Oak Woodlands Reforestation Project
In mid 2009 CCWG was funded by the Resources Legacy Fund in Sacramento, California (www.resourceslegacyfund.org) to do a small scale Oak Woodland Reforestation effort.
Oak woodlands are one of our state’s most treasured historical landscapes. They represent the essence of rural California, are rich in wildlife, and form habitats for many threatened and endangered bird and animal species. Oak trees live to be over 200 years old. However, over the past several years, many oaks in our area have been uprooted by severe winter storms due to eroding soil, disease, high winds, water saturation and old age. Woodlands have also been impacted by conversion to other land uses and invasive species of non-native trees. According to OAKS 2040 – The Status & Future of Oaks in CA (Gaman & Firman), “approximately 750,000 oak woodlands in our state are seriously threatened by the ongoing need for residential, commercial and industrial development.” The interests of private landowners, public agencies, businesses and environmental groups are often at odds with those of developers. The recently released Tehama County General Plan proposes extensive development along the I-5 corridor, a prime area for oak woodlands. Ranchers and farmers rely on oaks to provide shade for their cattle and wind breaks for crops. Cooperative incentive-based approaches with landowners are crucial to oak conservation – many of the woodlands are located on private property. CCWG is responding to this vital environmental concern by launching a new initiative, Improving Oak Woodland Habitats.
Our stakeholders include landowners whose ranches and farms make up the bulk of the oak woodlands in our watershed. Cattle production is the third largest business in the county. Ranches provide benefits to all county residents including wildlife habitat, open-space, recreation lands, fire control, weed management, and watersheds that produce clean water. Our stewardship goals include restoration and preservation of wildlife habitats, especially those that are home to threatened and endangered species. Oak woodlands are thought to have the richest wildlife species abundance of any habitat in California. Developing a sustainable restoration plan to replenish oaks that have been lost or will be destroyed by development is part of our mission.
Goals and Anticipated Outcomes:
Goal: Enlist volunteers/students to gather acorns from several oak species. Coordinate the purchase, transportation and planting of potted oaks.
Outcome: Obtain sufficient acorns to plan in pots until seeds germinate and become seedlings that can be transplanted. Potted oaks will be transported to private properties with large acreage lots. These oaks will be interspersed with the seedlings spouted from acorns.
Goal: Identify the best remaining native oak woodlands and work with landowners to maintain quality while limiting the spread of invasive vegetation. Emphasize prevention, risk assessment, early detection and quick control to prevent new invasive plants from becoming fully established.
Outcome: Voluntary participation in planting and managing new oak trees.
Goal: Conduct public outreach to encourage sustainable ranching practices that maintain wildlife habitats and improve water, soil and air quality. These are requirements for healthy oak woodlands.
Outcome: Healthy ecosystem of oak woodland habitats and preservation of endangered species.
Goal: Advocate for planning and development that is consistent with oak woodland conservation.
Outcome: Make local planning commissions aware of the consequences of over-development in areas where oak woodlands currently flourish.
Goal: Re-establish native grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs. Remove conifers or small oaks that are competing with larger oaks.
Outcome: Re-establishment of healthy oak woodlands.
To learn more about this project, or if you are a landowner within the Cottonwood Creek Watershed in need of Oak Tree reforestation; please fill out the Landowner Application for Oak Woodlands Project.
Oak woodlands are one of our state’s most treasured historical landscapes. They represent the essence of rural California, are rich in wildlife, and form habitats for many threatened and endangered bird and animal species. Oak trees live to be over 200 years old. However, over the past several years, many oaks in our area have been uprooted by severe winter storms due to eroding soil, disease, high winds, water saturation and old age. Woodlands have also been impacted by conversion to other land uses and invasive species of non-native trees. According to OAKS 2040 – The Status & Future of Oaks in CA (Gaman & Firman), “approximately 750,000 oak woodlands in our state are seriously threatened by the ongoing need for residential, commercial and industrial development.” The interests of private landowners, public agencies, businesses and environmental groups are often at odds with those of developers. The recently released Tehama County General Plan proposes extensive development along the I-5 corridor, a prime area for oak woodlands. Ranchers and farmers rely on oaks to provide shade for their cattle and wind breaks for crops. Cooperative incentive-based approaches with landowners are crucial to oak conservation – many of the woodlands are located on private property. CCWG is responding to this vital environmental concern by launching a new initiative, Improving Oak Woodland Habitats.
Our stakeholders include landowners whose ranches and farms make up the bulk of the oak woodlands in our watershed. Cattle production is the third largest business in the county. Ranches provide benefits to all county residents including wildlife habitat, open-space, recreation lands, fire control, weed management, and watersheds that produce clean water. Our stewardship goals include restoration and preservation of wildlife habitats, especially those that are home to threatened and endangered species. Oak woodlands are thought to have the richest wildlife species abundance of any habitat in California. Developing a sustainable restoration plan to replenish oaks that have been lost or will be destroyed by development is part of our mission.
Goals and Anticipated Outcomes:
Goal: Enlist volunteers/students to gather acorns from several oak species. Coordinate the purchase, transportation and planting of potted oaks.
Outcome: Obtain sufficient acorns to plan in pots until seeds germinate and become seedlings that can be transplanted. Potted oaks will be transported to private properties with large acreage lots. These oaks will be interspersed with the seedlings spouted from acorns.
Goal: Identify the best remaining native oak woodlands and work with landowners to maintain quality while limiting the spread of invasive vegetation. Emphasize prevention, risk assessment, early detection and quick control to prevent new invasive plants from becoming fully established.
Outcome: Voluntary participation in planting and managing new oak trees.
Goal: Conduct public outreach to encourage sustainable ranching practices that maintain wildlife habitats and improve water, soil and air quality. These are requirements for healthy oak woodlands.
Outcome: Healthy ecosystem of oak woodland habitats and preservation of endangered species.
Goal: Advocate for planning and development that is consistent with oak woodland conservation.
Outcome: Make local planning commissions aware of the consequences of over-development in areas where oak woodlands currently flourish.
Goal: Re-establish native grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs. Remove conifers or small oaks that are competing with larger oaks.
Outcome: Re-establishment of healthy oak woodlands.
To learn more about this project, or if you are a landowner within the Cottonwood Creek Watershed in need of Oak Tree reforestation; please fill out the Landowner Application for Oak Woodlands Project.
If you are planting Oak seedling on your property, please enjoy the Planting and Caring for Seedlings Handout developed by CCWG.
If you're interested in viewing a map of oak woodlands located in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed it is available here.
If you're interested in viewing a map of oak woodlands located in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed it is available here.
(PDF 219 KB)
