1

Hi-Grouse Project 

Scenery Report 

Prepared by: 

Donna M. Mattson, 

Landscape Architect Consultant 

TEAMS Planning Enterprise Unit 

for: 

Goosenest Ranger District, 

Klamath National Forest 

August 2009 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

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Table of Contents 

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 2

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3

Forest Plan Direction .................................................................................................................. 4

Forest Goals–Visual Resources ............................................................................................... 4

Forestwide Standard 11-1 ................................................................................................... 4

Forestwide Standard 11-2 ................................................................................................... 4

Forestwide Standard 11-3 ................................................................................................... 4

Forestwide Standard 11-4 ................................................................................................... 4

Minimum Scenic Integrity .................................................................................................. 4

Medicine Lake Highlands Historic Properties Management Program Direction ............... 5

Project Description ...................................................................................................................... 6

Affected Environment ................................................................................................................. 7

Existing Condition ................................................................................................................... 7

Project-Level Scenery Inventory ........................................................................................ 7

Scenery Conservation Strategies and Design Features ............................................................. 12

Conservation Strategies ......................................................................................................... 12

Project Scenic Character Goals ............................................................................................. 13

Scenery Effects Predictions....................................................................................................... 23

Effects to Existing Scenic Quality .................................................................................... 23

Effects to Scenic Character and Scenic Stability.............................................................. 23

Scenic Stability Effects of the No-action Alternative ...................................................... 23

Scenic Integrity Effects of the No-action Alternative ...................................................... 24

Effects Common to Action Alternatives (2, 3, and 4) ...................................................... 24

Direct and Indirect Effects to Scenic Integrity and Scenic Character .............................. 24

Ground-based Tree Removal Methods .......................................................................... 24

Silvicultural Treatments ................................................................................................ 25

Fuels Prescriptions ......................................................................................................... 25

Direct and Indirect Effects to Scenic Stability Common to Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 ....... 26

Ground-based Removal Methods .................................................................................. 26

Silvicultural Treatments ................................................................................................ 26

Fuels Prescriptions ......................................................................................................... 27

Effects Specific to Alternative 2 – Proposed Alternative ................................................. 27

Effects Specific to Alternative 3 ....................................................................................... 28

Effects Specific to Alternative 4 ....................................................................................... 28

Indirect and Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................... 29

References ................................................................................................................................. 29
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Executive Summary 

Analysis Area. Viewing scenery is the most popular recreation activity on the Klamath National 

Forest.1

 The Hi-Grouse Project is located south of the Four Corners trailhead and encompasses 

approximately 7,430 acres in the southeast portion of the district at: T44N, R2E, Sections 23, 25–

28, 32–36; T43N, R2E, Sections 1–4, 9–13, T44N, R3E, Section 31; T43N, R3E, Sections 6, 7, 

and 18; Mt. Diablo Meridian, Siskiyou County, California. The Hi-Grouse Project Area is 

adjacent to the Medicine Lake recreation area. Scenic quality is the primary recreation value 

potentially affected by the Hi-Grouse Project, as viewed from recreational roads, and trails. The 

analysis area for scenery resources comprises the immediate project area, as well as adjacent 

areas containing high points identified in the Medicine Lake Highland Cultural Area. The project 

area is not located on steep terrain nor is it prominently viewed from areas outside of the project 

boundary, other than from the identified high points such as Red Cap Mountain, and Little Mount 

Hoffman. 

Methods/Models. This Scenery Analysis applies Klamath Forest Plan Visual Quality Objectives 

to describe and measure degrees of expected visual disturbance. It also applies USFS Scenery 

Management System principles to track change to Scenic Character/image, and relative 

sustainability of that character through time. 

Summary of Effects. The No Action Alternative would not create direct scenery effects, nor 

would it address conditions and trends such as over stocking and non-resilient species 

compositions that pose a threat to the scenery resources. Leaving current conditions unaddressed 

as the climate continues to change will only allow threatening conditions to increase. The 

proposed action alternative and alternatives 3 and 4 would cause short term low intensity adverse 

effects to scenery in foreground views. This alternative would also reduce stocking densities and 

adjust species compositions to more resilient conditions. These actions would improve the 

potential for a fire event to be less intense than a fire event in the project area in its current 

condition. Scenic Character attribute changes would improve Scenic Stability under the action 

alternatives. 

Resource Report. Refer to this report as: Hi-Grouse Project –Scenery Report, August, 2009 by 

Donna M. Mattson, Landscape Architect Consultant for TEAMS Planning Enterprise Unit 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

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Introduction 

Viewing scenery is the single most enjoyed recreation activity on the Klamath National Forest 

(KNF). Scenery, just as any other resource, must be cared for and managed for future 

generations. Scenery provides the setting for all activities experienced by forest visitors. Each 

setting is comprised of scenic attributes derived by the environmental context of topography, 

geology, and climate. These underlying factors are expressed and highlighted by the scenic 

attributes that they support. The activities proposed by the Hi-Grouse Project potentially affect 

the current and future condition of these valued scenic resources. Managing scenery resources 

involves the process of analyzing effects and implementing scenic conservation design features to 

achieve the KNF Forest Plan desired conditions and direction for scenery resources. 

This report has two primary purposes: 

1. To disclose the effects of the alternatives on scenery resources. 

2. To determine whether the alternatives are consistent with the Forest Plan and other 

direction (i.e., Medicine Lake Highlands Historic Properties Management Program). 

Regulatory Framework. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) states that it is 

the “continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practicable means to assure 

for all Americans, aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings.” NEPA also requires “A 

systematic and interdisciplinary approach which would insure the integrated use of the natural 

and social sciences and the environmental design arts into planning and decision-making which 

may have an impact on man’s environment.” To accomplish this, numerous Federal laws require 

all Federal land management agencies to consider scenery and aesthetic resources in land 

management planning, resource planning, project design, implementation, and monitoring. 

Several USDA handbooks have been developed to establish a framework for management of 

visual resources, including, but not limited to: 

National Forest Landscape Management Volume 2, Chapter 1, The Visual Management 

System (Agriculture Handbook 462, USDA Forest Service 1974); and 

Landscape Aesthetics, A Handbook for Scenery Management (Agriculture Handbook 701, 

USDA Forest Service [1995]). 

This evaluation applies current national forest scenery management methodology in conjunction 

with existing KNF Forest Plan direction. This includes scenery sustainability concepts described 

in SMS Handbook Appendix J, and the R5 SMS Implementation Process. It relies on field 

studies and photography from inventoried sensitive viewpoints and other views of the project 

area, as well as coordination with project interdisciplinary team (ID Team) members, and 

consideration of public preferences for scenic quality. Cumulative scenic quality was within the 

geographic scope of roadways and other viewpoints within and adjacent to the project. 

Integration of this scenery analysis assures the Hi-Grouse Project is consistent with sceneryrelated KNF Forest direction, USFS policies, and applicable elements of USFS Visual 

Management and Scenery Management systems. Refer to Appendix B of the Scenery 

Management System Handbook #701 for a complete list of references requiring Forest Service 

management of scenery and aesthetics. 
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Forest Plan Direction 

Forest Goals–Visual Resources 

The KNF Forest Plan identifies management direction for scenery resources in its standards and 

guidelines. The four standards reference the visual quality objectives (VQO) map. The VQOs 

are minimum thresholds for scenic integrity. 

Forestwide Standard 11-1 

VQOs were developed using Agriculture Handbooks 462 and 559, which define nationally 

established principles and methods of the visual resource management system. The VQOs apply 

to site-specific projects visible from the Forest's inventoried moderate and high sensitivity 

viewpoints (level 1 and 2). The VQOs are minimum conditions to be achieved as soon as possible 

in all management areas and within no more than 3 years for all VQOs except preservation and 

maximum modification, which must be met immediately. Facilities and developments (to support 

access of forest visitors), such as roads, trails, campground facilities, structures, signs and 

interpretive stations, are not required to meet the management area VQOs when viewed in 

immediate foreground (300 feet). These developments would be crafted in materials and 

appearance to harmonize and compliment the natural character of their immediate settings. An 

inventory of high and moderate sensitivity viewpoints would be maintained in the Forest 

supervisor's office. 

