Conacat Environmental Assessment Scenery Resource Analysis Submitted May 23, 2014 by Doug Byerly. Scenery Resources

Transcription

1 Scenery Resources Environmental consequences related to the scenic integrity of affected scenery resources and recreation settings within the Conacat project area of the Cherokee National Forest are disclosed as part of the Scenery Resources analysis. Potential impacts to recreation opportunities are disclosed under Recreation Resources. Alternatives The alternative actions considered for disclosing effects to scenery resources include Alternative A (No Action), Alternative B (Proposed Action) and Alternative C. These actions as they relate to scenery resources are listed below with Recommended Scenery Design Features that are considered part of the proposed actions. The design features would be implemented as needed and to the extent practicable to achieve the desired level of scenic integrity from noted travelways and viewing platforms. Alternative B: Wildlife Stand Improvement (WSI) activities would occur in the project area including the following stands near noted travelways - 66/08, 66/02, 66/10, 66/11, 66/19, 66/33, 66/26, 78/10, 65/02, 67/01, 67/02, 67/05, 67/06. Saplings from 1-8 inches in diameter would be cut and left on site. Recommended Scenery Design Features 5, 7 (Trail of Tears), 9, 18 and 19 would be applied. Mid-story Treatments would occur in the project area including the following stands near noted travelways - 66/6, 66/30, 66/34, 77/9 (at Warriors Passage NRT Trailhead), 78/10, 103/12, 103/22, 103/26,110/39, 418/2. Saplings from 2-7 inches in diameter would be cut and left on site. Recommended Scenery Design Features 5, 7 (Trail of Tears), 9, 18 and 19 would be applied. Silvicultural Treatments The tables below identify the treatments that may be viewed from the following travel routes: o Wildcat Creek Road (NFSR 384) o Old Furnace Road (NFSR 76), Trail of Tears National Historic Trail & Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail o Unicoi Turnpike & Conasauga Creek Road (NRSR 341). Several of the affected stands have two or more assigned Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs). The higher SIOs are typically assigned to portions of the stands closest to the noted travelway or viewing platform. Foreground (area within ½-mile from noted travelway) is denoted by FG and middleground (area within 1/2-mile to 4-miles from noted travelway) is denoted by MG. The prescribed amount of residual trees left after implementation is denoted by basal area (BA). Other proposed actions include transportation improvements, fire management activities, trail improvements, and other wildlife improvements. Actions that differ between Alternative B and Alternative C are noted in the tables.

2 Table 1. Alternative B Treatments Potentially Viewed from Wildcat Creek Road and Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail Compartment/ Stand Approximate Acres/ Viewing Distance/ Assigned SIOs Residual BA Recommended Scenery Design Features & Notes 65/15 14/FG/Mod 27/MG/Low BA 1-5, 8-20 *Proposed as mid story treatment in Alternative C, apply 5, 9, 18, 19 77/8 24/FG/High 10/FG/Mod BA 1-5, /14 35/FG/High BA 1-5, 8-19, (WP NRT) Table 2. Alternative B Treatments Potentially Viewed from Old Furnace Road, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail & Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail Compartment/ Stand Approximate Acres/ Viewing Distance/ Assigned SIOs Residual BA Recommended Scenery Design Features & Notes 66/05 7/FG/Mod 10/MG/Low 77/29 4/FG/High 9/FG/Mod 77/10 8/FG/High 6/FG/Mod 66/29 16/FG/Mod 2/MG/Low BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), 18, 19, (WP NRT) BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), 18, 19, (WP NRT) BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), /16 18/MG/Low BA 1-5, 7 (TOT), 20 78/22 26/MG/Low BA 1-5, 7 (TOT), 20 *Treatment not proposed in Alternative C

