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Summary . 21 ,~ ,f, ~'I Q Q 8 '_' <.i " ,-.1 ,..) Table 5-10: Impacts on Biological Diversity on NFSL Within the LA By Alternative Alternative IrnDact Tvoe A B E F G H Forest Types Reduction (acres) 0 35 790 550 730 205 Snags and CWO Reduction (acres) 0 35 790 550 730 205 Man-Made Open Increases (acres) 0 45 890 610 815 235 Old Growth Reduction (acres) 0 15 110 120 100 0 % Old Growth Reduction 0 3 21 21 19 0 % Sera! Stage Change 0 1 9 6 7 2 Habitat.Linkagesl L L H M M L Fragmentationl L L H M M L Block Size Impactsl L L H M M L Qualitative assessment of impacts rated as: L = Low, M = Moderate. and H = High C. VISUAL RESOURCES 1. Affected Environment A visual quality objective (VQO) of Modification is established for the ski area by the Forest Plan., This standard acknowledges that some level of development and landscape alteration will be necessary to accommodate certain winter activities. Low and moderate Visual Absorption Capabilities (VAC) have also been assigned. Portions of the project area are also subject to local government visual quality measures. The project area is designated by Pitkin County as Scenic Foreground. The Owl Creek Road is designated a Scenic Roadway and therefore subject to special maintenance standards to provide safe public travel while protecting the outstanding visual character. 2. Environmental Consequences All action alternatives would result in visual impacts based on the nature of the proposed facilities and areas of disturbance. Variations in levels of visual impacts among the alternatives are primarily due to the amount and types of vegetation clearing for ski trail construction. Trails with full clearing and grading (stump removal/leveling), such as the East Village egress trails in Alternatives E-H, produce the most adverse impacts. Areas of low VAC would be, considered to be more visually vulnerable to landscape alterations. In this respect, Alternatives would be ranked E, G, F, Hand B in the order of most to least impacts according to VAC category. Among the action alternatives, visual impacts on the Baldy Mountain portion of the permit area would be least severe in Alternatives Band F, as there would be no Hanging Valley lift or trails. The low visual absorption capability (VAC) of upper Burnt Mountain and its prominence from critical viewpoints make this portion of the assessment area especially sensitive to visual alterations. The Burnt Mountain summit facilities, upper mountain access roads, and full trail clearing on upper slopes all have considerable potential for visual impacts in Alternatives E-G. The upper portion of the Burnt Mountain gondola in Alternatives E and G also has high potential for impacts as viewed from north and northeast viewpoints.