Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project

Transcription

1 Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Scenery Analysis Report Prepared by: Stephanie Joyce Forest Landscape Architect for: Shasta-McCloud Management Unit Shasta-Trinity National Forest 12/03/2014 Updated by C.Diaz 4/14/2016 to remove references to draft or preliminary documents.

2 Non Discrimination Statement In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C ; (2) fax: (202) ; or (3) program.intake@usda.gov.

3 Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Methodology... 1 Affected Environment... 2 Existing Condition... 2 Management Direction... 4 Environmental Consequences... 6 Alternative 1 Modified Proposed Action Preferred Alternative... 6 Alternative 2 No New Temporary Road Construction Other than Those Required for Landing Use/Access... 8 Alternative 3 No Treatments of Natural Stands within Designated Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl... 8 Alternative 4 No Action... 9 Alternative 3 - No Treatments of Natural Stands within Designated Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl Alternative 4 - No Action Summary and Conclusions References Cited List of Tables Table 1: Resource Indicators and Measures for Assessing Effects... 2 List of Figures Figure 1. Existing condition of proposed Unit 157 Thinning of Natural Stands on Pilgrim Creek Road (FS Road 13). The forest is visually impenetrable due to the level of stocking and thick understory Figure 2. Existing condition of proposed Unit 115 Plantation Thin on FS Road Figure 3 Unit 176 on Forest Road 13 Thinning of Natural Stands Figure 4 Unit 150 Underburn Only Figure 5 Proposed Meadow Enhancement Unit Figure 6 Previously harvested unit in Elk Flat Meadow on FS Road Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest i

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5 Introduction Scenery Analysis Report - Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project This report will provide an analysis of the potential effects of the Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project on scenic resources. Potential effects to scenery from the project are assessed within the context of direct, indirect and cumulative effects to scenery, and information required for findings under the National Environmental Policy Act. The proposed silviculture treatments and fuel activities were analyzed for units as seen from Pilgrim Creek Road (Forest Road 13 41N13) and Forest Road 19 (41N19). The routes are not sensitive for scenery per the Shasta-Trinity Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), 1 however both routes may be socially sensitive since they are used by winter recreationists and visitors accessing some of the Mt. Shasta trailheads. The proposed road actions were not analyzed because they were not located on the aforementioned scenery sensitive routes. The scenery resource is not directly related to the purpose and need (FSH , 11.21) and was not identified as an issue through scoping. Methodology The Forest Plan utilizes the Visual Management System (VMS) to reduce impacts to visual resources (scenery) caused by management activities. VMS incorporates the distance of the project from the viewer, duration of the view, variety class and the sensitivity level of the viewpoint to assess visual impacts. During the Forest Planning effort various Visual Quality Objectives (VQO s) were established for areas seen from travel routes and management areas. VQO s indicate allowable changes to scenery as a result of management activities. The Forest Plan incorporated the VMS system, however currently the FSM 2380 directs that the Visual Management System is superseded by the Scenery Management System (SMS). The differences between the two systems are summarized by the following: While the essence of the system [VMS] remains essentially intact, still supported by current research, terminology has changed and the system has been expanded to incorporate updated research findings. Conceptually, the SMS differs from the VMS in that: it increases the role of constituents throughout the inventory and planning process; and it borrows from and is integrated with the basic concepts and terminology of Ecosystem Management. The Scenery Management System provides for improved integration of aesthetics with other biological, physical, and social/cultural resources in the planning process. 2 Current policy directs that SMS may be used on project by project basis, if the Forest Plan references the VMS. However when the Forest Plan is revised it would reference the SMS and be used on all projects thereafter. The analysis for the Elk Late Successional Reserve Enhancement Project utilizes the VMS, since the current Forest Plan references this system. The methodology utilized to complete this analysis included researching the Forest Plan direction for management areas, Standards and Guides and the Forest Plan VQO map. Professional knowledge of the Visual Management System, Scenery Management System and 20 years of experience in natural resources were also used. Field visits verified the existing condition and gave a reference point for the desired future condition for scenery. Forest Plan direction was used as a baseline for analyzing the 1 Shasta-Trinity Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), 1995, p USDA Forest Service, Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management, Agriculture Handbook Number 701 Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 1

