Landscape and visual impact assessment

Presented by: BHAVNA MISHRA

Department of Landscape Architecture, Estonian University of Life sciences

LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED WIND TURBINES AT VORUKULA, ESTONIA

The objective of this assessment is to identify potential impact of this wind turbines which are 144m high including

the size of the blades, on the quality and character of the landscape. The study also assesses the predicted visual

disturbances that would be created by these wind turbines on people living and passing through the area. The aim

of the assessment of effects are to identify the effects of the development, estimate the magnitude of the effect,

assess the nature and significance of these effects and indicate the measures to be taken for avoiding, reducing

and compensating the effects.

TARTU

Position of Wind turbines in the Vorukula site

Extent of the area: The site at Vorukula and the areas covered within 10 km radius.

2 KM 5KM 10KM

STUDY OF SOIL CONDITION, ROAD NETWORKS, SETTLEMENT PATTERN, NATURE PROTECTED AREAS, FOREST

COVER, HYDROLOGY, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PROTECTED AREAS TO DEVELOP THE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

TYPES

1. SOIL CONDITION

The proposed wind farm area

represented mainly 5 different soil types:

1) LP- pseudopodzolic soils, 2)LPG-

pseudopodzolic gley-soils, 3)LPg- gleyed

pseudopodzolic soils, 4) GI- eluviated

gley-soils AND 5) M"'- deep swamp

soil

In view of soil types the

area is too damp and

soil is not good quality,

so area is not suitable

for cultivation. So, the

site is suitable for wind

farm.

2. ROAD NETWORKS

The site is connected to one primary road

which is Tartu-Räpina-Värska highway

and it is located to north-east of the site.

In addition to the surrounding of the site

there are four asphalted roads: Vana-

Kastre-Roiu (located to north to south of

the site), Melliste-Heiti (located to east to

south of the site), Sillaotsa-Kriimani

(located to south of the site), Tõrvandi-

Roiu-Uniküla (located to south of the

site). The others are smaller and gravel

roads.

In general, the roads are poor conditions

because the roads are narrow and

curved, especially near on the site.

3. SETTLEMENT PATTERN

The proposed wind farm is located in

Mäksa Parish, Võruküla village. Võruküla

village settlement is concentrated to

northwest of the site. Võruküla village

population is 47 inhabitant (2013 year

data).

Settlement around the site is distributed,

so the settlement pattern is not

clustered.

4. NATURE PROTECTED AREAS

Within 2 kms, there are not so many

important nature protection and Natura

2000 areas. The nearest nature protection

areas are approximately 2-4 kilometers

away: Age oru special conservation area

(located to southwest of the site), lake

Lavatsi special conservation area (located

to southeast of the site). Kaagvere manor

park (located to north of the site).

5. FOREST COVER

In this map we can also see the forest

coverage. Near to the study area is a lot of

forest area, especially to west and south of

the site.

6. THE WATER BODIES

The proposed wind farm is surrounded

with different water bodies: lakes, rivers

and streams. The nearest (~ 2 km) water

body is lake „Kaikjärv“, which is located to

east of the site. The biggest lakes are

„Poka“ and „Lavatsi“, which are located

also to east and approximately 2,5

kilometres away study area. Lake Lavatsi

has special conservation area, so it is

protected. Other water bodies located

more than 3 kilometers away study

area:1) lakes: Melliste, Kaanjärv,

Kriimani, Kitseküla, Roiu, Tammejärv,

Agali, Kurepalu artificial lake, 2)rivers:

Emajõgi, Mõra, Luutsna, 3)streams:

Melliste.

7. CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTED

AREAS

The nearest cultural heritage area is

ohverdamiskoht "Kiigeoru hiiesalu".

Cultural heritage areas away from the site:

Ohvriallikas "Silmaläte". Ohvriallikas

"Põrguvaluläte". Linnus "Lingutusmägi".

Kivikalme "Vareslepik". Vana-Kastre

linnuse territoorium, 13-16. saj. Kaagvere

manor park buildings (Kaagvere manor

park, Mõisaase, Kaagvere mõisa kuivati,

Kaagvere mõisa valitsejamaja, Kaagvere

manor basement)

H

Establishment of Landscape Character types according to the site survey and Map observations.

LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS

A Tartu urban and suburban character

B Oblong area of arable land and forest patches growth and industrial land use.

C Emajogi flood regime and open arable landscape

D Rolling uplands of open arable land with fragmented dense forest patches

E Rolling uplands with dense forest and no cultivated plots

F Drained flat mosaic and managed forest strip

G Uninhabited lake regime bog landscape

H Emajoe river landscape

C

H

E

H

H

Landscape Sensitivity, Magnitude and Significance of impact based on the Landscape Characters areas.

SENSITIVITY MAGNITUDE SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT

A HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR

B MEDIUM MEDIUM MODERATE

C HIGH MEDIUM-SMALL MAJOR

D MEDIUM LARGE SEVERE

E MEDIUM MEDIUM-SMALL MINOR

F MEDIUM NEGLIGIBLE MINOR

G HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR

H HIGH LARGE SEVERE

Landscape Sensitivity, Magnitude of impact and Significance of impact based on LCA, Manor landscapes and

landscape resources

Identification of areas

within 10 km radius

LCA TYPES SENSITIVITY MAGNITUDE OF IMPACT SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT

A HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

B MEDIUM MEDIUM MODERATE ADVERSE

C HIGH MEDIUM-SMALL MAJOR ADVERSE

D MEDIUM LARGE SEVERE ADVERSE

E MEDIUM MEDIUM-SMALL MINOR ADVERSE

F MEDIUM NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

G HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

H HIGH LARGE SEVERE-ADVERSE

MANOR LANDSCAPE

LUUNJA MANOR LANDSCAPE HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

KAAGVERE MANOR HIGH LARGE SEVERE ADVERSE

SAARAKUSTE MANOR HIGH SMALL MODERATE ADVERSE

MAKSA MANOR HIGH SMALL MODERATE ADVERSE

KIRIMANI MANOR HIGH LARGE SEVERE ADVERSE

HASALAVA MANOR HIGH SMALL MODERATE ADVERSE

VALUED OR PROTECTED

LANDSCAPES

MAKSA CONSERVATION AREA HIGH SMALL MODERATE ADVERSE

LUUNJA MANOR PARK HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

ROPKA MANOR PARKS HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MONIR ADVERSE

VANA KUSTE MOISA PARK MEDIUM NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

EMAJOE RIVER LANDSCAPE HIGH SMALL MODERATE ADVERSE

AGE ORU CONSERVATION AREA HIGH MEDIUM MODERATE ADVERSE

POKA WATER RESERVE MEDIUM MEDIUM MODERATE ADVERSE

KONNU NATURE RESERVE HIGH SMALL MINOR ADVERSE

EASTERN SIDE BOG COAST AREA HIGH NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

LAKE LAVATSI MEDIUM NEGLIGIBLE MINOR ADVERSE

Initially the locations of the viewpoints were identified with help of Google maps and Google street view. Points

were selected and maps with field survey sheet completed. The field trips were carried out by car soon after the

materials were prepared and the places selected before were visited. The main points were visited, described and

photos taken. Some new possible points were found on the way. The information from field trip was put together

and evaluated during second group meeting. More possible viewpoints were selected with help of Google maps

and Maa- Amet. With this groundwork we analyzed our points in the virtual landscape studio to make sure our

presumptions were correct or not. Virtual studio helped us to find even more possible viewpoints. We finished layers

for landscape character assessment before our second field trip. We did another field trip and visited rest of the

viewpoints which we could access. Some of the points confirmed what we saw in visual studio and some of them

showed different thing. We came back and organized two more group meetings during which the photomontages

were done using mostly real photos as background. Sketches, maps, tables for visual impact assessment,

methodology of our group work and conclusion was done.

The Visual Impact Assessment

Identification of the visual resources likely to be affected occurring within the study area within 10 kms radius

.

RECEPTOR POSITION 1: VIEW WITHIN THE 2KM RADIUS RESIDENCE NEAR THE LEEPIKU TALU ROAD WHERE THE VISIBILITY IS PROMINENT

.

