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LIVING AMONG the OAKS a Management Guide for Woodland Owners and Managers

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LIVING AMONG the OAKS a Management Guide for Woodland Owners and Managers University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu | Publication 21538 LIVING AMONG THE OAKS A Management Guide for Woodland Owners and Managers Author: DOUGLAS D. McCREARY, Natural Resources Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension Technical Editors: WILLIAM D. TIETJE, Natural Resources Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension; SABRINA L. DRILL, Natural Resources Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension; GREGORY A. GIUSTI, Forests and Wildland Ecology Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension; LAURENCE R. COSTELLO, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Emeritus, UC Cooperative Extension University of California Oak Woodland Conservation Workgroup What is more characteristic of the oak woodlands a landscape of Cali- All Californians can assist in the California landscape than the oak? fornia that symbolizes values we hold protection and enhancement of native Round-crowned oaks dapple the dear—strength, beauty, adaptability, oak resources, but nobody is in a better rolling hills, solitary monarchs shade and longevity. position to do so than the owners and our rural roads, and valley giants But intensifying land use in oak managers of oak woodlands. Those stretch skyward in banners of leaves woodlands has brought problems who own homes or property in the oak and lichen. Both past and present-day along with it: soil erosion, reduced landscape can help shape the future travelers have stopped in awe of our forage production, poor regeneration by their decisions, which collectively native oaks, and countless photo- for some oak species, and degraded direct the management and land use of graphs and memories are framed wildlife habitats. Oak woodlands today more than 7 million acres (2.8 million by their spreading, weather-worn are clearly showing the effects of the hectares) of the state. This publication branches. The oak is particularly last 200 years of human habitation. is designed primarily for the owners emblematic of the inland regions of home lots or small acreages, but of California, where scattered oaks, owners and managers of larger proper- rolling pastures, and distant cattle are Oaks provide ties can also apply much of the infor- common elements of an infinitely • shade and shelter mation, especially to areas where native variable and ever-changing landscape. • wildlife and fisheries oaks grow around the ranch home. It In this region—often called the habitat brings together helpful information hardwood range or oak woodlands • soil protection (erosion about living—and making a living— by land managers—the vistas of control) among the oaks. The University of oaks, pasture, and livestock bestow California Oak Woodland Conserva- • increased property values a tranquility that sometimes belies tion Workgroup hopes that you will beautiful landscapes the fourth element: people. Like the • find this information useful as you earliest Californians, people today • food and fuel manage your land and make decisions come to the oak woodlands for food, • recreational opportunities that shape the future of California’s shelter, and beauty. Many consider oaks and oak woodlands. 2 ANR Publication 21538 Living among the Oaks AKS OF THE ARDWooD ANGE OCalifornia has 21 native species H of oak in the genus Quercus, R 10 of which grow to tree size. Of these, 8 are conspicuous members of the oak woodland plant community. All are relatively slow growing and long lived. Valley oak (Q. lobata) Engelmann oak (Q. engelmannii) This tall, spreading, winter-deciduous This semideciduous oak has a oak was once an important member narrow distribution, primarily of the Central Valley’s riparian in western San Diego County, forests, but agricultural conver- where it replaces blue oak as sions and development have greatly the dominant species. It has reduced the acreage it occupies. been severely impacted by agri- From Shasta County to Los Angeles cultural conversions and, along County, it is still a conspicuous oak with blue oak and valley oak, is in the landscape, especially in valley BaileyHart Gordon not regenerating well. bottoms and on deep alluvial soil. It Alice B. Addicott Alice B. is the largest oak in California. California black oak (Q. kelloggii) Blue oak (Q. douglasii) This species is a member of the black This deciduous oak is the oak subgenera and loses its leaves in dominant oak in the wood- winter. It most commonly grows in lands from Shasta County mountainous areas, and in the Sierra to Kern County, growing in Nevada it is an important component the foothills of the Sierra of the mixed-conifer forests. It typi- Nevada, Coast, and Trans- cally receives more than 25 inches verse mountain ranges. It (64 cm) of annual precipitation and often grows in association produces a strong reddish-brown wood with interior live oak (Q. that is compared to northern red oak wislizeni) and foothill pine (Q. rubra). Its acorns were considered (Pinus sabiniana) and