The New SuburbaN Dream The InTersecTIon of AesTheTIcs & ecology In resIdenTIAl PlAnTIng desIgn Katherine harrison LA 609 Spring 2024 Department Of LanDscape architecture University Of OregOn COllege Of Design ABSTRACT This project investigates the intersection of ecology and aesthetics in residential planting design, with the aim of developing a new suburban aesthetic that inspires homeowners to embrace ecological initiatives in their front yards. In particular, this project looks at planting design for the Lucas Valley Neighborhood in Marin County, California, which affords many unique opportunities for ecological connectivity at the neighborhood scale. Best practices for biodiversity, fire-smart landscapes, and water-wise landscapes are discussed and evaluated for synergies and trade-offs. Three unique planting plans are presented, each showcasing a different opportunity to be found in ecologically minded residential design initiatives. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 01 - 08 BEST PRACTICES 33 - 38 WELCOME TO THE SUBURBS 01 BEST PRACTICES 33 history of the lawn 03 PLANTING FOR BIODIVERSITY 34 ECOLOGICAL WASTELAND TO ECOLOGICAL OppOrTuNITy 05 FIRE SMART LANDSCAPING 36 ‘‘HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK‘‘ 06 WATER-WISE BASICS 38 neighborhood scale change 07 harnessing the hoa 07 research question 08 LITERATURE REVIEW 09 - 12 DESIGN 39 - 55 the principles of ecological landscape design 09 DESIGN METHODS 39 reconciling ecology and aesthetics 10 PLANT SELECTION 40 DISCUSSION THROUGH TIME 11 GRASSLAND INSPIRED 41 DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES 12 OAK WOODLAND INSPIRED 46 PROJECT GOALS 12 SOFT CHAPARRAL INSPIRED 51 SITE SELECTION 13 - 17 conclusion 56 - 65 MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 13 SYNERGIES & TRADE-OFFS 56 CALIFORNIA’S BIODIVERSITY 15 DESIGN POSSIBILITIES 57 COMMUNITY GOALS & LOCAL RESOURCES 17 WELOME TO THE NEW SUBURBIA 60 Acknowledgements 61 SITE CONTEXT 18 - 32 WORKS CITED 62 ADDITIONAL REFERENCES 65 LUCAS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD 18 ECOREGION MAPS 22 PLANT CLASSIFICATIONS 24 LUCAS VALLEY PRESERVE 25 CURRENT AESTHETIC TRENDS 26 NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGES 31 HARDSCAPE GRADIENTS 32 WELCOME TO THE SUBURBS As we face the increasing threats of climate change – extreme weather events, prolonged drought, super-fires, and a global biodiversity crisis – we cannot afford to overlook the opportunities to be Today, more than half the U.S population found in one of the most ubiquitous American landscapes. calls suburbia home (Nicolaides & Wiese, F reshly mowed lawns, neatly clipped 2017). hedges, and the symphony of sprinklers... Ah, the American Dream! Welcome to the Suburbs. w it today ca n be traced e kno Suburbia as w onomic boom of the mid- c to the post-W WII e d ry. When vete rans returne twentieth cen tu r housing s, the demand fo home from ov ersea chniques, d. New mass production te soare tion ernment stimu lus, the crea gov coupled with Federal Hous ing and the of the intersta te, ance program made uthority’s mor tgage insur A e was set for , and the stag quick work of it rawl. (Nicolai des rawl, sprawl, sp suburbia to s p & Wiese, 201 7), INTRODUCTION 01 welcome to the suburbs And where there are suburbs, there are lawns. A highly cited 2005 study conducted by NASA indicates that lawns (both residential and commercial) could be considered the single most irrigated crop in the United States (NASA, 2005). How did European turfgrasses — such as Kentucky Bluegrass — come to dominate the American landscape? introduction 02 history of the laWN We can credit Jefferson and Washington for popularizing the European lawn as an American status symbol. To have a lawn was the ultimate flex – not only were you using vast swaths of land for something other than agriculture, indicating your wealth, they also required a high input of human labor to maintain (NYT, 2019). introduction 03 history of the laWN By the late 1800’s the lawn care business was established – new technologies were emerging, and the lawn was embraced with open arms by the American culture of privilege – but it is the post WWII suburban boom that ushered in the era of “modern lawn care” that reigns supreme today (NYT, 2019). introduction 04 ecological wasteland The quintessential suburban landscape of a lawn, specimen tree, and a few foundation shrubs, often It’s a vicious cycle. Excessive fertilization and irrigation practices are often required to maintain exotic disregards regional needs, and thus conflicts with climate-resiliency goals. These conflicts include species, which in turn provide little to no regional habitat value, and result in homogenous suburban fertilization, irrigation practices, integration of non-native species, and habitat fragmentation (Turner landscapes that lack character and resilience. et al., 2020). introduction 05 ecological oPPoRTUNiTY ‘‘homegrown national park‘‘ But what if instead of relying on excessive fertilization and irrigation practices, we focused on In his best-selling book Nature’s Best Hope, published in 2019, author, entomologist, and ecologist planting climate-adapted species native to our ecoregion, increasing habitat value and local Doug Tallamy encourages and empowers homeowners to invite ecological abundance into their biodiversity, and resulting in neighborhoods with increased resilience and local character. yards by planting key species native to their region, supporting local wildlife and insect populations. Together, these residential landscapes form a greater tapestry that Tallamy has coined “The Homegrown National Park Movement.” This map showcases The number of homeowners per sTaTe ThaT have joined The homeGrown naTionaL parK movemenT as of apriL 2024. by aLLowinG homeowners To reGisTer Their yards, The homeGrown naTionaL parK orGanizaTion encouraGes coLLecTive acTion amonG homeowners. This map can be found on The homeGrown naTionaL parK websiTe. (www.homeGrownnaTionaLparK.orG) introduction 06 neighborhood scale change HARNESSING THE HOA Research has suggested that these residential landscape interventions could be particularly But what if HOA’s encouraged a different kind of landscape? In this regard, the structure of effective at the neighborhood scale, where ecological benefits can be maximized, and cultural existing Home Owner Associations could offer opportunity – as utilizing HOA’s to implement norms collectively challenged (Nassauer, 2009). One unique approach to this could be through neighborhood-scale environmental goals could provide greater ecological benefits than parcel- Homeowner Associations, or HOA’s. HOA’s are private organizations, typically pertaining to by-parcel interventions (Turner et al., 2020). a specific neighborhood, with a set of covenants, conditions, and restrictions that community members agree to (Chen, 2024). Conjuring up images of pristine lawns and nosey neighbors for If your neighbors are doing it, you may be more likely to as well. many of us, these organizations may play a key role in dictating neighborhood-scale landscape requirements that shape residential ecology, or lack there-of. connecTed disconnecTed e poTenTiaL for LarGer paTches smaLL paTches aL T -s c -Lo d conTinuiTy ThrouGh Timey Turnover when properTy chanGes hands ob o T- or h Lo Gh b i ne T iT a aT ab i T h ha b edT ed T me n ec aG on n fr c introduction 07 research question However, the idea of native plants as “messy” continues to dominate many people’s perceptions, and is in contrast to the aims of most HOA’s. And so the question emerges... How can designers Help Homeowners maximize ecological benefits in tHeir front yards to increase neigHborHood climate resilience - wHile also fulfilling aestHetic needs and preferences? aesTheTics ecoLoGy homeowner preferences LITERATURE REVIEW 08 principles of ecological design In Principles of Ecological Landscape Design, author Travis Beck writes: Key principles as outlined by Beck include the use of designed plant communities that are adapted “An ecological design may abut or include natural ecosystems, but above all they are human to local climate, and thus require less input to maintain, provide habitat for local wildlife, foster creations. An ecological design may incorporate restoration of degraded ecosystems, but it does not ecological connectivity, and have increased resiliency in the face of natural disasters. principally seek to put things back the way they were. Ecological landscape design is for the growing number of areas where there is no going back to the way things were. It aims instead to go forward, These communities do not need to be exclusively native plants – non-native species that are resilient to apply our knowledge of nature to create high-performing landscapes in which our design goals to challenging conditions, such as inhospitable urban areas, may be appropriate. and natural processes go hand in hand” (Beck, 2013, p.4). These designed communities should incorporate ecologists’ knowledge of plant population structures. Density and diversity (including varied size and structure) of the plant community is critical, and designs should include competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal species, designing in a way that allows for self-thinning, and fosters competition between species. These principles are at odds with many of the approaches of conventional horticulture, where plants are often amply spaced and fertilized (Beck, 2013). LITERATURE REVIEW 09 reconciling ecology & aesthetics But are ecology and aesthetics really at odds? My literature review findings indicated that if we want One of the most cited approaches across the literature, and my subsequent research, was presented to encourage successful adoption of ecologically minded residential design initiatives, we need to by Joan Nassauer in her work “Messy Ecosystems, Orderly Frames” (1995). Nassauer suggests that address cultural and aesthetic needs of homeowners. In this regard, ecology and aesthetics can we can utilize what are known as “cues to care” in our landscapes – such as mown edges, pathways inform each other to create environmentally and culturally sustainable designs. And in cases where and seating – to embed a sense of human care and stewardship in landscapes that may otherwise be aesthetic preferences undermine ecological goals, landscape designers and planners can utilize perceived as messy, and thus provide “unmistakable indications that the landscape is part of a larger design as an intervention to better align divergent goals (Gobster et al., 2007). intended pattern” (Nassauer, 1995, p.167). LITERATURE REVIEW 10 DISCUSSIONS THROUGH TIME This is just one approach – albeit foundational – to reconciling ecology and aesthetics, and opinions on the subject vary. In my literature review, I uncovered a spectrum of approaches – from utilizing existing aesthetic norms to make ecological design more accessible, to rethinking or challenging our aesthetic norms altogether. ‘‘messy ecosysTems, oredLery frames‘‘ ‘‘susTaininG beauTy. The performance of appearance: joan nassauer a manifesTo in Three parTs‘‘ eLizabeTh meyer 1995 2007 2008 2009 ‘‘The shared Landscape: whaT does ‘‘whaT wiLL The neiGhbors ThinK? aesTheTics have To do wiTh ecoLoGy?‘‘ cuLTuraL norms and ecoLoGicaL desiGn‘‘ GobsTer eT aL. nassauer eT aL. ‘‘ecosysTem services in manaGinG residenTiaL ‘‘a new aesTheTic of care‘‘ Landscapes: prioriTies, vaLue dimensions, parKer suTTon and cross-reGionaL paTTerns‘‘ Larson eT aL. 2016 2018 2022 ‘‘differenT jarGon, same GoaLs: coLLaboraTion beTween Landscape archiTecTs and ecoLoGisTs To maximize ≠ biodiversiTy in urban Lawn conversions‘‘‘‘eThics aesTheTics‘‘ Kiers eT aL. marc Treib LITERATURE REVIEW 11 design opportunities PROJECT GOALS The rising popularity of lawn conversions present an opportunity for the application and testing of In this project, I hope to explore a new suburban aesthetic that inspires homeowners to embrace “ecological theory at the site scale” and the promotion of “a collaborative urban ecological design ecological design initiatives. aesthetic,” ideally fostering communication between ecologists and landscape architects (Kiers et al., 2022, p.1). One key synergy identified is in the shared ecological and aesthetic benefits of diverse planting mosaics (Kiers et al., 2022). Thus, the goals of landscape architects and ecologists need not be at odds, as “in both fields the function of an urban habitat should be defined not only by the native species that it can support, but also by the aesthetic and social benefit that can be derived” (Kiers et al., 2022, p.10). This is especially important on the residential scale, where landscape architecture can influence aesthetics and homeowner behavior to encourage lawn conversions and the adoption of alternative landscapes (Kiers et al., 2022). ? LITERATURE REVIEW 12 marin county, california I’ve chosen to explore these issues within the context of Marin County, California, which affords its own unique opportunities for ecological landscape design at the residential scale. phoTo: marTen van den heuveL (2017) unspLash. source: GooGLe maps (2024). SITE SELECTION 13 marin county, california Located just north of San Francisco, Marin County open grasslands spans a diversity of rich ecosystems including open grasslands, redwood forests, coastal wetlands, and striking coastal bluffs, encompassing 195,000 acres of protected open space (Marin County Vegetation and Land Cover Data, 2022). REDWOOD FORESTS As Marin County is predominantly suburban, single-family detached homes, many of which have yards that abut open spaces or public hiking trails, there is ample opportunity to integrate ecological design for biodiversity at both the residential and COASTAL WETLANDS neighborhood scale, ideally increasing habitat connectivity across communities. COASTAL BLUFFS 195,000 acres of protected open space iLLusTraTed map adapTed from marin counTy open space disTricT preserves map (marin counTy deparTmenT of parKs and open space) SITE SELECTION 14 CALIFORNIA’S BIODIVERSITY In many ways, the diversity of Marin ecosystems feels like a microcosm of California as a whole. Considered one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots, California is the most biodiverse state in the U.S, with nearly one-third of native flora classified as endemic (O’Keeffe, 2023a). source: naTureserve, 2023. biodiversiTy in focus: uniTed sTaTes ediTion source: caLifornia naTive pLanT socieTy, 2022 SITE SELECTION 15 CALIFORNIA’S BIODIVERSITY With this great abundance comes great risk. California is classified as one of three U.S regions facing the highest risk of species extinction, with native bee populations at greatest risk, followed by native flora (O’Keeffe, 2023b). In fact, 30% of native California species are facing threats of extinction – and climate change is anticipated to shrink the range of our endemic species up to 80% (Marin Master Gardeners). source: The new yorK Times, 2022 source: naTureserve, 2023. biodiversiTy in focus: uniTed sTaTes ediTion SITE SELECTION 16 Community goals & loCal REsouRCEs In the last decade, many residents in Marin (and across drought stricken regions) have opted to remove their lawns in favor of drought tolerant landscaping, encouraged by the HERO Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which “enables homeowners to make energy and water efficiency improvements and pay for them over time through their property tax bill” in correlation with the state’s aim to reduce urban water consumption by 20% (PR Newswire, 2015). Fire safety concerns have also sparked substantial residential landscape changes in Marin in tHe growing impetus for residents to sHift tHeir landscapes in recent years. In 2020, residents voted to create the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), favor of biodiverse, fire-smart, & water-wise yards presents which has since created 4,000 acres of shaded fuel breaks within the Wildland Urban Interface, a new opportunity for tHougHtful and lasting residential cleared 1000 miles of evacuation routes, and has evaluated upwards of 50,000 properties to aid landscape cHanges catered to tHe regional needs of marin homeowners in creating Fire Smart landscapes (FireSafe Marin, 2023). county, particularly at tHe community scale. These key local organizations such as FireSafe Marin (funded by the MWPA), Marin Water, and the Marin Master Gardeners’ Chapter, are advocating for the adoption of climate resilient landscape practices through community education and awareness. SITE SELECTION 17 LUCAS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD The Lucas Valley neighborhood in San Rafael already has a distinct and well-preserved architectural cohesion, as it is one of the most idyllic Joseph Eichler developments found in California. This community is beloved by residents for its location, nestled within the valley. All utilities are underground, providing unobstructed views and a distinct feeling of both spaciousness and a tranquil safety. SITE conTExT 18 LUCAS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD These developments of suburban tract homes have been coined “California Modern,” and have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. They are single story homes, featuring post and beam construction, often central atriums, or courtyards, and typify an indoor/outdoor living experience. LUCAS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD zoning The Upper Lucas Valley Neighborhood is residential single-family zoning. Early on, this community established a HOA and worked to purchase the surrounding open Lucas vaLLey preserve space to prevent further development. The zoned open space is one of the biggest amenities of the neighborhoods. There is an elementary school in the middle of the neighborhood, as well as an elderly home to the east. One local restaurant caters to the neighborhood, as well as tourists driving through to reach Nicasio and Pt. Reyes. r1-residenTiaL sinGLe famiLy rmp-11.6-residenTiaL muLTipLe pLanned cp-hod-pLanned commerciaL oa-hod-open area oa-open area a60-hod-aGricuLTure and conservaTion daTa source: counTy of marin, sonoma counTy, bureau of Land manaGemenT, esri, here, Garmin, incremenT p, usGs, meTi/nasa, epa, usda | marin counTy communiTy deveLopmenT aGency, marin counTy assessor office | GoLden GaTe naTionaL parKs conservancy, counTy of marin, nv5 n ( ) 0’ 500’ 1000’ a2-b6-aGricuLTure LimiTedGeospaTiaL nv5 SITE CONTEXT 20 LUCAS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD watersheD & soils The Lucas Valley neighborhood falls within the Miller Creek Watershed. Miller Creek itself is a WATERSHED primarily perennial creek that spans the entire neighborhood, and flows into the San Pablo Bay. There are both perennial, seasonal, and ephemeral channels throughout the watershed. Miller Creek is known to support steelhead trout (North Watershed Association, 2008). miLLer creeK fLowLine wbd Line waTerbody n daTa source: arcGis onLine | counTy of marin, bureau of Land manaGemenT, esri, here, Garmin, incremenT p, 0’ 500’ 1000’ usGs, meTi/nasa, epa, usda | GoLden GaTe naTionaL parKs conservancy, counTy of marin, nv5 GeospaTiaL (nv5) soils The residential landscape of Lucas Valley is classified as having urban land soils. Urban soils vary from relatively unchanged “native” soils to highly altered and impacted soils. Factors that may impact urban soils include the specific land use and disturbance, geography and geology, the extent of impervious surfaces, and the nature of “fill” materials (USDA, 2019). In general, homeowners in Marin county often struggle with clay soils in their gardens, and this is likely the case in Lucas Valley as well. xerorThenTs-urban Land compLex TocaLoma-mcmuLLin compLex bLucher-coLe compLex saurin-bonnydoon compLex TocaLoma-saurin associaTion Los osLos-bonnydoon compLex n 0’ 500’ 1000’ daTa source: arcGis onLine | counTy of marin, bureau of Land manaGemenT, esri, here, Garmin, incremenT p, usGs, meTi/nasa, epa, usda SITE CONTEXT 21 LEVEL III ECOREGION According to the Level III Ecoregion Map published by the Level III Ecoregions of the Continental United States EPA and USGS, Lucas Valley falls within the Central California 1. Coast Range (Revised April 2013) 2. Puget Lowland National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory 3. Willamette Valley 77 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 4. Cascades Foothills and Coastal Mountains Ecoregion, which is defined by 77 5. Sierra Nevada 1 Seattle 6. Central California Foothills 2 Olympia and Coastal Mountains 15 41 7. Central California Valley 42 its Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers, and cool, moist 8. Southern California Mountains 10 49 9. Eastern Cascades Slopes and Portland 17 48 Foothills Salem 821 10 Helena 17 17 10. Columbia Plateau 3 winters. 