Forestwide Standard 11-2 

Conditions that may be used to fine-tune the adopted VQOs include (Landscape Management 

System Handbook, Volume 1, Chapter 2): 

 1) Discrepancies in landscape variety classification, 

 2) Changes in visual sensitivity levels, 

 3) Discrepancies in the seen area mapping (that is, the ability or inability to view an area 

from a designated road or trail). 

Forestwide Standard 11-3 

Maintain the VQOs as designated. Where possible, and where compatible with other resource 

objectives, strive for higher visual quality standards. Visual objectives may be foregone in the 

short term, following extreme natural events, in order to revegetate the area. 

Forestwide Standard 11-4 

Perpetuate the ecologically established landscape character when implementing management 

activities. Manage activities in accordance with VQOs to reflect the form, line, color, and texture 

of natural occurrences. 

Minimum Scenic Integrity 

Klamath Forest VQO Map identifies the minimum scenic integrity to be achieved. VQO 

achievement is measured as viewed from sensitive roads inventoried in the Forest Plan (Road 15, 

and Road 77 and its adjacent meadows; and Butte Valley viewpoints including County Road 

8Q020 and State Highway 97/Volcanic Legacy National Scenic Byway). 
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Figure 1. Visual quality and sensitivity 

Supplemental project objectives are to also meet partial retention VQO or better from the 

snowmobile routes on Road 44N75 and 44NN01. 

Medicine Lake Highlands Historic Properties Management Program Direction 

The Medicine Lake Highlands Cultural Area is recognized as a special place on the KNF. The 

MLH aesthetic evaluation provides information to help conserve the culturally valued scenic 

condition and identity of this special place. 

The general management objectives are addressed in three assessment areas: The Caldera, the 

Central Highlands, and the Highland Border. The Hi-Grouse Project area lies within both the 

Central Highlands area and Highlands Border assessment areas of the Medicine Lake Highlands. 

Retention 

Partial Retention 

Modification 

Maximum Modification 

High Sensitivity 

Moderate 

Moderate Sensitivity Post LMP 

Visual Quality Objectives Sensitivity Levels 
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The Caldera. Key cultural landscape issues to consider for the Caldera/District during 

environmental analysis or watershed restoration planning include: high wildfire risk, lodgepole 

and conifer encroachment on meadow and riparian areas, diminished structural and biological 

diversity, sustainability of traditional plants, viewshed integrity, privacy and solitude, auditory or 

visual impacts to cultural settings, geothermal development and potential impacts from increasing 

recreational uses of the area. 

The Central Highlands. Key cultural landscape issues to consider for the Central Highlands area 

during environmental analysis and watershed restoration planning are essentially the same as for 

the Caldera with the addition of high road density, higher wildfire risk, white fir encroachment on 

historic mixed conifer stands, and increased levels of visual and vegetative impacts from historic 

and current land management activities. Cultural management objectives for the Central 

Highlands focus on the protection of cultural values, settings, and viewsheds; especially those 

associated with highly revered cultural places located within the Caldera. Management 

objectives focus on ecosystem health, maintaining or enhancing the integrity of natural or cultural 

settings, minimizing intrusive viewshed elements, and creating or accommodating tribal access to 

sacred lands and other traditional cultural or spiritual use areas. 

The Highlands Border. Management objectives for this area include restoring resources and 

landscapes significantly altered by past human activities so that human intrusions within cultural 

viewsheds as seen from the Caldera and Central Highlands are minimized. Key cultural landscape 

issues to consider for the Central Highlands area during environmental analysis and watershed 

restoration planning are essentially the same as for the Caldera with the addition of high road 

density, higher wildfire risk, white fir encroachment on historic mixed conifer stands, and 

increased levels of visual and vegetative impacts from historic and current land management 

activities. 

Project Description 

The Hi-Grouse Project is located south of the Four Corners trailhead and encompasses 

approximately 7,430 acres in the southeast portion of the district at: T44N, R2E, Sections 23, 25–

28, 32–36; T43N, R2E, Sections 1–4, 9–13, T44N, R3E, Section 31; T43N, R3E, Sections 6, 7, 

and 18; Mt. Diablo Meridian, Siskiyou County, California. The area is a part of six 7th field 

watersheds: Antelope Well, Van Bremmer Well (area not within but adjacent to), Hill 22, Dock 

Well, Grouse Hill, and Tamarack Flat. Surrounding the area are several mountains visible from 

the project area: Sharp Mountain, Wildhorse Mountain, Garner Mountain, Lookout Butte, 

Fourmile Hill, Grouse Hill, Badger Peak, Little Mt. Hoffman, Little Glass Mountain, Pumice 

Stone Mountain, Red Cap Mountain, Squaw Peak, and Garner Mountain. 

The Goosenest Ranger District of the KNF proposes to restore ponderosa pine and mixed 

conifers, thin, and use fuel reduction techniques on approximately 5,085 acres within the 

Goosenest Adaptive Management Area (AMA) (see table 1). The proposed actions were designed 

to address the purpose and need components and move towards the desired conditions while 

meeting plan standards and guidelines. This project involves altering stand density, structure, and 

species compositions, and the abatement of fuels generated from proposed activities as well as 

treatment of pre-existing fuel accumulations. The following treatment activities are included in 

the proposed action. Many fuels treatments overlap within any given silvicultural treatment. For 

example, thinning may be followed by both fuels abatement and underburning; and fuel treatment 

corridors may overlap other treatments. Silvicultural and fuels treatments are summarized in the 

EIS, following the discussion of all alternatives. Roads actions across alternatives are also 
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summarized; a thorough description of the proposed activities by alternative can be found in EIS 

chapter 2. 

Table 1. Alternative 2, 3, and 4 proposed treatments 

Proposed Treatment 

Acres 

Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 

Thinning From Below 2,831 2,094 2,530 

Overall fuels abatement 2,831 2,094 2,530 

Mowing 346 254 346 

Underburning 1,729 789 1,495 

Post-treatment evaluation of planting 757 0 644 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer 

Restoration and Re-establishment 

1,188 0 0 

Overall fuels abatement 1,188 0 0 

Mowing 70 0 0 

Underburning 939 0 0 

Post-treatment evaluation of planting 1,188 0 0 

Lodgepole Pine Thinning/Fuels Reduction 683 683 984 

Overall fuels abatement 683 683 984 

Mowing 428 428 728 

Plantation Thinning 99 99 99 

Overall fuels abatement 99 99 99 

Underburning Only 42 478 42 

Fuel Treatment Corridors 13 mi. 

(480 acres) 

13 mi. 

(480 acres) 

13 mi. 

(480 acres) 

Acres outside other treatments 266 300 300 

Total Project Area Acres Proposed for Treatment 5,109 3,654 3,955 

Affected Environment 

Existing Condition 

Project-Level Scenery Inventory 

The project-level scenery inventory is included to provide a clear understanding of the condition 

of existing scenic resources and its context. 

Sense of Place. Sense of place is addressed to display how the area is perceived by the public, 

and to display the physical setting in which the project area lies. The Klamath NF uses the “sense 

of place” definition in Appendix J: “The identity of a place created by people’s social meanings 

and attachments, including valued scenery and recreation settings, cultural and spiritual values, 

economic, social and biophysical characteristics.” Managers using the concept of sense of place 

must define a specific framework for the definition and use of sense of place (Sense of Place in 
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Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism: An Evaluation and Assessment of Research Findings, 

Farnum, page 49). 

The Forest Service has developed the Recreation NICHE process for recreation facilities analysis. 

This process was developed to define the particular recreation niche the forest could provide for 

the public. The Forest defined spatial units that had particular characteristics which could support 

a defined set of recreational experiences. The KNF conducted a recreation facilities analysis 

which characterized the forest and defined spaces in terms of use and sense of place. 

The project area lies primarily within an area defined as “travelways”, characterized as follows. 

