OCR Text |
Show Past experience and a recent increase in environmental sensitivity have given the Bureau an insight into esthetic problems that can develop. While it is apparent that the Bonneville Unit would cause some significant adverse esthetic impacts, it is also reasonable to deduce that the Unit would produce some impacts that, although foreign to the natural situation, would be esthetically attractive. There are problems associated with discussing the mitigation of adverse esthetic impacts in this environmental statement. These problems are: ( a) Even with careful preconstruction planning the exact amount and degree of restoration required cannot be determined until construction is nearly complete. Thus, in this regard, restoration procedures would be flexible as well as comprehensive. ( b) The fact that sound techniques are applied to disturbed areas does not guarantee successful results. In difficult situations experimentation would be warranted. ( c) At the present time all of the design and location planning has not been completed and finalized. Existing plans are subject to environmental improvement through modification. ( d) Through experience and improvements developed in restoration methodology, existing restoration procedures may require alteration to achieve better results. The following discussion covers the most important esthetic considerations that are included in the proposed Unit plan, as well as recent modifications of the existing plan that have occurred. Also discussed are changes planned for the future. Re- evaluation of the Proposed Plan The need for specific advance planning designed to reduce and minimize permanent environmental disruption and to provide for effective restoration and rehabilitation of disturbed areas is recognized by the Bureau of Reclamation. In this regard the Bureau has undertaken a re- evaluation of the design and locations of the existing Bonneville Unit features and intends to modify the features to achieve environmental benefits when it is feasible to do so. This re- evaluation concept was suggested and examples of possible changes were provided by the Forest Service.^ 2* 102 457 , |