RECEPTOR POSITION 2: VIEW FROM VORUKULA SETTLEMENT AREA WITHIN 2 KMS RADIUS

RECEPTOR NO. OF VIEWS VISIBILITY TYPE DESCRIPTION OF VISIBILITY EXPERIENCE SENSITIVITY

1 MANY HIGH VORUKULA RESIDENTS, FARM WORKERS, PASSER-BYS MEDIUM

2 MANY HIGH FARM RESIDENTS, WORKERS, CAR DRIVERS MEDIUM

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

RECEPTOR POSITION 3: VIEW FROM THE MAJOR ROAD TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE WIND TURBINE INSTALLED AREA.

RECEPTOR POSITION 4: VIEW FROM THE NEAR BY FARM HOUSE CLOSE TO THE SITE ITOWARDS THE SOUTH SIDE.

.


3 FEW HIGH RESIDENTS, FARMERS, TRUCK DRIVERS LOW

4 MANY HIGH RESIDENTS, FARMERS MEDIUM

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

RECEPTOR POSITION 5: VIEW FROM THE MAJOR ROAD AND INFRONT OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE NEARBY RESIDENT‘S HOUSE, WIND TURBINES ARE CLEARLY

VISIBLE FROM THE WINDOW.

RECEPTOR POSITION 6: THE MAJOR ROAD CONNECTING TO MELLISTE AREA, THE VIEW WHILE LOOKING TOWARDS THE WEST.

.


5 MANY HIGH RESIDENTS, FARMERS, CAR USERS MEDIUM

6 FEW HIGH LIBRARY USERS, SCHOOL STUDENTS, LOCALS LOW

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

RECEPTOR POSITION 7: VIEW FROM THE NATURE RESERVE AREA AND LAKE, WHERE THE VISIBILITY OF WIND TURBINES ARE NEGLIGIBLE.

RECEPTOR POSITION 8: THE MINOR ROAD INSIDE THE VILLAGE DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY VIEW WHILE LOOKING TOWARDS THE SITE.

.


7 LESS LOW TOURISTS, FARMERS, LOCAL PEOPLE LOW

8 LESS LOW VILLAGERS, FARMERS, PASSER BYS LOW

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

NO CHANGE

NO CHANGE

RECEPTOR POSITION 9: LOOTVINA NATURE RESERVE AREA WITH MINOR ROADS AND ROLLING LANDSCAPE, THE WINDTURBINES ARE LOCATED TOWARDS THE

NORTH OF THE SITE.

RECEPTOR POSITION 10: VIEW FROM THE RESIDENT‘S HOUSE NEAR LOOTVINA, LOOKING AT THE WIND TURBINES MOSTLY TROUGH THE WINDOW TOWARDS THE NORTH.

.


9 MANY MEDIUM TOURISTS, LOCAL PEOPLE, FARMERS MEDIUM

10 FEW LOW RESIDENTS , FARMERS LOW

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

THE TURBINES HIDDEN BEHIND THE TREES

NO CHANGE

RECEPTOR POSITION 11: VIEW FROM THE VONNU PARK AND CHURCH AREA TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINE IN THE NORTH WEST DIRECTION.

RECEPTOR POSITION 12: VIEW FROM THE MELLISTE RAMATUKOGU, LOOKING AT THE WIND TURBINES MOSTLY THROUGH THE WINDOW TOWARDS THE WEST.

THE TURBINES HIDDEN BEHIND THE TREES

.


11 FEW LOW RESIDENTS, CHURCH VISITORS, TOURISTS LOW

12 FEW LOW STUDENTS, LIBRARY USERS MEDIUM

BEFORE

AFTER

THE IMAGE BEFORE WAS NOT CAPTURED AS THE SITE COULD NOT BE VISITED BY US AND IT IS

ALSO NOT APPROACHABLE BY GOOGLE STREET VIEW

AFTER

NO CHANGE

RECEPTOR POSITION 13: VIEW FROM THE MELLISTE RESIDENTIAL AREA LOOKING TOWARDS THE WEST TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINES.

RECEPTOR POSITION 14: VIEW FROM THE MELLISTE-VOOSPTE ROAD WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS THE WEST STRAIGHT LOOKS TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINE SITE.

