WSP11863 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1\<'1. "~-:>8 U'.f(.l-- .;...J b. Alternative Two Generally the proposed developnent avoids portions of the study area which are most sensitive to visual change with the following exceptions: the saddle of Windy Pass, the terrain at the base of the mountain adjacent to U.S. Highway 160, and the area near the top of the ridge joining Triangle Peak and 10-4 Peak. The latter two are viewed fran the U.S. Highway 160 overlook, the most iIrportant view point in the study area as well as one of the most important observation areas in southern Colorado. Figures 8-12 depict the study area as viewed fran selected view points. The front side of the proposal is illustrated in Figure 8 (Highway 160 OITerlookJ, Figure 9 (West Fork CaITP:lround RoacH, and Figure 10 (the Valley View across U.s. Highway 160J. On most of the lower and middle portion of the proposal on National Forest System land the visual ~cts will be low because of the low angle or aspect of the terrain and vegetative screening. The viSUal impacts on the upper portion of the proposal as described above, are expected to be moderate to high as seen fran the view points of Figure 8 and 9. The back bowl developnent will pose a moderate to low visual impact as viewed fran the East Fork valley floor due to landforms along the valley walls which screen much of the proposal. Figure 11 also views the back bowls but from a viewpoint of the proposed East Fork Mountain Developnent site, Figure 12 depicts the view into the bowls fran East Fork Ski Area's proposed Village One Developnent site. There will be a moderate to high visual impact of the back bowl area as viewed from the OOntinental Divide Trail. The visual impact of the highway relocation is not expected to be significant except during construction. For the mountain developnent overall, there will be less visual diversity and character, especially in the fall, because of the ranoval of sane aspen trees. The resort developnent in the valley below the U.S. Highway 160 OITerlook will be evident and will pose a significant visual alteration in the valley's natural appearing landscape. oevelopnent along U. S. Highway 160 between pagosa springs and the proposed Wolf Creek Valley Resort, which may occur as a result of adoption of this alternative, may also present some adverse viSUal ~cts unless controlled by local regulations. 159