Site Setting. The NRP (Figure 1) is a 213-acre property that is located in the southwestern portion of NASA Xxxx Research Center (“ARC”). ARC is located in Santa Xxxxx County, California, approximately 35 miles south of San Francisco and 10 miles north of San Xxxx. To the north and west of the NRP lie the Xxxx Campus and Bayview Areas; to the south is U.S. Highway 101 and the City of Mountain View; and to the east are the runways and hangars of the Eastside Airfield. ARC is located near the southwestern edge of San Francisco Bay on nearly flat fluvial basin deposits. The elevation of ARC ranges from approximately 36 feet above mean sea level to 2 feet below mean sea level (IT,1993a). The predominant surface features are man-made structures including buildings, hangars, roads, parking lots, and landscaped areas. The areas just north of ARC were previously tidal salt marshes and mud flats of San Francisco Bay. However, these marshes and mud flats have been eliminated or greatly altered by diking and filling (IT,1993a). Currently, stormwater retention ponds separated by roads and levees and former saltwater evaporation ponds are present north of ARC. The former saltwater evaporation ponds have been transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for restoration. There are no streams on ARC, although several streams are present to the east (Coyote Creek and Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx) and to the west (Stevens Creek). Surface water features include stormwater drainage ditches, several small ponds, seasonal marshes, and stormwater retention ponds (PRC, 1996). For discussion of current and proposed future land uses, see Sections 3.1 and 3.2.
Site Setting. The proposed project site is located approximately 4 miles northeast of Cle Elum, Washington, in Township 20N, Range 16E, within Sections 22, 23, and 27 (see Figure 1 for site location). The site is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains on Cle Elum Ridge, which runs generally from east to west at elevations ranging from approximately 2,200 to 2,600 feet (Figure 2). The Teanaway River is approximately 1 mile to the northeast of Cle Elum Ridge. The site is accessed from Highway 970 by way of County roads such as Red Bridge Road (Figure 3), and private roads such as Loping Lane and Xxxxx Road. The proposed project area consists of 982 acres. Based on site surveys, the project will utilize approximately 580 acres within the proposed project area. The remaining acres are currently undeveloped open space, but may accommodate some future expansion of the project after appropriate surveys are conducted to address any environmental concerns and compliance with any underlying federal, state, or local permitting requirements. The Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) 345-kilovolt (kV) Rocky Reach-Maple Valley transmission line runs east to west along the southern site boundary (Figure 2). The proposed project is expected to interconnect to the regional transmission grid using this line (Figure 5). An interconnection substation with an approximate footprint of 10 acres will be located either on the project site, or within the BPA line right-of-way (Figure 5). Some structural and residential development has taken place on the site’s southern boundary. Figure 4 shows the identified structures within the vicinity of the site boundary. The closest identified residence is approximately 200 feet southeast of the proposed project area. The site is currently zoned Forest and Range (F-R) (Figure 6). The site was most recently selectively logged in 2001 and existing site vegetation consists of low grasses, shrubs, and plants with scattered 50- to 60-foot, 6- to 18-inch-diameter ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) trees. Shrub and riparian plant communities are predominantly snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and Rose (Xxxx spp.) bushes. Herbaceous plant communities are predominantly Lupine (Lupinus seiceus), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza 2-2 PDX/ TEANAWAY SOLAR RESERVE, KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION sagittata), and various grass species. Wetland plant communities are dominated by rushes (Juncus s...