Goosenest RD and Butte Valley Grasslands travelways provide access to its gentle volcanic 

landscapes that offer panoramic views of volcanoes, mixed conifer and true fir forests, lakes, high 

elevation meadows, aspen groves, wetlands and rich wildlife. Goosenest travelways and lookouts 

support scenery and wildlife viewing plus easy access to fishable lakes and high-elevation 

meadows accented by wildflowers, streams, aspen, and wildlife. Deer Mountain and Four Corners 

Snowparks support 250 miles of snowmobile trails. Typically uncrowded campgrounds primarily 

support water recreation activities (2007 Recreation NICHE Narrative, page 1). 

The project area also overlaps slightly into the southern Cascade area, and characterized as 

follows. 

Southern Cascades – Forested volcanic mountains linking Klamath River, Mt. Shasta, and 

Medicine Lake: volcanic peaks, craters, cinder cones and lava flows accent this high country 

offering consistent winter snows. 

Southern Cascades – Expansive snowmobile area, driving for pleasure, volcanic feature/forest 

exploration and hunting. 

The area is primarily experienced as a travelway, having no developed campgrounds or amenities 

other than the Four Corners snowpark. However, the area is used for dispersed camp recreation 

during the summer season, and snowmobiling during the winter season. Cultural uses include 

outdoor recreation, and seeking spiritual inspirations on various volcanic peaks. 
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Figure 2. Klamath NF niche map (project area circled) 

Scenic Character. The setting enjoyed in this area is the combination of the socially valued 

scenic attributes including the vistas of volcanic peaks, coniferous forest stands with varying 

scenery attractions such as large ponderosa pines in open park-like stands and the mixed conifer 

mosaics. The major scenic attribute of the Hi-Grouse Project area is the forest vegetation 

comprised of varying types of coniferous species including the open ponderosa pine stands with 

large tree character, the lodgepole stands of more densely stocked smaller trees with small 

openings, composite stands of pine and the stands that have a multi-layered appearance such as 

the pine/white fir species, and the red fir/pine species. The varying stand-types create variety 

amidst the largely contiguous coniferous forest. Secondary attributes such as shrubs and rock 

formations, and small stands of red fir, are also valued in the foreground views. In distant views 

beyond the project area, the landform is comprised of numerous volcanic peaks and buttes of 

differing sizes and shapes, some rounded and others craggy and rugged amidst the broad 

sweeping landscape that varies 1,200 feet in elevation. 

Scenic Character Context. The terrain of the Hi-Grouse area is heavily influenced by past 

volcanic activity; volcanic peaks are common through out the area. The range in elevation from 

5,400 to 6,500 feet provides enough diversity to support the varying plant associations that 

present differing scenic characteristics. Higher elevations support the red fir/pine associations; 

the cold air drainage areas support lodgepole. Lower elevations in the area tend to be drier and 

experience more frequent fire than ponderosa pine can tolerate. Mixed pine/fir compositions are 

found at the mid-level elevations. 

Historic practices in the area have modified the forest, and hence, the scenic expression. Logging 

practices have eliminated the large tree component in much of this area, and the fire suppression 

practices have increased the density of the timber stands, and altered the species composition. 

Many of the stands are a multi-species conglomerate, and the forest has lost much of its varying 

characteristics. The open pine stands are now multi-layered with white fir and other species. Due 

to these practices the vegetation allows for minimal views to the volcanic peaks. The density of 
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the stands allows minimal views into the forest limiting the viewer to less than 30 feet from the 

road prism. 

Although much of the project area has a natural appearance, these stands are modified to be 

excessively dense, and uniform; lacking in the variety that expressed the natural composition of 

vegetation based on the ecological context of the landscape. Not only have these practices altered 

the scenery, but have also effected the stability of the scenery as well, making the scenic attributes 

vulnerable to large, stand-replacing fires, and insect and disease epidemics. 

Scenic Attractiveness. The Hi-Grouse Project area is primarily classified as B (Typical) based on 

the uniform terrain and forest canopy. Areas around aspen groves and red fir pockets are 

classified as A (Distinctive) scenery, but these areas are very limited. 

Visibility. The project area’s gentle terrain allows for minimal visibility from the roadway beyond 

the immediate foreground. The dense contiguous forest limits visibility from most roadside 

views. Many of the sensitive viewpoints are on top of the volcanic peaks within and adjacent to 

the project area. Although these viewpoints are not along sensitive routes, the special place 

cultural designation within the Medicine Lake Highlands recognizes the social importance of 

views from these elevated viewpoints. The foreground views are often limited to the immediate 

foreground (0 to 300 feet) due to the dense forest stands. 

The sensitivity level and related foreground (0-1/4 mile) VQO of the project area roads are as 

follows: 

Tennant Road #77: Sensitivity level 2 (moderate) route, partial retention VQO. 

FS 443N01 Road: Low sensitivity, modification VQO. 

FS 44N80 Road: Low sensitivity, modification VQO. 

Lodgepole Pine stands viewed from Tennant Road #77 
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Forest Plan VQO remains modification, the decision-maker has chosen to increase the VQO to 

partial retention along snowmobile routes for this project. 

FS 44N77 Road: The viewshed of 44N62 is utilized as a snowmobile route, which increases 

the sensitivity of the route and increases the project VQO from modification to partial 

retention. 

FS 44N62 Road: The viewshed of 44N62 is utilized as a snowmobile route, which increases 

the sensitivity of the route and increases the project VQO from modification to partial 

retention. 

FS 44N61 Road: The viewshed of 44N62 is utilized as a snowmobile route, which increases 

the sensitivity of the route and increases the project VQO from modification to partial 

retention. 

FS 44N54 Road: Low sensitivity, modification VQO. 

FS 44N03 Road: The viewshed of 44N62 is utilized as a snowmobile route, which increases 

the sensitivity of the route and increases the project VQO from modification to partial 

retention. 

The project area is viewed at middle and background distances from high points such as Red Cap 

Mountain, Little Glass Mountain, Squaw Peak, and Little Mount Hoffman outside of the project 

boundary. These views are of particular interest to the native tribes in the area as they are 

culturally sensitive viewpoints. From these viewpoints the middleground and background 

scenery is comprised of a contiguous forest across gently rolling slopes with volcanic peaks and 

buttes. The coarse scale texture and color of the forest is perceivable at these distances. The 

most apparent distinction from these distances is large patches of dead and dying trees, as seen 

from Red Cap Mountain. The foreground views scenery is comprised of the subalpine fir and 

volcanic cinder. 
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This view from Red Cap Mountain looks northwest directly into the lodgepole pine stands that 

are heavily affected by the bark beetle. Much of this stand is dead or heavily infested with bark 

beetles. 

Scenery Conservation Strategies and Design Features 

Conservation Strategies 

The conservation strategies differ by species or plant association group as each group has 

differing visual characteristics or attributes. 

View from Little Mount Hoffman 

View from Red Cap Mountain 
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Ponderosa Pine. A primary visual characteristic of the ponderosa pine is the large tree character 

with distinctive bark in an open, park-like stand. This particular species is very fire resistant and 

drought tolerant. Ponderosa pine stands are very inviting, as one can see into them. 

 Maintain open stands (low stand density)by thinning. 

 Encourage large tree growth by clearing up to 30 feet around healthy trees. 

 Use prescribed fire to reduce non-fire resistant species competition, and reduce fuel 

loads. 

 Develop stands of differing age classes to ensure that an entire stand does not decline 

during the same timeframe. 

Lodgepole Pine. Lodgepole pine stands are usually dense in nature and are often perceived as 

thickets. This species grows rapidly, often to the exclusion of other species, growing densely and 

minimizing undergrowth. It is a short-lived species naturally susceptible to insects, disease, 

wind-throw, and large, stand-replacement fire; however, it often is in a state of decline which is 

not visually pleasing. Even at healthy stages, the stands do not provide features that are widely 

expressed as valued. However, when the contiguous stands began to decline; the stands break 

down creating small openings, often allowing other species to infill. These openings create a 

mosaic that is visually appealing, creating more visual diversity. 

 Minimize the visual damage of decline by thinning the dead and dying trees from the 

foreground areas. 

 Create natural appearing openings for other species to grow into. 

