Mt. Rose Scenic Byway Interpretive Plan
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Mt. Rose Scenic Byway Interpretive Plan Rose Mt Discover the Mt. Rose Scenic Byway… Your natural connection from Reno to Lake Tahoe Mt. Rose Scenic Byway Interpretive Plan 5/05/07 Prepared for: Carson Ranger District Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest 1536 South Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701 775.882.2766 Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space 2601 Plumas Street Reno, NV 89509 775.828.6642 by: Natural Light 174 Eastbrook Way Ashland Oregon 97520 541 552 1198 Mt. Rose Scenic Byway, Nevada State Route 431is a cooperative project between the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space, and the Nevada Department of Transportation. This Plan will better position the Byway for securing funding of interpretive projects. Planners, managers, and interpreters are encouraged to use this Plan when planning and designing new interpretive opportunities. School teachers will find the Plan useful in creating environmental education programs. When funds are available, media (panels, publication, exhibit and audio visual) designers will use the guidance within this Interpretive Plan to design and fabricate the media recommended herein. Acknowledgements: Special thanks to the following people who contributed to this Plan: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: Marnie Bonesteel, Steve Hale, Scott Lamoreux, Elizabeth Bergstrom, Maureen Easton, Carol Ryan, Shelley Hill-Worthen. Washoe County: Kristine Bunnell. Nevada Bureau of Mines: Kris Pizarro, Jack Hursh, and Joseph Tingley. Cover photo of Mt. Rose by Kris Pizarro, illustrations by Kris Pizarro. ii Table of Contents Executive Summary................................................................................................................................. 1 Location of the Byway............................................................................................................................. 4 Goals for the Mt. Rose Scenic Byway .................................................................................................... 6 Interpretive Objectives............................................................................................................................ 7 Visitor Analysis summary....................................................................................................................... 10 Interpretive Media and Programming Recommendations................................................................ 14 Friends Group/Interpretive Association............................................................................................... 30 Potential Partners ................................................................................................................................... 33 Byway Marketing Strategies ................................................................................................................. 21 Priorities for Implementation ................................................................................................................. 27 Implementation ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Evaluation............................................................................................................................................... 29 Mt. Rose Scenic Byway Design Concepts...........................................................................................52 Interpretive Opportunity Inventory Forms............................................................................................ 61 Site #1: SB Orientation sites in Reno.................................................................................................. 61 Site #2: University of Reno, Redfield Campus.................................................................................. 63 Site #3: Steamboat Hot Springs......................................................................................................... 65 Site #4: Byway views........................................................................................................................... 68 Site #5: Callahan park, Galena school house and town site........................................................ 72 Site #6: Byway views........................................................................................................................... 76 Site #7: Whites Creek Trailhead......................................................................................................... 78 Site #8: Thomas Creek Trailhead....................................................................................................... 82 iii Site #9: Galena Creek Visitor Center................................................................................................ 86 Site #10: Galena Creek Regional Park-North .................................................................................. 91 Site #11: Galena Creek Regional Park-North Interpretive Loop Trail............................................ 94 Site #12: Galena Creek Regional Park- South................................................................................. 96 Site #13: Byway views....................................................................................................................... 100 Site #14: Sky Tavern Ski Area............................................................................................................ 103 Site #15: Browns Creek ..................................................................................................................... 110 Site #16: Old rustic historic red ski tower (“Ringer” chair lift). ...................................................... 107 Site #17: The Chutes and Chuter Chair lift.....................................................................................109 Site #18: East Bowl parking lot of Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe ................................................................... 111 Site #19: Byway views....................................................................................................................... 115 Site #20: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe main ski lodge .................................................................................. 118 Site #21: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe New Slide Lodge .............................................................................. 122 Site #22: Atoma Building .................................................................................................................. 125 Site #23: Pullout with views............................................................................................................... 127 Site #24: Galena Backcountry Pullout............................................................................................ 135 Site #25: Mt. Rose Summit Welcome Plaza.................................................................................... 134 Site #26: Mt. Rose Campground..................................................................................................... 140 Site #27: Tahoe Meadows Tahoe Rim Trail Trailhead ................................................................... 143 Site #28: Tahoe Meadows Ophir Creek Interpretive loop Trail.................................................... 148 Site #29: Forest Service boundary................................................................................................... 151 Site #30: Incline Lakes General Improvement District (IVGID) potential site............................. 153 Site #31: North Flume trail access ................................................................................................... 156 Site #32: NDOT Lake Tahoe wayside ..............................................................................................157 Appendix A – Visitor Analysis ............................................................................................................. 161 Appendix B – Funding Opportunities ................................................................................................. 173 Appendix C – Detailed Research Information .................................................................................. 195 Research Sources: ............................................................................................................................... 264 iv Executive Summary Purpose of the Interpretive Plan: The purpose of this plan is to guide the interpretive development of the Byway, in order to further accomplish the mission, management objectives and resources of the National Forest and Washoe County along the Mt. Rose Scenic Byway in Nevada. The Plan defines the goals, objectives, themes, subthemes, stories, and recommends the media to tell those stories. This Plan outlines how the Byway will interpret natural, historical, cultural, and recreational resources in an entertaining and educational way. Interpretation is accomplished through panels, exhibits, a visitor center, audio visual productions, publications, and personal services, such as guided interpretive hikes and campfire programs. Interpretation of the Scenic Byway’s treasures will foster an appreciation of the area by educating visitors to the significance of the natural and cultural resources. Interpretation answers the question…what makes this Scenic Byway special? Interpretation along the Scenic Byway reveals the stories of past, the present and the future. This interpretation gives the Byway