PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT: A VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES FOR VIEWSHEDS ALONG THE CIRCUIT TRAILS BIG WOODS TRAIL March 2019 PREPARED BY: APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB Catherine Poppenwimer Patricia McCloskey, AICP Dave Publicover PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT Contents Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 The Circuit ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Protecting Views Along The Circuit ................................................................................................................................ 2 Big Woods Trail .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Study Area Landscape ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Results for the Big Woods Trail ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Big Woods Trail Viewshed ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Study Area Key Observation Points ....................................................................................................................... 6 Parcel Value Assessment ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Big Woods Trail Viewshed Resources ................................................................................................................... 7 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Scenic Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Key Observation Points ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Ownership Fragmentation ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Combined Parcel Value .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Appendix A: Key Assumptions and Known Data Limitations ................................................................................. 14 Appendix B: Methodology .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Study Area ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Approach ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Analysis Components .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Combined Parcel Value Score .................................................................................................................................... 22 Additional Information ............................................................................................................................................... 22 List of Tables Table 1: Study Area Municipalities ................................................................................................................................... 3 Table 2: Visual Assessment Summary ........................................................................................................................... 12 Appalachian Mountain Club, March 2019 PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT List of Maps Map 1: Big Woods Trail Study Area ................................................................................................................................ 4 Map 2: Trail Viewshed Area .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Map 3: KOP Viewshed Map ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Map 4: Visibility Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Map 5: Scenic Resources .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Map 6: KOP Resources ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Map 7: Combined Parcel Value ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Map 8: Highest Ranked Parcels with Scenic, Visibility, KOP and Ownership Fragmentation Resources ........ 13 Map 9: Circuit Trails Included in the Study .................................................................................................................. 16 List of Figures Figure 1: Visual Resources Score...................................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 2: Scenic Character Resources Score ................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3: Combined Parcel Value Score ........................................................................................................................ 11 Figure 4: Visibility Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Figure 5: Scenic Character Resources ............................................................................................................................ 20 Figure 6: Key Observation Points .................................................................................................................................. 21 Figure 7: Ownership Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Figure 8: Methodology Flow Chart ................................................................................................................................ 23 Appalachian Mountain Club, March 2019 PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT Acknowledgments The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) would like to acknowledge the many contributors who provided their time and input to the development of Protecting Significant Views Along The Circuit: An Assessment of Land Conservation Priorities for Viewsheds Along The Circuit Trails. Funding for this project was generously provided by the William Penn Foundation. AMC wishes to thank its partners and key stakeholders for their help and support. Berks Nature Friends of Chester Valley Trail Sarah Chudnovsky Tim Lander Brandywine Conservancy Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation Sheila Fleming Becky Taylor Bucks County Planning Commission Montgomery County Planning Commission Paul Gordon Henry Stroud Chester County Planning Commission Natural Lands Rachael Griffith Carol DeWolf Delaware River City Corporation Pottstown Area Regional Recreation Committee Jim Fries Michael Lane Delaware County Planning Department Schuylkill River Greenways NHA Steven Beckley Robert Folwell Julie Delmuto Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Shawn Megill Legendre Cover photos credit: Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Area: https://delawareandlehigh.org/blog/image-gallery/ Appalachian Mountain Club, March 2019 1 PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT VIEWS ALONG THE CIRCUIT Introduction AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. AMC believes these resources have intrinsic worth and provide recreational opportunities, spiritual renewal, and ecological and economic health for the region. Because successful conservation depends on active engagement with the outdoors, AMC encourages people to experience, learn about, appreciate, and understand the natural world. AMC is an active member of The Circuit Coalition and has been advancing recreation planning, conservation and outdoor recreation