6 allowable amount of changes to scenery; this was also integrated with current probable public expectations and balanced with other resource disciplines. Resources Indicators and Measures The resource indicators and measures utilized in this analysis are the Visual Quality Objectives as defined by the Visual Management System and are the indicator measurement for scenery in the Shasta-Trinity Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Table 1: Resource Indicators and Measures for Assessing Effects Resource Element Scenery Scenery Resource Indicator (Quantify if possible) Visual Quality Objective (VQO) Modification VQO Visual Quality Objective (VQO) Modification to Maximum Modification VQO Measure (Quantify if possible) Foreground views as seen from Pilgrim Creek Rd Foreground views as seen from Rd 41N19 Used to address: P/N, or key issue? No No Source (Forest Plan S/G; law or policy, BMPs, etc.) Forest Plan Visual Quality Map 3 Forest Plan Visual Quality Map Spatial and Temporal Boundaries The spatial context for this analysis are foreground views (¼ to ½ mile) as seen from FS Road 13 and FS Road 19. Only the foreground views are considered for analysis because the project is located on a very flat and timbered landscape. It is highly unlikely that a person could see beyond ¼ mile. The temporal effects timeframe for short term vs. long term for direct, indirect and cumulative effects are based upon professional experience. There are no known references for what constitutes time frames for scenery, since re-vegetation is dependent upon many variables including site productivity and microclimates or if the site is manually replanted. This scenery analysis identifies short term as one to five years post treatment, since at a minimum, grasses, forbs and shrubs would usually grow within this timeframe and reduce impacts to scenery. Long term could be considered longer than 5 years. Affected Environment Existing Condition The McCloud area boasts of flat terrain punctuated with small volcanic hills covered in prolific mixed conifer stands with a variable understory. The project area is within the Northeast Volcanic Landscape Character type 4 which is a relatively flat volcanic flow grown with stands of tall conifers. Only foreground views can be seen due to the flat terrain. In some areas, subordinate trees are dense and are 3 Forest Plan, 1995, p 1-2, A map packet also accompanies the Forest Plan. Included in this packet are the following maps to supplement written direction The maps which accompany this Plan are primarily illustrative in nature and must be used in conjunction with the written direction contained in this Plan. 4 USDA, US Forest Service, The Visual Management System, Chapter 1, California Region Landscape Character Types and Variety Class Criteria, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

7 visually impenetrable; other areas host forested canopy with little understory. The existing scenery ranges from management activities being unnoticed, Retention Visual Quality Objective (VQO) to dominating the landscape, Modification VQO, due to prior vegetation management activities, powerlines and roads. The existing condition includes the aggregate effects of previous management activities as seen from sensitive viewing areas. The project area primarily occurs within the Forest Plan Management Prescription Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) plus a small area within the Management Area VIII, Commercial Wood Products Emphasis and direction for McCloud Flats Management Area 2 and Mt. Shasta Area 3. A portion of the project area is within the foreground views of Forest Roads 13 and 19 which are not considered sensitive viewing areas per the Forest Plan, however visitors and local residents use these routes for scenic drives, accessing developed and dispersed recreation sites, hunting, woodcutting, and snowmobiling access. The units considered in this scenery analysis are: , 106, 107, 123, 157, 159, 159-U, 162, 176, 179, 180, 347, and 401 within the Forest Road 13 (41N13) corridor, and units 6, 115, 117, 150, 151, 152-2, 154, 155, 165, 168-2, 172, 181, 208, 231, and 266 within the Forest Road 19 (41N19) corridor. Resource protection measures as discussed in the Resource Protection Measures section of this report, have been integrated into the project design to minimize impacts to scenery as much as possible while addressing ecosystem health for the foreground views as seen from FS Road 41N13 Figure 1. Existing condition of proposed Unit 157 Thinning of Natural Stands on Pilgrim Creek Road (FS Road 13). The forest is visually impenetrable due to the level of stocking and thick understory. Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 3

