Table Rock

Climate science research has shown that oaks here are likely to withstand the effects of climate change, and in combination with the extent and quality of the protected habitat this site is a priority for continued oak conservation and restorative management. This unique and highly visible site serves as a keystone site for the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network, showcasing the success of partnerships to work together on restoration efforts to reverse the impacts of fire exclusion over 17 decades, and the decline of oak-associated wildlife and understory plant species.

Rising 800 feet above the Rogue River near Medford OR, the Table Rocks are iconic landmarks of cultural and natural history importance. These twin mesas, flat-topped buttes with steep sides, are at the heart of the ancestral homelands of the Takelma people and remain a place of strong spiritual and traditional connection for their descendants and other Native people.

The Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy co-steward 4,865 acres at the Table Rocks. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians work with the co-stewards to explore integrating cultural values in the site management. A variety of partners help to maintain and restore key cultural and natural features.

Humans and Nature

Over 50,000 visitors annually hike the popular trails at Upper and Lower Table Rock to experience the unique volcanic topography, spectacular views, colorful spring wildflowers, and abundant wildlife. The Table Rocks also serve as a beloved outdoor environmental education classroom for thousands of local students and adults. Among the diverse species present is the dwarf wooly meadowfoam, a small white flower found only on the tops and nowhere else.

Recent History

The Nature Conservancy began land protection work at Lower Table Rock in 1979 to prevent a proposed major land subdivision for residential development, and to optimally conserve the many natural and cultural values. Beginning in 1984, the BLM designated their holdings, of the Table Rocks, as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) to protect special status plant and animal species, unique geology and scenic values, and education opportunities. Further information about the cultural and conservation importance of the Table Rocks can be found on the BLM’s website. The Nature Conservancy hold fee title or conservation easements over the remainder as a preserve.

The Nature Conservancy experimented with prescribed burning in 1985 and conducted the first management burn at the Table Rocks in 1989 which daylighted concerns about shrub ingrowth among oaks and the need for mechanical thinning. By 2011, partnership development among several partners and new funding enabled the first projects involving fuel reduction, selective thinning of shrubs and oaks, pile burning, native seed collection and sowing. With support from the BLM, the Nature Conservancy assessed the climate resilience of the oaks at the Table Rocks (Schindell et al 2013), mapped the vegetation, and recommended multiple pathways toward restoring oak system resilience (Metlen et al 2016). Seed collection and increase over the years have created an opportunity to restore the native plants that once dominated the understory.  Vegetation inventory and monitoring, along with bird-monitoring are completed to track management.

Work on the Ground

To date, over 1,325 acres have been treated thanks to partners including the Klamath-Siskiyou Oak Network (KSON), Lomakatsi Restoration Project, the Klamath Bird Observatory, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), The Nature Conservancy, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.  The Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund, NRCS, and BLM provided important funding for restoration efforts. Information about this ongoing work is summarized in KSON’s “A Decade of Collaborative Oak Restoration: Highlights 2011-2023.” Mechanical work has set the stage for the anticipated use of mild fire in prescribed underburning.