194 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.13 Scenery 

Scenery is an important aesthetic quality of Tongass National Forest 

System lands. The Forest Plan recognizes this and addresses the 

degree of acceptable alteration of the landscape by assigning Visual 

Quality Objectives to each land use designation. These objectives are 

based on the visibility of the landscape from identified Visual Priority 

Routes and Use Areas (Appendix F of the Forest Plan) which form 

Viewsheds and represent the area of analysis. 

Southeast Alaska scenery encompasses mountains, glaciers, water, 

sky, weather, trees, animals, boats, people, and development. While 

there are an infinite number of personal interpretations of scenery, the 

Forest Plan assumes general preferences based on cultural norms and 

predominant social values. The quality of the scenic environment can 

be categorized in terms of visual character types. 

3.13.2.1 Character and Variety Class 

Visual character types provide a framework for defining the quality or 

distinctiveness of scenery. Each character type contains unique 

features of landforms, vegetative patterns, water forms, or geologic 

features. The greater the diversity of form, line, texture, and color in a 

landscape, the greater the scenic value. There are six distinct visual 

character types represented on the Tongass National Forest. North 

Kuiu Island lies within the Kupreanof Lowland visual character type. 

The natural landscape within character type is described in terms of 

scenic value and placed into three variety class designations (USDA 

Forest Service 1973). The variety classes are described below with the 

acres of each within the Project Area. For a detailed description, see 

the Scenery Resource Report available in the Kuiu Timber Sale Area 

planning record. 

Variety Class A: Kupreanof Lowland, Distinctive. The amount of 

Variety Class A within the Project Area is quite small (291 acres) and 

confined to an area of shoreline in upper Security Bay. 

Variety Class B: Kupreanof Lowland, Common. The amount of 

Variety Class B encompasses approximately 59 percent of the Project 

Area (27,336 acres) and consists of the forested mountain slopes. 

Variety Class C: Kupreanof Lowland, Minimal. Variety Class C 

encompasses approximately 41 percent of the Project Area (18,475 

acres) and consists of relatively flat terrain scattered throughout the 

Project Area. 

3.13.1 

Visual 

Character 

3.13.2 

Existing 

Condition 
Scenery3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 195 

3.13.2.2 Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas 

The Forest Plan identified specific locations from which scenery is 

viewed, reflecting high visitor use and a greater public concern for 

scenic quality. These Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas are 

used to assess scenic condition and the locations from which scenic 

value is to be emphasized. Areas visible from Priority Travel Routes 

and Use Areas are described in scenery resource terms as the “seen 

area.” “Seldom seen” or “not seen” areas are defined as those locations 

not viewed from any position along a Visual Priority Travel Route and 

Use Area. 

Viewing locations within the Project Area from which scenic quality is 

measured in this analysis include Rowan Bay, Security Bay, Saginaw 

Bay, Kadake Bay, and Kadake Creek. The Project Area is also viewed 

at a distance (3-5 miles) from Frederick Sound, but is seen in closer 

proximity from either Saginaw Bay or Security Bay where the 

potential effects would be greater. 

All the Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Area destinations 

surrounding the Project Area receive intermittent to moderate use over 

the course of the year, much of which is seasonal in nature. Those 

viewing the landscapes are primarily passengers of the Alaska Marine 

Highway System, commercial fishing vessels, fishing and whale 

watching charter boats, and small recreational boats involved in 

camping, hunting, fishing, or subsistence activities. 

3.13.2.3 Visibility and Distance Zones 

Visibility, mapped in terms of distance zones, is a measure of how 

visual changes are perceived in the landscape. Changes in form, line, 

color, and texture become less perceptible with increasing distance. 

The Forest Service describes visibility in terms of three distance zones: 

foreground, middleground, and background (USDA FS 1974). Each 

distance zone is listed in detail in the Scenery Resource Report which 

is available in the Kuiu Timber Sale planning record. Project Area 

visibility from Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas is 

displayed in Table 3-71. 

