***[ [Documentation Guide for]{.smallcaps}]{.underline}:* LANDSCAPE
RESOURCE (Scenic Beauty)**

**[BACKGROUND]{.underline}**

Landscape Resources are those perceived physical elements and processes
of the landscape that have value for human use. Through proper planning,
the landscape can be managed, allowing visual characteristics to be
maintained or improved.

Landscape resource management is the process of manipulating the
physical elements and functions of the landscape to achieve specific
resource objectives. The landscape has a consistently definable
appearance that can be described by the measurable visual elements of
landform, water, vegetation, structures and sky. Four of the visual
elements (landform, water, vegetation & structures) provide a ready
basis for describing the changing countryside landscape as altered by
human decisions.

*Landform* - The shape of the land (topography, slope, and aspect) seems
to be the most noticeable element, particularly as it relates to the
horizon. For example, the horizontal nature of crop landscapes makes
them especially sensitive to the presence of vertical elements, such as
streamside vegetation, shelterbelt trees, farmstead structures and
utility poles. When agricultural activities, such as tree rows and
fences, are aligned with the topography, they tend to emphasize and
enhance the landform. In flat or rolling areas the horizontal line is
the most conspicuous landscape element because it is so uniformly
horizontal.

*Vegetation* - Vegetation within the landscape includes agricultural
crops, which can vary widely in size, form, color, texture and planting
pattern. Shelterbelt and streamside trees are visually significant in
landscapes where low crops or pastures are present. When that pattern is
repeated year after year, often the trees provide the only spatial
differentiation in an otherwise horizontal landscape. Row crops create
visually strong lines to the viewer on the ground or from the air, so
any curved (nonlinear) pattern that is located among the straight lines
will be prominent.

*Structures* - From a human emotional standpoint, structures evoke the
most obvious and describable of our mental images of \"countryside".
Farmhouses, barns, silos, wooden fences, stone walls, windmills and
two-lane roads are some of the agriculturally related structures that
fulfill our romantic notion of countryside. Today\'s countryside is more
likely to be populated with highways, transmission lines, steel and
concrete bridges, warehouses, subdivisions, theme parks, and airports;
few of which evoke any images directly related to agriculture. New
technologies, such as metal farm buildings and silos and pre-fabricated
houses, are part of today\'s countryside landscape.

*Water* - Water has magnetic appeal. It can add to aesthetic quality,
modify temperatures, serve as a buffer between use areas, and direct
attention from undesirable views. It\'s characteristics are gurgling,
rushing, spurting, falling, calm or placid. Its shape, whether water
course or water body, also adds value to the landscape.

When all of the above elements are combined, they form patterns or
images that collectively we label as the \"landscape". While the
identified \"landscape\" will vary from region to region, the
recognition that a particular landscape is characteristic of a certain
part of the country is obvious to everyone who lives there or who passes
through the region.

Contributions to landscape resources are part of providing planning
assistance to landowners and land users. Emphasis should be given to
natural resource conservation practices that while contributing to an
efficient and productive agriculture, increase the attractiveness of
rural landscapes.

**[POLICY]{.underline}**

NRCS will provide technical assistance with full consideration of
alternative management and development systems that preserve scenic
beauty or improve the landscape (GM 190 410.24) and emphasize the
application of conservation practices having scenic beauty or landscape
resource values particularly in waste manage systems, field borders,
field windbreaks, wildlife and wetland habitat management, access roads,
critical area treatment: design and management of ponds, stream margins,
odd areas, and farmsteads; siting or positioning of structures and
buildings to be in harmony with the landscape while reducing the
potential for erosion; using native and other adaptable plants for
conservation which enhance scenic beauty and create variety while
linking beauty and utility.

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**[Casefile Documentation:]{.underline} LANDSCAPE RESOURCES**

***When correctly and completely evaluated this will provide adequate
documentation for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). Attach to NM-ENV-1 when completed.***

**STEP 1.** In the planning area are there unique or high-quality
landscape resources that could be affected by the proposed action or
activity?

> NO YES

a.  If your answer is \"No\", proceed with planning.

b.  If your answer is \"Yes\", go to step 2.

**STEP 2.** What effect will the proposed action or activity have on the
landscape resources?

NONE POSITIVE NEGATIVE

Describe:

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a.  If your answer is "None" (no effects positive or negative), go to
    step 3.

b.  If there are "Positive\" effects, and the effects are consistent
    with the goals and aims of maintaining, protecting and preserving
    landscape resource values, document (describe) the positive effects
    on th*e Environmental Evaluation and Resource Inventory Checklist*
    (NM-ENV-1) and this documentation guide and go to step 3.

c.  If there are \"Negative\" effects, document (describe) the effects
    on *the Environmental Evaluation and Resource Inventory Checklist*
    (NM-ENV-1) and this documentation guide and consult with the State
    lead for Conservation Planning.

**STEP 3.** Are native plants, which enhance scenic beauty and create
variety, to be used in the proposed action or activity?

YES NO

a.  If your answer is \"Yes\", proceed with planning.

b.  If your answer is "No", consult with appropriate specialists on
    using non-native or other plant materials. If there is not a
    negative effect, proceed with planning.

Documentation Notes:

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