Enjoy the View—visual resources inventory report: Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Meyer ME, Taylor KA, Sullivan RG, VonHaden J, Ford D. 2016. Enjoy the View—visual resources inventory report: Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Natural Resource Report. NPS/CHCU/NRR—2016/1353. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
At Chaco Culture National Historical Park a vital element to providing an depth cultural experience for visitors is the mostly undisturbed, natural landscape. The Chaco culture extended over a vast area of the southwest and maintaining a visual connection between communities and important cultural sites was critical. This visual resource inventory was undertaken to identify the scenic quality and importance of the visual landscape to the NPS and its visitors and provides a baseline against which to compare potential impacts of potential development both in and around the park The NPS inventory process consists of two components – scenic quality and view importance. The inventory determined that nearly all views the views have high scenic quality. The views from many locations lacked significant evidence of human presence offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Chaco connection to the landscape. Importance values were mostly rated as moderate to high as most all views were considered important to Chaco’s interpretative themes, but visitor levels and facilities varied somewhat with access and distance from the visitor center.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Meyer, Mark; Taylor, Ksienya; Sullivan, Robert; VonHaden, Jim; Ford, Dabney
- Date of Issue
- 2016-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ARD , CHCU , NRSS
- Keywords
- Chaco Culture, scenic quality, view importnace, visual resources inventory