Range

Coastal S. Brit. Columbia to Coastal S. California

Ecology

"While seed production is variable, seed predation is ubiquitous. Fallen acorns are quickly cached, consumed, or infected by wildlife and insects...

Douglas's squirrels, western gray squirrels, blue jays, Steller's jays, and Lewis's woodpeckers dispersed acorns. Douglas's squirrels carried acorns approximately 30 feet (8 m) before burying them. On 2 occasions blue jays transported acorns almost 1,000 feet (300 m) before consuming the acorns. Steller's jays typically carried acorns 1,000 to 1,300 feet (300-400 m) into conifer-dominated sites. Sometimes acorns were dropped, other times consumed. Lewis's woodpeckers often transported acorns 100 to 200 feet (30-50 m) into Oregon white oak- or western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)-dominated habitats before dropping or consuming them...

There is considerable concern about the future of Oregon white oak habitats. Recent and rapid losses of habitat have prompted the need for the protection, recovery, and restoration of Oregon white oak woodlands and savannahs. According to Agee [2] "without prescriptive treatment, up to 50% of threatened oak woodlands could be beyond help by the year 2010," and the "window of opportunity narrows every year"." [1]

Equity: Cultural and Historical Significance

"Habitat loss is primarily a result of European settlers that suppressed fires, altered land use, and introduced nonnative species and heavy grazing." [1]

Economics

"Decreased fire frequencies in Oregon white oak habitats are not solely responsible for declines in Oregon white oak. Past silvicultural management decisions also contributed to declines.

In a study conducted near Oregon State College in the Willamette Valley, researchers designed several treatments to increase conifer production on Oregon white oak-dominated sites. Researchers indicated that Oregon white oak "stands were poor producers of forest products because of exceptionally slow growth". Treatments to increase productivity of Oregon white oak-dominated woodlands included clearcutting, burning, planting to pasture, underplanting with Douglas-fir, thinning and underplanting to Douglas-fir, and clearcutting and planting to Douglas-fir. Similar management goals are reported in the 1950s from northwestern California. In a 1955 paper, Roy indicated that hardwood sprouts following logging or fire are "pernicious" and "capture ground area which otherwise could be used to grow conifers". He also suggests that "treatments may be necessary to obtain adequate stocking of desired conifers". Guidelines for herbicides use to control Oregon white oak in reforestation and/or timber production efforts are provided in." [1]