activities. The overall color contrast has been increased at all sites by 

 removing riparian vegetation. However, gravel removal has not created signif- 

 icant overall contrasts with the form, line, and texture of the existing 

 vegetation patterns except at Penny River where the vegetation is much taller. 

 Rigid blocks of vegetation now define some borders of the gravel removal area 

 at Penny River, thus producing a contrast with the existing random pattern and 

 height variations of the natural vegetation. 



NORTH SLOPE 



Very few significant contrasts are visible on the braided rivers of 

 the North Slope. The rivers are large enough to visually absorb the changes 

 in cnannel and island configuration. The banks, however, are a strong visual 

 focus in many places and are more visual ly sensitive to change. The height 

 of incisea banks necessitated the use of gravel fill ramps in many locations. 

 Some ramps were partial ly removed after mining was completed and the remnants 

 are still visible. In either case, the ramps produce a moderate contrast 

 with the form and line of the river bank. The Kavik River is an example of 

 strong contrast in the form and line of the I andf orm-water feature. Large 

 portions of the bank were altered at this site. In addition, a large rectangu- 

 lar scraped area adjoins the river. These lines are not unlike those of the 

 nearby airstrip, but in this case they disrupt the visual linear flow of 

 the river's edge. The removal of vegetation and overburden in this area has 

 produced a color contrast that accentuates the unnatural rectangular lines 

 of the disturbed area. 



Gravel removal created stronger contrasts along the smaller and/or single 

 channel rivers in the North Slope region. The creation of additional warer 

 channels and/or ponds at the Aufeis Creek and Skeetercake Creek has signifi- 

 cantly disrupted the natural lines of each system. Removal of vegetated over- 

 burden and stockpiling of gravel created additional contrasts in color and 

 texture. The resulting broken textures and configurations at these sites 

 contrast sharply with the existing natural landform and vegetation patterns. 



305 



