Measuring the Intangible Values of Natural Streams, Part I

The purpose of this study was to apply the uniqueness concept to the quantification of the intangible values of natural streams. The methodology is based on procedures developed by Luna B. Leopold and Maria O. Marchand of the U.S. Geological Survey. It involves the evaluation of a set of characteristics or factors for selected stream sites. Each factor is rated for each site on a numerical scale indicative of the range of possible values for that factor. An uniqueness ratio (the reciprocal of the number of stream sites sharing a given category rating) is then computed for each stream for each factor in the set. Summing the uniqueness ratios for all the factors for a given stream yields a total uniqueness ratio . Those streams with the highest total uniqueness ratio are considered to be the most unique. The present study utilized an inventory of fifty-four factors which were evaluated for each study stream. The inventory was divided into five factor groups: Physical Measures, Land Use Measures, Water Quality Measures, Disvalues and Esthetic Impression Measures. Two types of streams were studied: Preference streams and Random streams. Sixteen Preference streams were selected from lists of wild, scenic and recreational streams prepared by two state agencies. Forty-two Random streams were selected, using a random number table, from a small watershed inventory prepared by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. The sampling process insured that streams be selected from each of the eight physiographic regions of Kentucky. Thus, a total of fifty-eight streams were studied. Conclusions reached were: The uniqueness ratio concept can successfully be used to evaluate relative uniqueness within a group of streams. Higher values of the total uniqueness ratio were obtained for those streams that were in bad condition or that had been abused by man\u27s activities than for those streams that were of relatively high quality. Some of the streams ranking highest in total uniqueness were those situated in highly developed areas, an indication of the essentially rural nature of the state of Kentucky and the effects of development and urbanization on the environmental quality of small watersheds. Streams located in the Eastern Coal Field generally represented the most natural, rugged, and esthetic streams of the study. The streams located in the Western Coal Field generally represented the most highly exploited and least esthetic streams of the study

Esthetic and Recreational Potential of Small Naturalistic Streams Near Urban Areas

The purpose of this study was to find a way to evaluate the esthetic and recreational potential of small streams and their watersheds. Research was limited to naturalistic streams with drainage areas under 100 square miles and located within 25 miles of a city. A methodology, based on some previous work of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and the principles or concepts of terrain analysis, land use planning, value Judgment philosophy and the economics of outdoor recreation, was developed and applied in detail to two streams (Boone and Jessamine Creeks) near Lexington, Kentucky. Evaluations were made of the streams\u27 potential for camping (primitive, transient and group), fishing, picnicking, a trail system (hiking, horseback riding, bicycling and auto tour routes), esthetic enjoyment (sightseeing, nature walks and walking for pleasure) and the establishment of natural, scenic and historic areas, Limited applications were also made to two other watersheds and to selected recreation sites on Boone and Jessamine Creeks. Extensions of these case studies resulted in procedures for estimating: visitation to a developed site, future participation demand generated by an urban area and the proportion of that demand that would be satisfied at a specific site, and the economic benefits that would accrue if the sites were developed. Conclusions reached were: (1) Esthetic and recreational values can be identified, inventoried and used to evaluate a watershed\u27s development potential. (2) The methodology yielded fairly accurate evaluations for most of the recreational activities considered. (3) The case studies revealed that many small stream areas possess medium to high potential for camping, fishing, picnicking, trail system development and some forms of esthetic enjoyment. (4) Visitation estimates were judged to be only approximate due to lack of relevant data on similar existing recreation areas. Estimates of participation demand, acreage requirements and annual benefits were somewhat more reliable. Suggestions for further research include: (1) Additional applications of the evaluation methodology to streams in other Kentucky urban areas and in states having climatic, topographic and socio-economic conditions different from Kentucky\u27s and (2) A feasibility study of the use of a psychometrics approach to determine personal preferences about outdoor recreation and the preservation of natural areas

Measuring the Intangible Values of Natural Streams, Part II

This report describes the work done during Part II of a project which had as its aim the development of a way to quantify those intangible values peculiar to a small stream and its watershed. Part I was concerned with an application of the uniqueness concept in the evaluation of fifty-eight Kentucky streams. The results of this effort are in Report #40, U. K. Water Resources Institute (1971). During the second part of the project: A method was developed whereby peoples\u27 preferences for natural landscapes could be measured. The method utilized projected color slides and a rating system based on the semantic differential. Fourteen preference studies were conducted using different types of subjects and stimuli (color slides). The data were factor analyzed and scores computed for three factors (Natural Beauty, Force and Starkness) for each slide-subject group combination. The scenic content of each slide was measured and related to the factor scores by a series of linear regression equations. The uniqueness ratio approach was modified to include fewer stream characteristics (thirty-seven) and the work of Part I essentially repeated. A new method of stream evaluation was developed which yields a factor score for a given stream on each of six factors (Scenic Attractiveness, Land Use-Topo, Litter, Aquatic Habitat, Extractive Industry, Development). Conclusions were as follows: A scene that includes a view of running water is usually preferred over one that includes still water or no water at all. The stark beauty of a desert, lava flow or a winter pasture is not perceived by most people. Some types of visual pollution (i.e.; misfit billboards) are not recognized as such by some groups of people. Familiar scenes are not considered particularly beautiful even though they may be so to outsiders. Occupation and life style seem to have more effect on an individual\u27s concept of natural beauty than age or sex. People agree on what\u27s very beautiful or very ugly in a scene but disagree on the in-between. The semantic differential method as applied in this study yields measures of preference that are well-correlated with on-site evaluations by competent judges. Predicting preference from the physical content of a scene yields only approximate results. Reducing the number of stream characteristics used to compute uniqueness ratios did not greatly change the uniqueness rankings of the fifty-eight study streams. The recommended procedure for evaluating small streams is the factor score approach supplemented by a carefully conceived and executed preference study. The procedure should be applied to a random sample of all small streams in a state or region to establish a stream hierarchy. Factor scores and/ or rankings for a given stream could, if desired, be worked into a benefit-cost or other such computation in the form of a weight or multiplier