Introduction. Methodology for Analysis

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1 Scenic Report Prepared by: /s/gary Kedish Natural Resources Specialist for: Warner Mountain Ranger District Modoc National Forest January 20, 2016 Introduction This report focuses on the Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) within the Lassen 15 Restoration Project area and discusses the existing and desired conditions, and addresses the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of the proposed alternative for meeting VQOs in regards to scenery management. VQOs are a set of measurable goals for the management of forest visual resources. VQOs concern the scenic resource management standards for all National Forests, which is specified in the Land and Resource Management Plan. These objectives were developed for all forest lands as a method to ascertain the Visual Absorption Capability of those lands. Post treatment determinations will use guidelines for the VQOs to evaluate the results and meet the desired visual conditions for the project area. VQOs for the project area include retention, partial retention, or modification. Specific VQOs for the project area will be described in more detail throughout the report (Modoc LRMP 1991). The Lassen 15 Restoration Project is located in the northern portion of the Warner Mountain Ranger District. The analysis area lies within portions of T46N, R14E and R15E; T45N, R14E and R15E; and T44N, R15E, MDM. These locations may be found on the USGS Sugar Hill and Davis Creek 7.5 topographic maps. The overall analysis area is approximately 25,000 acres. Please refer to the primary Environmental Analysis document for more specific environmental setting and background information. Methodology for Analysis Sources of information and data used in this analysis include: VQO map for the specified project area (provided by Traci Silva-GIS Specialist, see Figure 1); Modoc National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1991); Visual Management System (VMS) (USDA 1979); aerial photography; Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) and the Fire and Fuels Extension (FFE) model (USDA 2004); drive-by analysis; and professional judgment and experience. Desired levels of scenic quality in the Modoc LRMP are expressed in VMS terminology as VQOs (Table 1). Scenery disturbances are measured on the Modoc National Forest through VQO levels, defined by the USFS Visual Management System (Chapter 1, USDA Handbook #462, 1974). A more in-depth description can be found below in the desired conditions section.

2 Table 1. VQO Descriptions. VQOs-Visual Quality Objectives Retention (R) High Partial Retention (PR) - Moderate Modification (M) - Low Maximum Modification (MM) Description Refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character "appears" natural. Changes may be present but must repeat form, line, color, texture and pattern common to the character so completely that they are not evident. Refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character, "appears slightly altered." Noticeable changes must remain visually subordinate to the landscape character being viewed. Refers to landscapes which appear moderately altered. Changes begin to dominate the viewed area, but they borrow attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and the pattern of natural openings. They should be compatible or compliment the landscape character. Refers to landscapes which appear altered. Changes dominate the viewed area. When viewed as background they must borrow attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and the pattern of natural openings. When viewed as foreground or middleground they may not appear to completely borrow from naturally established form, line, color or texture. The analysis looks at the existing scenic condition for the portions of the project area with proposed management activities to determine whether or not the existing condition meets VQOs for the affected management area. It then addresses how the action would modify the scenic condition and whether or not the resulting landscape would meet the VQO for the same area. The criteria used to evaluate each alternative were the Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, and VQO definitions. Existing Condition The majority of the restoration analysis area s conifer vegetation is now composed of Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine-dominated stands with areas of White fir. Large portions of the Ponderosa/Jeffrey pine-dominated stands are mature plantations that were planted between 1931 and 1945 by the Civilian Conservation Corps following a series of stand replacement fires. The remaining conifer vegetation is natural Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands. Other vegetation consists of mixed shrubs and grasses with riparian areas and meadows that contain aspen. Rock outcroppings and areas of barren ground with minimal vegetation also are present (Lassen 15 Restoration Project Fuels Report, Table 1). The proposed restoration treatment area is approximately 8000 acres. An estimated 3300 acres of treatment in the mature Ponderosa/Jeffrey pine plantations established in the 1940 s and approximately 800 acres in younger plantations established in the mid 1970 s and 1990 s. The remaining treatment acres will be in the natural Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands and in areas containing aspen. Please refer to the primary Environmental Analysis document for more specific environmental setting and background information. Draft Scenic Report 2 January 20, 2016

3 Visual Quality Objectives in the Lassen 15 Restoration Project area are retention in areas along the project area boundary, and partial retention and modification within the project area. (Figure 1). The existing infrastructure of roads, recreation facilities and trails, and private lands are located adjacent to or within the areas designated for VQO of partial retention or modification, which distracts from the natural appearance to some degree, but is within the visual quality objectives. The topographic feature in the project area is mild to moderate slopes that minimize the view beyond the foreground. The Visual Quality Objectives as defined in Table 1 are currently being met. Desired Condition The following guidelines are from the LRMP (1991): Manage visual resources to prevent unacceptable alteration of landscapes by designing and implementing management activities to meet or exceed adopted Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs). Allow temporary departures of less than 10 years and VQO class to protect long term visual values, such as timbered areas highly susceptible to insect and disease epidemics. The retention, partial retention and modification VQOs exist within the project area. A description of each follows (USDA 1974): RETENTION (R) This VQO provides for management activities that are not visually evident. Under Retention, activities may only repeat form, line, color, and texture that are frequently in the characteristic landscape. Changes in the qualities of size, amount, intensity, direction, and pattern should not be evident. Duration of Visual Impact Immediate reduction in form, line, color, and texture contrast in order to meet Retention should be accomplished either during operation or immediately after. It may be done by such means as seeding vegetative clearings and cut-or-fill slopes, hand planting of large stock, painting structures, etc. PARTIAL RETENTION (P) Activities may repeat form, line, color, or texture common to the characteristic landscape but changes in the qualities of size, amount, intensity, direction, and pattern remain visually subordinate to the characteristic landscape. Activities may also introduce form, line, color, or texture which are found infrequently or not at all in the characteristic landscape, but they should remain subordinate to the visual strength of the characteristic landscape. Duration of Visual Impact Reduction in form, line, color, and texture to meet partial retention should be accomplished as soon after project completion as possible or within the first year. Draft Scenic Report 3 January 20, 2016