8 Figure 2. Existing condition of proposed Unit 115 Plantation Thin on FS Road 19. Management Direction Desired Condition Regulatory Framework Forest Plan The Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) provides standards and guidelines for the visual (scenery) resource. The following excerpts describe desired future conditions that would influence vegetation management, thus influence the scenic views. Management Area (MA) Management Area 2 McCloud Flats: The geography of this MA is characterized by level to gently sloping basalt flows, alluvial basins, escarpments, cinder cones and volcanic buttes. It is dominated by white fir mixed conifer forest types. 5 Within Prescription VIII areas, the forest is more even aged, with ingrowth and understory vegetation treatments are to enhance timber stand growth and yield, improve forest stand health and forest protection from stand destroying wildfires per the Forest Plan. 6 Within Prescription VII, the landscape appears natural with much of the area in late-successional forest vegetation. Late-successional forest stands are managed to maintain health and diversity components through the use of prescribed fire and thinning from below. These older stands are structurally diverse often being multiple-storied. 7 5 Forest Plan, p Forest Plan, p Forest Plan, p Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

9 Management Area 3 Mt. Shasta: This MA contains lava flows, glacial melt streams from Mt. Shasta, and several mudflows. The dominant vegetation includes dense stands of evergreen and deciduous brush. 8 Prescription VII Late Successional Reserve (LSR) management direction: The purpose of this prescription is to provide special management for Late-Successional Reserves and Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species. This prescription also emphasizes retention and enhancement of sensitive plant species, old-growth vegetation, and hardwoods. 9 Prescription VIII Commercial Wood Products Emphasis direction: The purpose of this prescription is to obtain an optimum timber yield of wood fiber products from productive forest lands within the context of ecosystem management. 10 The desired landscape character for the McCloud area is a forest with a healthy ecosystem that primarily looks natural from sensitive viewpoints. Views as seen from Forest Roads 13 and 19 would include multi-storied vegetation, hardwoods and clumps of understory with randomly spaced mature trees. Forest stands range from tree seedlings to mature forests, while maintaining some structural diversity. Stand understories appear more open with less ingrowth particularly in stands on sites where wildfire plays a key role in stand development. Younger to mature forest stands are managed to replace older dead and dying stands as they no longer are suitable for Old-Growth ecosystem dependent organisms. 11 Federal Numerous Federal laws require all Federal land management agencies to consider scenery and aesthetic resources in land management planning, resource planning, and project design, implementation, and monitoring. These Federal laws include the following: National Forest Management Act of Wilderness Act of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of National Trails System Act of National Environmental Policy Act of Environmental Quality Act of Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of Public Rangelands Improvement Act of The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321) directs the Federal Government to (2) assure for all Americans... healthful, productive, and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings; (3) attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, [or] risk to health...; (4) preserve important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our environment. It further directs agencies to insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts in planning and in decision making which may have an impact on man s environment. This act directs agencies to develop methods and procedures which will insure that [scenery and other] unquantified environmental amenities and values may be given appropriate consideration in decision making along with economic and technical considerations. 8 Forest Plan, p Forest Plan, p Forest Plan, p Forest Plan, p Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 5

