Balanced Grazing
Yamhill Ranch, Credit: Tracy Robillard, NRCS.
Grazing, when managed well, can occur in healthy oak woodlands. Too much grazing pressure, however, can increase soil erosion, compact the soil, and favor non-native grasses, shrubs, and conifers instead of native grasses and oak trees. Oak regeneration is most successful in areas that have mature oaks that produce acorns and adequate protein-rich grass, which is preferred by cattle over oak seedlings. The effects of grazing on the health of oak systems are complex and require further study.
Oak stewardship guidelines by topic
Below you will find desired conditions representing a characteristic of a healthy, functioning oak ecosystem from the “Restoring Oak Habitats in Southern Oregon and North California: A Guide for Private Landowners” developed by the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network in collaboration with the Umpqua Oak Partnership. They also present guidelines to help you achieve each desired condition, and these guidelines can be applied to oak savanna, oak chaparral, oak woodland, and mixed oak-conifer habitats.