Foreground: (0 - 1⁄2 mile from the viewer) –Foreground viewing 

areas include a portion of the Security and Saginaw Bay shoreline and 

areas within the Kadake Creek river corridor. 

Middleground: (1⁄2 - 3 to 5 miles from the viewer) - Middleground 

viewing of the Project Area includes most of the prominent forested 

ridges visible from saltwater. 

Background: (3-5 miles and greater) - There are no background 

viewing locations inventoried within the Project Area. 
3 Environment and Effects

196 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Not Seen: Those landscapes within the Project Area which are not 

visible from Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas as a result of 

topographic relief or other physical attributes. 

Approximately 70 percent of the Project Area is categorized as not 

seen from Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas. 

Table 3-71. Acres of harvest in distance zones by alternative

Distance Zone Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Foreground 18 0 49 0

Middleground 144 246 500 455

Background 0 0 0 0

Not Seen 316 540 838 753

Total Harvest Acres 478 786 1,387 1,208

3.13.2.4 Existing Visual Condition (EVC) 

Existing Visual Condition (EVC) describes the visual appearance of 

the landscape at the time the assessment in conducted. It excludes the 

context of whether the landscape is seen or not seen from Visual 

Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas and indicates the amount of 

change that has occurred in the past and what level of change may be 

acceptable in the future. The relevance of EVC for this analysis is to 

use the present visual condition of the Project Area as a baseline to 

evaluate the acceptable desired future condition and cumulative effects 

outlined in the Forest Plan management prescription criteria. Six levels 

are used to describe the landscape’s EVC ranging from pristine to 

intensively modified: 

Type I: Landscapes where only ecological change has occurred, 

except for trails needed for access. Landscapes appear to be untouched 

by human activities. 

Type II: Landscapes where change is not noticed by the average 

forest visitor unless pointed out. These landscapes have been altered 

but changes are not perceptible. 

Type III: Landscapes where changes are noticeable by the average 

forest visitor, but they do not attract attention. Changes appear to be 

minor disturbances. 

Type IV: Landscapes where changes are easily noticed by the 

average forest visitor and may attract attention. Changes appear as 

disturbances but resemble natural patterns in the landscape. 
Scenery3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 197 

Type V: Landscapes where changes are very noticeable and would be 

obvious to the average forest visitor. Changes tend to stand out, 

dominating the view of the landscape, but are shaped to resemble 

natural patterns. 

Type VI: Landscapes where changes are in glaring contrast to the 

landscape’s natural appearance. Changes appear as dramatic, large 

scale disturbances that strongly affect the average forest visitor. 

The Existing Visual Condition of the Project Area is primarily in a 

Type V, as evidenced by the amount of timber harvest that has 

occurred over the past 20 years. This condition however is not as 

apparent when viewed from saltwater locations where regeneration of 

the larger and older logging units has begun to visually recover. EVC 

Type V rating is more a result of the extent of harvest than the direct 

visual appearance when viewed in close proximity or from visual 

priority viewing locations, and is reflective of the desired condition of 

the Timber Production land use designation. 

Table 3-72. Project Area Acres by Existing Visual Condition

Existing Visual Condition Acres 

Type I 8,484

Type II 434

Type III 36

Type IV 8,023

Type V 25,020

Type VI 4,105

Kuiu Project Area 46,102

3.13.2.5 Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) 

Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) provide measurable standards to 

assess the scenery resource based on landform characteristics and 

levels of public concern. VQOs are established by incorporating the 

previously defined visual resource elements of variety class, viewing 

sensitivity, and distance zone. Adopted VQOs are established during 

the forest planning process. Adopted VQOs help govern the location, 

design, scheduling, and level of management activities, such as timber 

harvest, to achieve or maintain the desired future condition. The Forest 

Plan adopted the following four VQOs as management direction: 

Retention - Changes in the landscape are not visually evident to the 

average forest visitor. 
3 Environment and Effects

198 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Partial Retention - Changes in the landscape may be evident to the 

casual observer but appear as natural occurrences when contrasted 

with the appearance of the surrounding landscape. 