.


13 LESS LOW RESIDENTS, FARMERS LOW

14 LESS LOW CAR USERS, TRUCK DRIVERS LOW

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

NO CHANGE

NO CHANGE

RECEPTOR POSITION 15: VIEW FROM THE SUDASTE AREA RESIDENT‘S WINDOW LOOKING TOWARDS THE WEST TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINES.

RECEPTOR POSITION 16: VIEW FROM THE KAAGVERE PARK AREA LOOKING TOWARDS THE SOUTH STRAIGHT TO THE WIND TURBINE SITE.

.


15 FEW MEDIUM RESIDENTS, LOCAL PEOPLE LOW

16 FEW MEDIUM RESIDENTS, VISITORS TO MANOR HOUSE MEDIUM

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

RECEPTOR POSITION 17: VIEW FROM THE KAAGVERE MANOR HOUSE LOOKING TOWARDS THE SOUTH TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINE SITE.

RECEPTOR POSITION 18:

.


17 LESS LOW TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS LOW

18 MANY HIGH CAR DRIVERS, TRUCK DRIVERS, TRAFFIC MANAGERS HIGH

BEFORE AND AFTER NO CHANGE FROM THIS LOCATION AS THERE IS ENOUGH TREE COVERAGE ACTING AS THE VISUAL BARRIER.

BEFORE

AFTER

RECEPTOR POSITION 19: VIEW FROM THE KAVASTU INDUSTRIAL AREA TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINE SITE.

RECEPTOR POSITION 20: VIEW FROM THE VANA-KASTRE-ROIU ROAD NEAR KOIVUKULA AREA HEADING TOWARDS THE SOUTH EAST.

.


19 FEW LOW INDUSTRY WORKERS, LOCALS LOW

20 MANY HIGH TRUCK DRIVERS, CAR USERS HIGH

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

RECEPTOR POSITION 21: VIEW FROM THE ARDLA NATURE RESERVE

RECEPTOR POSITION 22: VIEW FROM THE LAAMI MAJOR ROAD TOWARDS THE NOLVAKU ROAD JUNCTION LOOKS STRAIGHT TO THE WIND TURBINES CLEARLY VISIBLE.

.


21 LESS LOW TOURISTS, RESIDENTS, LOCAL FARMERS LOW

22 MANY HIGH TOURISTS, RESIDENTS, FARMERS MEDIUM

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

NO CHANGE

RECEPTOR POSITION 23: VIEW FROM THE TARTU LENNUJAAM TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINE SITE.

RECEPTOR POSITION 24: VIEW FROM THE MAJOR TARTU-RAPINA-VARSKA ROAD AT THIS POINT TOWARDS THE WIND TURBINE SITE.

.


23 LESS LOW AIRPORT USERS AND VISITORS LOW

24 LESS LOW TRUCK DRIVERS, CAR USERS LOW

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

NO CHANGE

NO CHANGE

IT WAS NO WHERE VISIBLE

RECEPTOR POSITION 25:

.


