INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Landscape Architecture By Cristina M. Plemel 2020 SIGNATURE PAGE PROJECT: INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE AUTHOR: Cristina M. Plemel DATE SUBMITTED: Spring 2020 Department of Landscape Architecture Andrew Wilcox Project Committee Chair Professor and Department Chair Philip Pregill Project Committee Member Professor of Landscape Architecture Jared Pierce Project Committee Member Forest Landscape Architect Tahoe National Forest ii ABSTRACT This study took research participants on scenic hikes throughout California to understand landscape preferences utilizing participant photography. There were 8 hikes total and 16 participants. The hikes took place at the following locations: Abbott’s Lagoon in Point Reyes National Seashore, Vivian Creek Trail in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, Strawberry Peak and Mount Baden-Powell in the Angeles National Forest, Mosaic Canyon in Death Valley National Park, Abalone Cove Shoreline Park in Palos Verdes, the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, Loch Lomond in Santa Cruz County, and Mount San Jacinto State Park. Participants were given a disposable camera on each hike and asked to photograph the landscape. After the hikes, film was developed, and participants were emailed digital copies of their photographs and asked to explain why each photo was taken. The literature review has two sections. Part one has a focus on plant communities found in California, while part 2 has a focus on landscape preferences, perception, and scenic beauty of landscape. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS SIGNATURE PAGE .............................................................................................................. ii ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1: Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................... 2 1.3 Background .............................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2: Research Methods ......................................................................................... 6 2.1 Methods .................................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Participant Photography .......................................................................................... 6 2.3 Journal Entries and Photo Response Forms ............................................................. 6 CHAPTER 3: Procedures ..................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Procedures .............................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 4: Literature Review Part 1: Landscape Preference, Landscape Assessment, and Scenery ....................................................................................................................... 9 4.1 Introduction and Historical Background .................................................................. 9 4.2 Importance of Landscape Preference Studies for Landscape Architecture ........... 10 4.3 Factors Affecting Landscape Preference ................................................................ 11 4.4 The Need for a Different Method .......................................................................... 12 4.5 Experiences in the Landscape ................................................................................ 12 4.6 Visual Quality Assessment ..................................................................................... 13 4.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER 5: Literature Review Part 2: California Plant Communities .............................. 15 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 15 5.2 Climate .................................................................................................................. 17 5.4 Coastal Redwood Forest ........................................................................................ 21 5.5 Coastal Mixed Evergreen ....................................................................................... 22 5.6 Riparian Forest ...................................................................................................... 22 5.7 Interior grassland .................................................................................................. 22 iv 5.8 Vernal pools ........................................................................................................... 22 5.9 Foothill woodland .................................................................................................. 24 5.10 Chaparral ............................................................................................................. 24 5.11 Mountain Vegetation .......................................................................................... 25 5.12 The Desert ........................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 6: Results ......................................................................................................... 29 6.1 Hike 1: Point Reyes National Seashore .................................................................. 29 6.2 Hike 2: Sacred Cove, Palos Verdes ......................................................................... 31 6.4 Hike 4: Strawberry Peak ........................................................................................ 35 6.5 Hike 5: Mount Baden Powell ................................................................................. 36 6.6 Hike 6: Mosaic Canyon .......................................................................................... 37 6.7 Hike 7: South Coast Botanic Garden ...................................................................... 38 6.8 Hike 8: Loch Lomond ............................................................................................. 39 6.10 Responses Overall ............................................................................................... 43 CHAPTER 7: Discussion .................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER 8: Conclusion ................................................................................................... 48 8.1 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 48 8.2 Limitations ............................................................................................................. 49 8.4 Recommendations for Future Research ................................................................ 50 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................... 51 APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................... 59 APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................... 61 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Tiburon Mariposa Lily ....................................................................................... 15 Figure 2 A Generalized Geologic Map of California ......................................................... 16 Figure 3 Incredible landforms on the Northern California Coast. .................................... 18 Figure 4 Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes north of Santa Barbara ........................................... 19 Figure 5 Northern Coastal Scrub and Prairie vegetation in Salt Point State Park. ........... 20 Figure 6 Chaparral in the Angeles National Forest .......................................................... 25 Figure 7 Anza Borrego State Park .................................................................................... 28 vi CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1.1 Overview This study took research participants on a series of trips throughout California to get their own unique perspective of the California landscape. Landscape Architects who work for both the forest service and the national park service work with the perspectives of the park visitor when it comes to scenery. For them, it is very important to consider the perspective of the visitor as it influences the decisions made regarding protection of scenery. Protecting visual landscape quality is also crucial for environmental management and policy (Daniel, 2001). Scenery is one of the main reasons why most visitors come to national parks and forests; national park surveys found that 90 percent of visitors listed scenery as extremely important to protect and preserve (Kulesza et al. 2013). Attempts to assess the landscape in the past