 Plant fall color species in openings and along edges. 

 Create openings to provide views to features within or beyond the stand. 

Mixed Conifer. The mixed conifer stands of this project area are comprised of Douglas-fir, white 

fir, and pine. Often these stands are a mosaic of dense thickets with varying canopy height and 

small openings. Stand densities often create hazardous conditions for large stand-replacement 

fire. The primary characteristic in these stands are the variety of species composition and the 

middleground mosaic. 

 Manage stand density by thinning from below. 

 Manage fuel loads by using prescribed fire where possible. 

 Create openings for greater diversity and to provide vistas to features beyond the stand. 

 Manage species composition by retaining fire resistant species and thinning others. 

Project Scenic Character Goals 

Project Area-wide Scenic Character Goals. Retain/restore the “natural appearing” historic 

vegetation scenery attributes (patterns, openings and edge densities, species composition, and 

sizes) throughout all project activities. 

Scenic Character Goals for Immediate Foreground Views (0-300 feet from viewpoint). (1) 

Increase visibility into and through stands to provide more diverse scenery, and (2) treat timber 

stands to support large tree character, irregular groupings, and small openings. 

Design Features for Partial Retention in Foreground. These considerations require the 

following project design features: 
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 Within 300 feet from roadways, skid patterns, slash, soil exposure, landings, tree marking 

and stumps should be visually minor or unnoticed (4 inch maximum height of stumps, 

possible follow-up stump or soil disturbance concealment with hand raking of dirt and 

duff as needed). 

 Road closures along the 15/77 Roads should appear natural and not attract attention, 

preferably through native boulders and logs and landforms, rather than dirt piles, 

trenches, signs, or gates. 

 The following approximate proportions of the view within 300 feet from roadways: 

thinned canopy 90 to 95 percent, unthinned canopy 5 to 10 percent, untreated 

brush/seedling/saplings 15 to 25 percent, hand-piled slash removal 75 percent, tractorpiled 15 percent, mowed areas 35 percent maximum, underburn areas 35 to 50 percent. 

 Undulating fuel break consisting of thinned canopy retaining irregular spacing along the 

roads immediate foreground not to exceed 100 feet, then sweeping away from the road to 

retain stretches of unthinned canopy along the road to a create diverse and natural 

appearing forest edge. Fuel break treatments shall have feathered edges to blend the 

treatment of the canopy into the surrounding vegetation. 

 Foreground clearings (in natural appearing configurations with less than 2 acres visible to 

viewpoints) should not be used frequently, but can be used in specific circumstances to 

treat insect or disease infestations, or to open views to scenic attributes such as rock 

formations, large ponderosa pine or larch components, or views to distant mountain 

peaks. 

Design Features for Partial Retention in Middleground to Background. 

 Retain existing road screening vegetation as viewed from sensitive offsite observer 

positions. 

 Screen temporary roads and landings from the sensitive offsite observer position until 

complete visual recovery is attained. 

 During any one entry, limit the amount of ground surface viewed to 20 percent or less of 

the area as viewed from sensitive offsite observer positions. 

 Limit naturally shaped openings to be a maximum of 5 to 10 acres with blended edges. 

The openings should not exceed 20 percent of the area. The openings should be located in 

such a manner to create natural appearing patterns as a whole. 

Design Features for Modification. 

 Units within the Forest Plan’s modification VQO areas are viewed from middleground to 

background distances. However, within the Medicine Highlands viewshed, cultural 

scenery conservation guidelines call for “maintaining and enhancing the integrity of 

natural or cultural settings, minimizing intrusive viewshed elements,” partial retention is 

more suitable. 

 Retain species of diverse fall color, such as larch or any deciduous tree species. 

 New temporary roads and landings may be evident, but must remain subordinate to the 

shape and pattern of harvest units. 

 Limit naturally shaped openings to a maximum of 10 to 15 acres in size with blended 

edges. The openings should not exceed 40 percent of the area. The openings should be 

located in such a manner to create natural appearing patterns as a whole. 

Existing Scenic Integrity. Scenic integrity is the degree to which the scenery is free from visible 

disturbances that detract from the natural and socially valued appearance, including disturbances 
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due to human activities or extreme natural events inconsistent with the historic range of 

variability. Scenic integrity is measured on the KNF through Visual Quality Objective levels 

defined by the USFS Visual Management System’s Chapter 1 USDA Handbook # 46211. These 

levels and descriptors of how people perceive them are shown in table 2. 

Table 2. Visual quality objectives and perceived alternation 

Levels of Scenic Integrity/Disturbance 

(Visual Quality Objectives [VQOs]) 

The Forest’s Scenic Integrity 

as People by People 

Preservation Unaltered, complete 

Retention Unnoticeably altered 

Partial retention Slightly altered 

Modification Moderately altered 

Maximum modification Heavily altered 

Unacceptable modification 

(is never an objective on National Forest lands) 

Unacceptably altered 

The area is viewed primarily from inventoried sensitive Forest Roads 15 and 77, which travels 

south from the Four Corners Snow Park at the northern edge of the project area. Views from 

these and the project area’s other sensitive routes (see figure 1) are typically limited by the dense 

forest stands on both sides of the road. Foreground views provide limited diversity of form, line, 

color, or texture. The views that are most compelling are those of the distant volcanic peaks that 

dot the landscape; however, vistas of these peaks are very limited. The existing visual quality of 

the views along Forest Roads 15 and 77 meets partial retention. There is little evidence of humancaused impacts to the scenic quality of the project area as viewed from distances beyond 0.25 

mile (foreground). 

The sensitive routes along the southern portion of the project area are used regularly but lightly. 

During the winter months these routes are used as snowmobile routes. The views from these 

routes have no obvious human-caused impacts to the scenic quality. The existing visual quality 

of the views along these routes meets partial retention. 

Scenic Stability. A new scenery indicator has been developed for use within the USFS Scenery 

Management System (applied in this analysis according to procedures described in the 9/20/06 

Draft Appendix J of the SMS Handbook #701). As size and intensity of fire events increase, 

community response is increasingly in favor of improving resiliency of forest stands. Improving 

resiliency of the forest stands reduces hazards such as loss of property, life, economic viability 

and recreation settings. People value the landscape’s unique scenic character and want it to be 

sustained. 

Scenic stability is the degree to which the desired scenic character can be sustained through time 

and ecological progression. For the Hi-Grouse Project area, the existing scenic stability analysis 

focuses on the single major scenery attribute of vegetation, addressing its ecosystem conditions 

identified by field observation and Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) 7 coarse-scale data on 

vegetation and fire history data. Ecosystem changes to other minor scenery attributes such as 

landform, rock outcrops, and winter snowfall are not nearly as critical to the Hi-Grouse Project’s 

scenic character as its vegetation, since these changes are relatively stable over time regardless of 

fire behavior and human activities. 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

16

Scenic stability levels are defined as follows: 

Very High Stability—All dominant and minor scenery attributes of the valued scenic 

character are present and are likely to be sustained. 

High Stability—All dominant scenery attributes of the valued scenic character are present 

and are likely to be sustained. However, there may be scenery attribute conditions and 

ecosystem stressors that present a low risk to the sustainability of the dominant scenery 

attributes. 

Moderate Stability—Most dominant scenery attributes of the valued scenic character are 

present and are likely to be sustained. A few may have been lost or are in serious decline. 

Low Stability—Some dominant scenery attributes of the valued scenic character are present 

and are likely to be sustained. Known scenery attribute conditions and ecosystem stressors 

may seriously threaten or have already eliminated the others. 

Very Low Stability—Most dominant scenery attributes of the valued scenic character are 

seriously threatened or absent due to their conditions and ecosystem stressors and are not 

likely to be sustained. The few that remain may be moderately threatened but are likely to be 

sustained. 

No Stability—All dominant scenery attributes of the valued scenic character are absent or 

seriously threatened by their conditions and ecosystem stressors. None are likely to be 

sustained, except relatively permanent attributes such as landforms. 

