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Scenic Quality
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Preserving Priceless Scenic Views in the Lake Tahoe Basin

The scenery of the Lake Tahoe Basin inspired the nickname “Jewel of the Sierra” and Mark Twain to say it is the “fairest site the whole earth affords.” Scenes around Lake Tahoe contain the unusual combination of rugged mountain peaks, thickly forested slopes, and a vast, flat lake surface. The unique combination of these visual elements provides for exceptionally high aesthetic values.

Each year, the Basin´s beautiful scenery attracts new residents and visitors from around the world to view the distinctive alpine lake ringed by mountain peaks. Residents and visitors agree that the scenic quality of the Basin is one of its most important natural resources. Some of the scenic specialties in the Lake Tahoe Basin are Desolation Wilderness, Emerald Bay and Eagle Falls, Mt. Tallac and Job´s Peak, and views of the Lake from roadways and trails surrounding it.

Scenic quality is perhaps the most often identified natural resource of the Lake Tahoe Basin and is enhanced by the success of environmental regulation programs, such as air and water quality and soil and vegetation conservation. Clean air and water, and healthy soil and vegetation, are key factors in upholding the spectacular scenic quality of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency was charged with managing the Basin´s scenic resources to minimize the threat that increasing urbanization has on the scenic values of the Lake Tahoe Region. The maintenance of the Basin´s scenic quality largely depends on careful regulation of the type, location, and intensity of land uses. As with many of the Region´s natural resources, the scenic qualities of the Basin are vulnerable to change. Modifying the natural scenic features of the Basin is a by-product of development, yet such impacts need not be devastating. Coordinated efforts that incorporate architectural design and location considerations in land development project review processes are useful means of promoting scenic and aesthetic values.

Policies in place to achieve a high scenic quality include:

  • Maintain and restore the scenic qualities of the natural appearing landscape
  • Improve the accessibility of Lake Tahoe for public viewing.
  • Insure development standards such as height, bulk, texture, form, materials, colors, lighting, signing and other design elements of new, remodeled and redeveloped buildings be compatible with the natural, scenic, and recreational values of the Region.
  • Insure preservation and enhancement of the natural features and qualities of the Region, provide public access to scenic views, and enhance the quality of the built environment.

Sources:

    Draft TRPA 2001 Threshold Evaluation

    Lake Tahoe Scenic Resource Evaluation
Indicators

SR-1 Travel Route Rating

Threshold: The travel route rating threshold tracks long-term, cumulative changes to views seen from major roadways in urban, transitional, and natural landscapes in the region and to the views seen from Lake Tahoe looking toward the shore.

Indicator(s):To secure threshold attainment, all travel routes with a 1982 score of 15.5 (roadway) or 7.5 (shoreline) or greater must maintain their scores, and all travel routes with a 1982 score of 15 (roadway) or 7 (shoreline) or less must improve their scores until the threshold score is reached.

SR-2, Scenic Quality Rating

Threshold: The scenic quality rating threshold protects specific views of scenic features of Tahoe's natural landscape that can be seen from major roadways and from the lake.

Indicator(s): To secure threshold attainment, all 1982 scenic quality scores must be

maintained.

SR-3, Public Recreation Areas and Bike Trails

Threshold: The public recreation area threshold protects the viewshed from public recreation areas and certain bicycle trails.

Indicator(s): To secure threshold attainment, all 1993 scenic quality scores must be maintained.

SR-4, Community Design

Threshold: The community design threshold is a policy statement that applies to the built

environment. Design standards and guidelines found in the Code of Ordinances,

the Scenic Quality Improvement Program, and in the adopted Community Plans

provide specific implementation direction.

Indicator(s): To secure threshold attainment, design standards and guidelines must be widely implemented to improve travel route ratings and produce built environments compatible with the natural, scenic, and recreational values of the region.

Click here for more information about scenic indicators from the TRPA 2001 Threshold Evaluation
Research

A goal of TIIMS is housing documents about the past, present and future environmental research conducted in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Scientific research conducted by organizations, agencies, and universities aims to detect, for example, visual obstructions and discover ways to monitor and ultimately eliminate scenic impacts. Ongoing research efforts collecting baseline data will help regulatory agencies establish regulations and develop limits and indicators designed to improve environmental health.

TIIMS is always searching for more documents to include in this section so please contact tiims@trpa.org with possible links to other scenic quality research.