Public lands have a variety of visual values. These different values warrant different levels of management. Because it is neither desirable nor practical to provide the same level of management for all visual resources, it is necessary to systematically identify and evaluate these values to determine the appropriate level of management. Visual values are identified through the VRM inventory (Manual Section 8410) and are considered with other resource values in the Resource Management Planning (RMP) process. BLM M-8400 (.07)(A). Visual resource inventory classes are assigned through the inventory process. Class I is assigned to those areas where a management decision has been made previously to maintain a natural landscape. This includes areas such as national wilderness areas, the wild section of national wild and scenic rivers, and other congressionally and administratively designated areas where decisions have been made to preserve a natural landscape. Classes II, III, and IV are assigned based on a combination of scenic quality, sensitivity level, and distance zones. This is accomplished by overlaying the three spatial maps showing scenic quality, sensitivity levels, and distance zone ratings and using the matrix in H 8410-1 in Illustration 11 to find the value class. BLM H-8410-1 (V)(A)(1.)