10 Environmental Consequences Alternative 1 Modified Proposed Action Preferred Alternative The modified proposed action includes the following prescription treatments. Please see Chapter 2 for a more detailed description. Thinning of Natural Stands Thinning is the selective removal of certain trees to manage overcrowding while retaining desirable attributes such as large trees and species and structural diversity. Actions would include retaining patches of dense trees, retaining some understory trees, and creating canopy openings to provide sunlight and growing space for shrubs and herbaceous plants on the forest floor. Variable Density Thinning Residual density in the natural stand thinning units would vary from an average 125 to 175 square feet of basal area per acre (approximately). Depending on the average tree diameter, this equates to approximately 60 to 100 trees per acres with lower densities within ponderosa pine stands and higher densities in mixed conifer /white fir stands. Tree Selection Criteria Trees to be retained would include healthy large overstory dominant trees of all species, healthy pine where pine is underrepresented, a component of healthy small understory and midstory trees, a component of heavily damage or diseased trees that provide habitat and all hardwood trees. Radial Thinning Release of Large Predominant Ponderosa Pine Radial thinning around healthy, legacy ponderosa pine would be used to manage for this species on a microsite level. Where healthy, large predominate pine occur, a radial thin would remove all smaller adjacent trees within a radius of 50 feet from the tree bole. This prescription element would be applied in natural stands and plantations. Treatments in Areas of Disease and Insect Mortality Mortality patches range from several trees to several acres in size, and ongoing mortality is continuing to spread. The following treatments would be utilized in heavy mortality pockets: remove symptomatic trees, create a buffer of approximately 50 feet around disease pockets, thin to increase light levels to the forest floor, regenerate mortality areas with a mix of non-host conifer species. Ponderosa pine would be thinned to between 50 and 70 foot spacing, an approximate basal area of 60 square feet per acre. In young pine plantations with black stain root disease (e.g. unit 113), all symptomatic pine would be removed and pine adjacent to symptomatic trees and mortality pockets would be removed for a distance of 100 feet. Symptomatic white fir would be removed, plus possible host trees. If created openings were larger than 2 acres in size then mixed conifers and hardwood species would be replanted. This prescription element would be applied in natural stands and plantations. Group Selections and Mortality Regeneration Group selection is the creation of small openings for regeneration, while leaving most of a stand s overstory intact. Group selections would be implemented in units 152 and 160 and older pine plantation. 6 Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

11 Group selections would generally range from one to two acres in size but would not exceed one acre in size in natural stand 152. Regeneration would develop from a combination of interplanting and natural seed fall. This prescription element would be applied in natural stands and plantations. Treatments in Plantations Within pine plantations, group selections are also proposed in dense homogenous stands to facilitate development of multiple-canopied and multiple-species stands. Group selections would comprise up to 20 percent of a stand and would be re-planted with a mix of conifer species. Group selections may range in size from one to two acres in size. Older plantations would be thinned with group selections. Young plantations, (< 39 years), that are not excessively dense and are not showing signs of disease would be treated with prescribed underburning. Within some of the 20 to 30 year-old plantations, pre-commercial thinning of trees less than 8 inches DBH would be utilized to reduce future stand density. If treatments of larger size material (8 to 9.9) inches) are warranted, this material would be harvested as biomass. Leave Islands within the Elk Flat LSR Leave islands within the Elk Flat LSR will be designed to retain variable conditions and stand elements that promote structural heterogeneity. Leave islands would vary in size and placement across the LSR and while underburning would be allowed to creep into these areas, however there would be no direct ignition. Riparian Reserves As site-specific conditions vary within the Riparian Reserves in the project area, treatments would be implemented to retain current stand densities for shade and thermal regulation. There will be a minimum 20 foot equipment exclusion zone for all natural stands and plantation thinning units. Meadow Enhancement Larger predominant trees would be retained within and along the meadow edges. All other trees that have grown into and along the meadow edges would be removed. A basal area of approximately 60 square feet per acre of the largest diameter trees would be retained where the meadow transitions into conifer stands along the edge. This thinning prescription would create a feathered effect of few trees within the meadow, transitioning to an open forest stand along the meadow s edge. Prescribed burning would be utilized every five to ten years. Hardwood Species Release Within natural stand thinning and plantation thin units all hardwood trees would be retained. California black oak that are at least 4 inches diameter that occur within any proposed treatment unit would be release by removing all conifers within 30 feet of the oak drip line. Any predominant or dominant trees within 30 feet of the drip line would be retained. Existing aspen clones would be enhanced by removing most encroaching conifers within 150 feet of the most distal live aspen tree or sprout. Predominant conifers would not be removed and large dominant conifers for a total of up to eight trees per acres would be retained within the 150-foot distance. Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 7

