As previously mentioned, there are about 10 million acres of oak woodlands remaining in California.  For purposes of the Oak Woodlands Conservation Program, oak trees are defined as any species in the genus Quercus, and oak woodlands are defined as oak stands with greater than 10 percent canopy cover or stands that may have historically supported greater than 10 percent canopy cover in the past.

The California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System (CWHR) describes five habitat types used to identify California's oak-dominated woodlands.  The CWHRS types are based on the dominant tree species and include Valley Oak, Blue Oak, Blue Oak-Foothill Pine and Coastal Oak.

For additional information on oak woodlands, wildlife and wildlife habitats in oak woodlands, applicants are encouraged to consult with the local biologist from the California Department of Fish and Game or the UC Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (IHRMP).  In addition, for excellent information on oak woodlands contact the IHRMP website at the following address:

http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp/

While the loss of oak woodlands to urbanization and intensive agriculture is alarming, another threat is even more troublesome.  Several oak species are not regenerating in portions of their range.  Young trees are not replacing older trees that are removed (for various reasons) or die of natural causes.

Oak species that are particularly impacted by the lack of regeneration include the valley oak, blue oak, coast live oak and in some areas, the California black oak. While the reasons for the lack of regeneration are varied, complex and controversial, i.e., over grazing, fire suppression, noxious weeds, invasion of weedy annual grasses and suppression of native perennial grasses, the solutions are equally complex and varied.  Facilitating oak regeneration, while challenging, can be successful if collaboration and partnerships are developed with private landowners.  Regeneration techniques such as seedling shelters, weed control, and improved grazing practices have proven successful in promoting the regeneration of oak trees.

For additional information on oak regeneration or recruitment, applicants are encouraged to contact the following:

1. Point Reyes Bird Observatory at (414) 868-1221 or www.prbo.org
2. CDF Fire and Resource Assessment Program at (916) 227-2651 or http://frap.cdf.ca.gov
3. California Department of Fish and Game (916) 653-1738 or www.dfg.ca.gov
4. UC Integrated Range Management Program at (530) 639-8807 or http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp
5. California Oaks Foundation at (510) 763-0282 or www.californiaoaks.org

Another threat to California's oak woodlands is Sudden Oak Death (SOD).  While first discovered in 1995, today, the disease has spread to 12 counties and has killed tens of thousands of oaks and tanoaks.  Oak trees observed to have symptoms of SOD include black oak, coast live oak, interior live oak and Shreve's oak.  The disease is currently restricted to oak trees along California coastal areas though some fear the disease will continue to spread inland.

To date, there is no known cure for the disease.  Because of the severity of SOD and the potential, large-scale impact upon numerous economic, social and recreational sectors throughout California, extensive research is underway to understand and find the means to limit the spread of this disease.  Furthermore, in light of the severity of this disease and the ease of transmission, there are strict state and federal regulations governing the movement of plant material and soil within and out of counties with observed occurrences of SOD.

The Oak Woodlands Conservation Program is not equipped to address issues associated with SOD.  As such, it is recommended that potential applicants from a county that has been quarantined because of SOD consult with their local agricultural commissioner, Fish and Game biologist and UC Extension Office.  In addition, any proposal submitted from a quarantined county will be forwarded to the California Oak Mortality Task Force for additional review and comment.

For additional information on SOD, applicants are encouraged to contact the following:

1. California Oak Mortality Task Force at (510) 642-5938 or http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/comtf/
2. Local County Agricultural Commissioners Office
3. CDF Fire and Resource Assessment Program (916) 227-2651 or http://frap.cdf.ca.gov
4. California Department of Food and Agriculture at (916) 445-6214 or kkosta@cdfa.ca.gov
5. California Department of Fish and Game at (916) 653-1738 or www.dfg.ca.gov
6. Sudden Oak Death at www.suddenoakdeath.org
7. Local UC Cooperative Extension Office

To understand the distribution, status and management issues associated with approximately 10 million acres of oak woodlands throughout California, the Stakeholder Group divided the State into eight unique geographical areas or oak sections.  Using information from the Ecological Units of California, each of the oak sections are described below and displayed in Appendix A (maps 1 through 8).  In addition, Table 1 summarizes the major threats facing oak woodlands within each of the eight sections.

1. North Coast Oak Woodland Section

   The North Coast Section contains approximately 2.1 million acres of oak woodlands.  The boundaries run from Crescent City in the North to Marin in the South.  The entire Section covers approximately 12,618 square miles (8.08 million acres) and varies in elevation from sea level on the western edge to approximately 8,100 feet.

   The predominant oak species include valley oaks in the southern reaches of the area, blue oak, black oak, canyon oak, interior live oak, Shreve's oak and Oregon white oak in the upper reaches of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties and coastal live oak along coastal areas.

   Oak woodlands face conversion pressures, predominantly to vineyards, residential developments and ranchettes.  Over grazing, lack of oak regeneration, firewood cutting and in some areas, Sudden Oak Death threaten the biological integrity of the oak woodlands.

   Precipitation: 20 to 120 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: Historic occurrence is changing from frequent, low intensity surface fires, to infrequent, moderate to high intensity ground or stand replacing fires.

2. Klamath/South Cascade Oak Woodland Section

   This Section contains approximately 940,000 acres of oak woodlands and borders the North Coast Region on the west.  The Section covers approximately 15,198 square miles (9.7 million acres) and varies in elevation from 200 feet to 14,600-foot elevation at Mt. Shasta.

   The predominant oak species include valley oak, blue oak, black oak, interior live oak, and Oregon white oak.