Modification - Changes in the landscape appear very evident but 

incorporate natural patterns of form, line, color, and texture when 

contrasted with the appearance of the surrounding landscape. 

Maximum Modification - Changes in the landscape appear highly 

evident and may visually dominate the surrounding landscape, yet 

when viewed in the background distance these activities appear as 

natural occurrences. 

Adopted VQOs reflect the management objectives of the Forest Plan 

land use designations (LUDs) incorporating other resource objectives, 

and also represent a future visual condition planned for a particular 

landscape. The VQOs within the Project Area include Maximum 

Modification (Timber Production LUD), Modification (Timber 

Production LUD), Retention (Old-growth Habitat LUD), and Partial 

Retention (Recreational River LUD within the 1⁄4-mile corridor of 

Kadake Creek) (Figure 3-11). 

Management emphasis would reflect activities that may appear highly 

evident in those areas maximizing timber production and maintaining 

a natural appearance in other locations. The Old-growth Habitat 

Reserve would be retained in a natural condition where the Retention 

VQO is applied and no harvest would occur. The acres of Forest Plan 

VQOs within the Project Area are displayed in Table 3-73. 

Table 3-73. Project Area acres by Forest Plan adopted 

visual quality objective 

Adopted Visual Quality Objective Acres 

Retention (Old-Growth Habitat LUD) 1,245 

Partial Retention (Recreational River) 1,595 

Modification (Timber Production LUD) 3,365 

Maximum Modification (Timber Production 

LUD) 39,541 

Non-National Forest System Lands 356 

Kuiu Timber Sale Area Total 46,102 

Timber harvest within a portion of the Project Area visible from 

Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Areas would be designed and 

implemented to meet the Forest Plan adopted VQOs. The future visual 

3.13.3 

Environmental 

Consequences 
Scenery3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 199 

condition of the affected landscape would reflect the Timber 

Production LUD, where the primary goal is to manage land for the 

sustained long-term yield of wood. The visual effects of management 

activities in this LUD would be more noticeable than they would be in 

a LUD that allows less development. 

Several factors contribute to the degree of visibility of the proposed 

activities. These factors include: (1) the location from where 

development is visible, (2) the distance from which the development is 

observed, (3) the vegetative composition of the surrounding landscape, 

and (4) the design outcome of the activity. 

Each of the action alternatives would result in some visual 

modification of the landscape in the Project Area. For all of the action 

alternatives, the majority of harvest units would not be visible from 

Visual Priority Travel Routes Areas. The visible harvest would be 

prominent for viewers entering upper Saginaw Bay under either 

Alternative 3 or 5. For Security Bay the most visible change would 

occur under Alternatives 4 and 5. Forest visitors also would notice one 

harvest unit when entering upper Rowan Bay under implementation of 

Alternatives 4 or 5. Under Alternative 2 visitors frequenting Security 

Bay, Saginaw Bay, or Rowan Bay would not likely notice much 

change beyond existing conditions. Harvest within the Kadake Creek 

recreational river corridor would only occur under Alternatives 2 and 

4. The visual change under these alternatives would resemble a natural 

forest setting. 

The overall scenic effect of the alternatives would vary in comparison 

to the visible harvest area as seen from sensitive viewing locations. 

Alternatives 4 and 5 would create the greatest amount of visible 

change to the landscape from development of harvest units. 

Alternative 3 would harvest approximately 50 percent fewer acres than 

would Alternatives 4 and 5. Alternative 2 would have the least effect, 

harvesting approximately 162 acres potentially visible from priority 

viewing areas. 