toler- the best tasting by many tribes of ates relatively harsh sites. BaileyHart Gordon Native Americans throughout the state. In addition to dropping its leaves in winter, it exhibits drought deciduousness—that is, the capacity to shed foliage earlier than Oregon white oak (Q. garryana) normal in response to drought. This deciduous white oak is common in northern California and extends Coast live oak (Q. agrifolia) far north, all the way to Vancouver This evergreen oak occurs from Island in British Columbia. It prefers southern Mendocino County a moderate climate with warm southward into northern Baja summers and freezing winters and California, primarily in the Coast between 20 and 50 inches (51 and Range. On favorable sites it 128 cm) of precipitation. In Califor- often attains a rounded, spread- nia it grows in a variety of habitats ing appearance. It is a member and is often associated with bay of the black oak subgenera and laurel (Umbellularia californica), is one of four California oak Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), species that is susceptible to black oak, Pacific madrone (Arbutus Hart Gordon BaileyHart Gordon Sudden Oak Death. menziesii), and tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus). Interior live oak (Q. wislizeni) Canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis) This evergreen oak is widely This evergreen species has a broad This evergreen oak is widely distribution, extending from Oregon distributed in California from to Baja California, and it can grow Siskiyou County south to Baja from sea level to high in the moun- California. It is abundant in the tains. The wood is very strong and Sierra Nevada foothills, and close grained and was originally in the Coast Range it occupies used for tools and implement higher, drier, and more inland handles; hence one of its common sites than does coast live oak. names is maul oak. Another common It is generally found in more name is gold cup oak, because it has fine yellow powder covering the heavily wooded sites than blue Geri Hulse Stephens oak, and in chaparral habitats acorn cup, or cap. or other dry locations it often develops a shrubby form. Courtesy of the UC Davis Arboretum Source: McMinn, Maino, and Shepherd 1935. Living among the Oaks ANR Publication 21538 3 Needs and Conflicts these elements can present formidable Threats to the Root Zone In designing and building homes, obstacles to the health and survival of The following human activities are gardens, orchards, and places for oak trees. However, harmful effects can the ones that most commonly alter animals, your decisions are shaped by be minimized by thoughtful manage- a tree’s root environment, potentially your overall objectives for your land. ment practices. And how we manage damaging or killing it. Whether your land is a residential oak woodlands will likely become even site, used for grazing, or maintained more critical under the stresses associ- as natural open space, you will need ated with climate change. to consider various management Building around Oaks: options. As you choose management Protecting the Root Zone approaches for your land, also take The most vulnerable part of a mature CONSTRUCTION into account your oak trees and oak tree is the root system and, in evaluate whether or not your planned particular, the root crown at the DANGER: activities are compatible with oak base of the trunk. Although most Proceed with conservation and the basic needs oaks do have a deep taproot, many CAUTION of the trees. Remember that well- oak roots are relatively shallow and managed oak woodlands can also help extend outward from the root crown, enhance other natural resources, such reaching some distance beyond the as soil and water. Careful planning tree’s drip line (the outermost edge and design can often provide benefits of a tree’s foliage). For management Changes in grade. This includes for both people and oaks. purposes, think of a tree’s root zone any changes in the ground level under Past development among the oaks as extending out at least one-third the tree, either by mounding up soil has revealed specific areas of conflict. farther than the distance to the drip or removing it. Excavating soil can Often impacts to oaks have not been line. Ideally there should be no distur- directly cut and destroy roots and adequately addressed in planning bance within this zone. This means expose them to damage from surface documents and mitigation require- no grading, digging, trenching, using activities. Mounding up soil can ments. But a 2004 California state law of fill soils, covering the ground with reduce oxygen to the roots. Depending (Public Resources Code § 21083.4) asphalt or concrete, or landscaping on climate and soil moisture, addi- requires mitigation if projects in oak with plants that require more than tions of soil can also encourage root woodlands have significant impacts on two or three summer waterings. Also, rots. Use retaining walls outside of the the environment. It has also become excessive foot traffic, operating heavy drip line to protect the natural grade apparent that, in addition to the equipment, and parking vehicles under the tree.
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