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San Joaquin County Community Environmental Setting.Impacts,and Mitigation Measures Development Department Aesthetics and would be provided for aesthetic purposes. These features would screen the residents' views of the project site. The height and scale of the perimeter berms would be visually similar to the screening effect of the existing orchard,in that the existing almond trees screen views of the interior of the site and obstruct views beyond the project site. The change in views of the site is not anticipated to result in substantial degradation of the aesthetics of the project site such that the project would result in an aesthetically offensive land use. Further, the project includes implementation of a landscaping plan that would soften the overall appearance of the berm and would reduce the prominence of the berm and alteration of the site's character.The Project complies with the aesthetics- related policies contained in the County General Plan(2010). Overall,impacts of the project are considered less than significant. No mitigation is necessary. Impact AES-3: Create an Aesthetically Offensive Site Open to Public View Resulting from Implementation of Reclamation Plan and Post-Reclamation Use (Less than Significant) Reclamation of the project site would occur in stages, concurrent with mining operations. With final reclamation of the site,a total of 165 acres would be reclaimed to agricultural use(Figure 2-6). As site operations progress through the(conceptual)project stages,the previously mined areas would be reclaimed to .. support an agricultural end use. Further, the Applicant proposes a reclamation plan that is designed to support agricultural land uses following the conclusion of mining and reclamation activities at the site. For reclamation,the operator proposes to backfill the South Pit(the southeast corner of the site)to existing grade. Stages I and II of the North Pit would be backfilled with overburden and fines to a height of 15 feet above groundwater(approximately 60 feet AMSL). Stage III of the North Pit will be backfilled to groundwater level and developed as an approximately 12-acre agricultural pond. As an alternative identified in the reclamation plan,the operator may elect to backfill the pond site with imported overburden and soil to 15 feet above groundwater level and return Stage III to cultivation. The proposed agricultural pond would be used to support reclaimed agricultural uses of the site, as well as store water,receive irrigation return flows, and provide habitat. r. The reclaimed slopes of Stages I and II of the North Pit would be 1.511:1 V and would have 15-foot-wide benches every 30 vertical feet(the South Pit would be backfilled to existing grade). The water storage basin(Stage III)would be approximately 90 feet deep and would have side slopes of 1.5H:1 V and a 1% grade sloped floor. The road to the basin would remain to provide access for agricultural operations. Equipment associated with mining would be removed from the site. Haul roads that would not be used after project completion and other heavily compacted areas such as the plant site would be ripped to at least 12 inches. The site would be graded and topsoil reapplied at depths that emulate natural conditions at the site,to an average depth of 18 inches. Overburden and waste sand and fines would be used in reclamation to develop 1.5:1 side slopes DeSilva Gates Quarry Project Draft Environmental Impact Report 3.A-11 J&S 05105.05 r