Energy

Hells Canyon Aesthetic Study

DEA evaluated the effects of the Hells Canyon hydroelectric project facilities and operations on the surrounding aesthetic environment including the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area; a 67-mile reach of the Snake River; Hells Canyon, Oxbow, and Brownlee Reservoirs; and approximately 700 miles of transmission lines in Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. Specific sites included project facilities, recreation facilities, and views of transmission lines from highways.

Performed in accordance with the Forest Service's Scenery Management System and the Bureau of Land Management's Visual Resource Management System, the study included extensive public outreach to determine preferences, values, and desire of recreational users; the effect of the Hells Canyon Complex on the biophysical integrity of the study area; and suggested methods to lessen or enhance these identified effects.