12 Fuels Treatments and Underburning Excess fuels would be treated as part of and subsequent to the silviculture treatments. Within all of the project area, low intensity prescribed fire would be utilized to reduce surface and ladder fuels. Where underburning is the only treatment utilized, resultant stand mortality is expected to range between 5 and 10 percent. Underburning the entire project area would reduce the need to construct control lines, with the exception of private property boundaries. While existing roads would be used as control lines as needed, fire would be allowed to cross unit boundaries and creep into adjacent treated and untreated stands within the project area. Retention of Snags and Large Down Wood A component of snags and large down wood would be retained to meet Forest Plan and LSRA objectives, while those in excess of these objectives would be treated to reduce fire hazards. Large down logs would be retained on average from 6 to 10 trees per acre. Down wood that is a minimum of 15 inches diameter on the large end and 10 feet in length would count towards this objective. Proposed Road Actions Proposed road actions include maintenance, reconstruction, closing/reclosing, decommissioning, and construction of new temporary roads. Landings ranging from 0.5 to 0.75 acre in size would be located within or near unit boundaries. Landings and skid trails would be rehabilitated when no longer needed for the project. Alternative 2 No New Temporary Road Construction Other than Those Required for Landing Use/Access Alternative 2 is similar to Alternative 1 with the exception that no temporary roads would be constructed to complete project activities other than to access landings. Project activities would be completed utilizing the existing NFS roads and existing routes in the project area. This alternative reduces the ability to mechanically treat approximately 98 acres. All other project design criteria, thinning and fuels treatments and road actions are the same as Alternative 1. Adaptive Management for Biomass Thinning Biomass (4 to 9.9-inch dbh) material will be mechanically thinned on a prescribed spacing, or to a prescribed basal area, in those units that have a biomass thinning component. Depending on the market conditions at the time of implementation, material that is 4 to 6.9 inches dbh may not be mechanically thinned, but would be treated with a combination of hand thinning and/or prescribed fire during the underburning operations. Modifications to the limits of acceptable mortality for this size class during underburning are defined in Table 7 of the Resource Protection Measures. Alternative 3 No Treatments of Natural Stands within Designated Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl Alternative 3 is similar to Alternative 1, with the exception that no silviculture or fuels treatments would be implemented in designated critical habitat within natural stands that are providing suitable and dispersal habitat for the northern spotted owl. Plantations that do not currently provide suitable or dispersal habitat, but that may be considered capable habitat, would still be treated as proposed under Alternative 1 with the exception that no underburning activities would occur in critical habitat. 8 Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

13 Alternative 4 No Action Alternative 4 is the no action alternative; the proposed Elk Late-Successional Reserve Project would not be implemented. Resource Protection Measures Forest Road 13 (Pilgrim Creek Road) would meet the Forest Plan VQO Map requirements without utilizing project design features; however the District Ranger decided to reduce visual impacts of the proposed project in the foreground views of this road due to the high number of people who use this route. 1. The following design features are prescribed within a 150-foot visual corridor adjacent Forest Road 13 (Pilgrim Creek Road - 42N13). This visual corridor would apply to units , 106, 107, 123, 125, 157, 159, 180, 162, 176, 179, 347, and 401. a. Use existing landings and locate new landings out of view as seen from the roads where feasible. b. Stump height will be 6 inches or less (if a landscape feature obstructs the view between the road and the cut trees, stump height maybe higher). c. Cut and/or leave trees will be marked on the sides facing away from the roads. Prior to treatment, further measures such as flagging of individual leave trees may be implemented to assure operators can clearly identify leave trees. d. The goal within the visual corridor is to have a clean look by removing the majority of the slash and woody debris with the least amount of ground disturbance. This may be accomplished by: lopping and scattering if there are not large amounts of residual slash, as generally occurs with whole tree-yarding; hand piling and burning excess slash and scattering the burn pile residue that is not fully consumed and/or machine piling the slash outside of the visual corridor. Direct and Indirect Effects Alternative 1 Modified Proposed Action Preferred Alternative Alternative 1 would include thinning natural stands and plantations, restoring Elk Meadow to historical stocking levels, releasing hardwood species, regeneration, fuel treatments, remove areas of disease and insect mortality, as well as the proposed road actions. Each type of actions would influence scenery in some way. The following units are adjacent to Pilgrim Creek Road (FS Road 13) and are required to meet a Modification VQO per the Forest Plan VQO map: units and 159-U (Underburn Only); units 106, 107, 123 (Plantation Thin); units 157, 159, 180 and 347 (Thinning of Natural Stands); units 162, 176 and 179 (Thinning of Natural Stands & Fuels Reduction Treatment) and unit 401 (Meadow Enhancement). The following units are adjacent to Forest Road 19 and are required to meet a Maximum Modification VQO per the Forest Plan VQO map: units 6, 115, 117 and 208 (Plantation Thin); units 150, 152-2, and 231 (Underburn Only); units 151, 154, 155, 165, 172 and 181 (Thinning of Natural Stands) and unit 266 (Interplant). Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 9

