APPROACH 



The aesthetic analysis of gravel removal from the 25 project study sites 

 utilized the premises and criteria of the VRM system developed by the Bureau 

 of Land Management. However, an actual VRM inventory and classification was 

 conducted on a site by site basis rather than on a regional basis as would 

 normally occur. Each project study site was analyzed for scenic quality, 

 visual sensitivity, and degree of visibility. Project aerial and on-site 

 ground photography, USGS togography maps, and project site descriptions were 

 the primary data source for the scenic quality and degree of visibility anal- 

 ysis. Visual sensitivity data sources are limited in Alaska; therefore, user 

 attitude and use volume were interpreted from the public documents cited in 

 the bibliography and by communications with persons familiar with the loca- 

 tions under study. After the sites in each general region were inventoried for 

 existing visual resources, a contrast evaluation was conducted. The contrast 

 evaluation outlines specific visual effects of gravel removal according to 

 BLM def i n i t i ons. 



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