Minimize Aesthetic Impacts

Visual quality is an important aspect of managing the multiple values of our forest resource. By limiting the aesthetic impacts of forest management activities, wherever practicable, we can enhance the value of forested lands for recreational users. This can result in a healthy tourism economy. We can also retain public acceptance of forest management and timber harvesting, thereby helping to sustain a healthy forest products industry.

To limit the aesthetic impacts of our activities the Natural Resources Management Department will plan and conduct our operations so that we:

• Comply with the visual quality standards in the Minnesota Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines.
• Limit the size of clear-cuts to no more than 120 acres unless larger cuts are necessary to respond to forest health emergencies or other natural catastrophes or to achieve wildlife objectives.
• Avoid cutting adjacent stands on County-managed lands unless:
  • Stands are three years old or five feet high at the desired level of stocking.
  • It is necessary to respond to forest health emergencies or other natural catastrophes; or
  • There is good operational, timing, or silvicultural rationale; and
  • Visual sensitivity of the site has been assessed and visual quality guidelines appropriate to the sensitivity of the site are incorporated into the project plan and are followed.