Oak Observations January 2025
Oaks mean so much to so many of us. Whether you know them for their strong branches that you love to climb and swing from, are grateful to them for supporting unparalleled biodiversity, or aspire to be more like an oak (to grow through disturbance, to benefit your community, and to be adaptable and resilient in the face of change). Oregon white oak habitats are an iconic and inspiring feature of the East Cascades.
That’s why we’d like to kickoff the new year by sharing a few simple and actionable things you can do to support oaks in 2025. The simplest of which is to go outside and enjoy local oak habitats! Get to know them. They are your neighbors, after all.
Get to know these unique and wondrous systems, learn about what makes them special, and specifically what makes them special to you. Your appreciation and connection to these trees will naturally lead to conservation efforts.
There are many ways you can care for oaks, whether you are a decision maker for oak habitats or simply a passionate visitor in oak woodlands:
- Clean your shoes and clothing when travelling between locations, especially when weedy species are present!
- Learn to identify and plant native plants. The oak understory is host to innumerable flowering forbs and charismatic native grasses. Learn to ID these plants as well as weedy species like cheatgrass or rush skeletonweed, so that you are empowered to steward the oak understory. The plant sales listed above can help you learn about and install native species.
- Protect oak habitat features. Allow some fallen branches or deadwood to remain (where it is safe to do so), as they provide important habitats for insects, birds, and fungi.
Spread the word - enthusiasm is infectious! Oaks have suffered from a PR problem in the East Cascades where their shrubbier growth forms help them thrive on windy slopes or are a result of their resilience after wildfire. Your love and appreciation of oaks inspires others to see them differently.
ECOP has brochures and learning tools to help you share the values of these incredible systems, email oaks@columbialandtrust.org to learn more and get equipped to share the values of oaks.