2.12 VISUAL RESOURCES
Management direction for Visual Resource/Scenery Management is discussed in greater detail in Section 4.4.2.
Current Setting
Each federal agency has its own system for classifying visual resources and for scenery management. BLM uses a Visual Resource Management system (VRM); Park Services has moved to a Visitor Experience and Resource Protection framework (VERP); and Forest Service has recently adopted a Scenery Classification system (SCS), which categorizes areas from 1 to 7, based on sensitivity. The most restrictive category for each agency - and often the second most restrictive - results in what is equivalent to a Special Designation. Although there may be some common traits, no two agencies are completely consistent with the County’s planning efforts or expressed desires. Generally, Visual Classification Areas are more restrictive than needed outside National Parks and Designated Wilderness.
Need for Management Change
1)Land managers need to comply with Garfield County’s Visual Resource Management Plan unless specifically prohibited by federal law.
2)Garfield County needs to make its Visual Resource Management Plan available to planning entities managing lands in Garfield County.
3)Land managers need to coordinate visual resource management with Garfield County to the maximum extent allowed by law.
Desired Future Conditions
Garfield County desires:
a)Land managers comply with Garfield County’s Visual Resource Management Plan unless specifically prohibited by federal law.
b)To improve communication with federal and state visual resource managers and to make Garfield County’s Visual Resource Management Plan available to planning entities managing lands in Garfield County.
c)Land managers coordinate visual resource management with Garfield County to the maximum extent allowed by law.
Findings, Policies, Goal & Objectives
Goal & Objective: Manage lands in Garfield County to assure esthetically pleasing surroundings for visitors and residents.
Goal & Objective: Manage lands in Garfield Countyin a manner that protects the quality of scenic values.
Finding: Visual resource management and classifications associated therewith is a discretionary function with no obligation that final classifications are consistent with inventoried conditions.
Policy: Unless specifically prohibited by federal law, land mangers shall comply with Garfield County’s visual resource management plan.
Policy: Where federal law mandates specific visual resource management, land managers shall coordinate visual resource management with Garfield County and shall comply with Garfield County’s visual resource management plan to the maximum extent allowed by law.
Policy, Goal & Objective: Garfield County will be available to communicate and coordinate visual resource management planning with land managers.