Existing Scenic Stability. Scenic stability is an indicator of how sustainable the desired scenic 

character is at a landscape scale. The dynamic nature of ecological systems creates a scenic 

character that changes over time. The temporal scale related to the spatial scale is important to 

understand and should be considered when evaluating the stability of scenery resources. It is 

expected that there would be changes over the course of time; however, the degree of change is 

expected to be within a natural range that varies depending on the ecological context. Some stand 

types display greater degrees or amounts of change than others. For instance, lodgepole stands 

tend to have a short life span and break down more rapidly than other stand types. Lodgepole is a 

pioneer species that grows rapidly and provides shade for the establishment of other species. 

Lodgepole stands will generally express characteristics of patchiness where the pockets would 

open up where then other species would grow into the pocket creating a mosaic of small stands of 

fir in a larger stand of lodgepole. Within these stands, it is expected that the stand would slowly 

break down over a period of 50 to 100 years, and then the stands would then begin a progression 

of rapid decay and mortality. This progression of decay and mortality has a visual appearance of a 

forest stand in decline, in poor health, looking sickly and very susceptible to large stand 

replacement fire. Based on research, most people find that such conditions are not visually 

appealing (USDA-Forest Service 2005). So, it is important to understand that the stability of 

lodgepole stands is different from other species. It is expected that there would be greater amount 

of change over 100 years within a lodgepole pine stand than there would be in a ponderosa pine 

stand. Where lodgepole stands are usually very thick (trees spaced as close as three feet apart), 

pine stands have an open and sometimes sparse character (trees spaced 20 to 30 feet apart). 

These stands are made up of large trees that are known for the individual characteristics such as 

the color of the bark and the girth of the trunk. These stands have differing temporal 

characteristics as well. Ponderosa pine stands tend to maintain health despite drought and low 

intensity fire; and are resistant to diseases and insects; therefore, the amount or degree of change 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

17

over a 100-year period is much less than that of the lodgepole pine stands. The visual appearance 

of the ponderosa pine stands is valued for the large tree character, openness, and overall 

appearance of health. 

At a landscape scale, both of these stand types are present and are considered when evaluating the 

stability of the project area’s scenic character. The fire regime condition class data and the 

vegetative structure data take into account the varying stands and there lifecycle characteristics. 

When there is a departure from the natural, historic conditions it is expected that the historic, 

desired scenic character of the landscape is at risk of experiencing changes that are outside of its 

temporal and spatial scale. Across the western United States this is happening at an alarming rate, 

and with the conditions and trends that are present within this project area and at the landscape 

scale, it is expected that large scenic character changes beyond the natural and historic spatial and 

temporal scale would occur. 

Evaluating scenic stability is done by considering conditions necessary to sustain desired scenic 

character of stands within the natural and historic range of the landscape. Appropriate stand 

density, species composition, and fuel loads are necessary for stands to maintain the inherent 

characteristics through their lifecycle. When trends such as increasing stand density, 

encroachment of less resilient species, increasing fuel loads, and high levels of mortality exist, the 

expected consequences are change in the scenic character that are beyond the historic scale. 

Examples of these consequences are large canopy openings from intense wildfires, large stands of 

dead and dying timber, and loss of distinctive characteristic such as open, large tree character pine 

stands, lodgepole stand mosaics and multi-layered mixed species stands. Gradual trends over 

time have altered the species composition, stand structure, and age classes of the forest 

vegetation. Stands of large mature ponderosa pine that provide an open forest are diminished due 

to encroaching mixed conifer species. 

Much of the coniferous vegetation is trending toward unsustainable conditions. Stocking levels, 

fuel loads, and species composition has departed from the reference/historic conditions. The 

historic fire regime of the ponderosa pine type is one of frequent low-intensity fires which have 

maintained lower stand densities, and fuel loads at a healthy sustainable level. This low-intensity 

fire regime maintains a sustainable species composition of predominantly fire-resistant ponderosa 

pine. Even in cold pockets and in the upper elevations where lodgepole pine reside, the 

suppression of fire has caused a departure from historic conditions. The lodgepole stands are 

very decadent, overstocked and stressed. With this additional stress these stands are vulnerable to 

insect and disease infestations, many of them near epidemic proportions where entire vegetation 

communities are at risk of infestations that lead to wide spread mortality. 

The white fir/pine stands are densely stocked. The white fir is encroaching where ponderosa pine 

stands were once sustained by the low intensity fire cycles. It is visibly apparent that the stands 

are in poor shape with heavy mortality and stressed conditions. Bark beetle infestations have 

already killed much of the pine. Today these stands are beyond the historical range of variability, 

showing trends toward increasing risk of large stand-replacement fire. 

The red fir stands are diminished as well, being crowded out by other species. These diminished 

characteristics are scenic attributes that make up the desired scenic character. 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

18

These continuing trends have created fuel conditions that cause concern for stand-replacement 

fire events. Approximately 90 percent of the project area is moderately or severely inconsistent 

with or trending away from historic “pre-settlement” vegetation structure conditions. Figure 4 

shows these conditions (yellow and red areas, created from the 10/12/06 Fire Regime Condition 

Class-FRCC Analysis provided by Max Creasy, USFS ecologist). There are widespread excesses 

of overly dense stands of smaller and intermediate trees, and accumulations of highly flammable 

forest woody debris. These conditions are largely due to wildfire suppression and logging within 

past decades. The conditions are such that the scenic character is at risk of being severely altered 

by large stand-replacement fire. 

The FRCC levels shown in figure 4 are: 

FRCC I (Low) corresponds to the definitions for “High” and “Very High” scenic stability 

levels described above. They both should have scenery attribute conditions that are within the 

range of natural or historic variability. The green areas in the FRCC maps generally reflect 

these scenic stability levels. 

FRCC II (Moderate) corresponds to the definitions for “Moderate and Low” scenic stability. 

They both include conditions outside the range of natural or historic variability. These scenic 

stability levels are generally reflected as yellow areas on the FRCC maps. 

FRCC III (High) corresponds to the definitions for “Very Low” and “No” scenic stability. 

They are far beyond the range of natural or historic variability. The red areas on the FRCC 

maps reflect these two scenic stability levels (see photo above). 

The FRCC-based maps below show reliable coarse-scale estimates of “departures” from natural, 

historic wildfire cycles (“Fire Return Interval”) and vegetation conditions (“Vegetative 

Structure”). Red areas are “Highly Departed” from historic conditions, yellow areas are 

“Moderately Departed”, and green areas are within the natural, historic range of variability. 

Figure 5 depicts conditions within the project area boundary only, while the vegetation structure 

map (figure 4) shows most of the project area, and beyond (both maps are the approximate scale). 

White fir stands viewed from Road 44N61 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

19

The stand structure for each stand type is shown in figure 3. The amount of acres departed from 

HRV is shown in yellow cream. The bars above the 0 line represent departed conditions above 

the HRV and bars below the 0 line represent the departed conditions below the HRV. 

The greatest departure in the ponderosa pine stands is the lack of late, open-stand structure which 

indicates a loss of larger, older trees in open stands. The stand structure is overly dense with midsized trees. 

Figure 3 indicates a departure in late-open and late-dense structure, which indicates a loss of 

larger, older trees in open and dense stands. The stand structure is overly populated with midsized trees. 

The white fir-mixed conifer stands are lacking in late-open and late-dense trees, indicated a loss 

of larger tree character in open and dense stands. These stands show a departure in the mid-open 

and mid-dense stands, indicated overly dense populations of mid-sized trees. 

The lodgepole pine stands show a lack in late-open structure and a departed amount of mid-sized 

trees in open stands. The lodgepole stands of higher elevations are visibly in poor health. 

Although there are no “unnatural” appearing disturbances, such as clear cuts or straight linear 

features, it is apparent that the stands are too thick for trees to grow properly. The trunks are 

spindly and often bend over, appearing “malnourished.” 

The stand structure in all stand types indicates a loss of the large tree character which is a valued 

scenery attribute. The stand structure data also indicate conditions that are less resilient to fire, 

insects, and disease than stands with HRV. 

Figure 4 shows the condition classes within the project area. Most of the project area is highly 

departed from the natural vegetative structure. The orange area is condition class 3 which is 

highly departed from the natural historic range. The yellow area is condition class 2, moderately 

departed, and the green pockets are condition class 1, within natural range. 

