Visual Assessment Of The American River Parkway Bluffs Area
Author: Patrick Olsen American River College Geography 350: Data Acquisition in GIS; Spring 2005 Contact Information: patrickolsen@mac.com
Abstract The American River Parkway is a unique 32 mile long natural greenbelt running through the middle of the Sacramento metropolitan area containing one and a half million residents. It serves as a major recreational amenity for the area's population, as well as providing important wildlife habitat and serving as a crucial element of the region's flood control efforts. There is an ongoing planning effort by several governmental stakeholders overseeing the park's current and future development and maintenance operations. Also, there are political mandates willed by the citizens of California to protect and enhance vital riparian areas. But the results of any planning decisions made at the local level will also have to address the rights of property owners and businesses adjacent to the parkway. One issue in particular that has already arisen in recent years is the construction of large multi-story dwellings on the bluffs overlooking the parkway. Some citizen-users of the park feel that such dwellings are a visual intrusion to it's natural character. Home owners on the other hand, feel that they have a right to enjoy and utilize their property to the fullest Because of the location and scenic backdrop that the parkway provides, real estate prices of these properties are at a premium. Property owners therefore believe that large expensive homes must be constructed to justify the real estate cost. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for assessing the current visual quality of the Parkway's scenic resources. This study will provide useful information to decision makers and visual documentation for the general public so that they may better understand the planning issues that are being addressed.
Introduction The landscape within and surrounding the parkway has undergone significant change over the last 150 years. Documentation of the park's original condition is sparse but it is certain that the major placer mining and dredging operations that occured in the riverbottom during the first half of the 20th century severely degraded the riverine landscape. Dense urbanization adjacent to the Parkway also developed during the last half of that century. Exotic plants species have taken a major hold in the park and hobo camps may be found in the downtown sections of the Parkway. Despite the industrial and urban encroachment much of the parkway provides a natural setting that many park visitors relish. The visual assessment provides information about the visual condition, character and sensitivity of the existing Parkway corridor throughout it's 29 mile long reach from the Natomas Dam to the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. Flood control issues and natural resource management were the main issues that led to the creation of the American River Parkway Plan in 1985. In 2002 the River Corridor Management Plan (RCMP) was developed as a cooperative effort involving several public stake-holders to protect and manage the parkway's resources in as near-natural condition as possible, thereby preserving it as a perpetual greenbelt and open space. Another objective of this governmental planning effort is to permit and encourage recreational uses of the Parkway which do not conflict with the protection of the Parkway's natural assets. As a tool to better evaluate these objectives the Visual Assessment will provide a basis for public input. It will also provide support for the decision-making process used by local, state, and Federal government agency representatives charged with protecting the resources of the River Parkway. Stake holders include several local governments and not-for-profit organizations.
Background Visual Quality Classification Visual Resource Analysis is an established area of research that has been developed over the last 50 years. It is used by federal and state land management agencies overseeing the visual quality of public lands. The Environmental Protection Act of 1969 mandated that scenic resources be included in environmental impact documents. Much of the current knowledge in public perception and behavior in relation to scenic value has been undertaken by several academic researchers in Natural Resource Colleges across the country. One notable researcher, Ervin Zube of the University of Arizona has contributed much knowledge to the field and his work is referred to in a general way in this study.
.	Location of Study Area
Partial view of study site from Sunrise Boulevard Bridge on left to Natomas Dam on right.
Methods Glossary Archival Photos: Photos taken at specific points in the study area. Track: Term used to describe the course of travel within the study area used to record GPS and photographic data. The main asphalt trail running the length of the Parkway is the travelway used for the track in this case. GIS (syn. Geographic Information System) Software with database capabilities used to analyze geographic information. GPS (syn. Global Positioning System) Satellite based system that allowsgeographic locations to be recorded in the field. Equipment Used: Field Equipment • Kodak Easyshare 4mp digital camera • Garmin GPSMAP S76 global positioning system (GPS) • USGS 7.5 sec Quad Maps • American River Parkway Paper Maps • Reserve batteries for camera and GPS, • Clipboard, pens (2 or more colors); pencils Computer Equipment and Programs • Intel Pentium 4 Computer, Apple G5 Computer • ArcGis Software. • TopoFusion landscape visualization software • GIS Data, various sources (See Bibliography) • Ink-jet color printer • NeoOffice Productivity Suite • Adobe Photoshop to work with images. The literature search revealed several different methods to determine scenic landscape values. The most well known methods have been developed by federal land management agencies over the last 50 years for evaluation of scenic resources found on public lands. Typically these were large area scenic viewshed analysis used to document resource impacts from timber and mining activities. These methods have been adapted for use by local and state government agencies as well as private consultants to satisfy the reporting requirements of the Environmental Protection Act of 1969. More recently research has focused on more urban areas that may be commonly viewed from highways, and local communities. This study adapts procedures published in documents related to this research. Scenic Resource