4 Figure 1. VQO Designations Draft Scenic Report 4 January 20, 2016

5 MODIFICATION (M) Under the modification VQO, management activities may visually dominate the original characteristic landscape. However, activities of vegetative and land form alteration must borrow from naturally established form, line, color, or texture so completely and at such a scale that its visual characteristics are those of natural occurrences within the surrounding area of character type. Additional parts of these activities such as structures, roads, slash, and root wads must remain visually subordinate to the proposed composition. Activities which are predominately introduction of facilities such as buildings, signs, and roads should borrow naturally established form, line, color and texture so completely and at such scale that the visual characteristics are compatible with the natural surroundings. Duration of Visual Impact Reduction in form, line, color, and texture should be accomplished in the first year or at a minimum should meet existing regional guidelines. Mitigation (Design Features) Shape timber harvest units to blend with existing openings. Avoid straight edges; feather edges to existing landscape. Emphasize visual resource management in areas where visual quality is important to recreation activities. Avoid creating openings in the foreground. Use foreground vegetation to screen background disturbances. Construct temporary roads, skid trails and landings in a manner to minimize visual impacts. Environmental Consequences Alternative 1 - Proposed Action The proposed action includes timber thinning activities, prescribed burning, fuel breaks, road work, and stream restoration. A full description of the purpose and need for action and proposed action can be found in the Lassen 15 restoration EA. Direct and Indirect Effects Areas of retention are outside of any planned treatments and, therefore, would not have any direct effect from implementing the project. Indirect effects from treatments in areas of partial retention or modification may be noticed by forest visitors at the landscape scale. Areas of partial retention within the project area would mostly be considered in the middle or background as viewed from US highway 395. One area on the western edge of the project area along road 133C is in the foreground. Treatment units may be noticeable due to reduced stand density and treatment activities in the short term, but would blend into the existing vegetation within ten years as areas revegetate. Temporary roads and landings would be designed and placed to minimize impacts to scenic values. Other activities such as fuel breaks, aspen enhancement, road maintenance, and stream restoration may also have short term effects, but effects would be minimal and likely un-noticed by most forest visitors. Draft Scenic Report 5 January 20, 2016

6 Direct and indirect effects of vegetation and fuels treatments would be minimal because proposed treatments are thinning of existing stands and reduction of fuels; no large openings would be created that would alter the scenic quality. Other management activities, as mentioned above, would have negligible effects. Implementation would not change the partial retention status over the long term and would meet the LMRP direction. Areas of modification in the project area are considered to be middle or background as viewed from US Highway 395 and would have the same activities as partial retention areas. These areas have been altered in the past by wildfire and management activities and the proposed management activities are within the modification guidelines. Direct and indirect effects of treatments may be noticeable to some forest visitors, but would blend into the landscape and meet the criteria of modification. Retention, partial retention, and modification visual quality guidelines would be met after treatment, or within 10 years as allowed in the LRMP for timbered areas highly susceptible to insect and disease epidemics. Treatments would help to sustain the scenic values in the long term by reducing wildfire risk and improving forest health and resilience. Cumulative Effects Past, present and reasonably foreseeable activities were reviewed to determine cumulative effects from forest vegetation management activities on the impacts to VQOs. Private land ownership, recreation sites, and roads within the project area would continue to exist and be maintained. Past vegetation and fuels treatments in the area are visually present to varying degrees, but the landscape has recovered to a point of appearing natural and has stand characteristics that meet VQOs. No reasonably foreseeable vegetation and fuels activities identified within the project area. Lassen grazing re-authorization is being planned and the cumulative effects will be analyzed as part of that environmental analysis. Alternative 2 - No Action Under the No Action alternative, the current LRMP, as amended, would continue to guide management within the project area. No treatment activities would be implemented to accomplish project objectives. The No Action alternative provides a baseline for comparative analysis of the action alternatives. Although there would be no action to treat vegetation under this alternative, other activities in the project area such as grazing, road maintenance, fire suppression, fuelwood cutting, recreation, hunting, and OHV/OSV riding would continue. Direct and Indirect Effects The direct and indirect effects of the no action alternative would be the continued tree mortality and fuel loading that increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire. These natural events change the appearance of the landscape and that may be perceived by some forest visitors as changes in scenic values. Any change in the appearance of the landscape through natural events is unlikely to change the VQO designation. The No Action Alternative would have no effect on scenic values. Draft Scenic Report 6 January 20, 2016

7 Cumulative Effects Since there are no direct or indirect effects, there would be no cumulative effects from Alternative 2. Alternative 2 would not contribute to effects from the continued current maintenance activities and activities on private lands. Compliance with the Forest Plan and Other Regulatory Direction The VQOs for this project area comply with the Modoc LRMP guidelines. The visual resources comply with VQO guidelines for the landscape since they protect long-term visual values. Literature Cited Bacon, W. R The Visual Management System of the Forest Service, USDA, Technical Report Pacific Southwest Research Station 035. USDA Forest Service Modoc National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region. Alturas, CA. USDA Forest Service National Forest Landscape Management. Vol. 2, Ch. l (The visual management system). US Department of Agriculture, Agricricultural Handbook 462, 47 p., illus. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. Draft Scenic Report 7 January 20, 2016