The vegetative structure within the orange area show trends of increasing stand density, and 

changes in species composition that reduce the resiliency of the stands as well as reduce the 

inherent and valued scenic characteristics. The increasing fuel loads from dead and down wood, 

low limbs, and dead standing timber pose high risk of intense fire. As the stands are becoming 

dense multi-layered, mixed species stands, corresponding reductions in large tree character, stand 

openness variety continue to make the scenery much less diverse. 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

20

Red Fir - White Fir R1RFWF

-3000

-2000

-1000

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

ABCDEU

Current Acres

Reference Acres

Departure Acres

White Fir Mixed Conifer SN_ABCO_MCON

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

ABCDEU

Current Acres

Reference Acres

Departure Acres

Lodgepole Pine - Dry R1PICOdy

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

ABCDEU

Current Acres

Reference Acres

Departure Acres

Figure 3. Stand structure departures from HRV 

A Early Seral = young trees <5” dbh 

B Mid Dense = trees 5-25” dbh with >50% crown closure 

C Mid Open = trees 5-25” dbh with <50% crown closure 

D Late Open = trees 25+ dbh with <50% crown closure 

E Late Dense = trees 25”+ dbh with >50% crown closure 

Ponderosa Pine R1PIPO

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

800

ABCDEU

Current Acres

Reference Acres

Departure Acres
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

21

Figure 4. Departure from historic vegetation conditions within the project area 

(green = no departure, yellow = moderate departure, orange = severe departure, per 

2006 FRCC data) 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

22

Figure 5. Departure from historic wildfire conditions within the project area (green = 

no departure, yellow = moderate departure, orange = severe departure, per 2006 

FRCC data) 

The FRCC data shows that much of the project area has conditions that are departed from the 

natural range of fire frequency. The ratings of areas classified as highly departed, moderately 

departed, or within the natural range are shown in figure 5. In general, the lodgepole pine stands 

are within range. The ponderosa pine stands are most severely departed, and the mixed pine/ fir 

stands are moderately departed. These conditions not only exist within the project boundary, but 

throughout the area these conditions are common. Stands that are within the natural range of fire 

return interval frequency are expected to burn with lower intensity, and thus resulting in changes 

that are more in keeping with the historic scale of changes over time. 

A departure of natural fire return interval often indicates that future fire events would burn more 

intensely due to the conditions of the stands. 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

23

This data indicates that condition of the vegetative structure is poor in 80 to 90 percent of the 

project area, and the stresses of drier/hotter weather, annosus root disease, and western bark 

beetle are moderate to severe across the project area and at a landscape scale, making the scenery 

attribute risk high. Within a landscape where most of the scenery attributes are the vegetative 

character, these conditions affect the scenic stability rating extensively. There is a high risk to 

most scenery attributes making the scenic stability “Very Low”. 

Scenery Effects Predictions 

Effects to Existing Scenic Quality 

Scenic quality is the degree to which the appearance of a place, landscape, or feature can elicit 

psychological and physiological benefits to individuals and therefore, to society in general. 

Scenic quality is described and measured through the scenic character inventory and the 

cumulative conditions of the two primary SMS indicators, scenic stability and scenic integrity. 

The existing overall scenic quality would be altered by action alternatives by differing degrees 

based on the method and the amount of acres treated. Some treatments would have minimal 

effects to the scenery resource, while others may change the scenery substantially. This section 

will disclose the predicted effects, including whether the alternatives meet the minimum level of 

scenic integrity required in the KNF Forest Plan and the MLH Plan, as well as changes to the 

project area’s scenic character and scenic stability. 

Effects to Scenic Character and Scenic Stability 

The ideal or desired scenic character of the project area is described as the state when all of the 

scenic attributes are fully expressed and sustainable to the maximum degree possible within its 

historic range. Therefore, the effects of the action alternatives would be evaluated based not only 

on the effects to the existing condition, which is altered from the desired scenic character, but on 

how effectively the alternative moves the existing condition toward the desired scenic character. 

Currently the KNF Forest Plan does not have a minimum level of scenic stability established; 

however, the predicted effects to scenic stability are described below. 

In this landscape, the exclusion of fire has contributed to the trends and conditions that put scenic 

attributes at risk. By reintroducing fire into the ecological progression, resiliency of the historic 

vegetation scenery attributes can be improved. Forest canopy densities can be maintained while 

species composition is regulated to favor the historically dominant fire resistant species. Ladder 

fuels are minimized, and litter is consumed in a controlled manner, further stabilizing the 

ecosystem’s vegetation scenery attributes. Large tree character is promoted by fire reintroduction 

and thus moving the landscape toward the desired scenic character. 

Scenic Stability Effects of the No-action Alternative 

The no-action alternative would continue existing trends and conditions that are increasingly 

hazardous to the stability of scenery attributes. Increased fuel loads combined with the existing 

stand density and species composition are very hazardous conditions. All of these factors would 

contribute to a large stand-replacing fire in the event of a lightening strike or a human caused fire, 

which would damage or eliminate several vegetation scenery attributes, including the historic 

canopy pattern. The high incidence of the annosus root disease would continue to contribute to 

mortality of stands, many that already have heavy fuel loads and high stand densities. The 

greatest threat to scenic stability in this area is large stand-replacement fire. The no-action 

alternative would perpetuate conditions and trends that increase the scenery hazards of stand 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

24

replacement fire. Table 3 displays the existing scenic integrity/Forest Plan VQO level along with 

predicted outcome by alternative. 

Scenic Integrity Effects of the No-action Alternative 

The no-action alternative would have no direct effect to the scenic integrity of the project area. 

The existing degree of visible disturbances would remain (see table 3) displays the existing scenic 

integrity/Forest Plan VQO level along with predicted outcome by alternative. 

Table 3. Comparison of alternative effects for scenic integrity/Forest Plan VQO and scenic stability 

Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 

Visual Quality Objective 

Partial Retention Meets VQO Meets VQO Meets VQO Meets VQO 

Modification Meets VQO Meets VQO Meets VQO Meets VQO 

Scenic Stability 

Overall Project Area 

Existing Condition is Very 

Low Stability 

No 

improvement 

Improves to low 

stability 

Minimal 

improvement 

Minimal 

Improvement 

Ponderosa Pine No 

improvement 

Improves to low 

stability 

Improves to low 

stability 

Improves to low 

stability 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed 

Conifer 

No 

improvement 

Improves to low 

stability 

No 

improvement 

No 

improvement 

Lodgepole Pine No 

improvement 

Improves to low 

stability 

Improves to low 

stability 

Improves to 

moderate stability

Effects Common to Action Alternatives (2, 3, and 4) 

The action alternatives propose treatments that may have an impact on scenery resources. This 

section discloses the effects in a general manner unrelated to visibility from identified sensitive 

routes unless otherwise stated. Visual effects generated by vegetative management activities vary 

in duration and intensity depending on the treatment prescribed and the methods used. Effects 

caused by action alternatives were considered in relation to the existing appearance and desired 

landscape character (see Table 3). 

Direct and Indirect Effects to Scenic Integrity and Scenic Character 

Most effects to scenic integrity would be similar in each alternative, differing in the amount of 

acres treated. Short-term visual effects of thinning and commercial harvest are often the most 

noticeable during the period prior to growth of new grasses, and shrubs begin to soften the effects 

of logging operations. These effects are considered short term (3 to 5 years). Short-term effects 

are especially noticeable when the viewer is within 500 feet of the logging site. Long-term 

effects (>5 years) vary by the treatment and the methods used. 

Ground-based Tree Removal Methods 

Ground-based removal methods would be used for all silvicultural treatment units. These effects 

would be apparent in primarily in foreground views. Landings associated with the ground-based 

systems would be located adjacent to existing roads, but screened from the visually sensitive 

routes. Skid trails used to move logs to the landings would create linear features of exposed soils 

across the forest floor. These effects would last for 3 to 5 years until grasses and shrubs in the 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

25

understory reestablish and lessen the effects of the ground-based equipment. It is expected that 

partial retention would be achieved within 1 year after the project is complete. 