3 Table 3. Alternative B Treatments Potentially Viewed from Unicoi Turnpike & Conasauga Creek Road Compartment/ Stand Approximate Acres/ Viewing Distance/ Assigned SIOs Residual BA Recommended Scenery Design Features & Notes 110/9 6/FG/Mod 7/MG/Low BA 1-5, 8-20 Located near Conasauga Falls Trailhead *Treatment not proposed in Alternative C 110/10 8/FG/High 6/FG/Mod Clear cut 1-5, 8-20 Located at Conasauga Falls Trailhead, so potentially treat log landing as described in #4 to enhance parking. 110/42 4/FG/High 4/MG/Low 112/11 4/FG/High 4/MG/Low BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), /30 31/FG/High 20/MG/Low BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), 8-20 * *Proposed as mid story treatment in Alternative C, apply 5, 7, 9, 18, /22 5/FG/High 35/MG/Low 111/52 7/FG/High 2/MG/Low 115/5 6/FG/High 23/MG/Low BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), BA 1-5, 6-7 (TOT), /8 15/MG/Low White Pine Removal 1-5, /7 25/MG/Low BA 1-5, /44 15/MG/Low BA 1-5, 8-20 Silvicultural treatments that are not listed in the above tables are located in areas seldom seen by casual forest visitors. Design features 1-5 would apply as appropriate.

4 Recommended Design Features Common to all stands 1. Shape and feather unit boundaries to avoid unnatural appearing straight edges that contrast with surrounding forested landscape. 2. Utilize trees and shrubs retained for other resource functions such as riparian buffers and wildlife habitat to meet Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs). 3. To reduce noticeable color and line contrasts with surrounding landscape minimize the exposure of mineral soils during construction of roads, skid trails and fire lines. 4. Locate log landings in areas that would be least noticeable to visitors when viewing the area from noted travelways or viewing platforms.* Suitable locations would include areas that are screened from view by natural landforms and/or road cuts, previously disturbed or developed areas or areas where sufficient screening vegetation can be retained between the landing and the noted travelway or viewing platform. * Landings may need to be located along the existing Old Furnace Road in plain sight to avoid further disturbance to potential remnants of the Trail of Tears that are visibly intertwined with the existing Old Furnace Road alignment. Landings placed adjacent to the Old Furnace Road should be reshaped and rehabilitated to appear as an intentional roadside pull-out/turn around area. Landings along noted travelways may not be suitable for wildlife pond creation. Refer to Design Feature #5. 5. Consult landscape architect (Scenery Resources), Forest Archaeologist (Trail of Tears/Cultural Resources) and/or District Recreation Program Manager (Recreation Resources/Trails) if assistance is needed in applying or modifying design criteria on the ground. Recommended Design Features to be Incorporated on Select Stands Above: Visible evidence of past constructed travel routes along Old Furnace Road which may be found to be part the Trail of Tears. 6. Do not mechanically remove vegetation between the existing Old Furnace Road alignment and potential historic alignments of the Old Furnace Road if located within the immediate foreground (within 300 feet of existing road). These previous alignments, which may have been used as part of the Trail of Tears, are visibly intertwined with the existing Old Furnace Road alignment. Consult Archaeologist to verify historic alignments on the ground.

5 7. Do not mechanically remove vegetation within 50-feet of either side of potential historic alignments of the Old Furnace Road or Unicoi Turnpike that maybe considered part of the Trail of Tears. 8. Retain the majority of existing vegetation within 25 to 50-feet of the edge of the noted travelway to effectively screen down woody debris created by proposed treatments. Selected undesirable trees may be removed to improve long-term stand quality and scenic integrity along the road. 9. Remove or minimize appearance of visible slash and cut mid story trees within 25- feet of the edge of the noted travelway. This includes slash from post-harvest slash down. 10. Retain a higher basal area buffer up to 100-from the edge of the noted travelway or to the extent needed to blend the density of surrounding existing vegetation with prescribed basal areas. Buffers typically have a 50 to 60 basal area that is gradually reduced to the prescribed basal area. 11. Retain some natural appearing groupings of existing trees throughout visible portions of the stand to help break up any the unnatural appearing patterns created by equally spacing reserve, planted and/or cultured trees. 12. Retain natural appearing clumps of trees and/or large diameter specimen trees every 100 linear feet along the affected travelway to reduce the perceived scale of created openings and to perpetuate large trees within the immediate foreground. 13. Where visible within 25 to 75 feet from edge of affected travel routes, lop and scatter slash to an approximate height of two (2) feet from the ground. Removing slash out of plain sight would also be an option. 14. Treat slash to within four (4) feet of the ground if visible within the immediate foreground of noted travel routes unless specified otherwise. 15. Cut stumps that are visible within 50-feet from noted travel routes in a manner that minimizes negative visual impacts. 16. Mark harvest units in a manner that minimizes visible paint on trees within the immediate foreground. 17. Locate skid roads and trails to minimize their visibility from noted travel routes and avoid potential historic alignments of the Old Furnace Road. 18. Remove visible hanging slashdown within 50 to 75 feet from the edge of noted travel routes or begin slashdown treatment 50 to 75 feet away from the edge of the noted travel route. 19. Directionally fell trees away from affected travel routes. 20. Retain the appearance of an intact, continuously forested ridge by preventing noticeable breaks or notches in the existing tree canopy along the ridgeline. Reduce the appearance of alterations by retaining an average of 35 square feet basal area/acre or higher along the ridgeline.*