11. Blue Mountains 4 Bismarck Augusta1712. Snake River Plain 11 16 Montpelier 13. Central Basin and Range 17 43 50 58 14. Mojave Basin and Range 17 58 Concord 51 15. Northern Rockies Boise Saint 46 Minneapolis Paul 51 50 58 16. Idaho Batholith 9 17 5983 BostonAlbany 17. Middle Rockies Pierre78 12 17 Rochester 59 Providence 84 18. Wyoming Basin 57 Buffalo80 53 60 Hartford 19. Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 5842 52 20. Colorado Plateaus 4 Madison LansingMilwaukee 62 21. Southern Rockies Detroit 62 84Newark 59 22. Arizona/New Mexico Plateau 18 56 61 New YorkToledo 23. Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Salt 44 47 Chicago TrentonLake 57 Cleveland 24. Chihuahuan Deserts City Des Moines Akron Harrisburg Carson Philadelphia City 19 Cheyenne Pittsburgh 64 25. High Plains Sacramento Omaha 69 84 54 55 26. Southwestern Tablelands 13 Lincoln Baltimore DoverSan Francisco Columbus 27. Central Great Plains 5 70 AnnapolisWashington DC 63 Denver 25 Indianapolis 28. Flint Hills 1 San 7 40 Springfield 57. Huron/Erie Lake PlainsJose 20 21 27 Cincinnati29. Cross Timbers 58. Northeastern Highlands 30. Edwards Plateau Colorado Charleston 67 59. Northeastern Coastal Zone Fresno Springs Topeka Kansas City 66 Richmond 31. Southern Texas Plains 6 Jefferson 72 Louisville Frankfort 60. Northern Allegheny PlateauCity Saint Louis Lexington 69 32. Texas Blackland Prairies 28 61. Erie Drift PlainNorfolk 33. East Central Texas Plains 40 62. North Central Appalachians Wichita 34. Western Gulf Coastal Plain 23 71 63. Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain 35. South Central Plains 14 39 63 64. Northern PiedmontRaleigh 36. Ouachita Mountains 8 23 65. Southeastern Plains65 37. Arkansas Valley Los 22 Nashville 66. Blue RidgeAngeles Santa 25 68 38. Boston Mountains Fe Tulsa 66 Charlotte 67. Ridge and ValleySanta Ana 23 23 38 39. Ozark Highlands 85 26 Oklahoma 68. Southwestern Appalachians85 Albuquerque23 City Memphis 45 40. Central Irregular Plains 37 69. Central AppalachiansColumbia 41. Canadian Rockies San 81 23 Little Rock 63 70. Western Allegheny Plateau Diego Phoenix 42. Northwestern Glaciated Plains 23 36Mesa Atlanta 71. Interior Plateau 43. Northwestern Great Plains Birmingham 72. Interior River Valleys and Hills73 44. Nebraska Sand Hills 73. Mississippi Alluvial Plain25 45. Piedmont Tucson 23 29 74. Mississippi Valley Loess Plains74 46. Northern Glaciated Plains Dallas Montgomery 75. Southern Coastal Plain79 Fort ShreveportWorth Jackson 47. Western Corn Belt Plains 76. Southern Florida Coastal PlainEl Paso 30 48. Lake Agassiz Plain 32 65 35 77. North Cascades 49. Northern Minnesota Wetlands 24 78. Klamath Mountains/California 50. Northern Lakes and Forests Tallahassee High North Coast Range Mobile Jacksonville 51. North Central Hardwood Forests 33 79. Madrean Archipelago 30 Baton 75Rouge52. Driftless Area Austin 80. Northern Basin and Range 53. Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains 32 NewHouston Orleans 81. Sonoran Basin and Range 54. Central Corn Belt Plains San 82. Acadian Plains and HillsAntonio 75 55. Eastern Corn Belt Plains 83. Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands34 56. Southern Michigan/Northern 31 Tampa 84. Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens Indiana Drift Plains 85. Southern California/Northern Baja Coast 0 100 200 300 400 Mi Corpus Christi 0 200 400 600 Km 76 Miami 101 Scale 1:7,500,000 Albers Equal Area Projection 102 103 107 Ecoregions are areas where ecosystems (and the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources) are generally Commission for Environmental Cooperation. 2006. Ecological regions of North America – Levels I, II, and III: Montreal, Quebec, 104 110 similar. This ecoregion framework is derived from Omernik (1987) and from mapping done in collaboration with U.S. Canada, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, scale 1:10,000,000, https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions-north-america. 108 CANADA EPA regional offices, other Federal agencies, state resource management agencies, and neighboring North American Gallant, A.L., T.R. Whittier, D.P. Larsen, J.M. Omernik, and R.M. Hughes. 1989. Regionalization as a tool for managing countries (Omernik and Griffith 2014). Designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, and environmental resources. EPA/600/3-89/060. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, 106 105 monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components, ecoregions denote areas of similarity in the mosaic of biotic, Corvallis, OR. 152p. 106 abiotic, terrestrial, and aquatic ecosystem components, with humans considered as part of the biota. These ecoregions Gallant, A.L., E.F. Binnian, J.M. Omernik, and M.B. Shasby. 1995. Ecoregions of Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Professional 116 have been used to develop regional biological criteria and water quality standards, set management goals for nonpoint Paper 1567. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 73 p. source pollution, assess land cover trends, report on ecosystem carbon sequestration, and frame wildlife conservation Griffith, G.E., S.A. Bryce, J.M. Omernik, J.A. Comstock, A.C. Rogers, B. Harrison, S.L. Hatch, and D. Bezanson. 2004. Ecoregions 109 115 117 research, among other applications. of Texas. (map poster). U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. Scale 1:2,500,000. 118 Griffith, G.E., J.M. Omernik, S.A. Bryce, J. Royte, W.D. Hoar, J.W. Homer, D. Keirstead, K.J. Metzler, and G. Hellyer. 2009. Ecological regions can be identified by analyzing the patterns and composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that Ecoregions of New England (map poster). U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. 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Scale 1:1,350,000. ecological regions; at Level II the continent is subdivided into 50 classes (CEC 1997, 2006). Level III, shown here, has Omernik, J.M. 1987. Ecoregions of the conterminous United States. Map (scale 1:7,500,000). Annals of the Association of American 105 ecoregions in the continental U.S. For the conterminous United States, the ecoregions have been further subdivided 113 0 100 200 300 400 Mi Geographers 77(1):118-125. 0 200 400 600 Km to 967 Level IV ecoregions. Details about the ecoregions or their applications are explained in reports and publications from Omernik, J.M. 1995. Ecoregions: A spatial framework for environmental management. In: Biological Assessment and Criteria: Toolsthe state and regional projects (e.g., Bryce et al., 1998, 2003; Chapman et al., 2001, 2006; Gallant et al., 1989, 1995; Griffith 120 for Water Resource Planning and Decision Making. Davis, W.S. and T.P. Simon (eds.) Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. 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Wrangell Mountains Chapman, S.S., J.M. Omernik, J.A. Freeouf, D.G. Huggins, J.R. McCauley, C.C. Freeman, G. Steinauer, R.T. Angelo, and R.L. Ridge Mountains, the Ridge and Valley, and Central Appalachians of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. EPA/600/R-96/077. 109. Subarctic Coastal Plains 119. Pacific Coastal Mountains Schlepp. 2001. Ecoregions of Nebraska and Kansas (map poster). U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. Scale 1:1,950,000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR. 50p. 110. Seward Peninsula 120. Coastal Western Hemlock-Sitka Spruce Forests Commission for Environmental Cooperation. 1997. Ecological regions of North America: toward a common perspective. Woods, A.J., J.M. Omernik, W.H. Martin, G.J. Pond, W.M. Andrews, S.M. Call, J.A. Comstock, and D.D. Taylor. 2002. Ecoregions CITING THIS MAP: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013, Level III ecoregions of the continental United States: Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. EPA – National Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 71 p. Map (scale 1:12,500,000). of Kentucky. (map poster). U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. Scale 1:1,000,000. Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, map scale 1:7,500,000, https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/level-iii-and-iv-ecoregions-continental-united-states. source: u.s. environmenTaL proTecTion aGency, 2013, LeveL iii ecoreGions of The conTinenTaL uniTed sTaTes: corvaLLis, oreGon, u.s. epa – naTionaL heaLTh and environmenTaL effecTs research LaboraTory, map scaLe 1:7,500,000, hTTps://www.epa.Gov/eco-research/LeveL-iii-and-iv-ecoreGions-conTinenTaL-uniTed-sTaTes. SITE CONTEXT 22 U.S. Department of the Interior Open-File Report 2016-1021 U.S. Geological Survey Sheet 1 of 2 124° 123° 122° 121° 120° 119° 118° 117° 116° 115° 114° 78f 78b 78a 80h 78a 4f 78f 9g 9h 42° 80e 80a AHO 1a 1h 78d 78b 78h 78e 78b 9i 9g 9g ID AH 42° 1i 9j 9h 80d78h 78g 9t 9j 78e 78e 9m 80d 80gOREGON E c o r e g i o n s o f C80e a l i80a f o r n i a UT80a80b 80c 78d 78i 78i 78h 9i Tule Lake Goose 80a 80a 13c 1a 78d 78g Sump 9h Lake math 7 8 d a l Ri 9t ve 9gr Lower 9g 80j 80lPoint St. George Crescent . 78d 78j 78d K 4e Klamath 80j 1. COAST RANGE 8. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINSCity Lake Clear Lake 80j 80j Ecoregion 1 covers the coastal mountains of western Washington, western Oregon, and northwestern Like other ecoregions in central and southern California, the Southern California Mountains ecoregion 78i 78i# 78d .Yreka 9s Reservoir California. These low mountains are covered by highly productive, rain-drenched evergreen forests. has a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and moist cool winters. Although Mediterranean Redwood 80j78j 78j 78l 78l 4e 9g Sitka spruce forests originally dominated the fog-shrouded coast, and a mosaic of western redcedar, types of vegetation such as chaparral and oak woodlands predominate in this region, elevations are National Park 78d 4f 4g 9j western hemlock, and seral Douglas-fir blanketed inland areas. Today, Douglas-fir plantations are considerably higher, summers are slightly cooler, and precipitation is greater than in adjacent 78d 9k 80j80d prevalent on the intensively logged and managed landscape. In California, redwood forests are a ecoregions, resulting in denser vegetation and some large areas of coniferous woodlands. In parts of 78m 78o 78k 78p 9m 80j 80j dominant component of the region, along with some hardwoods such as tanoak, madrone, bigleaf the Transverse Range, a slope effect causes distinct ecological differences. The south-facing slope of er L maple, California bay, and red alder. Beach pine and Bishop pine occur in many coastal sites. In the range receives more precipitation (30–40 inches) than the northern slope (15–20 inches), but A S LTA VA Oregon and Washington, soils typically are Inceptisols and Andisols, whereas in California, Alfisols high evaporation rates on the southern side contribute to a cover of chaparral. On the northern side 78a 4g 4e Alturas 80j are common. Isomesic soil temperatures occur along the coast, and mesic soils occur inland in of parts of the ecoregion, low evaporation, low annual temperatures, and slow snowmelt allows for P er . 80d Oregon and Washington. Landslides and debris slides are common, and lithology influences a coniferous forest that blends into desert montane habitats as it approaches the Mojave Basin and 78d Salmo 78o .Weed it Ri v 9l 4d land-management strategies. Coastal headlands, high and low marine terraces, sand dunes, and Range ecoregion boundary. Conifer species, such as Jeffrey, Coulter, and ponderosa pines, occur beaches also characterize the region. along with sugar pine, white fir, bigcone Douglas-fir, and at the highest elevations, some lodgepole 78k 4e 78o and limber pine. Severe erosion problems are common where the vegetation cover has been removed 78k 78o .Mount Shasta 9o 80j by fire, overgrazing, or land clearing. Large parts of the region are National Forest public land. e 4f 9nr 9q 4. CASCADES78o Dunsmuir 78l 4f 1i . 9. EASTERN CASCADES SLOPES AND FOOTHILLS 78k 78n 9l This mountainous ecoregion stretches from the central part of western Washington, through the spine 78l B of Oregon, and includes a disjunct area in northern California. It is underlain by Cenozoic volcanics IG Ecoregion 9 is in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. It has a more continental climate than VALLEY 41°80d 9p and much of the region has been affected by alpine glaciation. Some peaks are higher than 14,000 ecoregions to the west, with greater temperature extremes, less precipitation, and frequent fires. Trinidad Head 41° 78m feet. Soils have mostly cryic and frigid temperature regimes, with some mesic soil temperatures at Open forests of ponderosa pine, western juniper, and occasionally Jeffrey pine, are abundant at 4f FAL 9l78i L RIVER 9l low elevations and in the south. Andisols and Inceptisols are common. The Cascades have a moist, middle elevations. Lodgepole pine and western white pine often are present at the highest elevations 78o VALLEY 80d temperate climate that supports an extensive and highly productive coniferous forest, with large and distinguish this region from the higher elevation ecoregions to the west where mountain 78l 78k Pit areas intensively managed for logging. At low elevations in Oregon and Washington, Douglas-fir, hemlock and fir forests are common, and from the lower elevation, drier ecoregions to the east Arcata River 80j western hemlock, western red cedar, big leaf maple, and red alder are typical. At higher elevations, where xeric shrubs and grasslands are predominant. Historically, creeping ground fires consumed . 4g Pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, noble fir, and lodgepole pine occur. In southern 80d accumulated fuel and devastating crown fires were less common in dry forests. Volcanic cones, 9r Oregon and California, more incense cedar, white fir, and Shasta red fir occur along with other plateaus, and buttes are common in much of the region. A few areas of cropland and pastureland .Eureka 78j Clair MADELI Engle Shasta NE PLAINS Sierran species. Jeffrey and ponderosa pines are at many mid-elevation locations in the California occur in the lake basins or larger river valleys, which also provide habitat for migrating waterfowl, Trinity Lake Lake 4e Cascades. Subalpine meadows, conifers of whitebark pine and mountain hemlock, and rocky alpine such as sandhill cranes, ducks, and geese.4f 4f zones occur at the highest elevations. 1a R 78l River 4e 9p 4f Eagle 5. SIERRA NEVADA 13. CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE Redding 78l . 4f Lake Ecoregion 5 is a mountainous, deeply dissected, and westerly tilting fault block. The central and Ecoregion 13 is composed of north-trending, fault-block ranges and intervening, drier basins. In the 80g southern part of the region is largely composed of granitic rocks that are lithologically distinct from high-elevation mountains, woodland, mountain brush, and scattered open forest are found. Low- 78l 4h 4e the mixed geology of Ecoregion 78 to the west and the volcanic rocks of the Cascades ecoregion (4) elevation basins, slopes, and alluvial fans are either shrub- and grass-covered, shrub-covered, or Eel R 78l 4d #Lassen Volcanic to the north. In the northern Sierra Nevada, however, the lithology has similarities to the Klamath barren. The potential natural vegetation is, in order of decreasing elevation and ruggedness, scattered ive 6ar National Park 4f6e 80j Mountains. A high fault scarp divides the Sierra Nevada (5) from the Northern Basin and Range (80) western spruce-fir forest, juniper woodland, Great Basin sagebrush, and saltbush-greasewood. The . and Central Basin and Range (13) ecoregions to the east. Near this eastern fault scarp, the Sierra Nevada Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13) is internally drained by ephemeral streams and once Susanville 80j reaches its highest elevations. Here, moraines, cirques, and small lakes are common, being products contained ancient Lake Lahontan. Ecoregion 13 generally is warmer and drier than the Northern Matto Lake Almanor 13aa of Pleistocene alpine glaciation. Large areas are above timberline, including the Mount Whitney Basin and Range ecoregion (80) and has more shrubland and less grassland than the Snake River K le 78l 4e 4f 5c 5c summit in California, the highest point in the conterminous United States at nearly 14,500 feet. The Plain ecoregion (12). Soils grade upslope from mesic Aridisols to frigid Mollisols. The land ING 1j 6f Honey Lake Sierra Nevada casts a rain shadow over Ecoregions 13 and 80 to the east. The ecoregion slopes more primarily is used for grazing. Additionally, some cropland is irrigated in valleys near mountain water R Red Bluff 5c 13h gently toward the Central California Valley (7) to the west. The vegetation grades from mostly sources. The region is not as hot as the Mojave Basin and Range (14) and Sonoran Basin and Range ANG . 6aE ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir at low elevations on the western side, to pines and Sierra juniper on (81) ecoregions, and it has a greater percentage of land that is grazed.78q 5c 13h the eastern side, and to fir and other conifers at higher elevations. Alpine conditions exist at the 40° 7a 4e Pyramid highest elevations. Large areas are publicly owned Federal land, including several national parks.40° 5d 13aa 14. MOJAVE BASIN AND RANGE 5c Lake 13x 13x Stretching across southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and northwestern 5c 5f 6. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOOTHILLS AND COASTAL MOUNTAINS Arizona, Ecoregion 14 is composed of broad basins and scattered mountains that generally are 7a Quincy 5c 5c The primary distinguishing characteristic of this ecoregion is its Mediterranean climate of hot dry lower, warmer, and drier than those of the Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13). Its 7e . Lake 13x summers and cool moist winters, and associated vegetative cover comprising primarily chaparral creosotebush-dominated shrub community is distinct from the saltbush–greasewood and 78r Davis 5c and oak woodlands; grasslands occur in some low elevations and patches of pine are found at high sagebrush–grass communities to the north in the Central Basin and Range (13) and Northern Basin 7a elevations. Surrounding the lower and flatter Central California Valley (7), most of the region and Range (80) ecoregions; it also differs from the palo verde–cactus shrub and saguaro cactus in the Paradise SIERRA consists of open low mountains or foothills, but there are some areas of irregular plains and some Sonoran Basin and Range ecoregion (81) to the south. In the Mojave, creosotebush, white bursage, Chico 13x. 13ab 13x narrow valleys. Large areas are ranchland and are grazed by domestic livestock. Relatively little land Joshua tree and other yuccas, and blackbrush are typical. On alkali flats, saltbush, saltgrass, alkali 7b . V has been cultivated, although some valleys are major agricultural centers such as the Salinas Valley sacaton, and iodinebush are found. In the mountains, sagebrush, juniper, and singleleaf pinyon occur. ALLEY 7b or the wine vineyard centers of Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Natural vegetation includes coast live oak At high elevations, some ponderosa pine, white fir, limber pine, and bristlecone pine can be found. woodlands, Coulter pine, and unique native stands of Monterey pine in the west, and blue oak, black The basin soils are mostly Entisols and Aridisols that typically have a thermic temperature regime; 5e 5c Riv oak, and grey pine woodlands in the east. they are warmer than those of Ecoregion 13. Heavy use of off-road vehicles and motorcycles in some areas has made the soils susceptible to wind and water erosion. Most of Ecoregion 14 is 5f Reno eTrucke federally owned and grazing is constrained by the lack of water and forage for livestock.Fort Noyo R 6g 6h Lake .iv FallonLEBrVagg.EL IVer ECOREGION Oroville .U.S. Department of the Interior Open-File Report 2016-1021U.S. Geological Survey Sheet 1 of 2 78. KLAMATH MOUNTAINS/CALIFORNIA HIGH NORTH COAST RANGE r124° 123° 122° 121° 120° 119° 118° 117° 116° 115° 114°iv78fe 78b 78a 80h 7. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA VALLEYR 78a 4f 9g 9h 42°ig R 78f 80e 80aB 7a 1a 1h 78d AHOi 78b 78h 78e 78b 9i 9g 9g 80a ID H9h 80d UTA80a Ecoregion 78 encompasses the highly dissected ridges, foothills, and valleys of the Klamath and v 4e 2° 1i 5d 78h 9jr 78g 9t 9j 5b 80b 80c78e 78e 9m 80d 80g OREGON E c o r e g i o n s o f C80e a l i f o r n i a 78d 78i 78i 78h 9i Goose 80a 80a Flat, intensively farmed plains with long, hot, dry summers and mild winters distinguish the Central 7c Tule Lake 13c1a 78d 78g Sump 9h Lake Siskiyou Mountains. It extends south into California to include the mixed conifer and montane 78dmath Ri 9tve 9g Lower 9g 80j 80lPoint St. George Crescent Kla r. 78j 78d Klamath 80j 1. COAST RANGE 8. