Intrinsic Qualities
The Natural Scenic Byways Program defines intrinsic quality as "features that are considered representative, unique, irreplaceable, or distinctly characteristic of an area." The Corridor Management Plan (CMP) should analyze and describe the intrinsic qualities and how they are to be managed and interpreted. Specifically, the CMP should include the following areas of intrinsic quality documentation:
Intrinsic Quality Assessment
Identify the intrinsic qualities along the byway and describe the resources that contribute to these qualities. Evaluate which qualities are of local, regional or national importance. There are six intrinsic qualities and a brief explanation follows:
Scenic
Beauty, whether natural or human-made. The quality of the features is measured by how memorable, distinctive, uninterrupted & unified they are.
Natural
Minimal human disturbance of the natural ecological features that are associated with the region.
Historic
Landscapes, buildings, structures, or other visual evidence of the past. It has to be something that can still be seen - not just the site of something that used to be there.
Cultural
Visual evidence of the unique customs, traditions, folklore, or rituals of a currently existing human group.
Archaeological
Visual evidence of the unique customs, traditions, folklore, or rituals of a no-longer existing human group.
Recreational
The road corridor itself is used for recreation like jogging, biking, roadside picnics, or direct access to recreational sites like campgrounds, lakes, ski lodges, sightseeing, etc. |
Intrinsic Quality Management Strategy
Describe how the intrinsic qualities will be managed through preservation or conservation & what protection tools are available for this (e.g., zoning, overlay districts, easements).
Interpretation Plan
Describe what methods are in place or planned to familiarize visitors with the significant byway resources (e.g., museums, festivals, interpretive markers, kiosks).
Source: Byways Beginnings: Understanding, Inventorying, and Evaluating a Byway's Intrinsic Qualities, Federal Highway Administration - National Park Service, 1999 |