25 LESS LOW MUSEUM VISITORS LOW

BEFORE

AFTER

NO CHANGE

RECEPTOR POSITION

NO. OF VIEWS VISIBILITY TYPE DESCRIPTION OF VISIBILITY EXPERIENCE SENSITIVITY

1 MANY HIGH VORUKULA RESIDENTS, FARM WORKERS, PASSER-BYS MEDIUM

2 MANY HIGH FARM RESIDENTS, WORKERS, CAR DRIVERS MEDIUM

3 FEW HIGH RESIDENTS, FARMERS, TRUCK DRIVERS LOW

4 MANY HIGH RESIDENTS, FARMERS MEDIUM

5 MANY HIGH RESIDENTS, FARMERS, CAR USERS MEDIUM

6 FEW HIGH LIBRARY USERS, SCHOOL STUDENTS, LOCALS LOW

7 LESS LOW TOURISTS, FARMERS, LOCAL PEOPLE LOW

8 LESS LOW VILLAGERS, FARMERS, PASSER BYS LOW

9 MANY MEDIUM TOURISTS, LOCAL PEOPLE, FARMERS MEDIUM

10 FEW LOW RESIDENTS , FARMERS LOW

11 FEW LOW RESIDENTS, CHURCH VISITORS, TOURISTS LOW

12 FEW LOW STUDENTS, LIBRARY USERS MEDIUM

13 LESS LOW RESIDENTS, FARMERS LOW

14 LESS LOW CAR USERS, TRUCK DRIVERS LOW

15 FEW MEDIUM RESIDENTS, LOCAL PEOPLE LOW

16 FEW MEDIUM RESIDENTS, VISITORS TO MANOR HOUSE MEDIUM

17 LESS LOW TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS LOW

18 MANY HIGH CAR DRIVERS, TRUCK DRIVERS, TRAFFIC MANAGERS HIGH

19 FEW LOW INDUSTRY WORKERS, LOCALS LOW

20 MANY HIGH TRUCK DRIVERS, CAR USERS HIGH

21 LESS LOW TOURISTS, RESIDENTS, LOCAL FARMERS LOW

22 MANY HIGH TOURISTS, RESIDENTS, FARMERS MEDIUM

23 LESS LOW AIRPORT USERS AND VISITORS LOW

24 LESS LOW TRUCK DRIVERS, CAR USERS LOW

25 LESS LOW MUSEUM VISITORS LOW

RECEPTOR POSITION OVERALL

SENSITIVITY MAGNITUDE SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT

1 MEDIUM LARGE Major adverse


3 LOW MEDIUM Minor adverse



6 LOW MEDIUM Moderate adverse

7 LOW NEGLIGIBLE Minor adverse

8 LOW NEGLIGIBLE No change

9 MEDIUM MEDIUM Moderate adverse

10 LOW SMALL Minor adverse


12 MEDIUM SMALL Minor adverse



15 LOW MEDIUM Minor adverse



18 HIGH LARGE Severe adverse


20 HIGH LARGE Severe adverse

21 LOW SMALL Minor adverse





CUMULATIVE LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT

The cumulative landscape and visual effect may result from an individual project that is being assessed interacting with the

effects of other proposed development in the area. It was found at the site and surrounding landscape that there was no

such development occurring that significantly will alter the skyline.

The visual impact of wind turbines together towards north and north east of the site interacts with the forest covered elevated

ground and industrial chimneys which may reduce the severity of visual impact wind turbines. There are many

telecommunication masts visible and form important feature of this skyline.

There may be an incremental change in the landscape and visual impact when all wind turbines are installed and become

fully operational. There may be a cumulative landscape and visual impact of building other infrastructure such as power

houses and maintenance tracks to the wind turbine location.

Wind turbine proposed at Vorukula are on the forest cover or just on the edge, so has a unique character in the area. It’s a

wet forest patch where the installation of wind turbine would lead to clearing of forest which would lead to permanent loss of

forest, however it doesn’t have many significant areas of impact.

MITIGATION MEASURE

The mitigation measures are proposed to reduce the impact of wind turbine on specific receptors. Mitigation

measures can be selected based on the sensitivity of the receptor and the magnitude of change that specific

turbine impose on the receiving environment.

The mitigation measures for sever adverse impact on the receptors located within 0-2 Km follows:

1, 2,3- Hedge and tree plantation, 4,5- hedge, tree planting and change of colour of the turbine, 6- hedge, tree

planting and suitable colour of turbine,

The mitigation measures for severe adverse impact on the receptors within 2-5 Km follows:

16- Tree planting in the park edge and change of colour of turbines, 15, 12,13- suitable colour of turbine

depending on the back ground. 8,7- No significant impact as the area doesn’t allow visibility due to forest

coverage.

The mitigation measures for severe adverse impact on the receptors within 5-10 Km follows:

18, 20- In the major adverse situations where they face the clear visibility of turbines, where turbines can be

coloured and there shoul be road plantation. 9- change of colour of blades can make some difference to the

impact.

The receptors have moderate adverse impact on receptors can consider change of colour and road side

plantation as effective mitigation measure. The receptors receiving minor impact can be mitigated through

hedge and tree planting along the road or near houses and change of colour of turbine.

Environment

Landscape and visual impact assessment