14 Thinning of Natural Stands The mature natural stands are thick with mixed conifer trees and variable understory comprised of young trees and brush species. The proposed thinning would open the stand creating visual access. The trees would have variable spacing and some of the understory would remain. Figure 3 Unit 176 on Forest Road 13 Thinning of Natural Stands The thinning of natural stands would include a variable spacing, hardwood species and predominate pines would be released. Releasing the hardwoods and predominate pines would create openings in the forest stand that would showcase legacy trees. The hardwoods would offer fall color and a variety of textures which would create a more interesting landscape than a homogenous conifer forest. The predominate pines would add a stately presence in the midst of the smaller diameter trees and the cleared areas would add spatial diversity. Initially, tree stumps and evidence of the management activities would be seen; within one to three years grasses, forbs and shrubs would obscure views of the stumps. Trees with disease and insect mortality would be harvested which would create openings. Areas regenerated with young conifers would eventually create a multistoried stand and add diversity to the forest views. The proposed thinning units would open up the views into the forest and reduce the competition for water and nutrients for the remaining trees resulting in larger trees. (Please see the silviculture report). Research has found that large mature trees are an important part of scenic beauty and should be retained in forest thinning projects. Forests with more open structure that allow visual access through the understory are considered more scenic than forests with extremely dense understory vegetation. Partial clearing of up to 50% of trees in a dispersed pattern may be visually acceptable in moderately sensitive areas, especially if large trees are preserved. Downed wood from timber harvesting and tree thinning is considered ugly and 10 Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

15 has negative impact on scenic beauty. Removing dead wood or chipping on site can greatly increase scenic ratings for tree thinning projects. 12 Many people consider larger, vigorous trees appear more scenic than small overstocked trees with dense understory. The mature trees, increased visual access, and light-shadow patterns emulate a park-like setting which can be very scenic. 13 Thinning these units may create meadow like openings and the mature tree stands would enhance visual diversity in form, color, texture, and scale in vegetative material, which is seen as more interesting than a monotonous landscape. 14 Based on research, thinning may improve the scenery resource in the long term when the scenery resource protection measures are incorporated into the harvest activities. The reduced stocking would allow more visual access through the forest, increase the probability of understory vegetation growth and increase the amount of light into the forest, all of which increase visual interest. Excess slash and fuels would be removed which would also increase the visual interest per research studies. 15 Low stumps and using existing landings would help to diminish negative visual impacts. Treatments in Plantations / Regeneration The thinned plantations would also have approximately 20% of the stand removed and replanted to create a more multistoried stand. Please see Figure 2 -unit 115. The trees are close together inhibiting forest views. The thinning would create more visibility into the stand and the openings would create more visual diversity. Fuels Treatments and Underburning The fuels treatments would create a mosaic pattern of brown-black vegetation. In units where there are not any proposed silviculture treatments, more understory and possibly larger trees may burn due to the heavier fuel loading. Some of the burned vegetation would return green the following year and some of it would die creating small pockets of tree boles without needles. Blackened tree stumps from harvest activities would be more visually apparent. Grasses, forbs and shrubs would eventually replace the burned understory. Please see the proposed unit 150 (Underburn Only) picture below. 12 Social Science to Improve Fuels Management: A Synthesis of Research on Aesthetics and Fuels Management, Robert L. Ryan, U.S. Forest Service North Central Research Station, Social Science to Improve Fuels Management: A Synthesis of Research on Aesthetics and Fuels Management, Robert L. Ryan, U.S. Forest Service North Central Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Chapter 1, The Visual Management System, Handbook 462, Social Science to Improve Fuels Management: A Synthesis of Research on Aesthetics and Fuels Management, Robert L. Ryan, U.S. Forest Service North Central Research Station, 2005 Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 11