6 *Verify visibility of potential effects in the field and adjust basal area within the affected stands as needed to meet SIO and appearance of continuously forested ridgeline Recommended Scenery Design Features for Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail 21. Leave 100-foot buffer from the trail. 22. Minimize exposure of mineral soils during construction of skid roads and trails and blend constructed roads and firelines to they are subordinate to existing landscape character. 23. Screen log landings from view and restore as close to the original contour as practical. 24. Impacts to the trail tread should be avoided. 25. Temporary road and/or skid trail crossings across designated forest trails should be avoided. 26. Character trees and trees that define the trail corridor should be retained. 27. Warning signs should be placed on all trail access points and along the trail where activities are occurring. 28. Retain existing hardwoods within affected pine stands to the extent possible but remove hardwood trees that lean or appear grossly damaged by logging activities. 29. Slash should be removed, burned, chipped or lopped to within an average of 2 feet of ground, when visible up to 125 feet on either side of trail. 30. Cut stumps that are visible up to 125 Ft. from the trail in a manner that minimizes visual impacts. 31. Locate skid roads and trails to minimize their visibility from the trail. 32. Openings and stand boundaries should be organically shaped. Straight lines and geometric should be avoided. Edges should be shaped and/or feathered where appropriate to avoid a shadowing effect in the cut unit. Openings should be oriented to contours and existing vegetation patterns to blend with existing landscape characteristics, as appropriate. 33. Cut and fill slopes should be revegetated to the extent possible. In seen areas, consider seasonal color of vegetation. For instance, using warm season grass mixes that turn seasonally brown or gray instead of green. Cut banks should be sloped to accommodate natural revegetation. 34. Consult with Forest Landscape Architect or District Recreation Program Manager if assistance is needed in applying or modifying design criteria on the ground.

7 Environmental Consequences Conacat Environmental Assessment The USDA Scenery Management System (USDA 1995a) is used to inventory, evaluate and disclose effects to the scenery resources in the Cherokee National Forest (CNF). During the planning process for the CNF 2004 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (RLRMP), existing scenery resource inventories were updated. Forest landscapes were evaluated on scenic attractiveness, concern levels, and viewing distances from identified travelways and viewing platforms, i.e. roads, trails and recreation sites. Based on this information, the inventoried landscapes were spatially delineated and assigned a Scenic Class ranging from 1 to 5. The Conacat project area includes landscapes inventoried as Scenic Classes 1, 2, 3 and 5. In general, Scenic Classes 1 and 2 represent areas of the national forest that are naturally aesthetic and appealing for outdoor recreation. Scenic Class 5 represents areas of the national forest that are seldom viewed by visitors and of less concern in terms of scenic integrity. Each Scenic Class is assigned a Scenic Integrity Objective (SIO) within the management prescriptions of the RLRMP. The Conacat project area includes landscapes assigned SIOs of LOW, MODERATE and HIGH. As noted in the RLRMP, management activities are designed to meet SIOs which vary by inventoried Scenic Class. The effects to scenery resources are described in terms of being consistent or inconsistent with the SIOs as specified in the RLRMP. Scenic Integrity is measured by the degree to which a landscape is visually perceived to be complete. The highest scenic integrity ratings are given to those landscapes that have little or no deviation from the character valued by constituents for its aesthetic appeal. (USDA 1995, p. 2-1) SIOs set the thresholds or limitations for creating alterations to the existing natural appearing landscapes. Alterations are typically a direct result of implementing actions such as silvicultural treatments, wildlife habitat improvements, road construction, prescribed fire, etc. Proposed actions would be considered consistent with SIOs if they could meet the following descriptions within one to five growing seasons after implementation: HIGH Deviations created by humans (such as proposed silvicultural treatments, road construction, prescribed fire, etc.) may be present but repeat the form, line, color, texture and pattern common to the landscape character so completely and at such scale that they are not evident and the landscape appears unaltered. MODERATE - Noticeable deviations created by human alterations remain visually subordinate to the natural appearing landscape being viewed and create only a slightly altered appearance. LOW Noticeable deviations created by human alterations begin to dominate the landscape being viewed but they borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and patterns of natural openings and vegetative type changes. Alterations create only a moderately altered appearance. (USDA 1995 p. 2-4)

