Partnership completes scenic byway plan
The Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership announces the completion of an updated Corridor Management Plan for the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. This magnificent Byway travels 500 miles from Crater Lake National Park in Oregon to Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lake Almanor in California. It passes through dense, mountainous forests, across broad wetlands and clear streams, and through pastoral farms and ranches.
This region was molded by its fiery volcanic past over millions of years and the southern Cascade Mountains are clearly the star attraction.
The Oregon segment of the Byway was first designated in 1997 by the US Federal Highway Administration; the California segment followed in 2002. Because of the Byway’s unique intrinsic qualities (scenic, recreational, historic, archaeological, cultural and natural resources), it has high national significance. It achieved the distinction of being designated an All-American Road in 2002, one of just 31 in the nation.
A Corridor Management Plan guides management of the Byway. Each state prepared its own Corridor Management Plan (CMP) during the nomination process almost two decades ago. The updated CMP reflects on what the two previous CMPs recommended or projected in terms of byway protection, visitor services, and economic benefits. The 2018 CMP highlights accomplishments under the previous CMPs and identifies new byway initiatives for the next two decades. It also recommends scenic guidelines to preserve natural appearing view sheds along the Byway and to enhance local community beautification efforts.
“The Byway is an important driver of tourism and local employment for nearby communities,” said Elizabeth Norton, President of the Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership. “Preparing this new Corridor Management Plan was a bi-state partnership effort which will continue as we enter the implementation phase,” Norton added. “The Byway is a vital economic engine in our region. If we all preserve the intrinsic qualities for which it was designated, the Byway will contribute so much more than being a beautiful drive.”
Hard copies of the CMP were distributed to various agency and community partners in Oregon and California to guide local planning and development efforts. E-copies of the CMP may be obtained from the Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership
