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flf'f3l!:g J _> ~~ J Impacts from Wilderness Study Area Management. Impacts in this alternative are analyzed assuming that WSA status would not be in effect, in the event Congress acts on and decides not to designate any part of any WSA as wilderness. If any part of Segment A is contained within any designated wilderness the lands therein would be managed as , wilderness. Refer to Impacts from WSA Management in the discussion of impacts of Nternative A (Continuation of Current Management) for impacts applicable to all alternatives, as long as WSA status applies. Impacts from Rights-of-Way Management. Permanent, surface-disturbing developments or above- ground facilities could diminish the quality of values on 3,665 acres in Segment A in Unit C-1, as a result of lowering the VRM Class objectives to VRM IV from VRM II. Management requirements in the management plan for the Npine SRMA would help mitigate these impacts to the short-term in some cases. Locating these facilities in alternative locations would also help mitigate impacts. Impacts from Witbdrawals and Classifications. Revocation of the BLM protective withdrawal C- 0125423 along the "Loop Road" and backcountry byway would result in the values in these 330 acres being potentially impacted from surface disturbing mineral activity and discretionary activities, sucb as rights-of-way and mineral material sales and disposal. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON VALUES IN SEGMENT A Surface-disturbing activities could potentially diminish scenic values along the entire segment, especially in the upper 7.3 miles. The BLM's surface management regulations would limit some of the impacts from mineral developmeot to tbe short-term, as would other mitigatioo that could be applied to discretionary activities, such as rights-of-way and mineral material disposal. ALTERNATIVE C IMPACTS IMPACTS ON VISUAL RESOURCES IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from Visual Resource Management.. The scenic quality of most existing landscapes m the planning area would be severely altered/modified if managed according to tbe Visual Reso~ce Management class objectives in this a1ternal1ve. Approximately 90% of the public lands in the Planning Area would be managed under VRM Class IV objectives, and high degrees of visual change would be permitted. Impacts from Locatable Minerals Management. Mineral extraction and associated above-ground facilities would alter landscapes and lower the scenic quality of the affected area. This change would be greatest in areas where mining has not occurred. Impacts from Saleable Minerals Management. Surface disturbance from extraction of saleable minerals would alter landscapes and reduce scenic quality in the Planning Area. The degree of change could be reduced in the long-term due if rehabilitation methods are implemented. Impacts from Livestock Grazing Management. Scenic quality would be reduced where livestock grazing projects, such as land treatments, fences, and water facilities are implemented. Less mitigation to reduce visual impacts would occur in this alternative as a result of VRM class objectives. Impacts from Forest Management. Timber harvest, especially clearcuts, in areas with high scenic quality, sucb as in the Powderhorn area would result in a reduction of scenic quality over extensive acreage in the Planning Area. This reduction in scenic quality and increase in visual contrast in the landscape would occur from extensive timber, harvests and road construction on lands managed under existing VRM class 1 (43,590 acres) and VRM class 11 (173,510 acres) . 4-37