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINSCity 78d 4e Lake Clear Lake 80j 80j 5Ecorbegion 1 covers the coastal mountains of western Washington, western Oregon, and northwestern Like other ecoregions in central and southern California, the Southern California Mountains ecoregion California Valley ecoregion from its neighboring ecoregions that are either hilly or mountainous, 78i 78i 78d Yreka 9s Reservoir California. These low mountains are covered by highly productive, rain-drenched evergreen forests. has a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and moist cool winters. Although Mediterranean hardwood forests that occur on mostly mesic soils in the North Coast Range mountains. The region’s # . Redwood 80j78j 78j 78l 4e 9g Sitka spruce forests originally dominated the fog-shrouded coast, and a mosaic of western redcedar, types of vegetation such as chaparral and oak woodlands predominate in this region, elevations are National Park 78d 78l 4f 9j western hemlock, and seral Douglas-fir blanketed inland areas. Today, Douglas-fir plantations are considerably higher, summers are slightly cooler, and precipitation is greater than in adjacent At a more granul1akr level, Lucas Valley sits within the Marin Hills Level IV Ecoregion, which is classified as the 78d 4g9k 80j prevalent on the intensively logged and managed landscape. In California, redwood forests are a ecoregions, resulting in denser vegetation and some large areas of coniferous woodlands. In parts of 80d 5c covered with forest or shrub, and generally non-agricultural. Ecoregion 7 includes the flat valley 78m 78o 78k 78p 9m 80j 80j dominant component of the region, along with some hardwoods such as tanoak, madrone, bigleaf the Transverse Range, a slope effect causes distinct ecological differences. The south-facing slope of er L maple, California bay, and red alder. Beach pine and Bishop pine occur in many coastal sites. In the range receives more precipitation (30–40 inches) than the northern slope (15–20 inches), but mix of granitic, sedimentary, metamorphic, and extrusive rocks contrasts with the predominantly A S LTA VA Oregon and Washington, soils typically are Inceptisols and Andisols, whereas in California, Alfisols higha evaporration rates on the southern side contribute to a cover of chaparral. On the northern side 78a 4g 4e Alturas are common. Isomesic soil temperatures occur along the coast, and mesic soils occur inland in Cof parts of the ecoregoion, low eva por atio n, low annual temperatures, and slow snowmelt allows for .P er 80d 80j Oregon and Washington. Landslides and debris slides are common, and lithology influences a coniferous forest that blends into desert mRontane ihabivtats aes it aprproa ches the Mojave Basin and v basins of deep sediments adjacent to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, as well as the fans and Gra78d ss SalVm 78ao lley .Weed it Ri 9l4d land-management strategies. Coastal headlands, high and low marine terraces, sand dunes, and Range ecoregion boundary. Conifer species, such as Jeffrey, Coulter, and ponderosa pines, occur younger volcanic rocks of the Cascades ecoregion (4) to the east. It includes ultramafic substrates, 7f beaches also characterize the region. along with sugar pine, white fir, bigcone Douglas-fir, and at the highest elevations, some lodgepole 78k 4e78o and limber pine. Severe erosion problems are common where the vegetation cover has been removed N . 78k 78o .Mount Shasta 9o 80j by fire, overgrazing, or land clearing. Large parts of the region are National Forest public land. terraces around the edge of the valley. The two major rivers flow from opposite ends of the Central a Ukiah e 4f 9nr 9q 4. CASCADES such as serpentinite and mafic lithologies that directly affect vegetation. Most of the region was 78lmountains andva hills between th.e San Francisco Bay and San And6freas Fault7, cwith vegetation such as coast live 78o Dunsmuir 1i . 4f 78n 9l 5b This mountainous ecoregion stretches from the central part of western Washington, through the spine 9. EASTERN CASCADES SLOPES AND FOOTHILLS78k 78l B of Oregon, and includes a disjunct area in northern California. It is underlain by Cenozoic volcanics IG Ecoregion 9 is in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. It has a more continental climate than r VALLEY 41° 80d 9p and much of the region has been affected by alpine glaciation. Some peaks are higher than 14,000 ecoregions to the west, with greater temperature extremes, less precipitation, and frequent fires. Trinidad Head 78m California Valley, entering into the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and San Pablo Bay. The r Yuba 41° 9l feet. Soils have mostly cryic and frigid temperature regimes, with some mesic soil temperatures at Open forests of ponderosa pine, western juniper, and occasionally Jeffrey pine, are abundant at o 4f unglaciated during the Pleistocene epoch, when it likely served as a refuge for northern plant 78i FALL RIVER 9l Lake low elevations and in the south. Andisols and InceptisolsC are commaon. Trhe Cascades havne a moist, middle elevations. Lodgepole pine and western white pine often are present at the highest elevations VALR 78o LEY 80d temperate climate that supports an extensive and highly productive coniferous forest, with large and distinguish this region from the higher elevation ecoregions to the west where mountain 78l 78k Pit areas intensively managed for logging. At low elevations in Oregon and Washington, Douglas-fir, hemlock and fir forests are common, and from the lower elevation, drier ecoregions to the east i . Arcata v River 80j western hemlock, western red cedar, big leaf maple, and red alder are typical. At higher elevations, where xeric shrubs and grasslands are predominant. Historically, creeping ground fires consumed region once contained extensive prairies, oak savannas, desert grasslands in the south, riparian 39° e City . 4g Pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, subZalpine fir, noble fir, and lodgepole pine occur. In southern accumulated fuel and devastating crown fires were less common in dry forests. Volcanic cones, species. The region’s diverse flora, a mosaic of both northern Californian and Pacific Northwestern r 9r 80d Oregon and California, more incense cedar, white fir, aCnd Shastia retd fir occur along with other plateaus, and buttes are common in much of the region. A few areas of cropland and pastureland W.Eureka 78j Clair MShasta ADELIEngle NE PLAINS Sierran species. Jeffrey and ponderosa pines are at many mid-elevation lyocations in the California occur in the lake basins or larger river valleys, which also provide habitat for migrating waterfowl, a7a Trinity Lake Lake 4e Tahoe Cascades. Subalpine meadows, conifers of whitebark pine and mountain hemlock, and rocky alpine such as sandhill cranes, ducks, and geese. woodlands, freshwater marshes, and vernal pools. More than one-half of the region is now in 39° oak, annual grasslands, coastal scrub, tan-oak and Douglas-fir. 4f 4f zones occur at the highest elevations. lker conifers and hardwoods, is rich in endemic and relic species. The mild, subhumid climate of 1a 78l River 4e 9pEagle 5. SIERRA NEVADA 13. CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE Clear 7e Redding 4fB r 78l . 4f Lake Ecoregion 5 is a mountainous, deeply dissected, and westerly tilting fault block. The central and Ecoregion 13 is composed of north-trending, fault-block ranges and intervening, drier basins. In the cropland, about three-fourths of which is irrigated. Environmental concerns in the region include e 80gv 78l souther5n partc of the region is largely composed of granitic rocks that are lithologically distinct from high-elevation mountains, woodland, mountain brush, and scattered open forest are found. Low- Ecoregion 78 is characterized by a lengthy summer drought.ar Ri E 4h 4e the mixed geology of Ecoregion 78 to the west and the volcanic rocks of the Cascades ecoregion (4) elevation basins, slopes, and alluvial fans are either shrub- and grass-covered, shrub-covered, or el R 78l 4d #Lassen Volcanici National Park 4f to the north. In the northern Sierra Nevada, however, the lithology has similarities to the Klamath barren. The potential natural vegetation is, in order of decreasing elevation and ruggedness, scattered 6i v 6e 6ar 80j Mountains. A high fault scarp divides the Sierra Nevada (5) from the Northern Basin and Range (80) western spruce-fir forest, juniper woodland, Great Basin sagebrush, and saltbush-greasewood. The salinity due to evaporation of irrigation water, groundwater contamination from heavy use of Lake . and Central Basin and Range (13) ecoregions to the east. Near this eastern fault scarp, the Sierra Nevada Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13) is internally drained by ephemeral streams and once Point Arena Susanville 80j reaches its highest elevations. Here, moraines, cirques, and small lakes are common, being products contained ancient Lake Lahontan. Ecoregion 13 generally is warmer and drier than the Northern 6l Matto Lake Almanor 13aa of Pleistocene alpine glaciation. Large areas are above timberline, including the Mount Whitney Basin and Range ecoregion (80) and has more shrubland and less grassland than the Snake River lK e 78l 4e 4f 5c 5c summit in California, the highest point in the conterminous United States at nearly 14,500 feet. The Plain ecoregion (12). Soils grade upslope from mesic Aridisols to frigid Mollisols. The land IN 1j Sierra Nevada casts a rain shadow over Ecoregions 13 and 80 to the east. The ecoregion slope1s mo3re xprimarily is used for grazing. Additionally, some cropland is irrigated in valleys near mountain water agricultural chemicals, loss of wildlife and flora habitats, and urban sprawl.G 6f 5c Honey Lake RA Red Bluff 6a 13h gently toward the Central California Valley (7) to the west. The vegetation grades from mostly sources. The region is not as hot as the Mojave Basin and Range (14) and Sonoran Basin and Range N 1l GE . ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir at low elevations on the western side, to pines and Sierra juniper on (81) ecoregions, and it has a greater percentage of land that is grazed.78q 5c 13h the eastern side, and to fir and other conifers at higher elevations. Alpine conditions exist at the 40°7a 4e Pyramid highest elevations. Large areas are publicly owned Federal land, including several national parks.40° 5d 13aa 14. MOJAVE BASIN AND RANGE6k 5c Lake C Stretching across southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and northwestern 13t Auburn 5c 5f 13x 13x5c 5c 6. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FOOTHILLS AND COASTAL MOUNTAINS Arizona, Ecoregion 14 is composed of broad basins and scattered mountains that generally are 7a7e .Quincy 5c Lake78r Davis So1u3x th Lake Tahoe. The primary distinguishing characteristic of this ecoregion is its Mediterranean climate of hot dry lower, warmer, and drier than thos1e of3 theh Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13). Its 13ssummers and cool moist winters, and associated vegetative cover comprising primarily chaparral creosotebush-dominated shrub community is distinct from the saltbush–greasewood and 5c and oak woodlands; grasslands occur in some low elevations and patches of pine are found at high sagebrush–grass communities to the north in the Central Basin and Range (13) and Northern Basin 13x7a . elevations. Surrounding the lower and flatter Central California Valley (7), most of the region and Range (80) ecoregions; it also differs from the palo verde–cactus shrub and saguaro cactus in the Paradise SIERRA Sonoran Basin and Range ecoregion (81) to the south. In the Mojave, creosotebush, white bursage, 6h Chico 13x consists of open low mountains or foothills, but there are some areas of irregular plains and some . 13ab 13x narrow valleys. Large areas are ranchland and are grazed by domestic livestock. Relatively little land Joshua tree and other yuccas, and blackbrush are typical. On alkali flats, saltbush, saltgrass, alkali 7b . V 5f has been cultivated, although some valleys are major agricultural centers such as the Salinas Valley sacaton, and iodinebush are found. In the mountains, sagebrush, juniper, and singleleaf pinyon occur. ALLEY7b or the w5ine vbineyard centers of Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Natural vegetation includes coast live oak A1t hig3h elevations, some ponderosa pine, white fir, limber pine, and bristlecone pine can be found. woodlands, Coulter pine, and unique native stands of Monterey pine in the west, and blue oak, black The basin syoils are mostly Entisols and Aridisols that typically have a thermic temperature regime; 13h 13h 13h6m 7h 5e 5c Riv oak, and grey pine woodlands in the east. they are warmer than those of Ecoregion 13. Heavy use of off-road vehicles and motorcycles in some areas has made the soils susceptible to wind and water erosion. Most of Ecoregion 14 is 13t 80. NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE 5f Reno eTrucke federally owned and grazing is constrained by the lack of water and forage for livestock. WalkerFort oyo Lake . Fallon 13t 6j Folsom 6Brabgg N . Rive 6g 6hr Oroville . 78. KLAMATH MOUNTAINS/CALIFORNIA HIGH NORTH COAST RANGE 7. CENTRAL CALIFORNIA VALLEY Lake Big R 7a Rive r i 5b 5c Ecoregion 78 encompasses the highly dissected ridges, foothills, and valleys of the Klamath and ver 5d Flat, intensively farmed plains with long, hot, dry summers and mild winters distinguish the Central Siskiyou Mountains. It extends south into California to include the mixed conifer and montane 13s The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion (80) consists of dissected lava plains, rocky uplands, Lake 7c 5b California Valley ecoregion from its neighboring ecoregions that are either hilly or mountainous, hardwood forests that occur on mostly mesic soils in the1 Nor3th Cojast Range mountains. The region’s 13y 13r1k 5c covered with forest or shrub, and generally non-agricultural. Ecoregion 7 includes the flat valley mix of granitic, sedimentary, metamorphic, and extrusive rocks contrasts with the predominantly 13jrson River basins of deep sediments adjacent to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, as well as the fans and Placervill7ef Grass Valley Ca younger volcanic rocks of the Cascades ecoregion (4) to the east. It includes ultramafic substrates, 13t N . terraces around the edge of the valley. The two major rivers flow from opposite ends of the Central a Ukiah such as serpentinite and mafic lithologies that directly affect vegetation. Most of the region was 13t valleys, alluvial fans, and scattered mountain ranges. Overall, it is cooler and has more available var . 6f 7c 5b California Valley, entering into the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and San Pablo Bay. The r ro Yuba Carson unglaciated during the Pleistocene epoch, when it likely served as a refuge for northern plant C e 39°e k Rive City. Lake ZCity W region once contained extensive prairies, oak savannas, desert grasslands in the south, riparian a species. The region’s diverse flora, a mosaic of both northern Californian and Pacific Northwestern r 7a Tahoe lke woodlands, freshwater marshes, and vernal pools. More than one-half of the region is now in 39° conifers and hardwoods, is rich in endemic and relic species. The mild, subhumid climate of . rClear 7e cropland, about three-fourths of which is irrigated. Environmental concerns in the region include B Ecoregion 78 is characterized by a lengthy summer drought.ear River 5c salinity due to evaporation of irrigation water, groundwater contamination from heavy use of 13aa moisture than the Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13), and also is higher and cooler than the Point Arena 6l 6i Lake 13x agricultural chemicals, loss of wildlife and flora habitats, and urban sprawl. 1l 6k 13tC Auburn 5c South Lake Tahoe. 13h 13x 13s 6h . 5f 5b 13y 13h 13h 13h 80. NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE Snake River Plain ecoregion (12) to the northeast in Idaho. Valleys support sagebrush steppe or 6g er 6m 7h Walker 13t 13t7g iv 6j Folsom 6b 5c Lake13y 13j 13s 13r The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion (80) consists of dissected lava plains, rocky uplands, 13rR Lake 13j 13tn Placerville 13t valleys, alluvial fans, and scattered mountain ranges. Overall, it is cooler and has more available Creek . 13aa moisture than the Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13), and also is higher and cooler than the 13sa 15 13w3r f Snake River Plain ecoregion (12) to the northeast in Idaho. Valleys support sagebrush steppe or saltbush vegetation. Cool season grasses, such as Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass, are more c 6g 7g River 13w 13sn saltbush vegetation. Cool season grasses, such as Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass, are more i ica 5a 5f 13y 5a 13s6k Lake er 13t common than in Ecoregion 13 to the south. Mollisols also are more common than in the hotter and 13y 13sr Berryessa Davis m6k 5b 13x drier basins of the Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13) where Aridisols support sagebrush, Lake e . ZSacramento 13y Hawthorne 13v 13w shadscale, and greasewood. Juniper woodlands occur on rugged, stony uplands. Ranges are covered common than in Ecoregion 13 to the south. Mollisols also are more common than in the hotter and ssia Santa 13y .6g River by mountain brush, grasses (for example, Idaho fescue), aspen groves, and, at high elevations in 13tm Ru Rosa. 13s 13aa 13v Nevada, some forests with subalpine fir. Elevational banding of mountain vegetation is not as s 5c 13uBerryessa 6l 7h 7a ne iver 5g 13y 13t apparent as it is in Ecoregion 13. Mos 1t of E3corexgion 80 is used as rangeland. The western part of the Davis A 6k 6k um R 5a 13w ecoregion is internally drained; its eastern stream network drains to the Snake River system.Bodega Head Napa 5a 13y 5b 13h 13s drier basins of the Central Basin and Range ecoregion (13) where Aridisols support sagebrush, e 1m 6n . umn . ZSacramento 6l Fairfield Mo kel 5h 13y 13hBridgeport 13y 81. SONORAN BASIN AND RANGE. 13y 13r. 13s 13v 13aa 13y 13x Similar in topography to the Mojave Basin and Range ecoregion (14) to the north, this ecoregion 13w6p Camanche 5a 5a 13w contains scattered low mountains and has large tracts of federally owned land, a large portion of 6q 13y Hawthorne shadscale, and greasewood. Juniper woodlands occur on rugged, stony uplands. Ranges are covered Vallejo 7j Lodi Reservoir 5a which is used for military training. However, the Sonoran Basin and Range ecoregion is slightly 38°6o . 6r . 13x Tonopah hotter than the Mojave and contains large areas of paloverde-cactus shrub and giant saguaro cactus, ia Santa 38° 1m r SAN PABLO Suisun Bay 5k 5a 13ad 13h . 13h 13v whereas the potential natural vegetation in the Mojave is largely creosotebush. Other typical Rive San BAY 13v 13ws 7k Mono 13w Sonoran plants include white bursage, ocotillo, brittlebrush, creosotebush, catclaw acacia, cholla, 13ys 6g Point Reyes DRAKES Rafael 6q Stockton Lake desert saltbush, pricklypear, and mesquite. Microphyll woodland trees and shrubs, such as ironwood, . by mountain brush, grasses (for example, Idaho fescue), aspen groves, and, at high elevations in u BAY 1k . Concord 6d. . 13v 13v blue paloverde, smoketree, and desert willow, generally are unique to this desert, occupying desert R Rosa 7l 13ac washes with occasional moisture flow. In the region, winter rainfall decreases from west to east, . r 5a 13ad 6r 13h whereas summer rainfall decreases from east to west. Aridisols and Entisols are dominant with .Berkeley Yosemite# 13h 13s te 13yNational Park hyperthermic soil temperatures and extremely aridic soil moisture regimes, creating some harsh Ga 5a 13h 13aa 13v Nevada, some forests with subalpine fir. Elevational banding of mountain vegetation is not as Golde n .Oaklands Don Pedro 5m 5i environments for plant growth. San Reservoir 7h 7a e Farallon Islands 13v Francisco . lausr.Tracy Stanis 5k 13h 13v13w 13u6l 1m 13w .n 6s SAN 6t 5c 5a 5aHayward 6u Modesto Goldfield 85. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/NORTHERN B FRANCISCO . d River 13aa 13yAJA COAST apparent as it is in Ecoregion 13. Most of Ecoregion 80 is used as rangeland. The western part of the BAY . RLiivermoere . 