3.13.4.1 Effects Common to all Action Alternatives 

Each of the action alternatives would result in some degree of change 

in the appearance of the landscape. Green tree retention within some 

units would reduce the overall effects. Additionally, all of the 

proposed timber harvest of any given alternative would not be seen at 

one time from a single location. Impacts to scenery for all alternatives 

would remain relatively constant over time as harvested areas develop 

and new stands are removed. All action alternatives would achieve a 

higher level of visual quality than the Adopted Visual Quality 

3.13.4 

Direct and 

Indirect 

Effects 
3 Environment and Effects

200 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Objective of Maximum Modification for the majority of the Project 

Area. 

Utilization of the existing LTFs either at Rowan Bay or Saginaw Bay 

for log transfer, storage, and camp operations would result in the 

developed appearance and modification to the scenic environment 

associated with these types of activities. The LTFs are visible in the 

foreground distance zone along the shoreline near the head of these 

bays. For those traveling the inside waters of Rowan Bay or Saginaw 

Bay the logging operations would not likely be noticed until within 1⁄4 

to 1⁄2 mile of the locations. The sort yard, area for log storage, and most 

equipment at the sites would be partially screened from view by 

foreground vegetation and would meet the Forest Plan VQOs. 

Contractors harvesting timber would continue to support their 

operations with either a land or floating camp. Visibility of these 

activities would be a distraction from the natural scenic environment, 

but confined to a relatively small area, and would be consistent with 

the VQOs. Camp operations would be required to obtain and follow 

the necessary permitting requirements associated with these activities. 

Some of the effects of temporary and new road construction, borrow 

pits, and other ground disturbing activities necessary to implement the 

Kuiu project would be visible from Visual Priority Travel Routes 

Area; however, these effects would be far less visible than timber 

harvest and would meet the Forest Plan VQOs. 

Alternative 1 

This alternative defers timber harvest in the Project Area and 

maintains the existing visual character of the landscape. Previously 

harvested units within the Project Area would continue to mature and 

develop the visual characteristics of a more natural appearing and 

undeveloped forest. 

Alternative 2 

Six harvest units are partially visible from Visual Priority Travel 

Routes and Use Areas. However, all six are not visible from the same 

location. 

Portions of Units 103c and 111, which have a Maximum Modification 

VQO, are in the seen area of upper Security Bay. The effects of partial 

harvest on unit 111 would achieve a Partial Retention VQO, and meet 

a higher degree of scenic quality than required by the Forest Plan. 

Portions of Units 207, 208a, and 208b would be visible near the head 

of Saginaw Bay, resulting in a VQO of Maximum Modification. The 

effects of Unit 207 would be lessened by 50 percent basal area 

retention which would achieve a higher VQO of Modification. Unit 

3.13.5 

Effects by 

Alternative 
Scenery3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 201 

208a would achieve the Partial Retention VQO with 16 acres of visible 

harvest. Unit 208b would result in a Maximum Modification VQO 

with 51 visible acres. 

Unit 415 is located in the Kadake Creek drainage, and partially within 

a Forest Recreational River classification. Visibility of harvest from 

Kadake Creek itself would not be readily apparent as a result of the 

steep stream bank configuration and trees bordering the edge of creek. 

The portion of Unit 415 within the Recreational River corridor would 

meet the adopted VQO of Partial Retention. The remainder of Unit 

415 located within the Timber Production LUD would achieve a 

Modification to Maximum Modification VQO. 

Alternative 2 proposes harvesting the fewest acres visible from priority 

viewing locations. The remaining units in this alternative are not 

visible from any Visual Priority Travel Routes and Use Area and 

achieve a Maximum Modification or higher degree of scenic quality 

than adopted under the Forest Plan. 

Alternative 3 

Units 109, 204, 205, 207, and 208 are partially visible in the 

middleground distance zone from the waters of Security Bay or 

Saginaw Bay. All units in this alternative have a Forest Plan VQO of 

Maximum Modification. 

Unit 109 would be only slightly noticeable and would meet the Partial 

Retention VQO. Approximately 21 acres would be partially visible 

from the head of Security Bay. 

