Roads and Trails 



Much of the visitors' view of the forest landscape is 

 seen from a car along a road, or from a trail. Studies by 

 Schroeder and DanieT show the SBE method can be used 

 to evaluate viewers' perceptions of roads. 



In a study of the Coram Site in Montana reported earlier, 

 we found that people appeared to prefer older roads with 

 established vegetation along side and that their dislike 

 for new construction increased with the amount of bare 

 earth and rock exposed. (See Schweitzer, Ullrich, and 

 Benson 1976.) We further explored these observations in 

 two other areas: in a grand fir forest area (Horse Creek, 

 Nezperce National Forest, Idaho) where new roads and 

 reconstruction of existing roads are planned; and in Silver 

 Creek (Boise National Forest, Idaho) where reconstruction 

 is planned for an existing road on fairly steep, erodible 

 granitic soil. Our study compares uroaded conditions, 

 existing road conditions, and in the future will include 

 postconstruction evaluation. 



Figure 6 and table 6 show that the highest ratings 

 were in the grand fir forest where an existing road 

 crossed small streams and springs. The existing road, 

 where well vegetated, seemed to be slightly preferred to 

 even the unroaded forest as seen along the location trail 

 which had been put in prior to constructing new roads. 

 Wherever there were signs of disturbance to soil or 

 vegetation the ratings were lower. 



The lowest rating was given to an existing road on the 

 dry erodible Douglas-fir hillside. This is an old, poorly 

 located road on the Boise National Froest that has 

 eroded in places, exposing bright soil and rock in sharp 

 contrast to the surrounding forest. 



'Schroeder, Herbert W, and Terry C Daniel |ln press] Predicting ttie 

 scenic quality of forest road corridors In "Environment and Behavior." 



This section of road is poorer than most in the area, but 

 was included to provide an estimate of the esthetic 

 consequences of poor roads and deterioration. We expect 

 that in this area a trail or modest, well constructed road 

 would have a fairly high rating because the forest is more 

 open and has more visual variety than the grand fir forest. 



In figure 6, there was not much difference in ratings 

 except where there was obvious soil disturbance. But 

 from a practical standpoint, their ranking is consistent 

 with the idea that things looking orderly and natural are 

 preferred to evidence of disturbance and deterioration. 

 The detailed ratings are summarzied in table 6. 



Table 6.— Mean ratings of roads and trails 



Area and condition Viewer paneP 



Horse Creek, grand fir type, Nezperce National Forest 



Existing road, typical 6.33 



Existing road at stream crossing 6.55 

 and openings 



Existing road with cut bank 5.60 



Trail with some vegetation cut 5.28 



Trail with soil distrubed 3.61 



Silver Creek, Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine, Boise 

 National Forest 



Old, poor road with sidecut 2.85 

 erosion 



(Critical diff.)^ (1.08) 



'University of Montana psychology students Replication of this evaluation 

 planned in connection with post-road construction study See "Horse 

 Creek administrative - research study site. Nezperce National Forest. 

 Study Plan No 4 (Esthetic evaluation) 1977," on file at Forestry Sciences 

 Laboratory, fVlissoula, and Nezperce National Forest supervisor's office 

 and Selway Ranger District 



^Differences between means that exceed this are significant at the 95 

 level. 



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