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Or",., ng '!J c.J,..u Summary would replace existing elements. Several areas of existing non-compliance with the Forest Plan VQOs need to be addressed under the ASC's summer operation and vegetation management plans. Under Alternative B, the most visible changes to the view from the Sundeck Restaurant would be the Steeplechase and Highland Bowl lifts and catwalks. The 60-foot-wide lift line clearings would introduce new venically linear elements that cross existing mixed conifer and aspen stands, and the lift towers and terminals would also be visible. The 12- foot -wide cat walks would cut diagonally across the side of the Aspen Highlands and traverse several stands of mixed conifer, lodgepole pine, and aspen and would likely be the most visually apparent elements from the Sundeck viewpoint. The Ridge maintenance road, the reconstructed Merry-Go-Round restaurant, the new PHQ, and the explosives storage facility would not likely be visible from the Sundeck Restaurant viewpoint. The only new feature that would be visible from the SH 82 viewpoint would be the 60- foot-wide Thunderbowlliftline, which would be seen as a new linear feature that cuts through some mixed conifer and aspen stands. The Maroon Bowl Lift and Loge Bowl Catwalk would not be readily visible from any viewpoint but might be seen as a background feature from the top of Buttermilk or Elk Camp on Snowmass. Under Alternative C, the Steeplechase and Highlands Bowl lifts and the Highlands Bowl catwalk would have the same visual impact as seen from the Sundeck Restaurant at Aspen Mountain as under Alternative B. In place of the Steeplechase Catwalk, the Lower Temerity maintenance road would be seen where it would cross treed stands between the base of the Steeplechase illt and the Castle Creek Road. The Highland and Ridge surface lifts and the Temerity Catwalk would be additional features visible from this viewpoint. None of these features would substantially impact existing vegetation and none would be highly visible since they appear as background features. The Ridge maintenance road, Merry-Go-Round restaurant, new Loge Peak restaurant and the explosives storage facility would not be prominent features from the Sundeck Restaurant viewpoint. While the aligrunent of the new Thunderbowl Lift under Alternative C would be slightly to the west of the Alternative B aligrunent, the visual impacts of these two alignments as seen from the SH 82 viewpoint would be very similar. Since Maroon Bowl would not be developed, it would not be visible from any viewpoint and the Loge Bowl Catwalk also would not be readily visible. POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES Mitigation measures to reduce the visual impacts of skilifts and catwalks so as to meet the Forest Plan VQOs of modification include the following. Use helicopters to place skilift components and construction equipment and materials where there is no road access. Aame-spray lift towers and and use colors to spray lift components that meet FSM 2380 policy for color and reflectivity (4.5 on the Munsell neutral value color scale) and obtain Forest Service approval for color to be used. Vary width of liftlines from 60 to tOO feet leaving trees of various heights along the corridor edge and selectively thin small stand of trees adjacent to liftIines to produce irregular corridor edges. Where possible, install utility lines along catwalks/road corridors. Minimize soil disturbance due to construction activity, especially along catwalks, where retaining walls built from natural materials will be used on steep grades to minimize the width of fillslopes and the impact on downslope trees that act as a visual barrier. Revegetate cut and fill slopes with suitable native species immediately after construction is complete. In new terrain, clearing will not be uniform but will simulate natural vegetation including uneven edges and vegetation islands. Building designs will incorporate low-impact materials and colors, low-level structures, efficient energy use, and harmonize with the surrounding landscape. LAND STATUS AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The analysis area is bounded by the Forest Boundary and private land (owned by Hines) in the north, Castle and Conundrum creeks in the east, Maroon Creek in the west, and the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness to the sowh of Highland Peak. The bulk of land in the land use unit is comprised of NFS land In addition, there are Seclionlll Land SIal'" 35