5g e 5l This ecoregion includes coastal and alluvial plains, marine terraces, and some low hills in the coastal m 5aRiv Lakemne 13y area of Southern California, and it extends over 200 miles south into Baja California. Coastal sage 6k Tuolu Lake Crowley 13t6k 13v scrub and chaparral vegetation communities with many endemic species once were widespread u Frem ont McClure N 13ae 153w a before overgrazing, clearance for agriculture, and massive urbanization occurred. Coastal sage scrub . 7n iver 6b 5n 13u 13v 13w includes chamise, white sage, black sage, California buckwheat, golden yarrow, and coastal cholla. ecoregion is internally drained; its eastern stream network drains to the Snake River system. R Small stands of the unique Torrey pine occur near San Diego and on one of the Channel Islands. The 13w6p ed chaparral-covered hills include ceanothus, manzanita, scrub oak, and mountain-mahogany. Coast Bodega Head Napa 6t 7o erc 5m 6aa M Bishop live oak, canyon live oak, poison oak, and California black walnut also occur.13v 13y1 Coast Range Santa .1o Clara. San Jose1a Coastal Lowlands e . . 13ac 13u 13h14l 5aMerced 14a13w 13s6n 1i Northern Franciscan Redwood Forest 6r 14h 13h 14b1m . 1j King Range/Mattole Basin n 6z 7m 5k 14j1k Coastal Franciscan Redwood Forest kelum 1n 6x ver 5i 13vo M i 14b Photo credits (by ecoregion): (1) National Park Service, (4) Lyn Topinka, U1S4GbS, (5) Phil Gavenda, (6) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (7) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (8) USDA–Forest Service, (9) USDA–Forest Service, 37°Fairfield 1l Fort Bragg/Fort Ross Terraces M OU 5hSan Luis 5l 5a 13x (13) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (14) National Park Service, (78) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (80) Mike Benzon, (81) Michae 1l 4Caharters, (85) Bruce Perry, California State University, Long Beach. 37° N Reservoir 6l 1m Point Reyes/Farallon Islands TA 14c 13yINS . 7d Millerton 14f 13h 1n Santa Cruz Mountains Los Banos Lake 14c 14b Scale 1:1,100,000 14b 14b 14a 81. SONORAN BASIN AND RANGE . 1o San Mateo Coastal Hills . Kings Canyon 13yNational Park Beatty 30 20 10 0 B30 ridge60 MilesSanta Cruz 6v 14c 13y# 13v 14l . port 14e4 Cascades Pine Flat 5k 13r 13s 4d Cascade Subalpine/Alpine Joaq Reservoir 60 4013y20 0 60 120 Kilometers 14bMONTEREY SA 4e High Southern Cascades Montane Forest an 7d LIN NAD 1983 California Teale Albers projection 6w S Fresno E 14l 14h . 14b Standard parallels 34° N and 40.5° N 22x Similar in topography to the Mojave Basin and Range ecoregion (14) to the north, this ecoregion 4f Low Southern Cascades Mixed Conifer Forest BAY . 5n 5m 14o 14b 14f V 13x 6p 4g California Cascades Eastside Conifer Forest 6c A 14b 13y 14f L 14b 13aaSalinas 14d 22d 14bFre 5l 5a 14b 14b 13y4h Southern Cascades Foothills . s 14j 14c 14b 14bG 14g 14b 14f 14b 14a 5 Sierra NevadCa amanche S 5a 14oa OMonterey n SA5a 14e 14a 13w contains scattered low mountains and has large tracts of federally owned land, a large portion of 6q . E 6ab Sequoia 5a Sierran Alpine B ug 7p # 14jen h National Park 14l NSLodi 14l 14b 14f 14b5b Northern Sierra Subalpine Forests i Point Lobos 6y t 7d D 14f5c Northern Sierra Upper Montane Forests 7q 6aa 14f Death Valley E 14o National Park# SE 14b 14aVallejo 7j 5R a SP which is used for military training. However, the Sonoran Basin and Range ecoregion is slightly 38°6r 5d Northern Sierra M Rid-Monstaene Frorvestsoir Riv 5ker Owens 14k S RIN 6o G 14c. 5e Northern Sierra Lower Montane Forests 6ag Lake 14cLake 14b 14b14d. 5f Northeastern Sierra Mixed Conifer-Pine Forests Visalia 7d Kaweah 14f 14f 5g Central Sierra Mid-Montane Forests Point Sur 6af . 5k 14o 14b 13x14i 14f . Las Vegas 14b14g Tonopah hotter than the Mojave and contains large areas of paloverde-cactus shrub and giant saguaro cactus, 5h Central Sierra Lower Montane Forests 6ah Pahrump 14b14b . Lake 38° 1m SA 5i Eastern Sierra Great Basin SlopesN PABLO 5j Eastern Sierra Mojavean Slopes 6z 7d 5l 14l 14j 14m Mead 14b 14b 36°Suisun Bay 5k Southern Sierra Subalpine Forests 6aa6ab le Ri 14lv G 14e 13ad 13h .er E 14a 14b . whereas the potential natural vegetation in the Mojave is largely creosotebush. Other typical 36° 14bSan 5l Southern Sierra Upper Montane Forests 7r Tu Lake 5k 514f a Henderson5m Southern Sierra Mid-Montane Forests Success 5l 22aaBAY 14l 14b N 13h 13vE 14b 13v 13wV5n Southern Sierra Lower Montane Forest and Woodland 6ai 6al 5n 14f AD5o Tehachapi Mountains 6aa 7d Am Aa 14b 13w Sonoran plants include white bursage, ocotillo, brittlebrush, creosotebush, catclaw acacia, cholla, rg N S Point Reyes DRAKES Rafael 7k 14n6 Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains 5i 14b 14b MonoLake 5lSan Antonio 5l 14b Mesquite 14c Lake BAY Concord 6q Stockton 6a Tuscan Flows 5m T 14b 14f 6b Northern Sierran Foothills 6d 6ab 14j SR 14f5j China KING Lake desert saltbush, pricklypear, and mesquite. Microphyll woodland trees and shrubs, such as ironwood, 1k . 6c Southern Sierran Foothills Searles 14fEs Lake 14otre A 7v 14f Lake 14j 14b6d Camanche Terraces A Lake llN Nacimiento a 14c 14b . 7s 14f er 14b 14e. 6e Tehama Terraces G RivE Paso Isabella 14k 14h 14b 14a 13v. Lake 6f Foothill Ridges and Valleys Robles 7u 14b 14c 13v blue paloverde, smoketree, and desert willow, generally are unique to this desert, occupying desert 14f 14c6g North Coast Range Eastern Slopes 6ak 6ae 14b Ivanpah 14a Lake 6h Western Valley Foothills/Dunnigan Hills r 5n 14ke 14b 14a Lake 14bv 14j 14a Mohave 7l 6i Clear Lake Hills and Valleys Kern R i 5m 5m 5i 14c 14k 14b 14b 6j Mayacmas Mountains 13ac washes with occasional moisture flow. In the region, winter rainfall decreases from west to east, ESTERO 14b 6k Napa-Sonoma-Lake Volcanic Highlands BAY 6aj 7t Bakersfield Koehn. 6l Napa-Sonoma-Russian River Valleys r 6ac 14f Lake 14k 14f 14b 14c Laughlin 14b.Baker 6m Sonoma-Mendocino Mixed Forest 9 Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills .San Luis 5j 14n . 14e 6r 14b # LANFAIR 13ad Mojave whereas summer rainfall decreases from east to west. Aridisols and Entisols are dominant with Berkeley 6n Bodega Coastal Hills 9g Klamath/Goose Lake Basins Obispo 6ai 5o 14k 14k 14b Soda 5a VALLEY 14b 13hNational14b Lake Preserve . 6o Marin Hills 14a 9h Fremont Pine/Fir Forest CAL 6an 7v A I 6p Bay Flats I9i Southern Cascades Slope ESAN LUIS NT U N T 14k Yosem14k ite# 14f 14c 13h14o 14b 14b 14b 14b 35° te 35° 6q Suisun Terraces and Low Hills 9j Klamath Juniper Woodland/Devils Garden OBISPO BAY Twitchell E A O 14k 14f 13y a Reservoir I N M Harper Coyote 14b hyperthermic soil temperatures and extremely aridic soil moisture regimes, creating some harsh G 6r East Bay Hills/Western Diablo Range 6ao 7s 9k Shasta Valley 6aq IC RAN P 14k 14jA 14f Lake Lake 14b en Oakland 6s San Francisco Peninsula uy er 9l Pit River Valleys G Maria R ama E C H National Park iv 14bta iv R A 14k av5e R a 14o Needles 13h old 6t Bay Terraces/Lower Santa Clara Valley San e S9m Warner Mountains Santa r IE ive 6ad H 14k r E g Rogers o j R T 14k 14k M 14c 14a . G 6u Livermore Hills and Valleys . 9n High Elevation Warner Mountains6v Upper Santa Clara Valley 9o Likely TablelandSan Don Pedro Maria. RA An5 Lake 14k M 6am 14bos 14f 14k . BR 14b 14e environments for plant growth. AD 8f L 14k Barstow TroyLake 14f IS8a R TE O 14c 8f 6w Monterey Bay Plains and Terraces Rosamond 14k 14f L 9p Modoc/Lassen Juniper-Shrub HillsR and Meousntains S M i 14fs qu Moc Ri Ove UN 8f O AN Lake 14b 14b 81l 81k 6x Leeward Hills s 9q Adin/Horsehead Mountains Forest and Woodland r T6ap AI TELO N 8f PE U VA N 5i u S LLEY 14k 14b 14n TAI. N6y sGalbilaan Range 14a 9r Adin/Dixie Low Hills ervoir SA 8g 14kN Lancaster 14k 14n S 14b14b 13v Farallon Islands i n 6z Diablo Range 14f 14a 81i Francisco 9s Modoc Lava Flows and Buttes 6aq RA 8bF 8f . 14k 14n 14b a A6aa Eastern Hills Lompoc EL 8f 14j 14f9t Old Cascades 81g Lake. t . MO 8b B Havasu 5k 13v6ab Pleasant Valley/Kettleman Plain San Lake UNTA Castaic El Mirage 14b U eLake LLI 14aO mS ta e 81k Ynez Cachuma IN Lake .Palmdale 14k 14k N 14nM hue h AR 13h Tracy 6ac Temblor Range/Elk Hills 13 Central Basin and Range Point Arquello River S ee OU 14fr k Bristol 14h 14b vi WasC 14b N ISespe Victorville 14k 14k 14b T Lake ZO 13w 6ad Grapevine Transition 13h Lahontan and Tonapah Playas 6ap S A N T 8a AA N 14fY N E Z M IO U N 8c . N A13u Tonopah Basin TA I N S Californ 14n ia Aqu Lucerne 14f 14f 14b 14b 14f 81j 1m 6ae Tehachapi Foothills e 14a 81k S Point Conception Santa du Lake 14b T 13w .6s SAN 6t 6u 6af Salinas Valley 13v Tonopah Sagebrush Foothills 85a . Clarita. ct 5a 14f 14b 5a 81i W PLE M 14o H I P Hayward S 6ag Northern Santa LucMia Range 13x Sierra Nevada-Influenced Ranges Santa Lake iver 8d 14b 14b Casitas 85c 14o 6ah Santa Lucia Coastal Forest anod Wododlaned sto 13y Sierra Nevada-Influenced High Elevation Mountains Barbara .ra R 8e 8fa Santa Paula FRAN . 13aa Sierra Nevada-Influenced Semiarid Hills and Basins Cl d R85c ivSer 14a t 8d Big Bear Cadiz 81h Danby Aqueduc Lake LakeLake 14b 13aa Goldfield 85. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/NORTHERN BAJA COAST CISCO 6ai Interior Santa Lucia Range Ventura. nta 85b AN GABRIEL M Lakea OUNTAINS Arrowhead 8f 8d 8c 14bLivermore 6aj Southern Santa Lucia Range 13ab Sierra Valley SSANT Camarillo 85c 85c Ri 81g6ak Paso Roble.s Hills and Valleys 13ac Upper Owens Valley A BARBARA CH . e Burbank 8e SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS 14b 14b Dale Lake 14f 14b o A . 5l 14o Color ad 81d . 13ad Mono-Adobe Valleys NNEL .Oxnard .6al Salinas-Cholame Hills Thousand .Pasadena .San 8d 81i 34° This ecoregion includes coastal and alluvial plains, marine terraces, and some low hills in the coastal BAY 6am Cuyama Valley 13ae Bishop Volcanic Tableland SA Oaks L 85kos Ontario Bernardino 81i 81d 81i34° Santa Cruz Island NTA TAINS 85l6an Carrizo Plain MONICA MOUN Los Angeles . 81i14 Mojave Basin and Range . 85c 85l LITT85i LE 14a 14b 6ao Caliente Range S 14a14a Eastern Mojave Basins iv 85i 5aRiverside AN 81dSanta Miguel Island SANTA ver BER 81j Lake6ap Solomon-Purisima-Santa Ynez Hills mne R Anacapa Island Point Dume 85c Ri N area of Southern California, and it extends over 200 miles south into Baja California. Coastal sage 14b Eastern Mojave Low Ranges and Arid Footslopes 85i MONICA . AR #D Joshua Tree 81i 81i 81i6aq Santa Maria/SanTta Ynuez Vaolleys lu 85d I 81g14c Eastern Mojave Mountain Woodland and Shrubland BAY 85l 85l Palm Springs NOC National ParkM6ar Upper Sacramento River Alluvium a . Palen Lake14e Arid Valleys and Canyonlands Santa Rosa ILsland ake Anaheim An O OA U C 81h Crowley8d C 81e NT H 81d A 81j 13y. H P 14f Mojave Playas ALong 85l EL I E UC 81i 81j S 85l L AGL KW scrub and chaparral vegetation communities with many endemic species once were widespread 7 Central California Valley 14g Amargosa Desert McClure 85c .Beach A 85k A Indio ESanta Ana NT 8f AA 81a . LL 81h Blythe 13v AFremont 7a Northern Terraces 14h Death Valley/Mojave Central Trough . V A 85l 8f I A L . 7b North Valley Alluvium SAN PEDRO N N L VA14i Mesquite Flat/Badwater Basin BAY A 8f TO 81i LLE Ford Dry Lake A 81i 7c Butte Sink/Sutter and Colusa Basins . M L Y 81g14j Western Mojave Basins Huntington O MU TS 81i LA 13w before overgrazing, clearance for agriculture, and massive urbanization occurred. Coastal sage scrub . 7d Southern Hardpan Terraces N 14k Western Mojave Low Ranges and Arid Footslopes 81 Sonoran Basin and Range Beach 85f TA N MI OU 7e Sacramento/Feather Riv7erine Anlluvium 81a Western Sonoran Mountains 85m NS 85k 8f N14l Western Mojave Mountain Woodland and Shrubland 8e TAINS 7f Sutter Buttes Temecula iver 13ae14m Western Mojave High Elevation Mountains 81b Western Sonoran Mountain Woodland and Shrubland .85j a R7g Yolo Alluvial Fans it14n Mojave Lava Fields 81ic vWestern Sronoran Basins Dana Point arR81d Sand Hills/Sand Dunes 6b Santa Barbara Island 5n arg 81b 81i 13u 13v includes chamise, white sage, black sage, California buckwheat, golden yarrow, and coastal cholla. 7h Yolo/American Basin 14o Mojave Sand Dunes M7j Delta 81e Upper Coachella Valley and Hills 13w85j r 8f7k Lodi Alluvium 78 Klamath Mountains/California High North Co ast Ra ng e e E81f Imperial/Lower Coachella Valleys iv 8f Salton 81iy R 7l Stockton Basin 78a Rogue/Illinois/Scott Valleys 81g Lower Colorado/Gila River Valleys e Lake s R Henshaw San Sea 81 i 81i Small stands of the unique Torrey pine occur near San Diego and on one of the Channel Islands. The 6p Santa Catalina Island 85e i F M7m San Joaquin Basin 78d Serpentine Siskiyous 81h Sonoran Playas Lu el OU 81k85j San ipe N T A IN S 7n Manteca/Merced Alluvium 78e Inland Siskiyous 81i Central Sonoran/Colorado Desert Mountains San Nicolas Island Oceanside. C Ere7o Westside Alluvial Fans and Terraces 78g Klamath River Ridges e 81ie 81j Central Sonoran/Colorado Desert Basins .Escondido k 33° 78h Border High-Siskiyousd 81k Arizona Upland/Eastern Sonoran Mountains 81a 81c 81f chaparral-covered hills include ceanothus, manzanita, scrub oak, and mountain-mahogany. Coast 33° 7o7p Granitic Alluvial Fans and Terraces Ramona6t 7q Panoche and Cantua Fans and Basins 78i Western Klamath Low Elevation Forests Encinitas. Brawley78j Westeern Krlamcath Montane Forests 85 Southern California/Northern Baja Coast Lake Hodges . 8f . 81j 81j7r Tulare Basin/Fresno Slough 81a78k Eastern Klamath Low Elevation Forests 85a Santa Barbara Coastal Plain and Terraces 85f 85g 81d7s Kern Terraces 5mEl Capitan 81i live oak, canyon live oak, poison oak, and California black walnut also occur.6aa 7t South Valley Alluvium 78l Eastern Klamath Montane Forests 85b Oxnard Plain and Valleys Lake 78m Marble/Salmon Mountains-Trinity Alps 85c Venturan-Angeleno Coastal Hills San Clemente Island r 81a Carrizove 8f 81iSanta 7u Antelope Plain Ri 8e 81g 81i Bishop78n Scott Mountains 85d Los Angeles Plain 85j 85e ego El Centro.7v Southern Clayey Basins El Cajon 81b R 81g 13v78o Klamath Subalpine 85e Diegan Coastal Terraces San i. ver 81j .1 Coast Range Calexico Yuma .1o Clara. San Jose 8 Southern California Mountains 78p Duzel Rock 85f Diegan Coastal Hills and Valleys San Diego Barrett . 8a Western Transverse Range Lower Montane Shrub and Woodland . Morena 85h 81a .78q Outer North Coast Ranges 85g Diegan Western Granitic Foothills Lake Reservoir Mexicali 8b Western Transverse Range Montane Forest 81b A78r High North Coast Ranges 85h Morena/Boundary Mountain Chaparral Level III boundary Point Loma . Chula AJA CALIFORN I 81i . 8c Arid Montane Slopes 85i Northern Channel Islands B Level IV boundary Vista MEXICO 81j 1a Coastal Lowlands 8d Southern California Subalpine/Alpine 80 Northern Basin and Range 13u 85j Southern Channel Islands International boundary 81d 13ac 8e Southern California Lower Montane Shrub and Woodland 80d Pluvial Lake Basins . 85k Inland Valleys .State boundary Tijuana 14l 14a8f Southern California Montane Conifer Forest 80g High Lava Plains 85l Inland Hills County boundary 8g Northern Transverse Range 80j Semiarid Uplands M85me Sarnta cAna eMoundtains 13w 1i Northern Franciscan Redwood Forest 6r 124° 123° 122° 121° 120° 119° 118° 117° 116° 115° INTERIOR—GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, RESTON, VIRGINIA—2016Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and subdivides an earlier national ecoregion map that was originally compiled at a smaller scale Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997, Ecological regions of North America—Toward a 14h 14bPRINCIPAL AUTHORS: Glenn E. Griffith (USGS), James M. Omernik (USGS), quantity of environmental resources. They are designed to serve as a spatial framework (Omernik, 1987; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). This poster is the result common perspective: Montreal, Quebec, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 71 p. (map revised 2006). 13h 6z David W. Smith (NRCS), Terry D. Cook (NRCS–retired), Ed Tallyn (NRCS), Kendra for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem of a collaborative project primarily between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Johnson, C.B., and Turner, D.S., 2014, Ecoregions of Arizona (poster): U.S. Level III Ecoregions of 7the Cmonterminous United States 1 Coast Range 30 Edwards Plateau 59 Northeastern Coastal Zone Moseley (NRCS), and Colleen B. Johnson (Raytheon/SRA). components. By recognizing the spatial differences in the capacities and potentials of (USEPA) Region IX, USEPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1141, with map, scale 1:1,325,000, 1j King Range/Mattole Basin 1 77 2 Puget Lowland 31 Southern Texas Plains 60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 2 ecosystems, ecoregions stratify the environment by its probable response to disturbance Laboratory (Corvallis, Oregon), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141141. 14j 3 Willamette Valley 32 Texas Blackland Prairies 61 Erie Drift Plain COLLABORATORS AND CONTRIBUTORS: John Rogers (NRCS–retired), Sandra (Bryce and others, 1999). These general purpose regions are critical for structuring and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)–Natural Resources Conservation Service McMahon, G., Gregonis, S.M., Waltman, S.W., Omernik, J.M., Thorson, T.D., Freeouf, J.A., Rorick, A.H., and 10 15 41 42 4 Cascades 33 East Central Texas Plains 62 North Central Appalachians A. Bryce (Dynamac Corporation), James Weigand (Bureau of Land Management), implementing ecosystem management strategies across Federal agencies, State agencies, (NRCS), U.S. Department of the Interior–Geological Survey (USGS), and other State of Keys, J.E., 2001, Developing a spatial framework of common ecological regions for the conterminous 49 82 5 Sierra Nevada 34 Western Gulf Coastal Plain 63 Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Todd Keeler-Wolf (DFW), Thor Thorson (NRCS), Ben Sleeter (USGS), Julie Evens United States: Environmental Management, v. 28, no. 3, p. 293–316.3 48 and nongovernment organizations that are responsible for different types of resources in the California agencies and universities. 5k1n 42 6 Central California Foothills and 35 South Central Plains 64 Northern Piedmont Miles, S.R., and Goudy, C.B., compilers, 1997, Ecological subregions of California: San Francisco, U.S. 6x 4 11 16 17 43 50 58 Coastal Mountains 36 Ouachita Mountains 65 Southeastern Plains (California Native Plant Society), Robert K. Hall (USEPA), Hazel Gordon (USFS), same geographical areas (Omernik and others, 2000). 1k Coastal Franciscan Redwood Forest 46 58 7 Central California Valley 37 Arkansas Valley 66 Blue Ridge James M. Harrington (DFW), Peter Ode (DFW), James Calzia (USGS), Randy The project is associated with interagency efforts to develop a common framework of Department of Agriculture–Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, R5-EM-TP-005, and 9 17 51 50 Southard (University of California–Davis), Toby O’Geen (University of California–Davis), The approach used to compile this map is based on the premise that ecological regions ecological regions (McMahon and others, 2001). Reaching that objective requires http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/ecoregions. 13v 80 83 5917 8 Southern California Mountains 38 Boston Mountains 67 Ridge and Valley78 60 Dick McCleery (NRCS), Greg Suba (California Native Plant Society), Hugh Safford are hierarchical and can be identified through the analysis of the spatial patterns and the recognitiionv of the differences in the conceptual approaches and mapping methodologies Omernik, J.M., 1987, Ecoregions of the conterminous United States (map supplement): Annals of the M 53 9 Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills4 52 39 Ozark Highlands 68 Southwestern Appalachians18 56 62 10 Columbia Plateau 40 Central Irregular Plains 69 Central Appalachians (USFS), Joseph Furnish (USFS), Alan J. Woods (Oregon State University), Tad Larsen composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that affect or reflect differences in applied to develop the most common ecoregion-type frameworks, including those Association of American Geographers, v. 77, no. 1, p. 118-125, scale 1:7,500,000. 5i 14b Photo credits (by ecoregion): (1) National Park Service, (4) Lyn Topinka, U1S4GbS, (5) Phil Gavenda, (6) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (7) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (8) USDA–Forest Service, (9) USDA–Forest Service, 37°44 47 57 61 67 11 Blue Mountains 41 Canadian Rockies 70 Western Allegheny Plateau (Raytheon/SRA), and Thomas R. Loveland (USGS). ecosystem quality and integrity (Wiken, 1986; Omernik, 1987, 1995). These phenomena developed by the USDA–Forest Service (Bailey and others, 1994; Miles and Goudy, Omernik, J.M., 1995, Ecoregions—A spatial framework for environmental management, in Davis, W.S., and O San Luis 19 64 8413 54 55 70 12 Snake River Plain 42 Northwestern Glaciated Plains 71 Interior Plateau include geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and 1997; Cleland and others, 2007), the USEPA (Omernik 1987, 1995), and the NRCS Simon, T.P., eds., Biological assessment and criteria-tools for water resource planning and decision 1l Fort Bragg/Fort Ross Terraces 63 hydrology. The relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological (U.S. Department of Agriculture–Soil Conservation Service, 1981; U.S. Department of making: Boca Raton, Florida, Lewis Publishers, p. 49–62. 