Countryside scenic assessment: Tools and an application: Fid-Bau Portal

Countryside scenic assessment: Tools and an application

Schauman, Sally

AbstractTechnology, policy, and economic forces insure that major changes will continue to occur on the American agricultural landscape. As a result, the appearance of the countryside has become a concern. Many localities preserve farmland by allowing farmers to transfer development rights or contribute easements thus enhancing their personal tax situation. In some cases, the agricultural value of the land is not high enough to be used as a base for an easement donation even when continuation of farming is locally desirable. In these cases, local scenic values become the base for scenic easements or the transfer of development rights.This paper discusses a study done for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service to develop a theoretical basis for a practical scenic assessment procedure and the application of this procedure. The study reviewed all scenic studies of agricultural lands and proposed scenic evaluation indicators, the integration of expert and public opinion and a classification system for agricultural landscapes to be used in an interactive planning process. The process was field tested in several locations and became the basis for designating scenic easement areas in Whatcom County, Washington. The application involving public groups and the data resulting from testing public opinion as to these scenic indicators is described.