Scenic Quality of Other Areas (Recreation Sites and Bike Trails)
This indicator tracks changes in scenic quality of specific views associated with TRPA-listed public recreation areas and bike trails, and the aesthetic condition of facilities at the recreation sites themselves. Tracking these values measures how changes over time in land use and development affect scenic resources and how the recreation facilities' aesthetics affect the visual quality of the area. The Environmental Improvement Program upgrades existing recreation sites and adds new sites and bike trails. Every four years, a team of professionals examines and evaluates the scenic quality at certain public recreation sites and bike trails in the Lake Tahoe Region.
Evaluation Map
Recreation facilities and trails around Lake Tahoe.
2023 Evaluation
- Status
- At or Somewhat Better Than Target
- Trend
- Little or No Change
- Confidence
- High
Applicable Standard
SR9: Maintain or improve the numerical rating assigned to each identified scenic resource, including individual subcomponent numerical ratings, for views from bike paths and other recreation areas open to the general public as recorded in the 1993 Lake Tahoe Basin Scenic Resource Evaluation.
Key Points
- As of 2023, the scenic quality of scenic resources associated with public recreation sites is nearly the same as it was in 1993. The trend has been for little change in conditions since then. Changes that have occurred have been mostly beneficial, with some declines due to the gradual deterioration of recreation facilities.
- Scenic status and trend data for this indicator (at or somewhat better than target, with little or no change) suggests that implemented programs and actions, overall, have maintained scenic conditions.
About the Threshold
This indicator tracks changes in scenic quality of specific views associated with TRPA-listed public recreation areas and bike trails, and the aesthetic condition of facilities at the recreation sites themselves. Tracking these changes is important because it provides a measure of how changes in land use and development over time affect these resources, and how the aesthetic conditions of recreation facilities affect the visual quality of the area. .
The primary drivers affecting scenic quality in the Lake Tahoe Region are land use, land and resource management activities, and the visual/aesthetic characteristics of manmade development.
Delivering and Measuring Success
EIP Action Priorities
-
Improve Public Recreation Facilities
Upgrades & maintenance at 36 recreation sites by EIP partners since 2007 have maintained the scenic quality of the facilities. Nonetheless, substantial backlogs of improvements and maintenance remain.
Example EIP Projects
-
Sand Harbor Comfort Station Replacement, Phase 1/Entrance Improvements
The first phase of this multi-phase project at Sand Harbor was completed in 2017. This phase replaced outdated restroom facilities and upgraded the park entrance to improve user experience.
Rationale Details
- At or Somewhat Better Than Target. As of 2023, 381 of the 390 public recreation area and bike trail scenic resources (97.6 percent) met the threshold standard. Ninety-four percent of units were at or somewhat better than the target; four percent were considerably better than target; two percent were somewhat worse than target; and none were considerably worse than target.
- Little or No Change. As of 2023, the scenic quality of scenic resources associated with public recreation sites is nearly the same as it was in 1993. No trend exists in the percent of units in attainment as it has virtually stayed the same in all years with percent attainment varying between 97 percent and 98 percent each monitoring period.
Confidence Details
- High. A documented, reviewed, and accepted monitoring protocol was used to guide the collection, analysis, and reporting of the scenic monitoring data. Monitoring data was collected according to procedures outlined in the 1982 Study Report for the Establishment of Environmental Threshold Carrying Capacities, and the Status and Trend Monitoring Report for Scenic Resources in the Lake Tahoe Basin, which set forth a methodology for measuring change in scenic quality over time. The methods are consistent with those employed by the U.S. Forest Service, and are considered standard practice. This results in a high level of confidence in the status determination.
- High. Because the percentage of units in attainment has remained largely unchanged through the years, confidence that there has been little to no change is high.
- High
Additional Figures and Resources
No photos available.
No documents available.