USFS Scenery Management System

donna mattson & jerry mosier, national forest landscape architects 5/22/2012

• Scenery as the images of our world

• SMS evolution, elements and indicators

• Sustaining scenery within dynamic ecosystems

Presentation

Overview

What is scenery?

Scenery is all that we see, Expressions of our ecosystem: Scenery gives each place a unique scenic identity, as a composition of scenic elements.

Climate Landform Plants Animals Culture

Physical

Biological

Cultural

Scenery connects us to all

ecosystem scales

Landscapes display compositions of features and their relationships.

Features display fine details of structure and function.

Panoramas display ecological order across multiple landscapes.

Visual Management System

Responded to NEPA direction for: • “environmental design arts”

principles and language • National methods to provide

“aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings” , including Visual Quality Objectives/VQOs to measure visible disturbance

Handbooks provide scenery guidance on projects with logging, recreation, roads, ski areas, fire, utilities/energy and range activities

Environmental Design Arts:

Concepts unique identity/character, variety, harmony, contrast Scenic Compositions made up of forms, lines, colors & textures Dominance of elements & disturbances, per scale & composition Variables viewing position, view duration, lighting, motion, season

ESSENTIAL to scenery evaluation & conservation

SMS goals: • enduring beauty within “places”, as

the human habitats within dynamic ecosystems

• highest quality scenery possible for current & future generations

• nationally consistent methods for scenery conservation

App

endi

x J

Scenery Management System

“SMS”

SMS ELEMENT

Constituent Information • how people use the area • the kind of scenery they value • their preferences and

thresholds for scenery impacts

• where scenery is valued,

and why

SMS ELEMENT

Places Places are where people connect with each other and the ecosystem • give social context for scenery

• have important social meanings,

attachments and functions that relate to, or depend on scenery

• include communities, recreation

areas, travel ways and scenic areas

Scenic Character Definition “A combination of the physical, biological and cultural images that gives an area its positive scenic identity.”

SMS ELEMENT

Scenic Character the essential scenery resource to be protected and restored

National Ecological Unit Ecosystem Influences • Climate, water, wildfire • Landform, elevation, solar

aspect • Biology, plants, wildlife • Human land uses, effects

SMS ELEMENT

Scenic Character ECOSYSTEM CONTEXT

distinctive typical Indistinctive

just how beautiful?

SMS ELEMENT

Inherent Scenic Attractiveness

SMS ELEMENT

Concern Levels A measure of public concern for scenery as viewed from travelways, use areas, special places. Based on numbers of viewers & social importance of the scenery

high moderate low

background = 4 mi to horizon

foreground = 300’ to ½ mile

SMS ELEMENT

Landscape Visibility

middleground = 1/2 to 4 miles

immediate foreground = 0-300 feet

seldom seen areas

Relative Scenery Importance,1 to 7 scale

SMS ELEMENT

Scenic Class

Based on • Attractiveness • Public Concern Level • Viewing Distance/Visibility

Scenic Class Map

KEY INDICATOR

Scenic Integrity measures scenery disturbance of the scenic character, in 6 levels: very high no disturbance VQO = P high unnoticed disturbance R moderate minor disturbance PR ---------------------------------------------------- low co-dominant disturbance M very low strong disturbance MM no integrity excessive disturbance UM Scenic Integrity is emphasized within view of travelways, use areas and special places – measures existing/future disturbance & can define thresholds for future disturbance

very high integrity (Preservation VQO)

moderate integrity (Partial Retention) vqo

no integrity (Unacceptable Modification)

KEY INDICATOR

Scenic Stability measures ecological sustainability of the valued scenic character attributes, in 6 levels: very high all attributes sustainable high dominant attributes sustainable moderate most dom attributes sustainable --------------------------------------------------------------- low some dom attributes sustainable very low few dom attributes sustainable no stability no dom attributes sustainable

tahoe scenery change, last 100 years

moderate scenic stability

very low scenic stability

Scenic Stability recognizes the often subtle, incremental changes that can severely diminish or eliminate valued scenic character – it uses historic range of variation as a reference baseline for sustainability

Review Key SMS ELEMENTS

essential scenery resource

Scenic Character the positive scenic identity

within places, the human habitats

two scenery indicators

Scenic Integrity visible disturbance

Scenic Stability ecological sustainability

Scenic Stability provides a consistent method to measure and communicate the sustainability of valued scenery

within dynamic ecosystems.

Appendix J: Scenic Stability

Ecological influences and disturbances play a key role in maintaining scenic character within dynamic landscapes.

Dynamic Landscapes

Dynamic Landscapes Disturbances can be beneficial, even critically important. It can also be hugely detrimental to scenery resources.

The role of scenic stability: an ecologically based, quantitative measure of scenic character completeness and ecological health that is essential to direct its future restoration & conservation

Scenic Character of a lakeside setting

HIGH Scenic Integrity Scenery appears intact, disturbances remain unnoticed. LOW Scenic Stability The attractive aspen and large tree scenery attributes are being eliminated due to white fir encroachment and wildfire suppression -ecosystem conditions & stressors are outside of their historic range

Scenic Stability addresses important ecosystem influences on scenery with a quantifiable method that offers national consistency – to help direct ecosystems towards a socially desired, sustainable scenic legacy

Select the scenery attributes to be evaluated Focus on dominant attributes

Scenic Stability Determination

Attribute risk •Condition

•Stress

Collective risk •Large open pine stands

•Aspen stands

Scenery Attribute: Vegetation Condition Veg. departure- overly dense conditions

High fuel loading, dense canopy cover

Loss of Jeffrey pine, Aspen, White fir

Loss of understory shrub/herb layer

scenic stability determination

Insect and Disease:

• High tree density weakens tree health and resistance

• Increases tree mortality

Stress

Scenery Attribute: Vegetation

Probable Fire Severity and Size

•high fuel loads

•low canopy height

•high canopy cover or bulk density

Stress

Scenery Attribute: Vegetation

Scenic Stability Determination

Condition

Density Structure Species

Scenic Stability for Lake Tahoe Scenic Attribute: Vegetation

Stress

Insects Disease

Stress

Fuel Load Canopy Density Canopy Height

Landscape Scale Planning

Project Level Analysis

Planning Level

Project Level

•Tri-forest mapping for plan revision •Establish minimum thresholds •Prioritize projects and inform decision

•Evaluate existing condition •Compare alternatives based effectiveness of improving scenic stability

Project level picture

Available Data

Verified by local stand data

Condition Mapping and Modeling

Condition Departure: Seral Stage and Stand Density

Appendix J: Scenic Stability Takes into consideration the ecological context that derives and sustains the unique scenery attributes. Measures trends, conditions and stress that have potential to impact scenery resources. Utilizes science and data to inform scenery resource decisions. Integrates the scenery resource management with other resources. Can be used to develop thresholds as standards and/or guidelines.

http://landfiredev.cr.usgs.gov/NationalProductDescriptions12.php

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

Appendix J, Recommended Scenery Management System Refinements, 2007

Region 5 SMS Implementation Process, 2009, USDA Pacific Southwest Region

Landscape Aesthetics, Scenery Management Handbook,1995

National Forest Landscape Management, Visual Management System,1974

References

scenery resource

management

sustaining scenery within dynamic landscapes

donna mattson, usda forest service, wallowa-whitman nf, dmattson@fs.fed.us jerry mosier, usda forest service, klamath nf, jmosier@fs.fed.us