14a U 5 21 25 40 13 Central Basin and Range 43 Northwestern Great Plains 72 Interior River Valleys and Hills7 REVIEWERS: Earl B. Alexander (Soils and Geoecology) and John A. Hutchinson (USGS)6 20 14 Mojave Basin and Range 44 Nebraska Sand Hills 73 Mississippi Alluvial Plain region to another regardless of the hierarchical level. A Roman numeral hierarchical Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006). As each of these Omernik, J.M., Chapman, S.S., Lillie, R.A., and Dumke, R.T., 2000, Ecoregions of Wisconsin: Transactions (13) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (14) National Park Service, (78) Glenn Griffith, USGS, (80) Mike Benzon, (81) Michael Charters, (85) Bruce Perry, California State University, Long Beach.Reservoir 27 28 72 69 15 Northern Rockies 45 Piedmont 74 Mississippi Valley Loess Plains scheme has been adopted for different levels of ecological regions. Level I is the frameworks is further refined, their differences are becoming less discernible. Regional of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, v. 88, no. 2000, p. 77–103.N 40 71 SUGGESTED CITATION: Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Smith, D.W., Cook, T.D., 14 39 16 Idaho Batholith 46 Northern Glaciated Plains 75 Southern Coastal Plain Tallyn, E., Moseley, K., and Johnson, C.B., 2016, Ecoregions of California (poster): coarsest level, dividing North America into 15 ecological regions. Level II divides the collaborative projects such as this one in California, where some agreement has been Omernik, J.M. and Griffith, G.E., 2014, Ecoregions of the conterminous United States—Evolution of a 5a 13x37° T 8 22 68 45 17 Middle Rockies 47 Western Corn Belt Plains 76 Southern Florida Coastal Plain 85 38 6626 18 Wyoming Basin 48 Lake Agassiz Plain 77 North Cascades U.S. Geological Survey Open7-File Report 2016–1021, with map, scale 1:1,100,000, continent into 50 regions (Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, reached among multiple resource-management agencies, are a step toward attaining hierarchical spatial framework: Environmental Management, v. 54, no. 6, p. 1249–1266. 5l1m Point Reyes/Farallon Islands A 23 37 http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161021. 1997, map revised 2006). At level III, the continental United States contains 105 consensus and consistency in ecoregion frameworks for the entire nation. 67 19 Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 78 Klamath Mountains/California Thorson, T.D., Bryce, S.A., Lammers, D.A., Woods, A.J., Omernik, J.M., Kagan, J., Pater, D.E., and 14c36 73 63 49 Northern Minnesota WetlandsI 81 High North Coast Range ecoregions and the conterminous UMnited Stiatels hlas e85 ercoretgioons (Un.S. Environmental Literature Cited: Comstock, J.A., 2003, Ecoregions of Oregon (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and 20 Colorado Plateaus25 50 Northern Lakes and ForestsN 23 . 21 Southern Rockies 51 North Central Hardwood Forests 79 Madrean Archipelago This project was partially supported by funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Protection Agency, 2013). Level IV, depicted here for California, is a further refinement photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,500,000).79S 29 35 74 L65 os Ban22o Arizonas/New Mexico Plateau 52 Driftless Area 80 Northern Basin and Range of level III ecoregions. Explanations of the methods used to define these ecoregions are Bailey, R.G., Avers, P.E., King, T., and McNab, W.H., eds., 1994, Ecoregions and subregions of the United States Region IX, Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) program. (map) (supplementary table of map unit descriptions compiled and edited by McNab, W.H., and Bailey, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006, Land resource regions and 24 23 Arizona/New Mexico Mountains 53 Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains 81 Sonoran Basin and Range given in Omernik (1995), Omernik and others (2000), Land Omernik and Griffith (2014). R.G.): Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Agriculture–Forest Service, scale 1:7,500,000. major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin: Washington, D.C., 82 Acadian Plains and Hills U.S. Government Printing Office, Agriculture Handbook 296, 669 p. plus map. 14f30 24 Chihuahuan Deserts 54 Central Corn Belt Plains1n Santa Cruz Mountains 75 25 High Plains 55 Eastern Corn Belt Plains 83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands California has great ecological and biological diversity. The State contains offshore Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., and Larsen, D.P., 1999, Ecoregions—A geographic framework to guide risk U.S. Department of Agriculture–Soil Conservation Service, 1981, Land resource regions and major land 34 26 Southwestern Tablelands 56 Southern Michigan/Northern 84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens islands and coastal lowlands, large alluvial valleys, forestead mokuntaein ranges, deserts, characterization and ecosystem management: Environmental Practice, v. 1, no. 3, p. 141–155. resource areas of the United States: Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, Agriculture 14b31 27 Central Great Plains Indiana Drift Plains 85 Southern California/Northern and various aquatic habitats. There are 13 level III ecoregions and 177 level IV Bryce, S.A., Woods, A.J., Morefield, J.D., Omernik, J.M., McKay, T.R., Brackley, G.K., Hall, R.K., Higgins, Handbook 296, 156 p. 14c Scale 1:1,100,000 14b76 28 Flint Hills 57 Huron/Erie Lake Plains Baja Coast ecoregions in California and most continue into ecologically similar parts of adjacent D.K., McMorran, D.C., Vargas, K.E., Petersen, E.B., Zamudio, D.C., and Comstock, J.A., 2003, Ecoregions 14b 29 Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains 58 Northeastern Highlands States of the United States or Mexico (Bryce and others, 2003; Thorson and others, of Nevada (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013, Level III ecoregions of the continental United States (revision 14a Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,350,000). of Omernik, 1987): Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency–National Health and Map Source: USEPA, 2013 2003; Griffith and others, 2014). Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Map M-1, various scales. 1o San Mateo Coastal Hills Cleland, D.T., Freeouf, J.A., Keys, J.E., Jr., Nowacki, G.J., Carpenter, C., and McNab, W.H., 2007, Ecological . The California ecoregion map was compiled at a scale of 1:250,000. It revises and subregions—Sections and subsections of the conterminous United States: Washington, D.C., U.S. Wiken, E., 1986, Terrestrial ecozones of Canada: Ottawa, Environment Canada, Ecological Land 13yDepartment of Agriculture–Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76, scale 1:3,500,000. Classification Series no. 19, 26 p. Kings Canyon Santa Cruz 6v National Park Beatty 30 20 10 0 30 60 Miles14c # . 14e 4 Cascadseosurce: GriffiTh, G.e., omerniK, j.m., smiTh, d.w., cooK, T.d., TaLLyn, e., moseLey, K., and johnson, c.b., 2016, ecoreGions of caLifornia (posTer): u.s. GeoLoGicaL survey open-fiLe reporT 2016–10P2in1e, FwlaitTh map, scaLe 1:1,150k0,000, 13v 14lu 4d Cascadeh TSTubpa:/l/pdixne.d/Aoil.poirnGe /10.3133/ofr20161021. Joaq Reservoir 60 40 20 0 60 120 Kilometers 14bMONTEREY SA 4e High Southern Cascades Montane Forest an 7d LIN 14h NAD 1983 California Teale Albers projectionS E 14l 4f LowS SIoTutEh eCrn OCaNscTaEdeXs TMixed Conifer Forest BAY 6w Fresno 5n 23 14b 14b Sta1n4df ard parallels 34° N and 40.5° N 22x. 5m 14o V 4g California Cascades Eastside Conifer Forest 6c ASalinas 13y 14f L 14b F 14b 14b 14b 14d 22d 14b 4h Southern Cascades Foothills res 5l. n 5a 14j 14cR 14b 14bG 14g 14b 14f 14b S 14o O 14a 5 Sierra Nevada Monterey San A S. E 6ab A 14e 7p Sequoia 14j A 14a5a Sierran Alpine Be u # INn gh National Park 14l S 14l 14b 14f 14b 5b Northern Sierra Subalpine Forests i Point Lobos 6y to 7d D 14f 5c Northern Sierra Upper Montane Forests 7q 6aa 14f Death Valley E 14o National Park# SER S 14bP 14a 5d Northern Sierra Mid-Montane Forests Riv 5ker Owens 14k N S T RING 14c 5e Northern Sierra Lower Montane Forests 6ag Lake 14cLake 14b 14b14d 5f Northeastern Sierra Mixed Conifer-Pine Forests Visalia 7d Kaweah 14f 14f 5g Central Sierra Mid-Montane Forests Point Sur 6af . 5k 14o 14f 14b . Las Vegas 14b 5h Central Sierra Lower Montane Forests 14i6ah 14g Pahrump. 14b 5i Eastern Sierra Great Basin Slopes 14l 14b14j Lake14m 5j Eastern Sierra Mojavean Slopes 6z 7d 5l Mead 14b 14b 36° 5k Southern Sierra Subalpine Forests 6aa 14l6ab e Riv N e G 14b . 14e 36° l r E 14a 14b5l Southern Sierra Upper Montane Forests 7r Tu Lake 14f Henderson5l 22aa 5m Southern Sierra Mid-Montane Forests Success 14l 14b NEV 14b 5n Southern Sierra Lower Montane Forest and Woodland 6ai T 6al 5n 14f AD 5o Tehachapi Mountains 6aa 7d Am I A 14b 14n arg No S 6 Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains 5i 14b 14bLake 5l 6a Tuscan Flows San Antonio 5l 14b Mesquite 5m 14c LakeTO 14b 14f 6b Northern Sierran Foothills 6ab 14j SR 14f5j China N G 6c Southern Sierran Foothills Lake Searles KI 14f Es 14otre A 7v 14f Lake 14j 14b 6d Camanche Terraces A Lake llN Nacimiento a 14f 14c 14b er 7s 14b 14e 6e Tehama Terraces G RivE Paso N Isabella 14k 14h 14b 14a. Lake 6f Foothill Ridges and Valleys Robles 7u 14b 14c 14f 14c 6g North Coast Range Eastern Slopes 6ak 6ae 14b Ivanpah 14a Lake 6h Western Valley Foothills/Dunnigan Hills r 5n 14k 14b 14a Lakee 14bv 14j 14a Mohave 6i Clear Lake Hills and Valleys Kern Ri 5m 5m 5i 14c 14k 14b 14b 6j Mayacmas Mountains ESTERO 14b 6k Napa-Sonoma-Lake Volcanic Highlands BAY 6aj 7t Bakersfield Koehn. Lake 6l Napa-Sonoma-Russian River Valleys 6ac 14f 14k14f 14b Baker 14c Laughlin 14b5j .6m Sonoma-Mendocino Mixed Forest 9 Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills San Luis 14n # LANFAIR . 14e. 14k 14b Mojave6n Bodega Coastal Hills 9g Klamath/Goose Lake Basins Obispo 6ai 5o 14k 14b Soda VALLEY 14bS 14a 14b Lake National Preserve 6o Marin Hills 9h Fremont Pine/Fir Forest CAL 6 N 14f 14c I a n 7v A I 14k 6p Bay Flats 9i Southern Cascades Slope E TN P N 14k 14o 14b 14b 14b 35°SAN LUIS T L U 14b 35° 6q Suisun Terraces and Low Hills 9j Klamath Juniper Woodland/Devils Garden OBISPOBAY Twitchell E A I O 14k 14fReservoir 6a o N 7s I M Harper Coyote 14b6r East Bay Hills/Western Diablo Range 9k Shasta Valley 6aq RA P Lake 14bC N A 14k 14j 14f Lake 6s San Francisco Peninsula uy er9l Pit River Valleys ria amnta Ma Riv a G E C H iv 14b R 6t Bay Terraces/Lower Santa Clara Valley Sa er SI ive 6ad H A e 14k Rogers 14k Moja ve R 14o Needles 9m Warner Mountains Santa ERR r T E ng 14k Lake 14k 14k 14c 14a .. 6u Livermore Hills and Valleys 9n High Elevation Warner Mountains Maria A AM 6am s 14f 14k . B 14b 14b A 8f Lo 14k Barstow Troy 14f RIS 14e6v Upper Santa Clara Valley 9o Likely Tableland 8a DRE 14k Lake TO 14c 8f 14f L 6w Monterey Bay Plains and Terraces S MO Rosamond 9p Modoc/Lassen Juniper-Shrub Hills and Mountains i 14f s quoc River UN 8f AN Lake MOU 14b 14b 81l 81k 6x Leeward Hills 9q Adin/Horsehead Mountains Forest and Woodland T TELO N6ap AIN 8f PE S VALLEY 14k 14b 14n TAIN 6y Gabilan Range 14a9r Adin/Dixie Low Hills SAN 8g 14k6aq 8b Lancaster 14k 14n S 14b 14f 14b 14a 81i 6z Diablo Range 9s Modoc Lava Flows and Buttes RA 8f . 14k 14nF 14bLompoc AE 14j 14f Lake6aa Eastern Hills 9t Old Cascades 81g. L MOU 8b 8f Castaic El Mirage 14b BU e Havasu14a 81k 6ab Pleasant Valley/Kettleman Plain Santa Lake N Lake LLIO me Ynez Cachuma TAIN Lake .Palmdale 14k 14k N 14nM 6ac Temblor Range/Elk Hills 13 Central Basin and Range Point Arquello River S 14free OU Bristol 14h hu A C k 14b evi Wash RI Sespe Victorville 14k 14k 14b 14b NT Lake ZO 6ad Grapevine Transition 13h Lahontan and Tonapah Playas 6ap S A N 8aT AA N 14fY N E Z M IO U N . NTA 8c forn 14f 14f 14n A I N 14b 14f 81j 6ae Tehachapi Foothills 13u Tonopah Basin S ali ia LucernePoint Conception 85a Santa C Aqued Lake 14b 14a 81k S T 6af Salinas Valley 13v Tonopah Sagebrush Foothills u 14b . Clarita. ct 14f 14b M W H I P P LE 6ag Northern Santa Lucia Range 13x Sierra Nevada-Influenced Ranges 14o 14b 81iSanta Lake er 8d 14b Casitas 85c Riv 8f 14o Danby duct 6ah Santa Lucia Coastal Forest and Woodland 13y Sierra Nevada-Influenced High Elevation Mountains Barbara ra. la Santa Paula 8e 14a Aque 8d Big Bear Cadiz 81hLake Lake 6ai Interior Santa Lucia Range 13aa Sierra Nevada-Influenced Semiarid Hills and Basins a C 85cVentura t SAN G Lake LakeAB 14bR 13ab Sierra Valley . San 85b IEL MOUNTAINS Arrowhead 8f 8c 14b 6aj Southern Santa Lucia Range 8d vSANT Camarillo 85c 85c R i 14b o 81g14b d 6ak Paso Robles Hills and Valleys 13ac Upper Owens Valley A BARBARA C . Burbank 8e SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS 14bH Dale Lake 14f. . 14o Colora 81d 6al Salinas-Cholame Hills 13ad Mono-Adobe Valleys ANNEL Oxnard .Thousand .Pasadena .San 8d 81i 34° 6am Cuyama Valley 13ae Bishop Volcanic Tableland Oaks L 85k o Bernardino 81i 81d 81i 34° Santa Cruz Island SANTA s 6an Carrizo Plain MO OUN TAINS Los Angeles .Ontario 85l 81i 14 Mojave Basin and Range NICA M . 85c 85l LITTLE 14a 14b 14a 6ao Caliente Range 85i S14a Eastern Mojave Basins A 81dSanta Miguel Island 85i SANTA ver Riverside N BER 81j 6ap Solomon-Purisima-Santa Ynez Hills Point Dume 85c i14b Eastern Mojave Low Ranges and Arid Footslopes 85i Anacapa Island MONICA R . NAR #D Joshua Tree 81i 81i 81i 6aq Santa Maria/Santa Ynez Valleys BAY 85d I14c Eastern Mojave Mountain Woodland and Shrubland 85l 85l Palm Springs NO National Park 81g C M 6ar Upper Sacramento River Alluvium Anaheim Ana . O O Palen Lake14e Arid Valleys and Canyonlands Santa Rosa Island U 81h. 85l 8d ACH 81e N CTA M HU 81d PA 81j14f Mojave Playas Long EL I 81i 81j N LE CK 7 Central California Valley S 85l L AG W14g Amargosa Desert .Beach AN 85k 8f 81a A Indio E85c Santa Ana ATA . LL7a Northern Terraces . V A 81h Blythe14h Death Valley/Mojave Central Trough A 85l 8f CI AL . 7b North Valley Alluvium SAN PEDRO N N L VA14i Mesquite Flat/Badwater Basin BAY A 8f TO E W A 81i LLE Ford Dry Lake 81i 7c Butte Sink/Sutter and Colusa Basins . L Y 81g14j Western Mojave Basins Huntington MO MU TS 81i LA 7d Southern Hardpan Terraces 14k Western Mojave Low Ranges and Arid Footslopes 81 Sonoran Basin and Range Beach 85f N T A MO 7e Sacramento/Feather Riverine Alluvium 14l Western Mojave Mountain Woodland and Shrubland 81a Western Sonoran Mountains 85m INS 85k 8f UN 8e TAINS 7f Sutter Buttes 14m Western Mojave High Elevation Mountains 81b Western Sonoran Mountain Woodland and Shrubland Temecula River 85j . 7g Yolo Alluvial Fans a14n Mojave Lava Fields 81c Western Sonoran Basins Dana Point ar it Santa Barbara Island arg 81b 81i7h Yolo/American Basin 14o Mojave Sand Dunes 81d Sand Hills/Sand Dunes M 7j Delta 81e Upper Coachella Valley and Hills 85j r 8f 7k Lodi Alluvium 78 Klamath Mountains/California High North Coast Range e E 81f Imperial/Lower Coachella Valleys Riv 8f Salton 81i ey R Lake Sea S 8 7l Stockton Basin 78a Rogue/Illinois/Scott Valleys 81g Lower Colorado/Gila River Valleys Santa Catalina Island 85e is Henshaw an F 1 i M 81i 7m San Joaquin Basin 78d Serpentine Siskiyous u e O 81k81h Sonoran Playas 85j San L lipe U N 78e Inland Siskiyous . TAIN S 7n Manteca/Merced Alluvium 81i Central Sonoran/Colorado Desert Mountains San Nicolas Island Oceanside Cre 7o Westside Alluvial Fans and Terraces 78g Klamath River Ridges 81j Central Sonoran/Colorado Desert Basins .Escondido ek 81i 33° 7p Granitic Alluvial Fans and Terraces 78h Border High-Siskiyous 81k Arizona Upland/Eastern Sonoran Mountains 81f 33° Ramona 81a 81c 7q Panoche and Cantua Fans and Basins 78i Western Klamath Low Elevation Forests Encinitas. Lake Hodges . 8f .Brawley 81j 81j 7r Tulare Basin/Fresno Slough 78j Western Klamath Montane Forests 85 Southern California/Northern Baja Coast 81a 81d 7s Kern Terraces 78k Eastern Klamath Low Elevation Forests 85a Santa Barbara Coastal Plain and Terraces 85f 85g El Capitan 81i 7t South Valley Alluvium 78l Eastern Klamath Montane Forests 85b Oxnard Plain and Valleys San Clemente Island Lake 81a Carrizo 81i 7u Antelope Plain 78m Marble/Salmon Mountains-Trinity Alps 85c Venturan-Angeleno Coastal Hills er85j 85e go Ri v 8e 8f El Centro 81g 81i . 7v Southern Clayey Basins 78n Scott Mountains 85d Los Angeles Plain e El Cajon 81b R 81g 78o Klamath Subalpine 85e Diegan Coastal Terraces iSan . ver 81j . 8 Southern California Mountains 78p Duzel Rock 85f Diegan Coastal Hills and Valleys San Diego Calexico Yuma Barrett . 8a Western Transverse Range Lower Montane Shrub and Woodland . Morena 85h 81a .78q Outer North Coast Ranges 85g Diegan Western Granitic Foothills Lake Reservoir Mexicali 8b Western Transverse Range Montane Forest 78r High North Coast Ranges 85h Morena/Boundary Mountain Chaparral Level III boundary Point Loma 81b . Chula AJA CALIFOR NIA 81i 8c Arid Montane Slopes 85i Northern Channel Islands BLevel IV boundary Vista MEXICO 81j 8d Southern California Subalpine/Alpine 80 Northern Basin and Range 85j Southern Channel Islands International boundary 81d 8e Southern California Lower Montane Shrub and Woodland 80d Pluvial Lake Basins 85k Inland Valleys .State boundary Tijuana 8f Southern California Montane Conifer Forest 80g High Lava Plains 85l Inland Hills County boundary 8g Northern Transverse Range 80j Semiarid Uplands 85m Santa Ana Mountains 124° 123° 122° 121° 120° 119° 118° 117° 116° 115° INTERIOR—GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, RESTON, VIRGINIA—2016 Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and subdivides an earlier national ecoregion map that was originally compiled at a smaller scale Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997, Ecological regions of North America—Toward a PRINCIPAL AUTHORS: Glenn E. Griffith (USGS), James M. Omernik (USGS), quantity of environmental resources. They are designed to serve as a spatial framework (Omernik, 1987; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). This poster is the result common perspective: Montreal, Quebec, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 71 p. (map revised 2006). David W. Smith (NRCS), Terry D. Cook (NRCS–retired), Ed Tallyn (NRCS), Kendra for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem of a collaborative project primarily between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Johnson, C.B., and Turner, D.S., 2014, Ecoregions of Arizona (poster): U.S. Level III Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States 1 Coast Range 30 Edwards Plateau 59 Northeastern Coastal Zone Moseley (NRCS), and Colleen B. Johnson (Raytheon/SRA). components. By recognizing the spatial differences in the capacities and potentials of (USEPA) Region IX, USEPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1141, with map, scale 1:1,325,000, 77 2 Puget Lowland 31 Southern Texas Plains 60 Northern Allegheny Plateau 1 2 ecosystems, ecoregions stratify the environment by its probable response to disturbance Laboratory (Corvallis, Oregon), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141141. 3 Willamette Valley 32 Texas Blackland Prairies 61 Erie Drift Plain COLLABORATORS AND CONTRIBUTORS: John Rogers (NRCS–retired), Sandra 41 (Bryce and others, 1999). These general purpose regions are critical for structuring and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)–Natural Resources Conservation Service McMahon, G., Gregonis, S.M., Waltman, S.W., Omernik, J.M., Thorson, T.D., Freeouf, J.A., Rorick, A.H., and 10 15 42 4 Cascades 33 East Central Texas Plains 62 North Central Appalachians A. Bryce (Dynamac Corporation), James Weigand (Bureau of Land Management), implementing ecosystem management strategies across Federal agencies, State agencies, (NRCS), U.S. Department of the Interior–Geological Survey (USGS), and other State of Keys, J.E., 2001, Developing a spatial framework of common ecological regions for the conterminous 49 48 82 5 Sierra Nevada 34 Western Gulf Coastal Plain 63 Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain3 Todd Keeler-Wolf (DFW), Thor Thorson (NRCS), Ben Sleeter (USGS), Julie Evens United States: Environmental Management, v. 28, no. 3, p. 293–316. and nongovernment organizations that are responsible for different types of resources in the California agencies and universities. 