Silvicultural Treatments 

Thinning from Below. The silvicultural treatment of thinning from below reduces stand density by 

removing the smaller and shorter trees from the stand. The thinning is to be done in varying 

levels of intensity to create a diverse stand density which would create a very natural appearance. 

This treatment would create some small openings (0.25 to 1 acre in size) in up to 15 percent of 

the stand. There would be stumps remaining that would be visible for up to 1 year. It is expected 

that most stumps would not be visible from a distance greater than 50 feet after grasses and shrub 

reestablish. The fuels abatement associated with this treatment would create some short-term 

visual effects including piles of slash that would be burned at a later date, lop and scatter of slash 

where amounts are minimal, and biomass piles that would be chipped at a later date. Long-term 

effects would be the reduction of smaller boles and reduced stand density. The remaining trees 

would benefit from the increased space in which to grow and thrive. It is expected that larger tree 

character would begin to be visible within 20 years. The open stands would allow a longer 

viewing distance into stands for the viewer to see more of forest floor, open sky, and possibly 

wildlife. It is expected that partial retention would be met within 1 year of project completion. 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer Restoration and Re-establishment. The effects of this treatment 

are expected to be very similar to thinning from below, varying only in the change to species 

composition. Thinning treatments would favor the pine species, and remove species heavily 

infested with annosum root disease. So in areas where the white pine and red fir are infested, the 

stand would change from heavily forested to thinned stands and openings of 0.25 to 1 acre in size. 

Similar effects of stumps, slash piles, lop and scatter, and biomass piles would be visible for up to 

a year after project completion. Long-term effects would include reduced stand density, pine and 

mixed fir reestablished which is closer to the desired scenic character. It is expected that this 

treatment would reduce mortality from the annosum root disease. This treatment would also 

allow longer viewing distances providing greater diversity in patterns of density, openings, and 

tree bole size. It is expected that partial retention would be met within 1 year of project 

completion. 

Lodgepole Pine Thinning/Fuels Reduction. The removal of diseased lodgepole pine, thinning of 

understory saplings, and the reduction of fuels would move the stands toward an open stand 

structure with small trees of mixed species composition. The short-term effects would be similar 

to the other treatments. The long-term effects would be beneficial to stand health, which would 

be visible as fewer dead and dying trees, larger tree-bole diameter, and diversity in species 

composition. The open-stand structure would allow for greater diversity in ground-level plants. 

It expected that partial retention would be met within 1 year of project completion. 

Fuels Prescriptions 

The effects of overall abatement prescriptions (whole-tree yarding, biomass removal, piling and 

burning, and lopping and scattering) have been addressed within the discussion of silvicultural 

treatments where applicable. Mechanical mowing, underburning, and fuels treatment corridors 

would also be used. 

Mechanical mowing of shrubs, seedlings, and saplings would create a short-term effect where the 

ground-level plants would be mowed leaving a somewhat “manicured” look that may appear out 

of character within the forest setting. This treatment would reduce scenic diversity for the 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

26

duration of one growing season. It is not expected that this treatment would be obvious to most 

viewers from a moving vehicle, but evident to those aware of the treatment. 

Underburning would be used to reduce natural fuel loads, past activity slash, shrubs, and white fir 

understory trees. This treatment would also increase herbaceous species and encourage pine 

regeneration. It is expected that underburning would cause short-term effects of areas of 

blackened understory and tree boles, red needles, and burned saplings. These effects would be 

varied by the intensity of the prescribed fire. It is expected that in some areas the fire would 

crown-out creating some small pockets of dead trees. These effects are considered natural 

appearing in the scale that is expected to occur. 

The long-term effects of these fuels prescriptions are the reduction of fuels and opening of the 

understory. This would improve the scenic quality by creating greater visibility and diversity at 

the ground level. 

Overall, the effects of these treatments are expected to cause short-term effects to scenic integrity 

that would be no longer be apparent in 1 to 3 years. It is expected that the stand characteristics 

would move toward the desired scenic character. 

The use of these prescriptions is expected to minimize effects upon scenic integrity within the 

sensitive viewsheds, as well as to reduce conditions that contribute to the scenic integrity hazards 

of large stand replacement wildfire. 

Fuels Treatment Corridor. The fuels treatment corridor is designed to provide fire control along 

the major routes of the project area. This treatment addresses fuels directly adjacent to the routes 

and would occur within the immediate foreground. The small tree thinning and/or removal, 

pruning, mowing of brush, and hand or machine piling and burning of fuels concentrations would 

create a more “clean”/“open” ground-level appearance, providing longer views into the forest, 

and would open up the vegetative tunnel that often exists along these routes. The brush mowing 

often creates a thrashed appearance of brush which tends to be aesthetically obnoxious, but this is 

a short-term effect which dissipates as new growth hides the mown limbs. The expected effects 

to scenic integrity are based on the monitoring results of the Little Horse PSW, which was done in 

very similar landscapes with similar treatments and methods. Partial retention was achieved and 

even exceeded by the project, as is expected in this project (Little Horse Peak PSW Research 

Project, Scenic Quality Monitoring Report [Mosier 2005]). 

Direct and Indirect Effects to Scenic Stability Common to Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 

Ground-based Removal Methods 

Removal methods rarely have direct or indirect effects to the stability of scenery resources. 

Actions that remove scenic attributes would cause a reduction in scenic stability; however, in this 

case, the effects to scenery of ground-based removal methods are limited to skid trails which 

would have no effect to scenic stability. 

Silvicultural Treatments 

Thinning from Below. Thinning from below in smaller and shorter trees has been shown to 

increase height to live crown, and decrease crown density, while retaining big trees (in this case, 

fire-resistant species, such as pines, which all serve to make the stands more resilient to fire). 

Thinning from below would also reduce the stand density which would improve the stands 

resiliency to drought, insects, and disease by reducing the competition for water and nutrients, 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

27

making the individual trees stronger/healthier. This treatment would counter the trend of 

increasing stand density and higher fuel loads which increases the hazards of stand-replacement 

fire and insect and disease epidemics. 

Ponderosa Pine/Mixed Conifer Restoration and Re-establishment. This treatment is designed to 

re-establish the dominant ponderosa pine stands that are more resilient to frequent fire and 

drought conditions. This is consistent with the desired scenic character for this area and would 

serve as a tool to work toward improving scenic stability. 

Lodgepole Pine Thinning/Fuels Reduction. The lodgepole pine stands are approaching the end of 

their 80- to 100-year lifecycle; therefore, the bark beetle is taking their toll on the stands. 

However, it appears as though these stands are experiencing greater mortality than is expected 

within the natural or historic range. This is more than likely due to the suppression of fire that 

would have periodically burned small portions of the stand that were dead. As a result of fire 

suppression, the amount of dead lodgepole is greater than normally expected. Thinning and fuels 

reduction along the 43N01 Road will provide a fuel break in the foreground as well as open up 

the understory to provide views further into the stands. This treatment will improve scenic 

character and scenic stability. 

Fuels Prescriptions 

The fuels prescriptions proposed are all designed to reduce fuels. These efforts in conjunction 

with the silvicultural treatments would address the conditions and trends that are hazardous to 

scenery attributes such as large tree character, and open stands, and would improve the scenic 

stability of the project area. 

Fuels Treatment Corridor. The fuels treatment corridor is designed to specifically address fuels in 

a concentrated manner along access roads to provide 300-foot fuel break with the intention of 

dropping the flame down to the ground level, and thus slowing a fire and making available an 

opportunity for firefighters to get control of the blaze. This feature is recognized in all fire 

models as a design feature that can help in efforts to reduce the overall size of a fire. Therefore, 

this treatment contributes to improved scenic stability. 

