Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project
The Scenic view-shed is contained within the Rio de Los Pinos Drainage. It is characterized by
slopes of spruce and fir with rock outcrop and wet meadows. The timber is a contiguous dark
stand within a fairly enclosed landscape and gentle ridgelines above timberline.
Past Actions that have affected the Existing Condition
Constituents who visit a landscape only attach to the temporal characteristics of how a landscape
is seen today. However, Scenic Resources recognizes the dynamic nature of landscapes and
categorizes the change from a forested to a non-forested landscape as a natural event (regardless
if this event has been influenced by man over time). Management activities in conjunction with
large scale events have the potential to effect scenic resources in both positive and negative
ways.
Catastrophic events such as insects and disease could cause the characteristic landscape to
become more or less diverse. As this landscape begins to change vegetation type, there may be a
possibility that a new mixture of species and an increase in diversity will raise the Scenic
Attractiveness to a “Class A-Distinctive” from a “Class B-Typical”. An example of increased
diversity or a “Class A-Distinctive” landscape might include open patches and more diverse
species (such as aspen, mixed conifer), creating visually interesting patterns on the landscape.
It is also possible that this event may cause the landscape to stay at a “Typical” or “Class B”
diversity, if the landscape returns to its current condition, containing a monotonous cover of one
or two species of trees or an open meadow landscape with very little visual diversity except for
more patterns on the landscape caused by new openings.
There are many scenic possibilities for a landscape unaided by timber management. There is a
distinct possibility that a landscape could maintain a forested appearance as bug hit trees begin to
die and a new age of trees grows beneath them. Or, there is a possibility that it could be
converted into a grassland area devoid of trees.
The Rio de Los Pinos drainage area currently looks “Natural Appearing” with a fairly contiguous
dark stand of timber that is dark green with many trees turning reddish gray. The surrounding
area (specifically the County Line Project Area) is currently being harvested. However, during
harvesting activities in 2007, a large wind event blew down most of the trees that were identified
to remain in stands for Scenic Resources. Trees marked to remain around the Continental Divide
Trail in Unit 1 have blown over. This wind event affected the spruce component and the north
end of the Unit 1 in the Wolf Beetle Timber Sale, however, the fir trees are still standing and
provide canopy along the Continental Divide Trail in the south end of the unit. In addition to the
trees that blew over in the northern portion of Unit 1, the adjacent private property owners have
harvested most of the timber on the top of the ridge west of the Continental Divide. In addition,
the private land below the Cross Country Ski Yurt in the County Line Analysis Area had
previous harvesting activities that resemble a second step of a shelterwood timber harvest. This
harvesting resulted in a trespass on Forest Service Lands and was replanted in the last decade.
This area now has an open canopy as viewed from FSR 118.1E and from the Cross Country Ski
Yurt.
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-67