Units 204, 205, 207, and 208 are located in the seen area of upper 

Saginaw Bay. Unit 204 would likely meet the Modification VQO with 

approximately 69 acres of partial harvest. Units 205 and 208 would 

meet the Maximum Modification VQO with approximately 39 and 69 

acres of visible harvest respectively. Unit 207 would not be visible to 

most people visiting Saginaw Bay as it can only be seen from the 

extreme upper end of the bay in waters that are not usually navigable, 

and would meet a Partial Retention to Modification VQO. 

The remaining units in this alternative are not visible from any Visual 

Priority Travel Routes and Use Area and meet a Maximum 

Modification or higher degree of scenic quality than required by the 

Forest Plan. 

Alternative 4 

Units 101, 109, 111, 401, and 503 may be completely or partially 

visible in the middleground distance from the waters of Security Bay. 

The Modification to Maximum Modification VQOs would be achieved 

and would meet a slightly higher degree of scenic quality than required 

by the Forest Plan. 
3 Environment and Effects

202 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Units 207, 208, 302, and 303, may be completely or partially visible in 

the middleground from Saginaw Bay. Unit 207 would not be visible to 

most people as it can only be seen from the extreme upper end of the 

bay in waters that are not usually navigable, and would meet a Partial 

Retention to Modification VQO. Units 302 and 303 would have 

approximately 60 acres of visible partial harvest, meeting the 

Modification VQO. And Unit 208 would meet the Maximum 

Modification VQO with approximately 60 acres of clearcut harvest 

visible. 

The upper half of the 99-acre Unit 412 would become visible to 

travelers entering Rowan Bay at a point where the bay turns in a 

northerly direction. The reduced visibility of Unit 412 as a result of 

screening by foreground vegetation would reduce the contrast 

somewhat so the unit does not appear as a dominant feature in the 

landscape. As a result, the unit would meet a Modification to 

Maximum Modification VQO depending upon the angle and location 

of view. 

Units 414 and 415 would harvest a combined total of 49 acres within 

the foreground viewing distance of the Kadake Creek Recreational 

River Corridor. Silvicultural treatment of 50 percent BA retention 

would meet the VQO of Partial Retention. The remainder of Units 414 

and 415 located within the Timber Production LUD would achieve a 

Modification to Maximum Modification VQO as viewed from within 

the corridor. 

The remaining units in this alternative are not visible from any Visual 

Priority Travel Route or Use Area and achieve a Maximum 

Modification or higher degree of scenic quality than required by the 

Forest Plan. 

Alternative 5 

All units in Alternative 5 are proposed for even-aged harvest by 

clearcut. Ten of the units are completely or partially visible from 

Visual Priority Travel Routes or Use Areas. Units 101, 109, 111, 401, 

and 503 are within the seen area of Security Bay and identical in 

effects to Alternative 4. The Modification to Maximum Modification 

VQOs would be achieved and would meet a slightly higher degree of 

scenic quality than required by the Forest Plan. 

