Evaluating the effectiveness of restoration treatments to enhance Oregon white oak systems within the Klickitat River Watershed

One management strategy public agencies and private landowners have been using to restore oak woodlands and savannas is oak release, in which conifers are removed or doghair oak stands are thinned to enhance stand conditions, improve wildlife features, and reduce the risk of habitat destroying fire. This thesis examined the response of Oregon white oak trees thirteen years post-treatment, evaluating oak growth, seedling and cut stump responses, fuel load accumulation and changes in snag abundance, and compared these findings to untreated areas.