16 Figure 4 Unit 150 Underburn Only Road Actions / Landings and Skid Roads Alternative 1 proposes to decommission three small user created roads on FS Road 19 and three adjacent to FS Road 13. This action would be minor in scale and probably not be noticed by the casual forest visitor. Temporary skid roads and landings would be located during harvesting plans produced by the purchaser, so exact locations are unknown at this point, however existing landings would be used and others added, only if needed. The temporary skid roads would be a minor change to the environment, so probably would not be noticed by the casual forest observer. Landings are larger in scale with more disturbance than skid roads and would be noticed by visitors, if located on FS Road 13 and 19. Meadow Enhancement The meadow enhancement at Elk Flat would remove trees to restore the meadow to more of a historical condition. There would be large openings, areas where trees would be spaced to 60 basal area and thinning along the meadows edge. Prescribed burning would be implemented after harvest and again every five to ten years. The meadow enhancement proposed action would probably be noticed on FS Road 13. A completed management action that was intended to restore part of the meadow was implemented across the road from proposed unit 401, please see Figure 6. Unit 401 may look like the photo in Figure 6 upon completion; however there would also be predominate trees retained and thinned clumps of trees. 12 Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

17 Scenery Analysis Report - Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Figure 5 Proposed Meadow Enhancement Unit 401 Figure 6 Previously harvested unit in Elk Flat Meadow on FS Road 13 Alternative 1 would produce some changes to the visual resource in the short term as well as long term benefits. There would be evidence of stumps and ground disturbance from proposed actions in the short term. The thinning would help to encourage a forest with less risk of insect/disease tree mortality and risk of high intensity fire (please see the Silviculture and Fuels reports). The proposed actions could benefit Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 13

18 scenery by creating forest views that include interesting shadow patterns, a variety of understory grasses, forbs and shrubs, showcase hardwoods and predominate pines as well as create a diverse structure with varying age classes. Long term, the proposed action would change the existing views from a monotonous homogenous conifer forest to views with a variety of colors, textures and interesting spacial diversity. Alternative 1 would meet the VQO identified on the Forest Plan map; there would not be any direct or indirect effects to the VQOs. FS Road 13 would meet a Modification VQO (management activities may visually dominate the original characteristic landscape). 16 The Elk Flat meadow enhancement would be the most noticeable of all the management activities; however it would be within the definition of the required Modification VQO. The Forest Plan VQO map requires FS Road 19 meet Maximum Modification VQO, (management activities may dominate the characteristic landscape; however, when viewed as background, the visual characteristics must be those of natural occurrences within the surrounding area) 17. Views from FS Road 19 would meet Partial Retention, (management activities remain visually subordinate to the characteristic landscape 18 ), to Modification after project completion. Alternative 2 No New Temporary Road Construction The direct and indirect effects for the scenery resource for Alternative 2 would be similar to Alternative 1. The only minor difference would be any temporary roads as seen from FS Roads 13 and. 19. The temporary roads would be minor in scale and disturbances comparing with the adjacent management activities, so probably would not be noticed by a casual observer. Alternative 2 would meet the same VQOs as for Alternative 1; there would be no direct or indirect effects for this alternative. Alternative 3 - No Treatments of Natural Stands within Designated Critical Habitat for the Northern Spotted Owl Alternative 3 would have a similar proposed action to Alternative 1 for units included in the scenery analysis except: units 231, 168-2, & 150 (Underburn Only); 151 and 172 (Thinning of Natural Stands) on FS Road 19. The units that would not be underburned in this alternative would look more attractive without scorched, black and brown burned vegetation. The units not thinned would retain the thick understory and overstocked stand which would limit views into the forest and may ultimately result in trees being smaller and not as attractive as larger trees. This alternative would meet the Forest Plan VQO map. Alternative 4 - No Action Scenery would remain as is for the No Action Alternative, thus there would be no direct or indirect effects. No Action would be the least preferred alternative from a scenery perspective. The No Action alternative could contribute to the future landscape character by perpetuating a forest with dense under growth which would have less visual diversity and inhibit the sight distance of the viewer, thus resulting in a less interesting visual experience. This alternative could result in an increased tree mortality which would look natural, but may not meet the publics expectations to see a green and healthy forest. Taking no action could possibly increase the 16 USDA, Forest Service, National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Agriculture Handbook Number 462, 1974, p USDA, Forest Service, National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Agriculture Handbook Number 462, 1974, p USDA, Forest Service, National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Agriculture Handbook Number 462, 1974, p Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

