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4. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 4.12 VISUAL RESOURCES --, The Visual Resources Inventory delineates distance zones, a sensitivity level, and a scenic quality rating. The distance zone is often used to determine the sensitivity level and scenic quality. Three distance zones are used in the BLM system: the Foreground-Middleground Zone,the Background Zone, and the Seldom-Seen Zone, The Foreground-Middleground Zone is the area that can be viewed for a distance of 3 to 5 miles, with the outer boundary defined at the point where the texture and form of individual plants on the landscape is no longer apparent. The Background Zone is the remaining area that can be seen up to 15 miles. The final zone is the _ Seldom-Seen Zone, which are areas visible beyond the Background Zone. The Foreground- Middleground Zone is more visible to the public and, therefore,changes are more noticeable and more likely to cause public concern. The sensitivity level analysis is a measure of public concern for preserving the scenic quality of J an area. It is based on the types of users,the amount of use of an area,the existing public interest,and adjacent land uses. The third component in the Visual Resources Inventory is the scenic quality of an area, which is broken down into units from various viewsheds. It measures the visual appeal of each unit from seven key factors: landform, vegetation, water,color,adjacent scenery, scarcity, and cultural modification. In essence,greater diversity in these categories corresponds to a greater degree of visual quality,whereas muted or uniform landscapes usually equate with lower visual quality. The following are the detailed descriptions of each rating criterion as it relates to scenic quality (BLM, 2001). Scenic Quality—Explanation of Rating Criteria Landform The BLM manual considers that topography becomes more interesting as it gets steeper or more massive,or more severely or universally sculptured. Outstanding landforms may be monumental, or they may be exceedingly artistic and subtle as certain badlands,pinnacles, arches,and other extraordinary formations. The Project site is mostly flat and does not contain an interesting landscape in terms of topography and landform diversity, and would therefore receive below average quality rating for this category. Vegetation This category gives primary consideration to the variety of patterns, forms,and textures created by plant life. In addition, smaller scale vegetation features which add striking and intriguing detail elements to the landscape(e.g.,gnarled or windbeaten trees,and Joshua trees). The Project Area contains some variation in vegetation,apricot and almond orchards of different ages, agricultural crops,and occasional stands of eucalyptus,and would therefore receive an average _ quality rating for this category. Water This category considers water an ingredient that adds movement or serenity to a scene. The degree to which water dominates the scene is the primary consideration in selecting the rating RMC Pacific Vernalis Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 4.12-8 ESA/203015 Administrative Draft EIR March 2004 -