Assessment of oak woodland resources in BLM's Eugene District, Lane County, Oregon

100 Pages·2000·4 MB·English

by  Chiller, David G

BLM LIBRARY
88051955
Assessment of Oak Woodland Resources
BLM's Eugene
in Distric
Lane County, Oregon
Technical Note 40
June 2000
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Assessment of Oak Woodland Resources
BLM's Eugene
in District
Lane County, Oregon
Technical Note 406
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By:
David G. Chiller
Research Biologist, Pacific Wildlife Research Inc.
David G. Vesely
Senior Forest Ecologist, Pacific Wildlife Research Inc.
William Dean
I.
Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Land Management, Eugene District
Eugene District Office
2890 Chad Drive
Eugene, OR 97440-2226
June 2000
BLM/OR/WA/PL-00/052+6635

ABSTRACT
Because ofthe significant loss ofoak (Quercus were delineated; and the topographic features,
spp) habitat and the subsequent increased value vegetation structure, and composition ofthe
placed on oak woodlands for wildlife habitat, the sites were characterized. Current conditions
preservation and restoration ofnative oak wood- were then compared with conditions docu-
lands has become a priority for land man- mented in historical records. In addition, the
agers and conservationists in the Western wildlife species most likely occurring on the sites
United States. In 1998, reconnaissance sur- were identified. Literature from oak woodland
veys were conducted on 13 oak woodland sites studies was then reviewed to determine whether
managed by the Bureau ofLand Management's certain management and restoration methods,
(BLM's) Eugene District in Lane County, such as eliminating conifer encroachment and
Oregon. The sites were classified as either thinning closed-canopy stands, would be effec-
meadow-type communities or woodland-type tive in addressing conditions observed at the
communities; oak patches within the sites BLM sites.
ASSESSMENT OF OAK WOODLAND RESOURCES IN BLM'S EUGENE DISTRICT

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was part of a cooperative study, development and implementation ofthis proj-
which involved the Oregon Department of ect.We would also like to thank Rebecca
Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, Goggans, Douglas Gomez, Joan Hagar, David
Oregon and Washington Natural Heritage Hibbs, Matt Hunter, Paula Larson, and Mike
Program, and the Bureau ofLand Management Reichenbach for their valuable contributions to
(BLM), to investigate oak woodland habitats. an earlier draft ofthis report. Finally, we thank
We would like to thank John Chatt, Carole Eric Campbell and BLM's Oregon State Office
Jorgensen, Lynn Larson, Cheshire Mayrsohn, and for supporting the publication and distribution
Chris Melotti for providing significant logistical of this assessment, making it more available
support and encouragement throughout the to other resource managers.
ASSESSMENT OF OAK WOODLAND RESOURCES IN BLM'S EUGENE DISTRICT
in

TABLE
Abstract
i
Acknowledgments
iii
Figures and Tables vii
Introduction
1
OakWoodlands: Past and Present 1
Assessment Objectives 2
ProjectArea 2
Methods 5
Site Selection 5
Site Classification 5
Oak Patch Delineation 5
Site Descriptions 6
Topography 7
Patch Composition 7
Additional Descriptive Information 9
Oak Distribution Patterns 10
Wildlife Habitat Associations 10
Wildlife Species 10
Habitat Components 11
Restoration and Management Literature Review 11
Results and Discussion 13
Overview ofBLM Sites 13
Physiography 13
Plant Community Composition and Structure 13
Oak Growth and Regeneration 18
Site Descriptions 22
Anthony Creek 22
Bates 22
Cougar Mountain 22
ASSESSMENT OF OAK WOODLAND RESOURCES IN BLM'S EUGENE DISTRICT
#
Eagle's Rest 23
Fox Hollow 23
Gilkey Creek 23
Kloster Mountain 24
Rattlesnake 24
Sears Road 24
Seventy-Ninth 25
Weiss Road 25
Wendling 25
Wills Road 26
Oak Distribution Patterns 26
Regional Level 26
Patch Level 27
Effects of Fire Suppression 29
Wildlife HabitatAssociations 29
Species that Use OakWoodlands 29
Habitat Components of OakWoodlands 32
Restoration and Management Literature Review 34
Conifer Encroachment 34
Thinning of Closed-Canopy Stands 35
Summary and Recommendations 37
Vegetation Patterns 37
Wildlife Habitat 41
Mast Production 41
Vegetation 41
Cavities 43
Patch Size 43
Oak Management Recommendations by Other Authors 44
Literature Cited 47
Appendix A 59
List ofWildlife Species Potentially Occurring in Habitats Found
in the Surveyed Sites 60
ASSESSMENT OF OAK WOODLAND RESOURCES IN BLM'S EUGENE DISTRICT
VI