tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532457739716604501.post6404499142142219890..comments2020-03-11T01:42:56.000-07:00Comments on An American River Canyon "Book of Days": February 20 (1978, 2005) MeandersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532457739716604501.post-47736118853715387952011-02-21T16:17:02.881-08:002011-02-21T16:17:02.881-08:00It's not only the buildings on the private par...It's not only the <i>buildings</i> on the private parcels that affect and damage the viewshed; usually way more damaging is the clearing of vegetation--done often to minimize risk of fire losses to those buildings. However, clear-cutting is NOT advisable, and is NOT required by CalFire. Large established trees should NOT be cut; they survive most fires, they anchor the steep slopes, and they provide re-seeding and nursery support for new timber growth if a fire does occur in an area. It is the "ladder fuels" that are to be cut; tall, narrow, crowded conifers, and low-growing shrubs and brush. <br /><br />I wish Placer Co. would monitor and enforce both building setback and viewshed ordinances, and perhaps add incentives to property owners to re-grow damaged areas with fire-resistant vegetation. LEAVE THE TREES. Let them protect and nurture the land and the web of wildlife as well as the human lives that share the forest. And let them as much as possible, hide and disguise the human encroachments into these sacred wild canyons.NorthForkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15606430620460956692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532457739716604501.post-17975590200307281572011-02-21T10:57:20.269-08:002011-02-21T10:57:20.269-08:00There are a lot of private parcels in and along th...There are a lot of private parcels in and along the rim of the canyon. Russell's property being one of them, I always felt that he was walking a line on the building in the canyon and canyon viewshed issues. <br />We do have a wild and scenic river canyon that for the most part is undeveloped and is remarkably beautiful. This wild beauty of the canyon attracts and it is somewhat easy to see someone wanting to have that beauty in their living room, off their decks, yards, etc. Many of these property owners probably also recreate in the canyon enjoying that wild beauty, the canyon is a tremendous asset to our local communities. I've always wondered if these property owners did not understand the impact to that wild beauty that developing in the canyon can have or whether they did not care or consider it a significant impact. I came to realize that Russell was well aware of this when he built his cabin. When hiking in that part of the canyon I'm always impressed with how hard it is to spot the cabin. Even knowing where it is located, I often can not see any sign of it from across canyon. And just a short walk from the cabins you have the amazing views of the canyon (if you just don't look too far to the right and up).<br />Even though there are still going to be some property owners that don't really care about the viewshed, some education (and ordinances?) could help reduce the impacts. Good site and material selection would really help in preventing some of the real eyesores in the canyon. On some of the existing development in the canyon I would think that some earthtone paint could go a long ways to reducing their impact.Ronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532457739716604501.post-55279514815165107852011-02-20T11:06:00.587-08:002011-02-20T11:06:00.587-08:00I found this bit of interest:
Unfortunately, a l...I found this bit of interest:<br /> Unfortunately, a large house now glorifies its owner on the hilltop directly above, almost dominating the viewshed ...<br /><br />I've come to the following conclusion about the innumerable vulture houses surrounding Ukiah and Redwood Valley:<br /> It is not enough to have a house with grand view, but a desire to be seen by all as having a house with a grand view.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157582400357366170noreply@blogger.com