1. Consider establishing aesthetic management zones adjacent to major travel routes.
2. Reduce visual penetration with appropriate road alignment (e.g. dog-legged roads) and minimize the number of road approaches to highways
3. Islands of trees left within harvest areas break up the visual effect of clearcutting.

4. When possible, place log decks and landings out of public view.
5. Consider using irregular cutting lines to minimize visual impacts of the harvest area.
6. Use SMZs or natural features, such as terrain or remaining timber stands, to develop aesthetic management zones.

Objectives:
Reduce the visual impacts of site preparation and provide for rapid regeneration.

Considerations:

• Conditions of area to be site prepared
• Site specific prescriptions
• Timing
• Cost to accommodate visual quality
• Water Quality

"When using mechanical site preparation, follow land contours on slopes."

Use low-impact mechanical site preparation methods.
Photos: Westvaco Corporation

Minimize soil disturbance.

Level #1: Least Sensitive

• Follow land contours on slopes.
• Protect aesthetic management zones, streamside management zones, and ravines from loss of vegetation and soil disturbance.

Level #2: Moderately Sensitive

• Follow land contours on slopes.
• Protect aesthetic management zones, streamside management zones, and ravines from loss of vegetation and soil disturbance.
• Minimize piling and windrowing.
• Limit view of slash piles and windrows.
• Favor random piles over windrows.
• Consider keeping slash in view areas to a maximum height of 3 feet.
• Close temporary roads and site prepare as needed.

• Follow land contours on slopes.
• Protect aesthetic management zones, streamside management zones, and ravines from loss of vegetation and soil disturbance.
• Minimize piling and windrowing.
• Limit view of slash piles and windrows.
• Favor random piles over windrows.
• Consider keeping slash to a maximum height of 2 feet, leveling or burning slash piles where necessary.

• Close temporary roads and site prepare as needed.
• Use low impact site preparation methods.
• Minimize soil disturbance.
• Fell damaged trees and cut high stumps to create a clean cut appearance.
• Consider working from back to front of tract to screen activities.
• Dispose of all trash and litter properly.

Avoid:

• Broadcast application of herbicides in exceptionally visible and/or environmentally sensitive areas.
• Application adjacent to schools, churches, and other public areas during active hours.
• Excessive noise during early morning and late evening near residences, churches, businesses, and outdoor recreation areas.
• Off-site application - protect sensitive areas, aesthetics management zones, streamside management zones, and neighboring properties.
• Erosion and Sedimentation.

Develop flight and application plans to
minimize off-site flyovers and turns.
Photo: Brent Jarrett

Use appropriate application method to
minimize visual impact.
Photo: American Cyanamid

"Avoid broadcast application of herbicides in exceptionally visible or environmentally sensitive areas."

• Respect adjacent landowners' privacy.
• Dispose of herbicide containers according to state and federal regulations.
• Dispose of all trash and litter properly.

Level #2: Moderately Sensitive

• Respect adjacent landowners' privacy.
• Dispose of herbicide containers according to state and federal regulations.
• Dispose of all trash and litter properly.
• Use appropriate prescriptions compatible with surrounding land uses.
• Utilize aesthetic management zones to screen broadcast herbicide applications.
• Level or burn unscreened slash piles.
• Locate heliports and staging areas out of view whenever possible.
• Minimize noise during early morning and late evening near residences, churches, and businesses.
• Consider notifying adjacent residents prior to treatment.

• Respect adjacent landowners' privacy.
• Dispose of herbicide containers according to state and federal regulations.
• Dispose of all trash and litter properly.
• Use low impact prescriptions as much as possible.
• Utilize aesthetic management zones to screen broadcast herbicide applications.
• Level or burn unscreened trash piles.
• Locate heliports and staging areas out of view whenever possible.
• Develop flight and application plans to minimize off-site flyovers and turns.
• Minimize noise during early morning and late evening near residences, churches, and businesses.
• Notify adjacent residents prior to treatment.
• Consider felling damaged trees and dead vegetation to create a clean cut appearance.
• Utilize no burn treatments when possible.
• Favor spot or strip treatments over broadcast treatments over broadcast treatments.