Mapping In order to quantify the extent of visual resource study area, a mapping inventory of the American River Bluffs section was performed using the software's spatial modeling ability. A three dimensional model was produced including the location of the GPS track and the camera viewpoints. These viewpoint locations were geo-located using data produced by a GPS handheld unit and the exif time stamp produced for each photo by the digital camera. This information is then transferred into landscape visualization software for analysis. A simple data model showing the major elements of this procedure is presented here. Viewpoints Viewpoints are places within the park from which geo-referenced archival photos are taken. Viewpoints are located at regular intervals along the park's main travel-way, a 10 foot wide asphalt surfaced walking and bike trail. Photos taken from Viewpoints depict landscape or cultural features that may have either significant visual impact or scenic value. They also document the existing condition of the landscape which may provide an historical reference to future studies Data Model
	Track from Hagan Park to the Fish Hatchery at Hazel Boulevard
Results The 3D shaded relief visualization of the bluff area along the north side of the river provides graphic documentation of the topography. To better evaluate the relationship of the bluffs to the parkway trail the elevation model was vertically exaggerated by a factor of 1.5 to 2.5 times. This is a common practice used in graphic procedures because 1:1 representations often are too subtle to be discernable. It is important that this exaggeration is not overdone in such a way that the product misrepresents the real nature of the topography. This methodology can be further developed in order to classify scenic resources in an overall analysis of the Parkway using GIS software. Classifications may include both objective parameters and subjective viewer perceptions. One common classification involves the distance of the scenery from viewer. Values may be created for foreground, middle ground and background scenery. The viewpoints in this study have been determined with this classification in mind so that the data may be incorporated in future studies. Foreground values generally occur at up to about 1/8 mile. This zone may be given a larger weighting value to provide better comparisons between alternatives because effects to the scenery are much more apparent in this immediate foreground zone. Middle ground zones may include areas 1/8 mile to 1 mile from the viewer. Again, the elements in this zone are also more noticeable because of the long views available up and down the river, especially at river bends that allow greater viewing angles . Background zones includes all areas visible beyond 1 mile. For the purposes of this visual assessment, the foreground and middleground areas are of most importance. Background scenery in the context of the American River Parkway is given a low value for a couple of reasons. One, visitors are mostly local residents using the park recreationally and do not expect or even greatly value scenic distant views from the within the park. Also, because of the low lying nature of the river bottom, there are few opportunities to glimpse scenery beyond one mile. Backround scenery values are more relevant in the context of recreational destinations such as wilderness areas, national parks or national forest lands. Photo map

Figures and Maps Camera locations on the Trail

Analysis SCENIC RESOURCE MAPPING In order to quantify the visual resource, a mapping inventory of this river stretch was done using spatial modeling software. A three dimensional model including the location of the track and camera viewpoint locations recorded by a GPS handheld unit. Viewpoints and Landmarks Viewpoints are places within the park from which geo-referenced archival photos are taken. Viewpoints are located at regular intervals along the park's main travelway, a 10 foot wide asphalt surfaced walking and bike trail. Photos taken from Viewpoints depict landscape or cultural features that may have either significant visual impact or scenic value. They also document the existing condition of the landscape which may provide an historical reference to future studies.
Conclusions The inventory of existing scenic resources developed here may be used as a beginning point of larger and more detailed studies of the entire stretch of the American River below Natomas Dam. The purpose of this document is to develop a methodology for conducting visual assessments that will aid local decision makers charged with the stewardship of the Park. A concern identified by the public is the visual impact resulting from the development of large multi-story residences along the bluff edge overlooking the river. Further public discussion will be necessary to determine what level of visual impact from adjacent property development will be acceptable. Although designated as a natural corridor, the Parkway requires ongoing maintenance to ensure the health, safety and welfare of it's recreational users. The scenic values produced by the study will be based on the natural character of the corridor and the sensitivity and level of concern/expectations of the Parkway's recreational users. The information gathered in the Visual Assessment will provide a basis for assessing present and future visual impacts resulting from adjacent development.
References Resources - Bibliography U.S.D.O.T., Federal Highway Administration, Office of Environmental Policy, Visual Impact Assessment for Highway Projects, U. S. Department of Transportation Washington D. C. March 1981. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, January 1, 1970, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 1975, Pub. L. 94-83, August 9, 1975, and Pub. L. 97-258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982) Ervin H. Zube (1931-2002): The Significance and Impact of His Contributions to Environment-Behavior... Gobster et al. Environment and Behavior.2003; 35: 165-186. Links American River Parkway Foundation http://www.arpf.org/ American River Natural History Association http://www.arnha.org/ American River Parkway Plan Update http://www.saccounty.net/planning/american-river-parkway/american-river-parkway.html Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency http://www.safca.org/ Sacramento County Parks and Recreation http://www.sacparks.net/ Save the American River Association Inc. http://www.sarariverwatch.org/pages/1/index.htm
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