Effects Specific to Alternative 2 – Proposed Alternative 

It is expected that the treatments proposed in alternative 2 would have minor adverse effects to 

scenic integrity. Foreground views of the sensitive travel routes would have visible alterations to 

the vegetation of moderate intensity. These scenic integrity effects, such as exposed soil, 

occasional stumps, stobs, crushed brush or saplings, skid trails, scorched trunks, and red needles, 

would be short term (< 3 years). The removal of small saplings and underbrush would open up 

the stands in the immediate foreground, affording longer viewing distances into the remaining 

stands. Middleground and background views from the sensitive high points such as Red Cap 

Mountain, Squaw Peak, and Little Mount Hoffman would have no visible effects to scenic 

integrity. It is expected that visual disturbances such as tractor-yarding corridors, roadways, and 

landings would be screened by remaining vegetation. The heaviest impacts would occur in the 

ponderosa pine/mixed conifer restoration and re-establishment units which are visible from roads 

44N77 and 44N75 and other snowmobile routes, which have a partial retention viewshed VQO. 

The openings created in these units would mimic natural openings in size and appearance. 

The proposed treatments would not create openings large enough to stand-out from these 

distances. These effects are fully compatible with the KNF Forest Plan’s Partial Retention VQO 

and MLH Plan direction. The predicted scenic integrity effect upon the project area is as follows: 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

28

Foreground views (0 to 0.5 mile) – Partial retention VQO; achieve dominantly natural 

appearance within 3 years, within all treatment units. 

Middleground/background views (10.5 to 4 miles) – Retention VQO; achieve a natural 

appearance immediately, within all units. 

It is expected that the treatments proposed in alternative 2 would have moderate beneficial effects 

to the scenic stability of the project area. The treatments are designed to reduce stand density, 

alter species composition, and reduce fuel loads to maintain more resilient stands. The treatments 

would make immediate improvements to scenic stability and the improvements would be retained 

for a long-term benefit (0 to 50 years). The lodgepole stands would continue to unravel with 

mortality, which is expected. The ponderosa pine stands would be much more resilient to fire. It 

is expected that fire would be much less intense and primarily burn along the ground rather than 

crown-out and burn large stands. The mixed pine/fir stands would also be more resilient to fire. 

The fuels treatment corridor would give firefighters access to fight a fire, which could potentially 

help reduce the loss of scenic character attributes. The predicted overall scenic stability effect 

upon the project area would be: Scenic stability improved from “Very Low Stability” to “Low 

Stability”. 

Effects Specific to Alternative 3 

Scenic Integrity: It is expected that the treatments proposed in alternative 3 would have minor 

adverse effects to scenic integrity. Alternative 3 differs from alternative 2 primarily by those 

acres of restoration and re-establishment of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer. This treatment is 

the heaviest thinning proposed, and by not doing this treatment, the associated effects of heavy 

thinning would not occur. Alternative 3 also proposes more underburning which would cause 

more short-term adverse effects in scorched trunks and red needles, burned saplings, and 

scorched ground cover vegetation. However, the predicted effects would still meet partial 

retention. 

Foreground views (0 to -0.5 mile) – Partial retention VQO; achieve dominantly natural 

appearance within 3 years, within all treatment units. 

Middleground/background views (10.5 to 4 miles) – Retention VQO; achieve a natural 

appearance immediately, within all units. 

Scenic Stability: The effects to scenic stability would be approximately the same as alternative 2 

in the ponderosa pine stands; however, there would be no beneficial effects to the ponderosa 

pine/mixed conifer stands. Scenic stability in this area would remain very low. The increased 

acres in underburning would improve the stability of those units. There would be beneficial 

effects to the lodgepole stands on 683 acres. The predicted overall scenic stability effect upon 

project area would be: Scenic stability would remain at “Very Low Stability”. 

Effects Specific to Alternative 4 

Scenic Integrity: Alternative 4 proposes to treat approximately 300 additional acres of lodgepole 

pine and would not restore or re-establish ponderosa pine/mixed conifer. A limited amount of 

underburning is proposed. There would be minor adverse effects to scenic integrity visible from 

foreground views for a short-term duration. Middleground and background views would be 

unaffected. There would be fewer effects related to underburning, such as scorched groundcover 

and tree trunks, red needles, and pockets of dead trees where the underburn would potentially 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS

29

crown out. The heavy thinning of the ponderosa pine/mixed conifer would not occur, so there 

would be no foreground effects to the snowmobile route viewsheds. 

Foreground views (0-0.5 mile) – Partial retention VQO; achieve dominantly natural 

appearance within 3 years, within all treatment units. 

Middleground/background views (0.5 to 4 miles) – Retention VQO; achieve a natural 

appearance immediately, within all units. 

Scenic Stability: There would be beneficial effects to scenic stability of the ponderosa pine stands 

and the lodgepole pine stands. No beneficial effects would occur in the ponderosa pine/mixed 

conifer stands. The predicted overall scenic stability effect upon project area would be: Scenic 

stability would remain at “Very Low Stability”. 

Indirect and Cumulative Effects 

The indirect effects of alternative 1 (no action) would be the perpetuation of the existing 

conditions and trends that have created hazardous, unstable conditions for project area scenic 

quality, and have contributed to the loss of the attractive open ponderosa pine stands. 

Perpetuating these conditions would maintain low scenic stability in the area. An event such as a 

large fire or an insect or disease epidemic is very probable considering the existing and 

perpetuating conditions. The indirect effects to scenic integrity, if such an event were to occur, 

are all effects related to stand replacement fire that is larger in size and intensity than what would 

occur if the vegetation conditions were within the natural, historical range of variability, as well 

as the potential adverse scenery disturbances arising from fire suppression activities. 

The indirect effects of the action alternatives are expected to cause minor adverse effects to scenic 

integrity while causing beneficial long-term effects to the scenic character and scenic stability. 

The action alternatives address (to varying degrees) the conditions, stresses, and trends that 

currently pose a hazard to the scenic attributes. It is expected that the direct effects would be 

immediate and long term (10 to 50+years). The large tree character that is now lacking would 

begin to develop through the 50+ years, and reintroduction of fire into the landscape would be 

beneficial to maintaining open park-like stands of ponderosa pine. As continuing projects in the 

broader area are completed, it is expected that the scenic stability at a larger scale is expected to 

improve. The Little Horse Peak project along the Tennant Road #77 to the north of the project 

area is a good example of projects being accomplished in the area the contribute to the larger 

effort to improve ecological conditions towards desired scenic character, which in turn improves 

scenic stability while meeting the visual quality objectives that minimize adverse scenic integrity 

effects. 

The Hi-Grouse Project would help achieve the KNF’s desired conditions for scenery: to 

perpetuate ecologically established scenery, and minimize visual disturbances (meet Forest visual 

quality objectives/VQOs). 

References 

Mosier. 2005. Little Horse Peak PSW Research Project, Scenic Quality Monitoring Report. 

USDA-Forest Service. 1995. Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. 

Pacific Southwest Region, Vallejo, CA. 
Scenery Report Hi-Grouse Project EIS 

30

USDA-Forest Service. 2002. National Visitor Use Monitoring Report for the Klamath National 

Forest. Prepared by Kocis, English, Zarnoch, and others. p. 12-13. 

USDA Forest Service. 2004. Medicine Lake Highlands Aesthetic Evaluation. Klamath National 

Forest. 

USDA-Forest Service. 2005. Social Science to Improve Fuels Management: A Synthesis of 

Research on Aesthetics and Fuels Management. Ryan, R.L., University of Massachusetts, 

Amherst. (http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/viewpub.asp?key=3514) 

USDA-Forest Service. 2007. Appendix J – Recommended SMS Refinements, Appendix to 

Landscape Aesthetics, Handbook for Scenery Management, USDA Handbook 701. 

USDA-Forest Service. 2006. Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC), Vegetation Structure and Fire 

Return Interval. Generated by Stafford, H., and others. Pacific Southwest Region. 

USDA-Forest Service. 2007. The Medicine Lake Highlands Historic Properties Management 

Program: Including a Cultural Assessment and Guidelines for Management. Klamath 

National Forest. 

USDA-Forest Service. 2007. Klamath National Forest Recreation Facility Analysis NICHE 

Statement. Klamath National Forest. 

USDA-Forest Service. 2008. Landscape Aesthetics - SMS Implementation Process. Pacific 

Southwest Region.