Geographic Information Systems mapping can overlay a proposed harvest area with information about nearby watersheds or roads. A Canadian company creates models for Willamette that tell foresters what their cuts will look like from any of those 63 vantage points. Plenty of factors come into play. If a driver catches a clear cut out of the corner of her eye, she might not give it a second thought. If she's staring at it for more than 30 seconds, she probably will, McNulty said.
Size is another factor.
The Astoria Column is one of the viewpoints McNulty considers when planning a cut. So is the public parking lot behind the Cannon Beach post office. From the column, an 80-acre clear cut in south county won't have much of an impact. From the parking lot, it might be another story. Computer models can stop foresters from making a big mistake, or reveal how even a subtle adjustment might solve the visual problem.