RSS FeedsVisual & Aesthetic Resources
Regional & Countywide Context
Countywide Visual & Aesthetic Resources
This chapter presents the visual and aesthetic resources in Napa County (County). The chapter discusses applicable policies and regulations and discusses the most recent case law decisions relevant to visual resource analysis and management in California. The section includes maps that present viewshed analyses and identify scenic corridors and major and minor ridgelines. The bulk of this chapter presents the visual resources of thirteen distinct evaluation areas within Napa County. The chapter concludes by recommending preferred methodologies and areas of particular focus for future assessment.
Established federal methodologies utilized by the Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, and United States Forest Service were reviewed for this visual assessment. The rationale for selecting a methodology for visual assessment that would not preclude the use of any or all federal methodologies in future evaluation of visual impacts is presented. The technical approach involved field research, the photo-textual presentation of visual resources in Napa County, and the preparation of maps that present viewshed analyses and identify scenic corridors and major and minor ridgelines.
REGIONAL & COUNTYWIDE CONTEXT
Just as Napa County is set within the diverse northern California landscape—centrally located with regard to urban centers (San Francisco and Sacramento) and geographic features (the wooded north coast region and the Great Central Valley)—the County contains within its boundaries a landscape that allows for great visual variety. Mountainous ridgelines running predominately north and south form the eastern and western boundaries of three major watersheds of Putah Creek, Suisun Creek and the Napa River. The accompanying streams and canyons of these watersheds surround Pope Valley and Lake Berryessa, Wooden Valley and the Napa Valley Floor. The setting provides for a rich and varied discussion of visual and aesthetic resources.
COUNTYWIDE VISUAL & AESTHETIC RESOURCES
For purposes of this visual analysis, Napa County was divided into thirteen evaluation areas: Napa River marshes, Jamieson/American Canyon, Carneros area, Napa Valley floor, western mountains, eastern mountains, Angwin area, Livermore Ranch area, southern interior valleys, central interior valleys, Pope Valley, Berryessa area, and Knoxville area. Each of these evaluation areas offers a distinct landscape character. A general description is provided for each area, detailing its location, landscape character (i.e., type of vegetation, presence of water, general color and texture of the area), and the degree to which its environment is built, managed, or natural. Unique visual resources are identified for each and described and supported with accompanied by photographs. Typical viewers in the area are described, followed by a discussion of the changes, if any, in the landscape over the past decade, and what affect those changes might have had on the area’s visual character.
