IMPACTS ON CULTURAL RESOURCES

3.8 IMPACTS ON CULTURAL RESOURCES

Complete field surveys of the JKSYUs to identify paleontologic and archeologic sites have not been undertaken. Each proposed ground-disturbing activity, however, would be preceded by a complete field survey of cultural resources as part of the environmental assessment reports which precede each site specific timber sale (BLM Manual 8100, Cultural Resource Management). Protection would be provided in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and Executive Order 11593, as stated in the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR Part 800). There is still some chance of unidentified cultural resources being inadvertently impacted, however.

It is not possible to professionally estimate the number of unidentified sites that could be impacted. Unidentified cultural resources could be impacted due to compaction of soil, disturbance of the ground surface, and alteration of the soil's chemical properties by fire, chemical treatment, or addition of organic matter. Most of the SYUS is largely unsurveyed for archeological sites. Oregon Department of Transportation (1978) indicates that a medium archeological site density occurs in northern Jackson County and western Klamath County. It is expected that the potential for archeological site disturbance would be greater in areas of medium site density than where site density is low.

Soil compaction and surface disturbance during any ground manipulation activity would disrupt vertical and horizontal relationships of cultural deposits. The context of archeological resources would be altered and preservation of data would be affected. Paleoecological data would be disturbed or lost. Furthermore, ground disturbance could be expected to cause extensive artifact loss, breakage and churning. The negative effects of surface disturbance upon cultural resources have been documented by many sources, such as DeBloois, Green and Wylie (1974). Both surface lithic sites and sites with structures or subsurface components would be damaged, though the extent of damage to subsurface components would be less.

Quantification of the magnitude of impacts to unidentified archeological sites is not possible. For example, on some sites, a 0.7 percent severe surface disturbance would be intolerable; on others, perhaps 100 percent severe surface disturbance would not constitute an adverse effect because archeological values are confined to subsurface deposits (Wildesen 1977). Duration of impacts would be permanent, because neither broken lithic materials nor their original surface distribution can be restored once altered.

Chemical alteration of sites, materials and soil usually occurs after harvest activities are complete, during slash disposal and site preparation. Fire would destroy combustible items, adversely alter stone ceramic artifacts by introducing color, color, textural and thermal radiation changes. Charcoal would contaminate Carbon 14 dating samples and pollen. These data sources would become unreliable for scientific information. The addition of organic matter would also alter the soil's chemical properties.

IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES

The proposed construction of 375 miles of road would provide access to cultural sites, resulting in increased visitation. Vandalism, looting, site damage and site erosion could result. Esthetic, recreational, interpretive and educational qualities of the sites could be degraded.

The alteration of the landscape and vegetation in proximity to some cultural sites would create impacts. The disturbance of a site's visual setting would reduce its esthetic, recreational, interpretive and educational potential. Table 3-11 identifies four known sites which may have visual setting impacts as a result of timber sales proposed in the 3-year sale plan. VRM program constraints would be complied with to greatly mitigate adverse impacts to site settings.

1/ Conflicting sales listed are within 5 miles of the lookout.

Insofar as old-growth trees could be considered a type of "living history", the harvest of this old growth could be construed as destruction of historical values.

There are no impacts anticipated to the Jacksonville Historic District which is currently listed on the National Register.

Those portions of the Rancheria Trail, Topsy Road and Applegate Trail on public land which have been nominated or will be nominated to the National Register would not be impacted. These sites will be managed for protection and enhancement of cultural values. There is some possibility of impacts to the visual settings in proximity to the trails. Interpretive, educational, esthetic and recreational potential would only slightly decrease.

3.9 IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES

Most timber management practices disrupt land surface, change surface vegetation and create contrasts to the existing environment. Alterations of the

IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES

Virtually

landscape may be beneficial or adverse, short term or long term. all timber management practices impact visual resources by creating evidence of human presence and disturbing previously undisturbed areas.

As the number of recreationists and viewers increase, the visual impacts of a management activity also increase. A demand increase of 103 percent for pleasure driving and sightseeing is anticipated between 1970 and 1990 (Oregon Department of Transportation 1972). The extent of impacts upon visual resources can therefore be projected to increase in direct relation to increased future pleasure driving and sightseeing demands. Additionally, should attitudes or tastes change and viewers decide to prolong the duration of their viewing, the visual impacts of a management activity also increase.

3.9.1 Cutting Practices

It is widely accepted that the selection method is the least disruptive of all silvicultural harvesting techniques (Cook 1968; Douglas 1965). Clearcutting, however, is considered to have significant adverse impacts on esthetic values (Marshall 1925; Smith 1962; Douglas 1965). Within the JKSYUS, there is little natural variation in the vegetative pattern. Simple and uniform textured vegetation is highly vulnerable to impacts of disruption. For this reason, clearcutting would create strongly contrasting geometric forms and vegetative texture groupings on the 4,000 acres to be clearcut. Clearcut units adjacent to forested landscape would produce long-term impacts upon the visual resource.