8 Scope of Analysis Conacat Environmental Assessment The scope of this analysis includes inventoried scenery resources that are visible within the foreground or middleground from noted travelways and viewing platforms. Foreground is defined as areas viewed within a ½-mile from a travelway or viewing platform. Immediate foreground references the first 300-feet within the foreground. Middleground includes the areas viewed ½-mile to 4-miles away from noted travelways. The affected travelways and viewing platforms include State Highway 68 between Coker Creek and Tellico Plains, the Wildcat Road (NFSR 384), Old Furnace Road (NFSR 76 or Lyons Creek Road), Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail (FS Trail #164), and the road leading to Conasauga Falls trailhead and Conasauga Creek (NFSR 341) and Waucheesi Mountain. The resiliency of vegetation in the Southern Appalachian Mountains has been taken into consideration when disclosing the temporal nature of effects to scenery resources and the consistency with assigned SIOs. For example, a silvicultural activity may result in the lopping and scattering of slash to a height of four feet or less from the ground if viewed within the immediate forground from a noted travelway. Due to rapid decomposition and growth of surrounding seedlings and saplings, the visual effect of scattered down woody debris at this height would noticeably diminish within the first year. The affected areas would most likely meet a MODERATE or higher SIO during the second or third growing season after implementation. Most alterations to forest vegetation would not be noticeable to the casual forest visitor 10 to 20 years after implementation. Smaller scale alterations would become less noticeable before alterations made at a larger scale, i.e. thinning trees versus clearing trees. Above: Example of a created opening the in Cherokee National Forest that has become less noticeable over time and offers views to surrounding mountains. Existing Condition The majority of the affected scenery resources in the Conacat project area have been allocated to the RLRMP Prescription 8.B Early Successional Habitat Emphasis. These

9 landscapes within the national forest emphasize providing early successional forest habitat conditions dispersed throughout a forested landscape. The desired landscape character includes visible openings within the forest canopy in a variety of sizes. Above: Enclosed and open forest canopies viewed along Old Furnace road. Presently, opening within the forested canopy can be viewed from the affected travelways within the Conacat project -Wildcat Creek Road (NFSR 384), Old Furnace Road (NFSR 76 or Lyons Creek Road), Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail (FS Trail #164), the road leading to Conasauga Falls trailhead and Conasauga Creek (NFSR 341), State Highway 68 between Coker Creek and Tellico Plains, TN, and Waucheesi Mountain. Two travelways through the Conacat project area include possible remnants of the historic Trail of Tears and Unicoi Turnpike. The general alignment of NFSR 76 through the project area (also known as Lyons Creek Road or the Old Furnace Road) has been recently documented as part of the historic Trail of Tears. NFRS 341, which follows the alignment of the historic Unicoi Turnpike, is also thought to be an alternate route for the Trail of Tears. The Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail is located directly off the Old Furnace Road, and presently does not include sections of these historic routes. However, the footpath does offer a trail experience within the same landscape. Above: Warriors Passage Trail sign and a typical remnant of a constructed route along the Old Furnace Road.