Units 204, 207, 208a, and 208b are located within the seen area of 

Saginaw Bay, and would meet the VQO of Maximum Modification. 
503

109b

209

207

211

418

402

404

405

103d

103c

101

504

112

302

303

305

308

307

205

204

208b

208a 208

210 212

111

401

417

412

410

409

403

414

416

415

500

2000

1500

2500

3000

500

500

500

1500

3000

500

2000

500

500

2000

500

500

2000

500

500

2000

500

500 500

500

500

6415

6402

6407

6425

6413

46360

6416

6428

6410

46096

46251

46355

6441

6437

46420

6409

6427

6401

46092

6404

46090

6448

6418

46252

6411

6436

6403

6444

6414

Saginaw Bay

Security Bay

Legend

Retention

Partial Retention

Modification

Maximum Modification

Non-National Forest

Recreational River

Managed Stands

Unit Pool

Lakes/Saltwater

Project Area Boundary

500ft Contour Interval

Stream Value Class I & II

Existing Open Roads

Kadake Bay Cabin

± c:/workspace/kuiu_roaded/feis/plots/feis_plots/f3_11avqo.mxd 07-09-07 EP

Kuiu Timber Sale

Figure 3-11

Adopted Visual Quality Objectives

Keku Strait

Kadake

Bay

Kadake Bay

Cabin

0 0.45 0.9 1.8 2.7 3.6

Miles

Kadake Creek

To Rowan Bay
204 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

blank 
Scenery3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 205 

Unit 412 as seen from Rowan Bay would meet a VQO of Modification 

to Maximum Modification depending upon the angle and location of 

view as in Alternative 4. 

The remaining units in this alternative are not visible from any Visual 

Priority Travel Route or Use Area and would meet a Maximum 

Modification or higher degree of scenic quality than required by the 

Forest Plan. 

The Catalog of Events for Kuiu Island was referenced in determining 

cumulative effects. Cumulative effects consider the overall scenic 

effects expected as a result of past, present, and foreseeable future 

development. These effects include timber harvest, roads, borrow pits, 

associated construction activities, and existing effects of adjacent nonnational forest lands. Previous development in the Project Area has 

been extensive, modifying the scenic environment from a natural 

condition to a condition where landscapes appear highly modified. The 

past development considered in this analysis and listed in the Kuiu 

Catalog of Events that contributes to scenery’s cumulative effects are 

the Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber Sales, North and East Kuiu, 

and the APC Long Term Timber Sale Contract, 1981-86 and 1986-90 

Operating Periods. 

Viewshed is typically the spatial scale used to consider cumulative 

effects for scenery, however, for the purpose of this analysis Value 

Comparison Units (VCUs), which have similar boundaries, were used. 

Temporally, cumulative effects change due to the regrowth of 

vegetation, and after 30 years harvested areas are no longer considered 

to cumulatively impact scenery. 

Implementation of any of the proposed alternatives would continue to 

modify the scenic environment. Cumulative effects of future 

conditions would continually change over time to a greater or lesser 

extent as vegetation grows or is removed, and, in general, ultimately 

present the appearance of the desired future condition outlined in the 

Forest Plan. 

3.13.6.1 Allowable Visual Disturbance 

Allowable Visual Disturbance expresses how much visual disturbance 

is acceptable for a given area during any given time period. The 

proposed management activities for the Project Area may occur 

adjacent to or near previously harvested locations. Even though 

individual harvest units may meet a particular Visual Quality 

Objective, cumulatively a greater impact may result. 

Allowable visual disturbance is a means to express cumulative visual 

impact that has occurred while achieving the desired future condition 

of a particular landscape during the harvest rotation. During the 

3.13.6 

Cumulative 

Effects 
3 Environment and Effects

206 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

effects analysis of the Forest Plan, allowable visual disturbance 

thresholds were modeled (Forest Plan FEIS Appendix B, Table B-6, p. 

B-18) to describe the expected visual condition for land use 

designations. It was assumed that up to 50 percent of a viewshed or 

VCU may be under development at any given time for areas within the 

Timber Production LUD; therefore, the Timber Production LUD falls 

under the Maximum Modification Visual Quality Objective. 

Table 3-74. Percentage of Allowable Visual Disturbance by 

VCU and Alternative 

Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

VCU 399 

(Saginaw) 10% 11% 12% 12% 14% 

VCU 400 

(Security) 8% 8% 8% 9% 9% 

VCU 402 

(Rowan) 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 

VCU 422 

(Kadake) 15% 15% 15% 16% 15% 

The percentage of previously harvested areas within the VCUs 

currently range from 8 to 15 percent allowable visual disturbance. This 

amount of disturbance is well within the 50 percent threshold 

described the Forest Plan and represents a higher degree of scenic 

quality than expected for timber production areas. With the addition of 

the proposed alternatives, the cumulative effect on scenery also 

remains below the 50 percent allowable disturbance threshold.