42 6 Central California Foothills and 35 South Central Plains 64 Northern Piedmont Miles, S.R., and Goudy, C.B., compilers, 1997, Ecological subregions of California: San Francisco, U.S. 4 11 16 17 43 50 58 Coastal Mountains 65 Southeastern Plains (California Native Plant Society), Robert K. Hall (USEPA), Hazel Gordon (USFS), 36 Ouachita Mountains same geographical areas (Omernik and others, 2000).James M. Harrington (DFW), Peter Ode (DFW), James Calzia (USGS), Randy The project is associated with interagency efforts to develop a common framework of Department of Agriculture–Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, R5-EM-TP-005, and 58 9 46 7 Central California Valley 37 Arkansas Valley 66 Blue Ridge17 51 50 Southard (University of California–Davis), Toby O’Geen (University of California–Davis), The approach used to compile this map is based on the premise that ecological regions ecological regions (McMahon and others, 2001). Reaching that objective requires http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/ecoregions. 80 59 8 Southern California Mountains 67 Ridge and Valley 78 17 83 38 Boston Mountains 53 60 9 Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills 39 Ozark Highlands 68 Southwestern Appalachians Dick McCleery (NRCS), Greg Suba (California Native Plant Society), Hugh Safford are hierarchical and can be identified through the analysis of the spatial patterns and the recognition of the differences in the conceptual approaches and mapping methodologies Omernik, J.M., 1987, Ecoregions of the conterminous United States (map supplement): Annals of the 4 18 52 Association of American Geographers, v. 77, no. 1, p. 118-125, scale 1:7,500,000.56 62 10 Columbia Plateau 40 Central Irregular Plains 69 Central Appalachians (USFS), Joseph Furnish (USFS), Alan J. Woods (Oregon State University), Tad Larsen composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that affect or reflect differences in applied to develop the most common ecoregion-type frameworks, including those 44 47 19 57 61 67 64 84 11 Blue Mountains 41 Canadian Rockies 70 Western Allegheny Plateau (Raytheon/SRA), and Thomas R. Loveland (USGS). ecosystem quality and integrity (Wiken, 1986; Omernik, 1987, 1995). These phenomena developed by the USDA–Forest Service (Bailey and others, 1994; Miles and Goudy, Omernik, J.M., 1995, Ecoregions—A spatial framework for environmental management, in Davis, W.S., and 13 54 55 70 12 Snake River Plain 42 Northwestern Glaciated Plains 71 Interior Plateau include geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and 1997; Cleland and others, 2007), the USEPA (Omernik 1987, 1995), and the NRCS Simon, T.P., eds., Biological assessment and criteria-tools for water resource planning and decision 5 6325 40 13 Central Basin and Range 43 Northwestern Great Plains 72 Interior River Valleys and Hills REVIEWERS: Earl B. Alexander (Soils and Geoecology) and John A. Hutchinson (USGS) hydrology. The relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological (U.S. Department of Agriculture–Soil Conservation Service, 1981; U.S. Department of making: Boca Raton, Florida, Lewis Publishers, p. 49–62. 7 21 6 20 14 Mojave Basin and Range 44 Nebraska Sand Hills 73 Mississippi Alluvial Plain region to another regardless of the hierarchical level. A Roman numeral hierarchical Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006). As each of these Omernik, J.M., Chapman, S.S., Lillie, R.A., and Dumke, R.T., 2000, Ecoregions of Wisconsin: Transactions 27 6928 7240 15 Northern Rockies 45 Piedmont 74 Mississippi Valley Loess Plains71 SUGGESTED CITATION: Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Smith, D.W., Cook, T.D., scheme has been adopted for different levels of ecological regions. Level I is the frameworks is further refined, their differences are becoming less discernible. Regional of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, v. 88, no. 2000, p. 77–103. 14 39 16 Idaho Batholith 46 Northern Glaciated Plains 75 Southern Coastal Plain coarsest level, dividing North America into 15 ecological regions. Level II divides the collaborative projects such as this one in California, where some agreement has been Omernik, J.M. and Griffith, G.E., 2014, Ecoregions of the conterminous United States—Evolution of a 8 22 68 45 17 Middle Rockies 47 Western Corn Belt Plains 76 Southern Florida Coastal Plain Tallyn, E., Moseley, K., and Johnson, C.B., 2016, Ecoregions of California (poster): 66 U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1021, with map, scale 1:1,100,000, continent into 50 regions (Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, reached among multiple resource-management agencies, are a step toward attaining hierarchical spatial framework: Environmental Management, v. 54, no. 6, p. 1249–1266.85 23 26 38 18 Wyoming Basin 48 Lake Agassiz Plain 77 North Cascades37 http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161021. 1997, map revised 2006). At level III, the continental United States contains 105 consensus and consistency in ecoregion frameworks for the entire nation. 67 19 Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 78 Klamath Mountains/California Thorson, T.D., Bryce, S.A., Lammers, D.A., Woods, A.J., Omernik, J.M., Kagan, J., Pater, D.E., and 36 73 63 49 Northern Minnesota Wetlands81 High North Coast Range ecoregions and the conterminous United States has 85 ecoregions (U.S. Environmental Literature Cited: Comstock, J.A., 2003, Ecoregions of Oregon (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and 20 Colorado Plateaus 25 50 Northern Lakes and Forests photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,500,000).23 21 Southern Rockies 79 51 North Central Hardwood Forests 79 Madrean Archipelago This project was partially supported by funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Protection Agency, 2013). Level IV, depicted here for California, is a further refinement 29 80 Northern Basin and Range of level III ecoregions. Explanations of the methods used to define these ecoregions are Bailey, R.G., Avers, P.E., King, T., and McNab, W.H., eds., 1994, Ecoregions and subregions of the United States 35 74 65 22 Arizona/New Mexico Plateau 52 Driftless Area Region IX, Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) program. (map) (supplementary table of map unit descriptions compiled and edited by McNab, W.H., and Bailey, U.S. Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006, Land resource regions and 24 23 Arizona/New Mexico Mountains 53 Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains 81 Sonoran Basin and Range given in Omernik (1995), Omernik and others (2000), and Omernik and Griffith (2014). R.G.): Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Agriculture–Forest Service, scale 1:7,500,000. major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin: Washington, D.C., 82 Acadian Plains and Hills U.S. Government Printing Office, Agriculture Handbook 296, 669 p. plus map.30 24 Chihuahuan Deserts 54 Central Corn Belt Plains 75 25 High Plains 55 Eastern Corn Belt Plains 83 Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands California has great ecological and biological diversity. The State contains offshore Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., and Larsen, D.P., 1999, Ecoregions—A geographic framework to guide risk U.S. Department of Agriculture–Soil Conservation Service, 1981, Land resource regions and major land 34 26 Southwestern Tablelands 56 Southern Michigan/Northern 84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens islands and coastal lowlands, large alluvial valleys, forested mountain ranges, deserts, characterization and ecosystem management: Environmental Practice, v. 1, no. 3, p. 141–155. resource areas of the United States: Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, Agriculture 31 27 Central Great Plains Indiana Drift Plains 85 Southern California/Northern and various aquatic habitats. There are 13 level III ecoregions and 177 level IV Bryce, S.A., Woods, A.J., Morefield, J.D., Omernik, J.M., McKay, T.R., Brackley, G.K., Hall, R.K., Higgins, Handbook 296, 156 p. 76 28 Flint Hills 57 Huron/Erie Lake Plains Baja Coast ecoregions in California and most continue into ecologically similar parts of adjacent D.K., McMorran, D.C., Vargas, K.E., Petersen, E.B., Zamudio, D.C., and Comstock, J.A., 2003, Ecoregions U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013, Level III ecoregions of the continental United States (revision 29 Central Oklahoma/Texas Plains 58 Northeastern Highlands States of the United States or Mexico (Bryce and others, 2003; Thorson and others, of Nevada (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,350,000). of Omernik, 1987): Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency–National Health and Map Source: USEPA, 2013 2003; Griffith and others, 2014). Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Map M-1, various scales. Cleland, D.T., Freeouf, J.A., Keys, J.E., Jr., Nowacki, G.J., Carpenter, C., and McNab, W.H., 2007, Ecological The California ecoregion map was compiled at a scale of 1:250,000. It revises and subregions—Sections and subsections of the conterminous United States: Washington, D.C., U.S. Wiken, E., 1986, Terrestrial ecozones of Canada: Ottawa, Environment Canada, Ecological Land Department of Agriculture–Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76, scale 1:3,500,000. Classification Series no. 19, 26 p. n River EY Sacramento River Cos Yuba n River Riv E Y Sacramento River e Ar Cos Yuba Rive er Merc uin R Kings Ri ver er Merc N S eles i Aqun educt San G abriel River Santa Santa R Di Kings v Ri er ON R eA N G EW ash r MO IU VANT NA PIN AS H VALLEY LEN M WTS ARD VALLEY ver Colorado River les Aqueduct San Gabriel River Santa Santa Di N RA N G EW ash O IU VANT NA PIN AS H VALLEY LEN M WTS ARD VALLEY er Colorado River r C eolorado Riv C h T OL A C HO C LEY Rive r AL CK V U lamo CH RIA L A E MP I S New TA IN OU N M S S Y ALL EY IAN V R SIL U T A iv er N sa R A O U J MA I M SAN A A N T K O U B L A C M ALLEY L R A H V N E EAT F U D A N G E R I N T A M PA N T VA LLEY IN T PA NAM UN RANGE D M O ARGUS WO O ON COT T EY L LLE Y A VA R O OS KA CE EU R er Owens Riv A ngeles River NTAIN S MOU TE WHI A D ver Ri A er VCol horado Riv C T OL A HOCC LEY r Rive KW VAL C U L amo l CH RIA A MP E I S New TAI N UNO M S N S EY Y VAL LE IAN ILU R S T I iver A R U N T a C O os JA MA R I N M N A TA SA U N L A C K M O B L VAL LEY R A TH N E DE A U F N G E A R T A M I N PA N VALLE Y INT I M TA PA NA UN MO ARGUS RANGE OD WO ON COT T L E Y LE Y EY AN ALL R V O L CO S EK A A URE r V eOwens Riv A ngeles River NTAIN S M OU WHI TE I N Z O Q UA R R I NEVADA A OD C A ive r J R LEY A A V N L E RISE VA P R SUR R E Y L S A L L P V E N U I I Z O A Q R NEVADA J O C A R Slo EA N E VA LLEY S A t URP RIS R o c S R S du RNER MO UNTAINS E o Slon t E e MOUNTAINS I I queducWARNER A GA S W N Aq u G ia orn Cal if S TS A ive r O R er G o C R iv N R An aE ui aq R i G Jo n rn N Sa NG E O A I A o A B L N R C U f R I A A i BI L L l D GAY a E Eiver L L alin as D Feather R VA S C A S C A T O T C A E N A N M S C R A S A MTS N VACA e UZ E Aach R C RID GE A E T BLU N CSA Ri v asta O Sh S H S A I N T O U N S M A I N U N T O H M M A T S C M A YA K L A S M A S E G N Riv er A er n o R R iv el E A r T Ri ve S A v r O Ri O C C ath eek ad I Kla m od C r M F o C I Ri ve Redw er River PA C r G e R iv N R AE uinq a R G J o an N E G O A RA N I A L C A B LA N U R I BI L DE Y G A as E r L lin D Feather R ive VA L Sa A T A S C O C A E N T N M S A R A A C S TS VACA M A Ne Z ach CR U GE E E R ID U NT A BL C v S A a R i O Shas t S H I N S T AN O U N SM ITA O U N H M A T S M C M A A YA K L S M A E G N iver A er n R RivR E el er Tiv S A v Ri O C Cth k ad I ma Cre e M F Kla woo d I Red r River C PA LUCAS VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PLANT cLAssificATioNs The local ecology in the Lucas Valley neighborhood is a microcosm of California’s remarkable diversity and beauty. The open space that abuts the northern side of the neighborhood is primarily annual grassland, coastal oak woodland, montane hardwood, and a bit of coastal scrub and mixed chaparral. caLifornia wiLdLife habiTaT reLaTionship (cwhr) Type annuaL GrassLand coasTaL oaK woodLand monTane hardwood coasTaL scrub mixed chaparraL vaLLey fooThiLL riparian urban douGLas fir daTa source: arcGis onLine | counTy of marin, bureau of Land manaGemenT, esri, here, Garmin, incremenT p, n usGs, meTi/nasa, epa, usda counTy of marin, sonoma counTy, bureau of Land manaGemenT, esri, here, Garmin, 0’ 500’ 1000’ SITE CONTEXT 24 LUCAS VALLEY PRESERVE This presents a unique opportunity for homeowners to create ecological connectivity on their properties with the surrounding open space habitat. wesTern bLue-eyed Grass caLifornia poppy caLifornia bay LaureL arroyo Lupine phoTos by auThor SITE CONTEXT 25 current aesthetic trends PLANT COMMUNITIES Through walking the neighborhood, I was able to identify 127 different species of plants in homeowner’s landscapes. The most dominant species were non-native to California, with varying habitat value. Many of these plants are familiar horticultural varieties. Plants native to California and NATIVE more particularly the Marin Hills Ecoregion make up the second largest category, followed closely by TO EcOrEgION species classified as invasive in the region. NATIVE TO a. muGo pine K. russian saGe CALIFORNIA b. chinese frinGe fLower L. baby saGe 127 NON c. creepinG juniper m. ceanoThus species NATIVE d. japanese euonymus n. KinniKinniK identified invasive e. rocKspray coToneasTer o. caLifornia poppy in f. GLossy priveT Q. caLifornia fuschia california G. TraiLinG LanTana r. common yarrow h. LiLy of The niLe s. red yucca i. new zeaLand fLax T. foxTaiL aGave j. bLue fescue u. parryi aGave TradiTionaL horTicuLTure a. c. e. G. i. K. m. o. Q. s. b. d. f. h. j. L. n. p. r. T. conTemporary xeriscape SITE CONTEXT 26 current aesthetic trends LUCAS VALLEY TYPOLOGY From my observations, I identified three key aesthetic types that are most prevalent in the neighborhood. These types are based on my own observations and classifications. There is of course a spectrum of landscapes in the neighborhood, but this typology represents the most prominent trends I observed. a. TradiTionaL suburban b. conTemporary xeriscape c. mid-cenTury modern memory all three typologies side by side TradiTionaL horTicuLTure conTemporary xeriscape SITE CONTEXT 27 TRADITIONAL SUBURBAN Type A. The traditional suburban yard features a lawn, or in some cases, gravel or mulch (or even bare soil) where a lawn once was. There are typically screening shrubs and hedging, with repetitive form. Plants are spaced in a horticultural fashion, with space between each and mulch or gravel as the primary groundcover. hedGinG or monoTypic screeninG shrubs Lawn or GraveL ampLe spacinG beTween pLanTs TradiTionaL horTicuLTure contemporary xeriscape SITE CONTEXT 28 contemporary xeriscape Type B. The contemporary xeriscape type is defined by the use of low-water or drought tolerant plants, such as cacti, succulents, and agave. Planting reflects a distinct fusion between traditional understandings of xeriscape yards (which often are presumed to be cactus only) and a regional plant community. The primary groundcover of these landscapes is gravel. Many of these landscapes are new transformations in the neighborhood, reflecting a contemporary trend among homeowners in the area. Low waTer pLanTs GraveL Groundcover TradiTional horTiculTure conTemporary xeriscape SITE CONTEXT 29 mid-century modern memory Type C. The mid-century modern memory yard features a distinctive curvilinear bed, often framed by lawn, gravel, or mulch. The layout of these landscapes evokes the shapes of mid-century modern design, but the plantings range from traditional to contemporary selections. Grasses are often featured in the curvilinear specimen bed, alongside architectural species such as New Zealand flax, or agave. Lawn, GraveL or curviLinear sTaTemenT bed muLch TradiTional horTiculTure contemporary xeriscape SITE CONTEXT 30 NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGES In the recent years, you can see a distinct shift in the residential landscapes of this neighborhood. 2019 Lawns have been shrinking, replaced either by gravel, mulch, or more drought-tolerant landscaping. june 2007 2024 juLy 2023 imaGes: GooGLe earTh SITE CONTEXT 31 hardscape gradients Gravel of varying shapes and sizes is one of the most dominant materials in the neighborhood today. While it is encouraging to see so few lawns in this community, the abundance of gravelscapes in lieu This is likely reflective of community goals to minimize landscape irrigation, and become a FireWise of lawns leaves much to be desired both ecologically and aesthetically. community. DOMINANT GROUNDCOVER OBSERVATIONS GRAVEL MULCH 16 basket-weave PAVER SLABS mixed materials stepping stones flagstone 15 plants 13 lawn 9 SITE CONTEXT 32 best practices This led me to investigate the best practices for biodiversity, fire-smart landscapes, and water-wise landscapes. I wanted to understand why certain choices were being made in the neighborhood, and whether they align with best practices. I also wanted to understand the potential synergies and trade-offs. This set of best practices is comprised from resources directed at homeowners provided by Firesafe Marin, Marin Master Gardeners, Marin Water, CalFire, California Native Plant Society, Xerces Society, and Pacific Horticulture, to name a few. wHat are tHe synergies and trade-offs between biodiverse, fire-smart and water-wise design goals? best practices 33 PLANTING FOR BIODIVERSITY PLANT seLecTioN pLanT species naTive To your ecoreGion pLan your Landscape for bLooms and aim for 70 percenT naTive pLanTs ThrouGhouT aLL seasons Integrating native plants into your landscape Planting a diversity of flowering species and will always be a net-positive. They are locally planning to ensure you have at least one species adapted to your climate, and thus have flowering in each season of the year is crucial increased resiliency towards drought and pests, for our pollinators. Conventional plantings often and have co-evolved with local wildlife. prioritize spring and summer blooms, but there are so many wonderful California native plants Studies have shown that we should aim for at that bloom in winter and fall. Orchestrating least 70% native plants in our landscapes if we a symphony of blooms throughout the year want to achieve biodiversity goals provides seasonal interest for us humans, too! (O’Keeffe, 2023b). (UC Marin Master Gardeners, 2020). pLanT KeysTone Genera seLecT a varieTy of bLoom Types and Keystone genera are plants that have a minimize cuLTivars ThaT impacT bLoom specialized host relationship with an insect Butterflies are known to prefer flat-topped species, such as monarch butterfly lepidoptera flowers for ease of landing as they feed. Our (caterpillars) and milkweed. In Marin County, native bee species, on the other hand, enjoy the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly has a plants with daisy-like flowers, or clusters of specialist relationship with lupinus albifrons, small flowers. Hummingbirds are the primary lupinus variicolor, and lupinus formosus. bird pollinators in the U.S., and they are drawn to bright flowers (think red, yellow, and orange In fact, around 90% of insect herbivores are hues) that are tubular in shape. Moths often host-plant specialists, which means their diet is pollinate at night, and prefer pale or light restricted to specific plant lineages. As 96% of colored flowers with strong fragrance and ample our terrestrial birds rear their young on a diet of nectar. Cultivars that impact flower type or insects, keystone genera are crucial to include color, on the other hand, have little appeal to in our designed landscapes to aid our local bird our pollinators (UC Marin Master Gardeners, populations (Tallamy, 2020). 