Fremont Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment 24

The Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment 24

The Highway 140 Vegetation Management Project on the Bly Ranger District re-examined the scenic viewshed associated with that section of Highway 140.

The project decision (September 10, 2002) amended the Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to change the Fremont LRMP Management Area designation of MA6 Scenic Viewshed, and specifically the foreground viewing zone of State Highway 140 within this analysis area. Originally, the foreground area mapped in the geographical information system (GIS) was a one-quarter mile buffer on either side of State Highway 140 regardless of topographic considerations. The Bly Ranger District completed an electronic "seen area" analysis for this ten-mile stretch, which resulted in a quite detailed and accurate map of the lands seen and unseen considering topographic characteristics.

Within this area, approximately 2,134 acres of foreground area were originally designated as MA6 Scenic Viewshed in Fremont LRMP. The recently completed electronic "seen area" that considers topographic characteristics includes 4,242 acres, of which 1,593 acres are MA5 and 515 acres are MA1.

This would result in a minor change of the total acres allocated to MA5, timber and range production, in the Fremont LRMP and would not significantly affect the output of goods and services to be produced. There would also be a minor change of acres allocated to MA1, mule deer winter range, and would not result in significant changes in the management of forage and cover on mule deer winter range. This change would not alter the desired future condition of the land and resources as described in the Fremont LRMP.