   The major threat in this Section comes from firewood cutting.  In addition, threats include agricultural conversion, development of mini ranchettes, and lack of oak regeneration, drought and poor watershed conditions.

   Precipitation: 8-120 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: In the western portion of the section and at lower and mid-elevations, historic fire occurrence has changed from frequent, low intensity ground fires to infrequent, high intensity stand replacing fires.  In the eastern portion of the section and at lower and mid-elevations, historic fire occurrence has changed from frequent low intensity surface fires to infrequent, high intensity stand replacing fires.

3. Modoc Oak Woodland Section

   This Section contains approximately 5,000 acres of oak woodlands comprised of a few areas of blue oak woodlands and montane hardwood forests.  The Section is 6,222 square miles (4 million acres) in size and ranges in elevation from 300 to 9,900 feet.  The principal threat in this area comes from over grazing and extensive firewood cutting.

   Precipitation: 8-30 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: Historic occurrence has changed from frequent, low intensity ground fires to infrequent, high intensity stand replacing fires.

4. Central Coast Oak Woodland Section

   The Central Coast Section contains approximately 1.9 million acres of oak woodlands and covers the area from San Francisco in the north to San Luis Obispo in the south.  The entire Section covers approximately 14,891 square miles (9.5 million acres) and varies in elevation from sea level on the western edge to approximately 5,200 feet in the eastern portion of the Section.

   The predominant oak species include valley oak, a few black oak, blue oak, interior live oak and coastal live oak.

   Intensive agricultural development and conversion of oak woodlands to vineyards is the major threat in this Section.  In addition, the northwest and central portions of the Section are experiencing confirmed cases of Sudden Oak Death.  Lack of oak regeneration, coupled with periodic drought and increased fire risk, threatens many of the remaining large stands of oak woodlands.

   Precipitation: 6-60 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: Fires are of variable intensity and frequency and are ground or stand replacing.

5. Southern California Coast Oak Woodland Section

   The Southern Coast Section has approximately 590,000 acres of oak woodlands remaining throughout the area.  The Section covers the area from Santa Barbara County in the north to San Diego County in the south.  The entire Section covers approximately 15,893 square miles (10.2 million acres) and varies in elevation from sea level on the western edge to approximately 11,500 feet in the eastern portion of the Section.

   The predominant oak species include Engelmann oak, valley oak, coast live oak, interior live oak, canyon live oak and blue oak.

   High density, residential development is the principal threat in this area resulting in fragmented landscapes and few remaining large tracks of oak woodlands.  Intensive agricultural development also threatens the remaining oak woodlands.

   Precipitation: 6-40 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: Historic occurrence has changed from fires of variable frequency, season and intensity to more frequent, larger and more intense fires.  In the eastern portion of the Section, fires that are stand replacing, are of variable frequency, season
   and intensity.

6. Great Valley Oak Woodland Section

   This Section contains approximately 960,000 acres of oak woodlands and covers the Central Valley from Redding in the north to Bakersfield in the south.  The entire area covers approximately 21,815 square miles (about 14 million acres) and varies in elevation from 300 foot elevation on the western edge to 50 foot in the center to approximately 3,000 feet on the east side.

   The predominant oak species include valley oak, blue oak, Oregon white oak, black oak, interior live oak and canyon live oak.

   The principal threat to oak woodland values in the Central Valley comes from residential development and intensive agricultural conversion.  In addition, extensive firewood cutting in the northern areas of Shasta and Tehama County, poor oak regeneration, development of small ranchettes, over grazing and hobby livestock coupled with ground water diversions pose additional threats to the oak woodlands.

   Precipitation: 5-40 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: Historic occurrence has changed from frequent, fast-moving large fires to infrequent, small fires, or fire has been mostly excluded due to conversion to irrigated agriculture and urban development.  In the northwest portion of the section, fires are presently of low, moderate, or high intensity and surface or stand replacing.

7. Sierra Nevada Foothills Oak Woodland Section

   The Sierra Nevada Foothill Section, one of the largest oak woodland areas remaining in California, contains approximately 2.1 million acres of oak woodlands.  The Section covers the eastern edge of the Central Valley from Redding in the north to Kern County in the south.  The Section covers approximately 7,024 square miles (4.5 million acres) and varies in elevation from 200 feet on the western edge to approximately 5,000 feet elevation level on the eastern edge of the Section.

   The predominant oak species include blue oak, black oak, interior live oak, and some valley oak.

   Residential development and intensive agricultural conversion to vineyards threaten the oak woodlands.  In addition, firewood cutting, poor oak regeneration and low density, suburban development in the form of small ranchettes, affect the oak woodlands.

   Precipitation: 8-40 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: Fires are currently of low, moderate or high intensity and surface or stand replacing.

8. Sierra Nevada Oak Woodland Section

   The Sierra Nevada Section contains approximately 590,000 acres of oak woodlands and covers the higher elevations of the west side and the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada.  The Section covers approximately 19,919 square miles (12.7 million acres) and varies in elevation from 1,000 feet on the western edge to approximately 15,000 feet in the eastern portion of the Section.

   The predominant oak species include blue oak, black oak, interior live oak and some valley oak.  The Section also provides critical riparian vegetation containing oaks.

   The important threats for this Section include residential development and intensified agricultural conversion, primarily vineyards.  In addition, poor oak regeneration, increasing low density, suburban development, and high fire risk are concerns.

   Precipitation: 10-90 inches

   Fire Disturbance Regime: At lower and mid-elevation of the section, historic occurrence has changed from frequent, low intensity ground fires to infrequent, high intensity stand replacing fires.