Assessment of Oak Woodland Resources in BLM’s Eugene District

Because of the significant loss of oak (Quercus spp.) habitat and the subsequent increased value placed on oak woodlands for wildlife habitat, the preservation and restoration of native oak woodlands has become a priority for land managers and conservationists in the Western United States. In 1998, reconnaissance surveys were conducted on 13 oak woodland sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Eugene District in Lane County, Oregon. The sites were classified as either meadow-type communities or woodland-type communities; oak patches within the sites were delineated; and the topographic features, vegetation structure, and composition of the sites were characterized. Current conditions were then compared with conditions documented in historical records. In addition, the wildlife species most likely occurring on the sites were identified. Literature from oak woodland studies was then reviewed to determine whether certain management and restoration methods, such as eliminating conifer encroachment and thinning closed-canopy stands, would be effective in addressing conditions observed at the BLM sites