2020). best practices 34 PLANTING FOR BIODIVERSITY PLANT SPACiNg & MAiNTENANCE pLanT in swaThs of 3‘ x 3‘ Leave The Leaves Many of our native bees are known to practice In addition to ground-nesting bees, many flower constancy, where they will favor one California bees nest in pithy stems or wood species of flower when foraging, even if a debris. Be sure to leave some pithy stems (such different species of flower is closer. Planting as Elderberry) standing, and keep your debris species in swaths of 3’x3’ allows for ease of and clippings on the ground. This not only foraging. It can also heighten the visual impact provides essential overwintering habitat for of a species for us non-pollinators, too bees, but also aids in soil health. Win-win! (The (UC Marin Master Gardeners, 2020). Xerces Society, 2021). pLan for our Ground nesTinG bees no pesTicides wiTh areas of bare soiL The use of pesticides such as neonictinoides are Most of our California native bees are solitary extremely detrimental to our insect populations. bee species. For those that nest in the ground, In fact, 97% of insects you find in your garden having an area of bare soil is key. If using mulch, are “beneficial insects” which play a critical role make sure the depth doesn’t exceed 2”. in maintaining the health of your landscape. When purchasing plants, be sure to check Landscape fabrics should be avoided, as they with your local nursery to ensure they are not prevent bees from burrowing (The Xerces treating with harmful chemicals Society, 2021). (UC Marin Master Gardeners, 2020). naTive miLKweed onLy If you are hoping to support the monarchs, only plant your native milkweed. Planting non-native milkweeds disrupts critical life-cycle cues (UC Marin Master Gardeners). best practices 35 fire-smart landscaping PLANT SELECTION & SPACING any pLanT can burn foLLow defensibLe space GuideLines Keeping your plants healthy is critical to a fire- The first 100’ surrounding your home is referred smart landscape. However, there are a few to as the “Home Ignition Zone.” Defensible characteristics that can increase risk of ignition. space guidelines break this critical area into Particular woody species, for example, may three sub-zones. The first two zones, Zone 0 and generate more debris, and thus require a higher Zone 1, are the most pertinent to Lucas Valley level of maintenance and attention to retain lot sizes. a healthy, fire-smart state. This is a factor that Zone 0 - This zone is comprised of the first 5’ should be considered when selecting plants, around your home, and is critical for firefighters particularly for homeowners who are seeking to be able to safely defend in case of ignition. low-maintenance landscapes. No combustible materials (including vegetation) are recommended for this zone. Messy or invasive plants can be hard to control. Zone 1 - This zone spans 5’ to 30’ around your Juniper, Italian Cypress, Pampas and Jubata home, and maintenance is key. Plants should be grasses are all known as being extrermely well maintained, healthy, and irrigated. The goal flammable and should always be avoided in a in this zone is to reduce fuel load, and minimize fire-smart landscape (FireSafe Marin). fuel ladders through proper spacing and layout (FireSafe Marin). naTive pLanTs are encouraGed for pLanT in isLands and uTiLize hardscape Their resiLience as firebreaKs beTween pLanTinGs Native species that are climate-adapted offer Spacing of vegetation is critical in Zone 1 to increased resiliency in the landscape. However, minimize fuel ladders. Islands of vegetation some of our powerhouse native species -- such surrounded by hardscape (such as pathways, as buckwheat and manzanita species -- are gravel, or retaining walls) can act as firebreaks to classified as “fire prone” by FireSafe Marin. minimize the risk of fire reaching your home. Native plants with higher moisture content and low combustibility are favored in a fire-smart FireSafe Marin suggests spacing shrubs at a landscape (FireSafe Marin). distance 2x their mature height. For shrubs beneath trees, a spacing of 3x the shrub height is suggested to minimize fuel ladders. best practices 36 fire-smart landscaping maintenance remove dead maTeriaL and Leaf LiTTer ensure pLanTs are heaLThy Maintenance is perhaps the most critical aspect A drought-stressed plant is more likely to be of a fire-smart landscape. The removal of dead fire-prone than a healthy, well-irrigated plant. materials such as grasses, weeds, plants, foliage, This means that even drought tolerant species fallen leaves, needles, and other combustible may need a boost of water during times of detritus is critical, especially during fire season prolonged drought to maintain optimal health (FireSafe Marin). (FireSafe Marin). While vegetation is not encouraged in Zone 0, Selecting species with low water requirements homeowners who do want vegetation close to is encouraged. The Marin Master Gardeners the home could consider annual wildflowers, chapter encourages the removal of large lawns grasses or succulents, which can be cut back in favor of grasses and flowers to reduce the during fire season (UC Marin Master Gardeners). need for excessive irrigation. Limb up your Trees no GoriLLa hair muLch It is advised to limb trees up 6-10’ off the “Gorilla Hair” or shredded mulch is considered ground, or up to 1/3 the height of the tree. incredibly fire prone, and should be avoided No tree limbs should reach over your home or completely. Organic compost or heavy bark chimney. mulch is okay for use in Zone 1, although it should not be used near the home Many California native tree species – such as (FireSafe Marin). Oaks and Redwoods – are considered to be relatively fire resistant. The focus in fire-smart While non-combustible mulches such as gravel landscaping is not to remove all of your trees, do not improve soil fertility and structure, they but instead to use pruning and adequate do minimize soil compaction, moderate soil spacing to minimize fuel ladders and minimize temperature, and limit weed growth. the risk of tree crowns catching fire. Even specific species that are considered more flammable, such as fir and pine, can have their place in a fire-smart landscape (FireSafe Marin). best practices 37 WATER-WISE BASICS plant selection & spacing choose cLimaTe adapTed pLanTs hydrozoninG The practice of hydrozoning refers to the tactful When planning a drought-tolerant landscape, grouping of plants with similar water needs in the emphasis is on selecting low water plants your landscape. This allows you to better tailor with drought tolerant characteristcs. As your irrigation regimen, and reduce excessive California has a Mediterannean climate, there is watering. This is particularly important in times a wide array of low-water plants to choose from of drought or minimal rainfall, as supplemental that are climate adapted. water may be needed to maintain the long-term health of your landscape during dry summer Selecting species native to your ecoregion months (Pacific Horticulture, 2023). is always encouraged, but it’s important to remember that not all California native species The Water Use Classification of Landscape are drought tolerant. Species (WUCOLS) database by the U.C Davis California Center of Urban Horticulture is a key resource that provides water use rankings tailored to different climatic regions in California. drouGhT ToLeranT doesn‘T mean zero Groundcover reTains soiL moisTure irriGaTion The use of mulch is encouraged in water-wise Just because a plant may be drought-tolerant landscape design, as it provides a layer of doesn’t mean it won’t ever require supplemental insulation for your soil -- retaining soil moisture irrigation. Irrigation is frequently needed during by minimizing water loss from environmental the first 1 or 2 years of establishment. And factors such as dry air, heat, and wind. Similarly, in times of extreme drought or inconsistent the use of mulch helps to regulate the soil rainfall, supplemental irrigation may be needed temperature, minimizing plant stress. Organic to maintain plant health for the long-term. mulch also increases soil health, and helps to suppress weeds (Pacific Horticulture, 2023). There is a difference between surviving and Planted groundcover provides many of these thriving, and knowing your plants’ needs is key benefits, in addition to erosion control. to planning a resilient drought-tolerant design. best practices 38 DESIGN mEthoDS For my design process, I am using the method outlined in Planting in a Post-Wild World by authors There are four key principles outlined in Planting in a Post-Wild World that have been deeply influential Claudia West and Thomas Rainer. West and Rainer advocate for the use of designed plant communities in my design process: that reference archetypal landscapes, such as grasslands, woodlands, or forests, to increase the ecological function as well as aesthetic character of designed landscapes. It is important to note that + Designing with archetypal plant communities as reference West and Rainer distinguish designed plant communities from ecological restoration, and encourage designers to have humility. + Embracing the constraints of your site (versus relying on amendments) + Planting in dense layers, and utilizing groundcover as natural mulch “desiGninG wiTh pLanT communiTies can noT onLy LinK naTure To our Landscapes, buT aLso brinG ToGeTher ecoLoGicaL pLanTinG and TradiTionaL horTicuLTure” + Using principles of design and cues to care to increase legibility (rainer & wesT, 2015, p.20) + Shifting our perceptions of maintenance, and allowing the design to evolve with time This method calls upon the work of many naturalistic landscape designers, and advocates for planting in four layers: structural, seasonal, groundcover, and filler. The structural and seasonal layers are classified as the design layers, whereas groundcover and filler layers are classified as functional layers. This method does not rely purely on the use of native plants, but instead is rooted in an understanding of how plant communities function in the wild. Selecting a reference community that is native to your region can simplify the design process, but West and Rainer believe that both native and non-native species can work together in this design method. “a desiGned pLanT communiTy is a TransLaTion of a wiLd pLanT communiTy inTo a cuLTuraL LanGuaGe.“ (rainer & wesT, 2015, p. 38) PLANT COMMUNITIES 39 PLANT SELECTION For plant selection, I began by looking at CalScape’s list of species native to the Lucas Valley zip code. From there, I cross referenced numerous plant lists geared towards homeowners from Marin Master Gardeners, Xerxes Society, and FireSafe Marin. I also consulted a few native-plant specific books, and looked at local nursery websites to get a sense of what native species are garden tolerant and most popular among homeowners, designers, and growers. DESIGN 40 GRASSLAND INSPIRED In the grassland, swaths of colorful wildflowers mingle with translucent grasses, their inflorescences catching the light as they bend with the soft wind. Butterflies dance among the blooms, and a red-tailed hawk glides cercis occidenTaLis ceanoThus ThyrsifLorus ‘sKyLarK‘ s through the sky. It is hard to think of a more iconic California ecosystem than the native grassland. muhLenberGia riGens prsidaLcea maLvifLora ‘purpeTTa‘ in ascLepias fascicuLaris G achiLLea miLLefoLium ‘isLand pinK‘ eriophyLLum conferTifLorum madia eLeGans phaceLia TanaceTifoLia cLarKia rubicunda GiLia TricoLor eschschoLzia caLifornica Lupinus nanus TriTeLeia Laxa Layia pLaTyGLossa sTipa cernua sTipa puLchra fesTuca idahoensis mar. apr. DESIGN 41 er T in w fe b. . ja n . LL fa cT. n o ov . pT de se c summ e r un. juj L . a uG ay . m GRASSLAND INSPIRED wesTern redbud caLifornia deerGrass sKyLarK ceanoThus purpeTTa dwarf checKerbLoom cercis occidenTaLis muhLenberGia riGens ceanoThus ThyrsifLorus ‘sKyLarK‘ sidaLcea maLvifLora ‘purpeTTa‘ narrow Leaf miLKweed isLand pinK yarrow GoLden yarrow purpLe needLe Grass ascLepias fascicuLaris achiLLea miLLefoLium ‘isLand pinK‘ eriophyLLum conferTifLorum sTipa puLchra caLifornia poppy bird‘s eye GiLia sKy Lupine Lacy phaceLia eschschoLzia caLifornica GiLia TricoLor Lupinus nanus phaceLia TanaceTifoLia plant anD HaBItat InFORMatIOn cOuRtesy OF calscape, las pIlItas nuRseRy, annIe’s annual’s, anD OaKtOWn nuRseRy WateR classIFIcatIOns By WucOls RegIOn 1 (WHen nOt avaIlaBle, calscape fULL SUN PART SUN FULL SHADE VERY LOW low MODERATE FIRESAFE BIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS larval host POLLINATORS BEES WateR use DesIgnatIOn Was useD) MARIN lISt DESIGN 42 GRASSLAND INSPIRED common madia common TidyTips California’s grasslands are home to over 40% of the state’s native plant species, providing habitat madia eLeGans Layia pLaTyGLossa for a diversity of birds, insects, mammals, and reptiles. They are also one of the most threatened ecosystems in the state due to human development, agriculture, and exotic plant species. In fact, California’s grasslands have been reduced by 99%, and 73 grassland-associated species are listed in the state & federal Endangered Species Act (California Native Grassland Association). This grassland-inspired palette is geared towards the residential garden. While our native grasslands are comprised primarily of native sedges and bunchgrasses alongside perennials, annual wildflowers ruby chaLice cLarKia iThurieL‘s spear and geophytes (Garden Like Nature, CalScape), a designed landscape offers us the opportunity to cLarKia rubicunda TriTeLeia Laxa play. This palette features key grassland species – such as Purple Needlegrass, California Poppy, and Lupine – alongside other hard-working perennials with distinct aesthetic and ecological value, such as Checkerbloom, Yarrow and Milkweed, which can be found across our valleys, meadows and chaparral openings. Beloved California Deer Grass provides architectural structure alongside Skylark Ceanothus. For this design, I have chosen to highlight the layered planting approach, broken into structural, noddinG needLeGrass idaho fescue sTipa cernua fesTuca idahoensis seasonal, filler and a ground cover matrix of grasses. Planning and installing a grassland-inspired landscape requires a high-level of involvement in the early stages, particularly in site-preparation, species selection, and planting. Eradicating any invasive weeds on site is critical, and there are a variety of resources that provide guidance as to the best site prep methods based on your landscape’s needs. plant anD HaBItat InFORMatIOn cOuRtesy OF calscape, las pIlItas nuRseRy, annIe’s annual’s, anD OaKtOWn nuRseRy WateR classIFIcatIOns By WucOls RegIOn 1 (WHen nOt avaIlaBle, calscape fULL SUN PART SUN FULL SHADE VERY LOW low MODERATE FIRESAFE BIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS larval host POLLINATORS BEES WateR use DesIgnatIOn Was useD) MARIN lISt DESIGN 43 GRASSLAND INSPIRED ceanoThus ThyrsifLorus eriophyLLum ‘sKyLarK‘ conferTifLorum achiLLea miLLefoLium ‘isLand pinK‘ muhLenberGia riGens sidaLcea maLvifLora ‘purpeTTa‘ ascLepias fascicuLaris sTipa puLchra sTipa cernua fesTuca idahoensis cercis occidenTaLis madia eLeGans Layia pLaTyGLossa TriTeLeia Laxa GiLia TricoLor phaceLia TanaceTifoLia cLarKia rubicunda Lupinus nanus eschschoLzia caLifornica GiLia TricoLor Lupinus nanus eschschoLzia caLifornica 0 4’ 8’ structural SEASONAL FILLER GROUNDCOVER DESIGN 44 grassland inspired Visually, this palette is ideal for those seeking an airy, romantic landscape with pops of iconic California colors year-around. This approach is perfect for homeowners who are eager to be stewards of an engaging, dynamic landscape, and are excited about the prospect of hosting a robust variety of organisms on their property. DESIGN 45 OAK WOODLAND INSPIRED As the oak canopy rustles in the breeze, dappled sunlight illuminates an understory of sparkling perennial flowers, rich grasses and sedges. The pink belly of the Lewis’ Woodpecker catches your eye, sitting perched arcTosTaphyLos den. ‘howard mcminn‘ muhLenberGia riGens s among the oak leaves. carpenTeria caLifornica prsaLvia spaThacea in veneGasia carpesioides G ribes sanGuineum var. GLuTinosum hoLodiscus discoLor heuchera maxima heuchera ‘rosada‘ cLinopodium douGLasii sTipa puLchra epiLobium canum pensTemon cenTranThifoLius Leymus condensaTus ‘canyon monardeLLa viLLosa eschschoLzia caLifornica Laiya pLaTyGLossa mar. apr. DESIGN 46 er T in w feb . an . j . LL a f cT. no o v. T ep dec s su mm e r un. juj L . au ay G. m OAK WOODLAND INSPIRED howard mcminn vine hiLL manzaniTa caLifornia deerGrass caLifornia bush anemone caaLifornia fuchsia arcTosTaphyLos den. howard mcminn muhLenberGia riGens carpenTeria caLifornica epiLobium canum pinK fLowerinG curranT canyon sunfLower oceanspray purpLe needLe Grass ribes sanGuineum var. GLuTinosum veneGasia carpesioides hoLodiscus discoLor sTipa puLchra isLand aLum rooT rosada coraL beLLs yerba buena humminGbird saGe heuchera maxima heuchera ‘rosada‘ cLinopodium douGLasii saLvia spaThacea plant anD HaBItat InFORMatIOn cOuRtesy OF calscape, las pIlItas nuRseRy, annIe’s annual’s, anD OaKtOWn nuRseRy WateR classIFIcatIOns By WucOls RegIOn 1 (WHen nOt avaIlaBle, calscape fULL SUN PART SUN FULL SHADE VERY LOW low MODERATE FIRESAFE BIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS larval host POLLINATORS BEES WateR use DesIgnatIOn Was useD) MARIN lISt DESIGN 47 oak woodland inspired scarLeT buGLer Oak Woodlands are ecological powerhouses, hosting more species than any other habitat in the state ‘canyon prince‘ wiLd rye pensTemon cenTranThifoLius Leymus condensaTus ‘canyon prince‘ – including 1,400 species of flowering plants, and over 300 species of vertebrates (OneTam). In Marin, these landscapes are in decline due to Sudden Oak Death, deer browsing, acorn predation, and lack of regular fire to maintain their open canopy structure. While many species of the oak-woodland can also be found in mixed-hardwood forests, the open-canopy structure allows for a distinct habitat of herbaceous plants and wildlife (OneTam). The rich plant diversity found in our California woodlands translates beautifully to the residential landscape. For homeowners with an established oak (or other mature tree) in their landscape, this oak-woodland caLifornia poppy common TidyTips eschschoLzia caLifornica Layia pLaTyGLossa plant palette offers opportunity to take advantage of the diversity of microclimates it affords. Selecting species for dry shade can be a challenge, but Hummingbird Sage and Yerba Buena do the heavy lifting, providing functional groundcover and seasonal interest. Pink-flowering Currant and Oceanspray provide profuse blooms, and two species of heuchera add pink to white hues beneath the tree canopy. In this design, I chose to highlight the hydrozoning, or grouping of species based on their designated water needs. This design also acts as a perfect aesthetic and ecological bridge between the grassland-inspired planting plan to the left, and the soft-chaparral planting plan to the right, featuring transitional species along its edges. plant anD HaBItat InFORMatIOn cOuRtesy OF calscape, las pIlItas nuRseRy, annIe’s annual’s, anD OaKtOWn nuRseRy WateR classIFIcatIOns By WucOls RegIOn 1 (WHen nOt avaIlaBle, calscape fULL SUN PART SUN FULL SHADE VERY LOW low MODERATE FIRESAFE BIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS larval host POLLINATORS BEES WateR use DesIgnatIOn Was useD) MARIN lISt DESIGN 48 OAK WOODLAND INSPIRED arcTosTaphyLos den. dipLacus auranTiacus ‘howard mcminn‘ ribes sanGuineum var. GLuTinosum veneGasia carpesiodes hoLodiscus discoLor carpenTeria caLifornica monardeLLa viLLosa Leymus condensaTus ‘canyon prince‘ epiLobium canum muhLenberGia riGens heuchera maxima heuchera ‘rosada‘ sTipa puLchra pensTemon cenTranThifoLius cLinopodium douGLasii 0 4’ 8’ hydrozones saLvia spaThacea ceanoThus hearsTiorum very Low eschschoLzia caLifornica Low Layia pLaTyGLossa moderaTe DESIGN 49 OAK WOODLAND INSPIRED Taking inspiration from one of California’s most beloved landscapes, this design is for homeowners who want to keep it classic. Perfect for homes with established trees and dry shade, this landscape is richly layered while still being water-wise. DESIGN 50 SOFT CHAPARRAL INSPIRED The profuse golden blooms of sticky monkey flower pop amongst the low tapestry of greyish green hues. As you brush by, the aroma of sage mingles with the fresh salt air. erioGonum fascicuLaTum var. foLiosum muhLenberGia riGens Leymus condensaTus ‘canyon prince‘ sp ceanoThus mariTimus ‘vaLLey vioLeT‘ rin TrichosTema LanaTum G saLvia x cLeveLandii ‘ pozo bLue‘ saLvia apiana dipLacus auranTiacus enceLia caLifornica pensTemon heTerophyLLys ‘marGariTa bop‘ monardeLLa viLLosa eriGeron GLaucus ‘ wayne rodericK‘ eriophyLLum conferTifLorum saLvia LeucophyLLa ‘poinT saL‘ baccharis piLuLaris ‘piGeon poinT‘ sTipa puLchra ceanoThus hearsTiorum eschschoLzia caLifornica mar. apr. DESIGN 51 Te r in w . f eb an . j . L faL cT. no ov . T p de s e c summ e r n. juL ju . au ay G. m SOFT CHAPARRAL INSPIRED caLifornia bucKwheaT caLifornia deerGrass ‘canyon prince‘ wiLd rye vaLLey vioLeT mounTain LiLac erioGonum fascicuLaTum var. foLiosum muhLenberGia riGens Leymus condensaTus ‘canyon prince‘ ceanoThus mariTimus ‘vaLLey vioLeT‘ wooLLy bLuecurLs caLifornia whiTe saGe ‘pozo bLue‘ cLeveLand saGe sTicKy monKey fLower