor’s recreational experience. Special Stipulation No. 1 of the Supplemented EA (USFS and BLM 1984), which requires the land management objectives of the critical resources of the area to be met, is thus satisfied. Decommissioning activities are not proposed to occur during winter months when the snow accumulation may restrict roadway access to the Project vicinity; thus, no interference with snowmobile use of the area is expected to occur aside from facilities in the process of being removed that could remain as obstacles until decommissioning is completed. These facilities would be clearly marked at elevations above expected snow levels so they do not represent safety hazards to snowmobile riders.

3.10.3.3.2 Winter Dispersed Recreational Uses

Both developed recreation near Medicine Lake and dispersed recreational uses of the Forest in the immediate vicinity of the wellfield and power plant site would be periodically affected by the collective intrusional impacts of the Project. Intrusional impacts would be greatest during the construction phase, would diminish or become more intermittent during the operational phase, and would be negligible after completion of the decommissioning phase. Designated snowmobile trails which align with Project access roads would be affected by snowplowing and Project facilities.

Telephone Flat Geothermal Development Project Final EIS/EIR