Medford Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Glossary

Medford Record of Decision

Medford District Resource Management Plan Table of Contents:

- Tables

- Maps

- Appendices

Visual Resources

Objectives

Manage all BLM-administered land to meet the following visual quality objectives:

• VRM Class I areas: preserve the existing character of landscapes;
  
  
• VRM Class II areas: retain the existing character of landscapes;
  
  
• VRM Class III areas: partially retain the existing character of landscapes; and
  
  
• VRM Class IV areas: allow major modifications of existing character of landscapes.

Emphasize management of scenic resources in selected high-use areas to retain or preserve scenic quality.

Land Use Allocations

VRM Class I: the Congressionally-designated Rogue Wild and Scenic River corridor.

VRM Class II:

• The seen area from the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River (wild section);
  
  
• The Hyatt/Howard Prairie Lake SRMA;
  
  
• The viewshed from Lost Creek Reservoir;
  
  
• Galesville SRMA;
  
  
• One-quarter mile on either side of the Pacific Crest Trail; and
  
  
• Within the foreground/middleground of Interstate 5 and Highway 62 from Shady Cove to Lost Creek Reservoir and the county road from Butte Falls to Prospect. (Foreground/middleground is defined as land within one mile or to the first ridge, whichever is closer.)
  
  
• Cobleigh bridge area

VRM Class III: BLM-administered land allocated to meet rural interface area (RIA) objectives unless lands within RIAs are already allocated to some other higher level of protection (e.g., W&SR, SRMAs, etc.).

VRM Class III or Class IV: the southern general forest management area (GFMA) as inventoried.

VRM Class IV: the northern GFMA, unless otherwise classified (see Map 3).

See Map 10 for the location of visual resource management classes.

Management Actions/Direction

Address visual resource management issues when conducting watershed analysis.

Use the visual resource contrast rating system during project level planning to determine whether or not proposed activities will meet VRM objectives. Use mitigation measures to reduce visual contrasts.

Provide for natural ecological changes in VRM Class I areas. Some very limited management activities may occur in these areas. The level of change to the characteristic landscape should be very low and must not attract attention. Changes should repeat the basic elements of form, line, color, texture, and scale found in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape.

Manage VRM Class II lands for low levels of change to the characteristic landscape. Management activities may be seen but should not attract the attention of the casual observer. Changes should repeat the basic elements of form, line, color, texture, and scale found in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape.

Manage VRM Class III lands for moderate levels of change to the characteristic landscape. Management activities may attract attention but should not dominate the view of the casual observer. Changes should repeat the basic elements of form, line color, texture, and scale found in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape.

Manage VRM Class IV lands for moderate levels of change to the characteristic landscape. Management activities may dominate the view and be the major focus of viewer attention. However, every attempt should be made to minimize the effect of these activities through careful location, minimal disturbance, and should repeat the basic elements of form, line, color, and texture.