TrichosTema LanaTum saLvia apiana saLvia x cLeveLandii ‘pozo bLue‘ dipLacus auranTiacus coasT sunfLower sanTa marGariTa fooThiLL pensTemon GoLden yarrow coyoTe minT enceLia caLifornica pensTemon heTerophyLLus ‘marGariTa bop‘ eriophyLLum conferTifLorum monardeLLa viLLosa plant anD HaBItat InFORMatIOn cOuRtesy OF calscape, las pIlItas nuRseRy, annIe’s annual’s, anD OaKtOWn nuRseRy WateR classIFIcatIOns By WucOls RegIOn 1 (WHen nOt avaIlaBle, calscape fULL SUN PART SUN FULL SHADE VERY LOW low MODERATE FIRESAFE BIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS larval host POLLINATORS BEES WateR use DesIgnatIOn Was useD) MARIN lISt DESIGN 52 SOFT CHAPARRAL INSPIRED wayne rodericK beach asTer poinT saL purpLe saGe Coastal scrub is often referred to as “soft chaparral.” While chaparral species often feature thick, eriGeron GLaucus ‘wayne rodericK‘ saLvia LeucophyLLa ‘poinT saL‘ leathery leaves, such as Manzanita and Ceanothus, coastal scrub is often comprised of smaller, softer-leaved species, including sages, sagebrushes, buckwheats, and subshrubs such as the sticky monkey flower (Garden Like Nature, CalScape). Both of these communities exist within Marin County shrublands, and include many keystone species that are beloved by insects, birds, and humans for their rich colors and forms (OneTam). This soft chaparral-inspired palette pulls from coastal scrub, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral purpLe needLe Grass hearsT ranch bucKbrush sTipa puLchra ceanoThus hearsTiorum communities. As many of the soft chaparral subshrubs such as sticky monkey flower, white sage, and naked buckwheat are summer semi-deciduous, integrating key chaparral species such as ceanothus provides a structural evergreen foundation alongside California Deer Grass. As many of these species are classified as fire-prone, this design utilizes hardscape and island planting to minimize risk. The use of crushed gravel not only creates essential fire-breaks, but also adds a subtle texture to the landscape. This material was chosen to compliment the fine-textured, cool-toned dwarf coyoTe brush plants, without overpowering the subtleties of the softer species. caLifornia poppy baccharis piLuLaris ‘piGeon poinT‘ eschschoLzia caLifornica plant anD HaBItat InFORMatIOn cOuRtesy OF calscape, las pIlItas nuRseRy, annIe’s annual’s, anD OaKtOWn nuRseRy WateR classIFIcatIOns By WucOls RegIOn 1 (WHen nOt avaIlaBle, calscape fULL SUN PART SUN FULL SHADE VERY LOW low MODERATE FIRESAFE BIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS larval host POLLINATORS BEES WateR use DesIgnatIOn Was useD) MARIN lISt DESIGN 53 SOFT CHAPARRAL INSPIRED ceanoThus mariTimus dipLacus auranTiacus ‘vaLLey vioLeT‘ saLvia apiana erioGonum fascicuLaTum var. foLiosum saLvia x cLeveLandii TrichosTema LanaTum ‘pozo bLue‘ monardeLLa viLLosa Leymus condensaTus ‘canyon prince‘ pensTemon heTerophyLLus ‘marGariTa bop‘ muhLenberGia riGens eriGeron GLaucus ‘wayne rodericK‘ fire breaK diaGram eriophyLLum conferTifLorum sTipa puLchra 5‘ zone zero eschschoLzia caLifornica saLvia LeucophyLLa ‘poinT saL‘ ceanoThus hearsTiorum pLanTed isLands hardscape 0 4’ 8’ DESIGN 54 SOFT CHAPARRAL INSPIRED This planting plan is for homeowners who are seeking a contemporary approach with high ecological pay-off, as it features many of our most beloved California native species. DESIGN 55 SYNERGIES & TRADE-OFFS Balancing the best practices for biodiverse, fire-smart and drought tolerant design requires a few MAINTENANCE tactical decisions to be made. These decisions will vary depending on your key goals. This simplified orGanic muLch such as woodchips or composT chart is intended to help visualize where key best-practices overlap, and where they may conflict. non orGanic muLch such as GraveL Leave The Leaves pLANT SELECTION a hands off approach for habiTaT naTive species prune & cLear ecoreGion & sTaTe removinG debris and Leaf LiTTer cLimaTe adapTed species from simiLar reGions ornamenTaL species Using native species is encouraged across biodiverse, fire-smart, and water-wise design. However, non-naTive species ThaT are noT cLimaTe adapTed it is important to note that not all native species are water-wise, and many of our California native species have characteristics that increase their flammability. While it is possible to select species native to your ecoregion that are drought tolerant and are considered fire-smart, many of our PLANT SPACING keystone genera -- such as buckwheat and manzanita -- are designated as fire-prone by local pLanTinG in Layers organizations such as FireSafe Marin. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plant these important species, enhancinG ecosysTem funcTion but more care needs to be taken to minimize risk. pLanTinG in isLands creaTinG fueL breaKs The most notable conflicts in plant spacing and maintenance exist between biodiverse planting spacinG individuaL pLanTs design practices and fire-smart landscaping practices. This is particularly evident in maintenance minimizinG fueL Ladders practices. While “leaving the leaves” is a key tenant of planting for biodiversity, in fire-smart GroupinG by waTer needs landscape design the pruning and clearing of all dead material is deemed critical. hydrozoninG conclusion 56 design POssiBiLiTies I hope these three designs help showcase the aesthetic possibilities to be found in ecologically Together, these three designs add 43 native species to the neighborhood, 15 of which are minded landscape design, and the incredible richness biodiverse, fire-smart, and water-wise native specifically to the Lucas Valley area (CalScape). Between the three properties, these plant landscapes can embody. Just because a landscape is comprised of native plants, doesn’t mean it is communities support a myriad of butterflies, moths, native bees, hummingbirds, and birds — such messy. Just because something is fire-smart, doesn’t mean it is a desolate moonscape. as the Monarch Butterfly, Leafcutter Bee, and Anna’s Hummingbird, to name a few favorites. And even if you despise cacti, you can still have a drought-tolerant yard. conclusion 57 design POssiBiLiTies So what if instead of this... conclusion 58 DESIGN POSSIBILITIES We did this... conclusion 59 WELCOME TO THE NEW SUBURBIA conclusion 60 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to everyone who helped to make this project possible, and ecouraged me along the way. It would not be possible without your support. ETON ELEE STAPL Tha KiERS, U.c d AViS nk ORY RUSSEL hAV EN Y K ou! RRiSON ANG KO & JAcK hA YEK JEB, hOL LY fAmiLY UO dEPART mENT Of TYLER & ThE SYLLA ThE LANdScAPE LYdiA cRUZ AcULTY ARchiTEcT URE f E 2024 mLA cOhORT & Th conclusion 61 WORKS CITED Annies Annuals & Perennials. Annies Annuals. (n.d.). https://www.anniesannuals.com/ Marin County vegetation and land cover data. Marin County Vegetation and Land Cover Data. (2022). https://vegmap. marincounty.org/ About the California Native Grasslands Association. California Native Grasslands Association - Home. 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Structure and Content in Maricopa County (AZ). Journal of the American Planning Association, 86(1), 25–38. https:// doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2019.1665474 Common Madia - Gardenia. Retrieved from https://www.gardenia.net/plant/madia-elegans. United States Department of Agriculture. (2019, May). Urban soils fact sheet. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/ Common Tidytips - Theodore Payne Foundation. Retrieved from https://store.theodorepayne.org/products/tpf-layia files/2022-11/Urban-Soils-Fact-Sheet.pdf platyglossa-seed-10548590. University of California, D. of A. and N. R. (n.d.-a). Cal native plants. UC Marin Master Gardeners. https://marinmg.ucanr.edu/ Coyote Mint - San Bruno Mountain Watch. Retrieved from https://www.mountainwatch.org/mbn-menu/monvi. PLANTS/CAL_NATIVE_PLANTS/ Dwarf Coyote Brush -Theodore Payne Foundation. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/plant/Baccharis-pilularis-ssp. University of California, D. of A. and N. R. (n.d.-b). Meet the pollinators. UC Marin Master Gardeners. https://marinmg.ucanr. pilularis-’Pigeon-Point’-(Pigeon-Point-Coyote-Brush)/gallery. edu/PLANTS/POLLINATOR_HABITATS/Meet_the_Pollinators/#bees Golden Yarrow - Persaud, M. (2020). Calflora. Retrieved from https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=3422. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013, Level III ecoregions of the continental United States: Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. EPA – National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, map scale 1:7,500,000, https://www.epa.gov/eco- Hearst Ranch Buckbrush - Annie’s Annuals. Retrieved from https://www.anniesannuals.com/ceanothus-hearstiorum-hearst research/level-iii-and-iv-ecoregions-continental-united-states. -ranch-buckbrush.html. WaterSmart Gardening Resource Center: Marin Water. WaterSmart Gardening Resource Center | Marin Water. (n.d.). https:// Howard McMinn Manzanita - Cloud Mountain Farm Center. Retrieved from https://www.cloudmountainfarmcenter.org/ www.marinwater.org/WaterSmartGardening nursery/howard-mcminn-manzanita/. Wucols Plant Search Database. WUCOLS Plant Search Database. (n.d.). https://wucols-frontend.ucdavis.edu/#/search Hummingbird Sage - Holt, S. CalScape. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/gallery. Xerces Society. (2020, 30 October). Bring Back the Pollinators [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/ Idaho Fescue - Native Here Nursery. Retrieved from https://nativeherenursery.org/product/festuca-idahoensis/ watch?v=chvXwNbs3SA Island Alum Root - West, A. Plantmaster. Retrieved from https://plantmaster.com/plants/eplant.php?plantnum=24193. ‘Island Pink’ Yarrow - WUCOLS Plant Search Database. Retrieved from https://wucols-frontend.ucdavis.edu/# PLANT PHOTOS plant/2216?c=97&n=yarrow Ithuriel’s Spear - Breckling, B. (2010). CalScape. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/Triteleia-laxa-(Ithuriel’s-Spear). Bird’s Eye Gilia - Xera Plants Inc. Retrieved from https://xeraplants.com/plants/gilia-tricolor/. Lacy Phacelia - Kramer, N. (2017). CalScape. Retrieve from https://calscape.org/plant/Phacelia-tanacetifolia-(Lacy-Phacelia gallery#. California Buckwheat - Las Pilitas Nursery. Retrieved from https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/283-- eriogonum-fasciculatum-foliolosum. Narrow Leaf Milkweed - Surber, J. Plantmaster. Retrieved from http://plantmaster.com/plants/eplant. php?plantnum=132#gallery-2. California Bush Anemone - Mullany, S. Ashland Saves Water. Retrieved from https://www.ashlandsaveswater.org/eplant php?plantnum=109&return=c. Nodding Needle Grass - Picture This. Retrieved from https://www.picturethisai.com/pt/wiki/Nassella_cernua.html California Deer Grass - Gardenia. Retrieved from https://www.gardenia.net/plant/muhlenbergia-rigens. Oceanspray - Veilleux, P. Plantmaster. Retrieved from https://plantmaster.com/plants/eplant.php?plantnum=7136. California Fuchsia - Matson, S. (2015). CalScape. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/plant/Epilobium-canum-(California Pink Flowering Currant - Veilluex, P. CNPS East Bay. Retrieved from https://ebcnps.org/species/ribes-sanguineum-var- Fuchsia)/gallery#. glutinosum/. California Poppy - Silver Falls Seed Company. Retrieved from https://silverfallsseed.com/product/poppy-california-orange/. Point Sal Purple Sage - Las Pilitas Nursery. Retrieved from https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/198--salvia- leucophylla-point-sal. ‘Canyon Prince’ Wild Rye - Neel’s Nursery. Retrieved from https://neelsnursery.com/products/elymus-condensatus-canyon prince-canyon-prince-wild-rye. ‘Pozo Blue’ Cleveland Sage - CNPS. Retrieved from https://california-native-plant-society.square.site/product/salvia-pozo- blue-pozo-blue-cleveland-sage/308. Canyon Sunflower - WUCOLS Plant Search Database. Retrieved from https://wucolsplants.sf.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files dgvnsk12201/files/2022-05/Venegasia_carpesioides_430_1570_0.jpg Purpetta Dwarf Checkermallow - (2024) Annie’s Annuals & Perennials. Retrieved from https://www.anniesannuals.com/ sidalcea-malviflora-purpetta.html. conclusion 63 PLANT PHOTOS ADDITIONAL IMAGE CREDITS Purple Needle Grass - Perry, R. Waterwise Garden Planner. Retrieved from https://waterwisegardenplanner.org/plants/ Page 3: nassella-pulchra/. Postcard of Mt. Vernon. Retrieved from https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth596728/. ‘Rosada’ Coral Bells - U.C Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. Retrieved from https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/future- Postcard from Monticello Estate. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/jassy-50/33818290120/. favorites-climate-ready-plants. Page 4: Ruby Chalice Clarkia - JW. California Flora Nursery. Retrieved from https://www.calfloranursery.com/plants/clarkia-rubicunda- The Household Magazine Cover (June 1980). Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/retroarama/8939579345. ssp-blasdalei. The Charter Oak Lawn Mower Ad. Retrieved from https://www.gardensillustrated.com/features/the-history-of-lawns. Santa Margarita Foothill Penstemon - All Seasons Gardening and Landscaping. Retrieved from https:// allseasonslandscaping.com/april-plant-of-the-month-penstemon-heterophyllus-margarita-bop/penstemon-margarita- Chadborn & Coldwell Manuf’g Co Lawn Mower Ad (May 1989) Harper’s Magazine. Retrieved from https://olddesignshop. bop-california-naitive/. com/2013/06/free-vintage-image-latest-and-best-mower-magazine-ad/. Scarlet Bugler - Veilleux, P. (2011). Flickr. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/5705550152. Ransome’s Garden Lawn Mower Ad (1894). Retrieved from https://www.alamy.com/old-victorian-magazine-newsprint- ransomes-garden-lawn-mower-advert-from-1894-before-the-dawn-of-advertising-standards-history-of-gardening- Skylark Ceanothus - Annie’s Annuals & Perennials. Retrieved from https://www.anniesannuals.com/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus- image408627758.html?imageid=DBE0315D-54FE-4B35-831AC24F139CEE55&p=1334606&pn=1&searchId=bd0c054 skylark.html. 64341c278ce2c2a338f7eadab&searchtype=0. Sky Lupine - Watson, L. (n.d.) CalScape. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/plant/Lupinus-nanus-(Sky-Lupine)/gallery. Lawn Mower Trade Cards. Retrieved from https://streetsofsalem.com/2015/06/26/lawnmowers-for-ladies/ Sticky Monkey Flower - Thorsted, S. (2016). Calscape. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/plant/Diplacus-aurantiacus-(Bush- Worcester Lawn Mowing Ad (1956). Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/14696209@N02/4914283998/in/ Monkey-Flower)/gallery. photostream/. Valley Violet Mountain Lilac - Annie’s Annuals. Retrieved from https://www.anniesannuals.com/ceanothus-maritimus-valley- National Steel Corp Ad. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/428404983300772256/. violet.html. Lawn Boy Ad. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/428475352026834557/. Wayne Roderick Beach Aster - South Eastern Horticulture. Retrieved from https://southeasternhorticultural.co.uk/product/ erigeron-x-wayne-roderick-perennial-garden-large-plug-plants-pack-x6/. Victa Automatic Lawnmower Ad. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/799740846299935704/. Western Redbud - Sonoma - Marin Saving Water Partnership. Retrieved from https://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/ Page 14: programs-rebates/plant-picker/page/2/. Grasslands & Coastal Bluffs: By author White Sage - (2014). Calscape. Retrieved from https://calscape.org/plant/Salvia-apiana-(White-Sage)/gallery. Redwood Forests: Ibarra, V. G. (2015). Unsplash. Woolly Blue Curls - Las Pilitas Nursery. Retrieved from https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/680-- Coastal Wetlands: Bolinas Lagoon Preserve. Marin County Parks. Retrieved from https://www.parks.marincounty.org/ trichostema-lanatum. parkspreserves/preserves/bolinas-lagoon. Yerba Buena - Pawek, J. (2015). Retrieved from https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_ Page 18: query?enlarge=0000+0000+0415+1862. Lucas Valley Neighborhood. Retrieved from https://imagescdn.homes.com i2J5mc9O717rVHruIZYOcXWvYrTuBD4VBD_ 7mNKihHTjA/117/image.jpg?p=1. Page 19: Historic Eichler Plan. Retrieved from https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2019/1/4/ten-things-you-should-know-about joseph-eichler-and-his-homes. Historic Eichler Advertisement. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/tikitacky/8026481304. Page 26 - 30, 58: Plant photos from AdobeStock. Page 51: Soft Chaparral images from Las Pilitas Nursery. Retrieved from https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities/ coastal-sage-scrub. conclusion 64 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BOOKS PODCASTS, WEBINARS & VIDEOS Kaufmann, O. (2020). The forests of California. Heyday. Blount, Y., Clark, N., Swezy, M. (2021). Fire-Smart Landscaping: Environmental Considerations for Homeowners [Webinar]. Fire Safe Marin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQKvp-k_2iI&list=PLXrLfMzDbA4XZ1JEOdlHkH prJs08YQO71&index=11 Oudolf, Piet., & Kingsbury, N. (2013). Planting : a new perspective. Timber Press. Mark, F., Wilcox, K. (2021). Fire Smart Landscaping: Maintaining a Healthy and Safe Landscape Under Drought and Water Restrictions [Webinar]. Fire Safe Marin. https://www.youtube.com/ Tree, I., & Burrell, C. (2023). The book of wilding: A practical guide to rewilding big and small. Bloomsbury Publishing. watch?v=vxlpYT00GuY&list=PLXrLfMzDbA4XZ1JEOdlHkHprJs08YQO71&index=9 Vogt, B. (2023). Prairie up: An introduction to natural garden design. 3 Fields Books, an imprint of the University of Illinois Morse, B. (2021). Save the bees and save your home! Compatibility of Fire Prevention & Protection of Biodiversity [Webinar]. Fire Safe Marin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc4O0Vewu-s&list=PLXrLfMzDbA4XZ1JEOdlHk HprJs08YQO71&index=13 JOURNALS, ARTICLES & WEBSITES Fire Safe Marin. (2020, May 6). How to create Fire-Smart Landscaping w/ UC Marin Master Gardeners [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch v=kUI6hUY9Nq8&list=PLXrLfMzDbA4XZ1JEOdlHkHprJs08YQO71&t=398s Chui, S. C. (2014). Visual attractiveness versus water conservation in front yard preferences in the context of drought Fire Safe Marin. (2020, May 28). Supporting biodiversity and pollinators in a fire-smart garden [Video]. Youtube. https:// in Melbourne, Australia. Australasian Journal of Water Resources, 18(1), 85–97. https://doi.org/10.7158/w13- www.youtube.com/watch?v=BItXZkzm5a0 006.2014.18.1 Fullner, M. (Host). (2024, February 2). Native Bees with Krystle Hickman [Audio podcast episode]. Golden State Kubey, E. (2021, December 3). Small wonders: The plight and promise of California’s native bees. California Native Plant Naturalist. https://www.goldenstatenaturalist.com/native-bees-with-krystle-hickman/ Society. https://www.cnps.org/flora-magazine/small-wonders-the-plight-and-promise-of-californias-native-bees-23883 Fullner, M. (Host). (2023, February 9). Ecological Restoration with Billy Sale [Audio podcast episode]. Golden State Oaktown Native Plant Nursery. (2024). https://oaktownnursery.com/ Naturalist. https://www.goldenstatenaturalist.com/ecological-restoration-with-billy-sale/ UC Marin Master Gardeners. (n.d.). https://marinmg.ucanr.edu/ Fullner, M. (Host). (2022, December 15). California Native Plants with Naomi Fraga [Audio podcast episode]. Golden State Naturalist. https://www.goldenstatenaturalist.com/california-native-plants-with-naomi-fraga/ The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. (n.d.). https://xerces.org/ Kasper, J. (2023). Fire Smart Landscaping with Jim Kasper [Webinar]. UC Marin Master Gardeners Advanced Training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhjOM_rdJWQ Kiers, A.H. (2021). Living Landscapes (or: how to design native plant gardens that attract wildlife and still look good) [Webinar]. UC Marin Master Gardeners Advanced Training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1N9K0bci44 Lando, T. (2021). Fire Chief Debunks Defensible Space Myth [Webinar]. Fire Safe Marin. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=a4JpOdS9ffI&t=212s Wilcox, K. (2021). Life Saving Landscaping: How to Maintain a Safe Landscape [Webinar]. Fire Safe Marin. https://www. youtube.com/watch v=zfseI1bCEdw&list=PLXrLfMzDbA4XZ1JEOdlHkHprJs08YQO71&index=12 Williams, A. (2021). An Ecoregional Approach to Plant Recommendations [Webinar]. California Native Plants Society for UC Marin Master Gardeners Advanced Training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHof-CjEeDE conclusion 65