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<br />002552 <br /> <br />Recreation use during the summer season has grown dramatically at most ski-based <br />resorts since 1984, creating the need to manage summer recreation use on NFS lands <br />both within and adjacent to permitted sites. Use of existing skiing facilities to provide <br />outdoor recreation opportunities during the summer season is encouraged by the Forest <br />Service. Gondola and chairlift rides, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking are <br />popular activities at most ski-based resorts. Interpretive programs and visitor information <br />services that provide information about national forests are also popular. <br /> <br />Aerial transportation corridors. With the rapid growth of regional populations and <br />increased tourism, transportation has emerged as one of the primary issues faced by <br />resort communities adjacent to the Forest. Alternative transportation opportunities that <br />have the potential to directly affect NFS lands include the use of gondolas, trams. or <br />chairlifts to move pedestrians to, from, or between key locations at resort communities. <br /> <br />Such aerial transportation systems may be used as "people movers" to provide an <br />alternative to ground-based transportation systems. In some cases, the annual number <br />of miles driven could be substantially reduced. Aerial tramways have the potential to <br />lower air pollution from auto emissions, improve automobile and pedestrian circulation, <br />and provide a convenient transportation service. Aerial transportation systems can also <br />provide a source of recreation in the form of scenic rides and access to NFS lands. <br /> <br />Table 7 <br />Acres allocated for aerial transportation corridors, by county and alternative <br /> <br /> ALTERNATIVE <br />County B C D E F I <br />Eagle 0 0 0 1,672 956 0 <br />Garfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 <br />Pitkin 0 75 0 0 75 0 <br />Summit 0 346 0 1,076 366 0 <br />Forest total 0 421 0 2,748 1,397 0 <br /> <br />Alternatives C, E and F allow aerial transportation systems on NFS lands. In particular, <br />Alternatives E and F make the highest allocations to this management area, while <br />Alternatives B, 0 and I do not allocate any lands for this purpose. <br /> <br />Scenic resources. Scenery is an integral component of all forest settings that <br />contributes to the quality of the user's experience. The most obvious and significant <br />effects on scenic resources are from vegetation and landform alterations from road <br />construction, vegetation management, powerline clearing, recreation facility <br />development, and mineral exploration and development. <br /> <br />The scenic integrity levels (SILs) of very high, high and moderate will result in a <br />relatively natural-appearing landscape, which research has shown to be preferred by the <br />public. Therefore, it is important for the Forest to manage scenery at this level. Table 8 <br />displays the amount of natural-appearing landscapes for each alternative. <br /> <br />- 32- <br />