Appendix 8.2 Glossary, including definitions of scenic assessment categories, evaluations, and values after Greystone 1997, USDA Forest Service 1995

Level of Public Concern and Value: a simple classification system used to denote the relative importance to the public of various scenes. The range of values is High, Intermediate, and Low. All lands within the Planning Area are automatically considered of High public concern and value.

Scenic Attractiveness: the scenic importance of a landscape based on human perceptions of the intrinsic beauty of landform, rockform, waterform, vegetative pattern, and cultural elements. Reflects varying visual perception attributes of variety, unity, vividness, intactness, coherence, mystery, uniqueness, harmony, balance, and pattern.

Scenic Attractiveness Class: a system of classification describing the importance or value of a particular landscape or portions of that landscape. Classifications include:

• Distinctive
• Typical or Common
• Undistinguished

Scenic Integrity: State of naturalness of a landscape and is a measure of the degree of visible disruption. A landscape with very minimal visual disruption is considered to have high Scenic Integrity. Those landscapes having increasing disruptions are considered as having diminished Scenic Integrity. Integrity is stated in degrees of deviation from the existing landscape character ranging from Very High, High, Moderate, Low, and Very Low as follows:

• Very High (unaltered) -- refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character "is" intact with only minute, if any, deviations. The existing landscape character and sense of place is expressed at the highest possible level. It generally provides for ecological change only. The level is equivalent to the Preservation class in the Visual Management System (VMS) used in the current Forest Plan.
• High (appears unaltered) -- refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character "appears" intact. Deviations may be present but must repeat the form, line, color, texture, and pattern common to the landscape character so completely and at such scale that they are not evident. The level is equivalent to the VMS Retention class.
• Moderate (slightly altered) -- refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character "appears slightly altered". Noticeable deviations must remain visually subordinate to the landscape character being viewed. The level is equivalent to the VMS Partial Retention class.
• Low (moderately altered) -- refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character "appears moderately altered". Deviations begin to dominate the valued landscape character being viewed but they borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and pattern of natural openings, vegetative type changes or architectural styles outside the landscape being viewed. They should not appear as valued character outside the landscape being viewed but compatible or complimentary to the character within. The level is equivalent to the VMS Modification class.
• Very Low (heavily altered) -- refers to landscapes where the valued landscape character "appears heavily altered". Deviations may strongly dominate the valued landscape character. They may not borrow valued attributes such as size, shape, edge effect and pattern of natural openings, vegetative type changes or architectural styles outside the landscape being viewed. However, deviations must be shaped and blended with the natural terrain (landforms) so that elements such as unnatural edges, roads, landings, and structures do not dominate the composition. The level is equivalent to the VMS Maximum Modification class.

Visual Absorption Capability: a classification system used to denote relative ability of a landscape to accept human alterations without loss of character of scenic quality. The range of possible conditions includes High, Intermediate, and Low.