10 Direct and Indirect Effects Conacat Environmental Assessment The direct and indirect effects to scenery resources have been based on the assumption that Recommended Scenery Design Features. would be implemented as needed and to the extent practicable to achieve assigned SIOs. A list of these design features are included as part of the proposed actions. Alternative A (No Action) The natural-appearing landscapes viewed within the Conacat project area would not change due to implementation of proposed management activities. However, scenery resources would continue to change overtime due to natural processes. Succession of vegetation would diminish the appearance existing openings in the forest canopy unless actively managed to maintain their open conditions. Overtime, the existing openings would be enclosed with mature trees. Potential disturbances to vegetation caused by fire, insects, disease, and storms could alter the appearance of the affected scenery resources. Noticeable openings in the forest canopy could be created at scales that reflect the nature of any such events. Under Alternative A, inventoried scenery resources would remain natural appearing and consistent or exceed assigned SIOs. Above: Created openings and open views along affected travelways would appear enclosed over time by the natural succession of vegetation, especially during leaf-on seasons. Alternative B (Proposed Action) Silvicultural Treatments TN State Highway 68 No proposed actions would be noticeable by casual forest visitors traveling State Highway 68. Wildcat Creek Road (NFSR 384) Refer to Table 1. The Wildcat Creek Road is accessed a short distance up the Tellico River Road (NFSR 210) at an intersection near the Tellico Ranger Station. This narrow, graveled road offers scenic views that are typically limited to the foreground and immediate foreground on the upslope side of the road. The recommended retention of vegetative buffers along the road would achieve the assigned SIOs.

11 Forest visitors that view the areas affected by proposed silvicultural treatments could notice decreased canopy cover, cleared openings, and increased sunlight and landscape visibility. Immediately after timber harvest activities, viewers could notice logging debris, stumps, slash, damaged living vegetation and exposed soil due to skidding and landing logs. These direct effects would be buffered from view and diminish year after year, growing season after season, as new saplings emerge and leaf litter accumulates within the stands. Effects would not be noticeable to the casual forest visitor 15 to 20 years after implementation. Old Furnace Road (NFSR 76 or Lyons Creek Road Refer to Table 2. As described above for the Wildcat Creek Road, Forest visitors may notice a decreased canopy cover, cleared openings, and increased sunlight and landscape visibility in a few areas along the Old Furnace Road. Design features recommended to conserve potential remnants of the historic alignment of the Old Furnace Road (Trail of Tears) may increase the vegetative buffers between the existing road and openings created in the forest canopy. Immediately after timber harvest activities, viewers could notice logging debris, stumps, slash, damaged living vegetation and exposed soil due to skidding and landing logs. These direct effects would be buffered from view and diminish year after year, growing season after season, as new saplings emerge and leaf litter accumulates within the stands. Treatment of stands 66/16 and 78/22 would not include actions within the immediate foreground and should not be noticeable. The effects from the other four treated stands would not be noticeable to the casual forest visitor 15 to 20 years after implementation. Warriors Passage National Recreation Trail (FS Trail #164) Refer to Table 1 and Table 2. The treatments near the proposed and existing FS Trail #164 would be noticeable to hikers due to the closer proximity and longer duration of view to treatment areas. The effects as described above for the Old Furnace Road would be similar to those encountered by hikers of FS Trail #164 near the Old Furnace Road. Design features would be applied to maintain and develop a suitable trail setting and a desirable trail experience. The existing vegetation along the trail would be improved overtime as a result of proposed treatments. Effects would be consistent with assigned SIOs and would not be noticeable to the casual forest visitor 15 to 20 years after implementation. The proposed new trailhead and trail alignment would improve the overall recreation setting and experience by creating a sense of arrival at the beginning of the trail. Road to Conasauga Falls Trailhead & Conasauga Creek (NFSR 341) Refer to Table 3. The scenery viewed along the road to Conasauga Falls Trailhead off TN State Highway 68 is primarily dominated by regenerated pine stands mixed with areas of desirable hardwood forest. Design features would recommend that vegetative buffers be retained along the road to partially screen visual impacts created by the regeneration treatment in compartment/stand 110/10. However, created openings along the road would be acceptable during this transition or rehabilitation from pine to hardwood trees. The proposed thinning in compartment/stand 110/9 would retain an overall forested appearance. Visitors would have a longer duration and closer view to affected stands near the Conasauga Falls Trailhead. Design features would minimize the amount of visible slash and down woody debris visible with in the immediate foreground. But, visitors would

