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, [email protected] jerry mosier, usda forest service, klamath nf, [email protected]
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