19 risk of a high intensity fire. Charred, denuded forests are usually not preferred scenery. 19 The indirect effects to scenery could be detrimental. Overstocked stands prevent visual access into the forest, provide a more monotonous view and may keep the trees smaller which could be considered less scenic than larger trees. Cumulative Effects Past, Present, and Foreseeable Activities Relevant to Cumulative Effects Analysis There are no cumulative effects for any of the alternatives since there would be no impacts to the VQO s as seen from FS Roads 13 and 19. There would be some changes to scenery; however, the changes would be below the threshold of changing the VQO beyond the Forest Plan map acceptable amount. VQO s are the measurement used to indicate scenery effects, since there would be no effects in terms of VQO s there cannot be cumulative effects. 20 Compliance with Forest Plan and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies and Plans All alternatives studied in detail would meet the Forest Plan objectives for scenery, upon project completion. Forest Plans are promulgated in compliance with the various statutory and regulatory direction, including NFMA. The proposed action is consistent with all Federal, State and local laws or requirements imposed for protection of the environment pertaining to scenery. Summary and Conclusions The proposed treatments for Alternatives 1, 2 and 3 are very similar from a scenery perspective; differences are comparatively negligible. Alternative 2 with no temporary roads would not look that much different than Alternative 1. Alternative 3 would have scenic changes due to the no treatment of natural stands within the designated critical spotted owl habitat; however the changes to scenery would be positive in three of the units due to the unburned understory and negative in two others due to the unthinned units, so it would not have a significant improvement for scenery over Alternative 1. All action alternatives would meet the Forest Plan VQO map. Alternative 4, the no action alternative, would not be desired from a scenery perspective because it would not meet the desired future condition of having a forest that is visually accessible with diverse color, textures and spatial patterns. Alternative 1 would be the preferred alternative from a scenery perspective because in the long term it would implement management activities that would increase views into the forest, highlight hardwoods and predominant trees, add spatial diversity and create an environment that would sustain larger trees. 19 Social Science to Improve Fuels Management: A Synthesis of Research on Aesthetics and Fuels Management, Robert L. Ryan, US Forest Service, North Central Research Station 20 Some past actions and natural events may overlap in time and space with the proposed action. However, past actions are not being considered individually. The current environmental conditions reflect the aggregate impact of all prior human actions and natural events that have affected the environment and might contribute to cumulative effects and are a proxy for the impacts of past actions. This approach is consistent with (f) and the Council on Environmental Quality June 24, 2005 memorandum regarding analysis of past actions. Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest 15

20 References Cited Scenery Analysis Report - Elk Late-Successional Reserve Enhancement Project Forest Service Manual 2300: Recreation, Wilderness, and Related Resource Management; b Environmental Analysis and Disclosure. USDA, Forest Service National forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Chapter 1, the Visual Management System, Handbook 462. USDA, Forest Service Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management, Agriculture Handbook Number 701. Social Science to Improve Fuels Management: A Synthesis of Research on Aesthetics and Fuels Management, Robert L. Ryan, U.S. FS North Central Research Station. USDA, Forest Service National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Handbook 434. USDA, Forest Service National Forest Landscape Management, Volume 2, Chapter 1, California Region Landscape Character Types and Variety Class Criteria US Forest Service, Shasta-Trinity Land and Resource Management Plan, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest