Santa Clara Valley Chapter

Plant Communities

Planning For Oak Woodlands

The Blazing Star, March/April 1994

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program of the University of California are cosponsoring a series of oak woodland planning workshops to introduce the new publication, A planner's guide for oak woodlands.

Presentations include discussions on oak woodland values, the effects of fragmentation on oak woodland habitats, oak tree preservation, and legal tools such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), tree ordinances and easements. There was useful information on the effect of development on oak woodlands and how these impacts need to be assessed under CEQA and local ordinances.

The discussion on the shape of preserves was particularly interesting. For years the standard has been that the more wavy edges, the better for wildlife. Recent research has shown that large, round preserves with connections to other habitats support a greater diversity of wildlife (and probably also viable native plant communities) than narrow preserves with lots of edge.

As stated in the introduction of A planner's guide for oak woodlands, demographic changes are impacting almost every aspect of life in California. Local land use decisions are very important as most impacts to oak woodlands occur for projects reviewed by municipal and county governments. It is important that decision makers and the public increase their understanding of the complexities of oak woodland resources.

Useful publications on oak woodlands and oak preservation from the California Oak Foundation (1212 Broadway, Suite 810, Oakland, CA 94612. Phone, 510 763-0282):

• Compatible plants under and around oaks
• How to collect, store, and plant acorns
• Oaks of California

And from the Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (University of California, 160 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720. Phone, 510 643-5429):

• Living among the oaks (pamphlet),
• A planner's guide for oak woodlands (booklet).

Oak woodland maps are available at various scales in Geographic Imaging System (GIS) format from the Stephen P. Teale Data Center, 2005 Evergreen Street, Sacramento, CA 95813-4436. Phone, 916 445-2910.

Appendices in A planner's guide for oak woodlands list native plant nurseries, sources of information, California Department of Fish and Game guidelines, ownership of oak woodlands, and hardwood related organizations. CNPS is listed as one of several organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of California's oak resources.