12 still notice logging debris, stumps, slash, damaged living vegetation and exposed soil due to skidding and landing logs. In areas assigned a Low SIOs, alterations to the natural appearing landscapes from silvicultural treatments would be allowed to dominate the landscapes being viewed. Alterations would borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and patterns of natural openings and vegetative type changes. These contrasts would be expected to diminish after each growing season as the desired hardwood trees occupy the openings. Riparian buffers and design features recommended to conserve potential remnants of the historic alignment of the Unicoi Turnpike (Trail of Tears) may increase the vegetative buffers within the stands and along the road to Conasauga Creek. Proposed actions would be consistent with the assigned SIOs including a short-term goal of rehabilitation of pine stands to the hardwood forest landscape character. General Forest Areas Silvicultural treatments proposed in compartments/stands 103/5, 108/23, 108/26, 433/6, and 433/11would occur in areas seldom seen by casual forest visitors. These treatments and alterations to the landscape would go unnoticed by most forest visitors. Proposed actions would be consistent with achieving the assigned LOW SIOs. Mid-story Treatments The proposed silvicultural mid-story treatments would likely go unnoticed by the majority of national forest visitors along all of the affected travelways. These treatments would retain the appearance of a continuously forested landscape. The intent of the treatments would be consistent with enhancing scenery resources over time. Desirable trees would be cultivated to reach larger diameters by removing competing trees less than 7-inches in diameter. Design features would be employed to reduce potential visual impacts within the immediate foreground of affected travelways. Proposed actions would be consistent with assigned SIOs relative to the noted travelways and viewing platforms. Wildlife Habitat Improvements Similar to the proposed mid-story treatments, the proposed wildlife habitat improvements (WSI) would likely go unnoticed by the majority of national forest visitors. WSI treatments would retain the appearance of a continuously forested landscape. The purpose of the treatments would be consistent with enhancing scenery resources over time. Desirable trees would be cultivated to reach larger diameters by removing competing trees less than 9-inches in diameter. Design features would be employed to reduce potential visual impacts within the immediate foreground of affected travelways. Proposed actions would be consistent with assigned SIOs. Other proposed wildlife habitat improvements would be consistent with SIOs. The maintenance of spot and linear wildlife openings would appear more natural due to the proposed feathering of edges. Cane restoration and plantings would also be consistent with a natural appearing landscape. Nest box installation would introduce a constructed element within the natural setting, but would benefit wildlife viewing opportunities. These structures would remain subordinate to the surrounding landscape.

13 The proposed creation of ephemeral pools would not likely be visible to visitors since the majority of log landings and temporary roads would be screened or out of view from visitors. As noted in the Design Features, log landings located along noted travelways may or may not be suitable for constructing wildlife ponds. The rehabilitation of these log landings may need to appear more natural or serve as a roadside pull-out. High Elevation Early Successional Habitat on Waucheesi Mountain 27 acres The creation of high elevation early successional habitat would increase the bald-like appearance atop Waucheesi Mountain. Visitors to this backcountry bald would notice some additional cleared areas, but the majority of the clearing would be downslope and difficult to perceive the increased size of the opening, especially since large overstory trees would be retained. To the extent possible, vegetation would be retained to screen the existing communications building, fence and towers from plain view. This includes views from atop Waucheesi Mountain and distant views of the mountain from as far away as the Cherohala Skyway. Slash visible within the immediate foreground of the mountaintop would be lopped and scattered to reduce negative visual impacts. Proposed actions would be consistent with the desired open landscape and assigned SIO. Stream Improvements The use of native materials to improve stream crossings on Conasauga Creek would be consistent with assigned SIOs. The appearance of the stream crossings would improve over time as vegetation reclaims areas disturbed during construction and previously impacted by vehicle access. Fire Management Prescribed burns would occur throughout the Conacat project area at various times. Visitors to affected areas might notice linear fire lines, scorched earth, dead or dying vegetation, or blackened vegetation in the burned area. Prescribed fires implemented during the growing season would create the most noticeable impacts due to the color contrast between green and scorched vegetation. The effects of the prescribed burning would be temporary and diminish after the following spring re-growth. Longer lasting effects may include blackened trunks of trees and standing dead vegetation. Noticeable changes in forest texture and color due to the open character of the stand and the exposed soil from fire line construction would be evident, particularly if viewed during the leaf-on seasons. The proposed actions including the implementation of scenery design features would be consistent with achieving assigned SIOs. The affected areas would look natural appearing to the casual forest visitor after one to five growing seasons and most likely go unnoticed after 10 years. Transportation Improvements Proposed road construction for temporary or permanent motorized access would be most noticeable immediately after construction. Required clearing would open views to the necessary ground disturbances. Roads would be oriented to minimize visual impacts and the duration of view. These impacts including color contrasts would diminish each season as leaf litter accumulates and ground vegetation grows. Impacts would be less noticeable after 3 to 5 years.

14 Road maintenance and other transportation system related actions such as gate installation would perpetuate the appearance of existing roadways. The proposed actions including the implementation of recommended design features would be consistent with achieving assigned SIOs. This includes additional features designed to protect the appearance of potential remnants of the Old Furnace Road and Unicoi Turnpike. Above: Present impacts of transportation improvements to access treatment area off Old Furnace Road. Above Right: Remaining impacts from previous transportation improvements that may have served as part of the Trail of Tears. Alternative C (Proposed Action) The effects analysis for Alternative C is the same as disclosed for Alternative B with only a few notable exceptions. Silvicultural Treatments Stand 65/15 located within the foreground of Wildcat Creek Road would receive a midstory treatment instead of the regeneration treatment proposed in Alternative B. The midstory treatment would likely go unnoticed by the majority of visitors traveling the Wildcat Creek Road. This treatment would retain the appearance of a continuously forested landscape, whereas the regeneration harvest proposed in Alternative B would not. Design features would be employed to reduce potential visual impacts within the immediate foreground such as large quantities of slash. Proposed actions would be consistent with assigned SIOs. Stand 78/22 would not be treated in Alternative C. It is located near the Old Furnace Road, but not within its immediate foreground. Stand 110/9 near the Conasauga Falls Trailhead would not be treated in Alternative C and would appear the same. This stand is proposed to be thinned in Alternative B adjacent to a proposed clear cut treatment. Cumulative Effects All Alternatives Early Successional Habitat Emphasis The affected scenery resources in the Conacat project area have been allocated to the RLRMP Prescription 8.B Early Successional Habitat Emphasis. These landscapes

15 within the national forest emphasize providing early successional forest habitat conditions dispersed throughout a forested landscape. The desired landscape character includes visible openings in the forest canopy in a variety of sizes. Previous stands that have been treated along the Wildcat Creek Road, Old Furnace Road and the road to Conasauga Falls Trailhead & Conasauga Creek (NFSR 341) within the 8.B prescription would remain evident to visitors in various stages of natural succession. Past alterations would diminish as natural succession continues to enclose the openings with mature trees. With the proposed actions in Alternatives B and C, visitors would expect to see a wide range of areas in different stages of succession. In areas assigned a Low SIOs, alterations to the natural appearing landscapes from silvicultural treatments would be allowed to dominate the landscapes being viewed. However, alterations would borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and patterns of natural openings and vegetative type changes. Forest visitors could notice a decreased canopy cover, cleared openings, and increased sunlight and landscape visibility. These direct effects would diminish year after year, growing season after season, as new saplings emerge and leaf litter accumulates within the stands. Design features would be implemented to achieve assigned MODERATE and HIGH SIOs as needed. In addition to management activities and natural succession, scenery resources would continue to change overtime due to potential natural disturbances caused by fire, insects, disease, and storms. These impacts would affect the appearance of landscapes within the project area at various scales. Presently, the most noticeable impact from natural disturbances would be the loss of hemlock trees within the Conacat project area due to the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. The appearance of dead, dying and fallen hemlock trees would continue to lower the scenic integrity of affected areas, especially within riparian areas. However, these impacts are considered part of the natural landscape and consistent with SIOs. Other noticeable impacts include openings and standing dead and fallen trees due to previous wildfires. These effects reflect natural patterns within the landscape and diminish with each growing season. Considering the naturally occurring disturbance events and past, present and planned management activities, the scenery resources would remain consistent with assigned SIOs. Literature Cited United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agricultural Handbook 701, Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management, December 1995, Page 2-4