The falling of merchantable timber through a two-stage shelterwood cutting system would also result in long-term landscape alterations.

The first stage of a shelterwood cut would not impact the visual resource as drastically as clearcutting would. Upon completion of the second harvest cut of the two-stage shelterwood system, impacts upon the visual resource would be comparable to those resulting from clearcutting. Approximately 60,000 acres would be harvested through a two-stage shelterwood system. This includes 10,500 acres in which the overstory would be removed, leaving a well-stocked understory.

Thinning operations on approximately 35,000 acres would produce short-term impacts upon the visual resource. Esthetic value is proportional to depth of view (Methven 1974). Thinning could be effectively used to enhance the environment by increasing depth of view or by changing form, line, texture, color and vegetative groupings. These long-term enhancements may result in incidental short-term adverse impacts.

3.9.2 Yarding

Vehicle operation associated with yarding would produce short-term and longterm alterations of landscape character. These impacts would be mainly

IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES

disturbance of soil and surface vegetation. Ground support yarding systems tend to result in greater areas of severe disturbance of soils per total area logged than do aerial support systems (including skyline). Soils in the JKS YUS are highly reflective of light when disturbed.

3.9.3 Road Construction

Impacts would be both adverse and beneficial. Due to soil colors in many areas of the JKSYUS, road construction would create strong long-term landscape contrasts. Road construction and maintenance could benefit the visual resource by providing scenic access and panoramic views, and by focusing attention on specific scenic features.

Wilderness enthusiasts feel that roads reduce the esthetic value of an area, not primarily because of the roads' appearances, but because they permit people who have little or no appreciation for wilderness values to enter into previously inaccessible areas. They bring in litter, noise and all the trappings of civilization that accompany people (Cook 1969). On the other hand, the fact that roads do allow more people to view more forest landscape is considered by some to be a benefit in itself (Gruffyd 1964; Olmsted 1967; President's Council Recreation and National Beauty 1968).

3.9.4 Development and Protection Practices

Burning, fertilization and herbicide application would produce both shortterm adverse impacts on and long-term enhancement of the visual the visual resource. Scarification would result in short-term disturbances of surface vegetation and soil. Fertilization would benefit the visual resource by providing healthier trees. The application of herbicides would control herbaceous or woody vegetation prior to or following seeding or planting. The dead vegetation resulting from chemical weed and brush control would create highly visible adverse effects on over 29,000 acres.

Smith (1962), Methven (1974) and Schweitzer et al. (1976) refer to unsightly accumulations of slash as an obvious and generally negative consequence of most harvesting methods. Visible or obstructive slash, along with smoke associated with burning are considered esthetically objectionable. Section 3.2 deals with impacts of timber management operations upon air quality and visibility. (Table 3-1).

The degree of impact to the visual quality of the landscape depends upon the amount of visual contrast that is created between the management activity and the existing landscape character. The amount of contrast between a proposed activity and the existing landscape character can be measured by separating the landscape into its major features (land and water surface, vegetation and structures), and then predicting the magnitude of change in contrast of each of the basic elements (form, line, color and texture) for each of the features.

IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES

Contrast rating is applied to all proposed land management activities which disturb the soil, change or remove vegetation, or place a structure in the landscape. It is applied to all areas needing rehabilitation or enhancement. Environmental assessments deal with the application of the contrast rating system to specific timber sales. These assessments would also discuss visual impacts to the 16 residences (including 3 summer homes) within 1 mile of timber sales in the 3-year timber sale plan.

Assessing the amount of contrast for a proposed activity can give a good indication of the severity of impact and serve as a guide in determining what is required to reduce the contrast to the point where it will meet the criteria for the visual resource management classes of the area (BLM Manual, Visual Resource Management 6300). Visual resource management (VRM) classes for the JKSYUs are described in Chapter 2, Section 2.11.

Approximate acreages of public lands within each VRM class are as follows:

The impacts of timber management activities upon VRM Class I lands would be nonexistent as timber harvest is not planned on such lands. The impacts of timber management activities upon VRM Class II, III or IV land could be insignificant, moderate or severe, depending upon amount of contrast created. Where the impact is either moderate or severe, the contrast rating would be used to determine the most effective means of mitigating the impact in accordance with the VRM class requirements of the area.

Only about 15 percent of the public lands are classified as VRM Class II. Timber management actions would be designed on on these lands so that impacts within this class would be virtually nonexistent. There is a slightly greater chance of adverse impacts occurring in VRM Class III lands. Should adverse impacts occur, the majority of them would be within VRM Class IV lands.

An analysis of the 3-year timber sale plan indicates that 66 percent of the cutting during that period would be within VRM Class IV areas. The cutting areas can further be defined as shown in Table 3-12.