Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F004BX114CA
Oregon white oak/perrenial and annual grasses,
mountain slopes,
sandstone and mudstone, clay loam
Accessed: 08/30/2026
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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
Associated sites
F004BX112CA Oregon White Oak/Perennial And Annual Grasses, lower mountain slopes, sandstone and mudstone, silty clay loam
F004BX112CA may be found in conjunction with this site.
R004BX101CA Upper prairie, mountain slopes, sandstone and mudstone, clay loam
R004BX101CA may be found in conjunction with this site.
Similar sites
F004BX112CA Oregon White Oak/Perennial And Annual Grasses, lower mountain slopes, sandstone and mudstone, silty clay loam
F004BX112CA is similar to this site but is found in lower concave positions.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus garryana
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Festuca californica
(2) Melica subulataPhysiographic features
This ecological site is found east of Redwood Creek. It occurs on uniform positions on mountain slopes which are strongly sloping to steep.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 174 – 3163 ft Slope 15 – 50 % Water table depth 28 – 80 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate is dry with warm summers, and cool, moist winters. The upper oak balds appear to be just above the fog zone, so coastal influence does not appear to be a factor in the diurnal range in temperatures. Summertime temperatures can range from 65 to 85 degrees F*. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 70 to 100 inches and usually falls from October to May.
* From SchoolHouse DataTable 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 270 days Freeze-free period (average) 270 days Precipitation total (average) 100 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features on this site.
Soil features
These primarily well-drained, very deep soils developed from colluvium weathered from sandstone and mudstone. They are moderately to strongly acidic at 40 inches with a loamy subsurface rock content ranging from non-gravelly to very gravelly.
Soils that have been tentatively correlated to this ecological site include the following.
Soil Survey Area: CA605 - Redwood National and State Parks
Mapunit Symbols Soil Components
485 Coyoterock
485 Maneze
485 Pasturerock
483 Pasturerock
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Cobbly clay loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to moderately well drained Permeability class Slow to moderately slow Soil depth 60 – 0 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)2 – 8 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)5.1 – 6.5 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 50 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
This site’s plant community is a mosaic pattern of Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) and black oak (Quercus kellogii) in the overstory with grass glades and forbs making up the understory. The closed canopy is dominated by larger, older individuals while the sub-canopy contains oaks of all sizes. Prior to European settlement, perennial grasses may have included California fescue (Festuca californica) and Alaska oniongrass (Melica subulata) (NPS communication).
Historically, this site was periodically burned by Native Americans to keep the woodlands open and to attract wildlife (Sugihara, 1987). This periodic burning kept conifer and brush invasion down and helped maintain the native grasses. With continued periodic fire, these sites may maintain larger, older stands with more widely spaced oak trees and some open glades.
Oregon white oak will sprout following cutting or moderate to severe fire, resulting in oak thickets. Sprouting ability declines with age and mature oaks may not sprout at all following disturbance. Natural regeneration of oak woodlands may be hindered by many factors, including: competition from grasses, seedling browsing, and acorn depredation and disease. Regeneration of oak within the park is primarily through sprouting (Sugihara, 1987) and more aggressive introduced perennial and annual grasses may be a significant influence in the success of oak regeneration (Holland and Kiel, 1995).
In the early 1900's, fire suppression activities began which allowed subsequent conifer encroachment. Logging and road building activities in adjacent areas exposed bare soil that was colonized by Douglas-fir (Sugihara, 1987). Sheep grazing was common during the late 1800's through the early 1900's and led to the introduction of exotic species which replaced some native plants.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 3. State and Transition Model
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 6 submodel, plant communities
State 7 submodel, plant communities
State 8 submodel, plant communities
State 9 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Introduced perennial and annual grasses and forbsCommunity 1.1
Introduced perennial and annual grasses and forbsPlant Community 9. The converted grassland includes exotic perennial and annual grasses and forbs.
9a) With fire exclusion, and if a nearby seed source is available, Scotch broom and bristly dogstail grass may infill. See PC#8.
9b) With fire exclusion, and if a nearby seed source is available, Douglas-fir may infill.
See PC#5.
State 2
Oregon white oak/Annual grassesCommunity 2.1
Oregon white oak/Annual grassesPlant Community 1. The interpretive plant community is comprised of oak stands dominated by Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), with bristly dogstail grass (Cynosurus echinatus) in the understory. The shrubs snowberry (Symphoricarpos), California blackberry (Rubus ursinus), and poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilibum) may be occasionally present.
1a) With timber harvest and continuous grazing, exotic grasses may establish and replace native grasses. If the oak community is senescent when cut, it may not re-sprout, or sprouting may be poor. See PC#9.
1b) With fire exclusion, Douglas-fir infill from adjacent forests will occur. See PC#2.
Periodic fire would kill most young Douglas-fir, temporarily limiting the encroachment of conifers.
State 3
Oregon white oak/Douglas-firCommunity 3.1
Oregon white oak/Douglas-firPlant Community 2. Following years of fire exclusion, Douglas-fir will infill to form a carpet of seedlings underneath the Oregon white oak.
2a) This Douglas-fir regeneration will continue to grow, and in the absence of disturbance, eventually overtop the oaks. This process of infill will progress to the point where a threshold has been crossed, and restoration of the oak woodland would only be accomplished through significant management inputs.
2b) With inputs such as tree girdling or repeated prescribed fire, the infill of Douglas-fir can be significantly reduced. See PC#1.
State 4
Douglas-fir/Oregon white oakCommunity 4.1
Douglas-fir/Oregon white oakPlant Community 4. After 30 to 40 years, Douglas-fir will grow in height and overtop the oak. Douglas-fir will dominate the overstory canopy. Oregon white oak may survive for a time in openings. Patches of Oregon white oak within Douglas-fir dominated stands could be maintained with prescribed fire.
Substantial accelerating processes would be necessary to restore the ecological processes and return to the previous state. This would not be a common practice and would likely only be feasible for very small areas.
4a) With fire exclusion and continued growth, the oaks are slowly shaded out by the conifers; gradually the oaks begin to senesce and cease to be part of the site over time. See PC#5.
4b) With fire exclusion, gradual infill of tanoak and later redwood will occur, leading to PC#6.
State 5
Douglas-firCommunity 5.1
Douglas-firPlant Community 5.Douglas-fir completely dominates the overstory as a dense even-aged single species stand. Only the skeletal trunks of oaks remain.
5a) If there is a seed source, tanoak and eventually redwood may begin to infill underneath the canopy of Douglas-fir. With fire exclusion, young tanoak and redwood are able to survive and grow into mature trees. See PC#6.
State 6
Douglas-fir-tanoakCommunity 6.1
Douglas-fir-tanoakPlant Community 6. Barring any significant disturbance, the Douglas-fir/tanoak plant community becomes established with Douglas-fir in the overstory and tanoak in the sub-canopy.
(6a) In some areas where a seed source is present, infill of redwood may occur below the Douglas-fir/tanoak overstory, leading to PC#7.
State 7
Scotchbroom/Bristly dogstail grassCommunity 7.1
Scotchbroom/Bristly dogstail grassPlant Community 8. With timber harvest and continuous grazing, a plant community may be invaded by scotch broom (Cystisus scoparius) and Bristly dogstail grass.
8a) Scotch broom seeds persist in the soil, forming seed banks. Plants are capable of re-sprouting from the root crown when cut. Germination of seeds may be enhanced by fire.
8b) With fire exclusion, Douglas-fir will gradually infill. See PC#5.
8c) With chemical control and brush management, the shrub community could be returned to a grass community. See PC#9.
State 8
Douglas-fir/tanoak/redwoodCommunity 8.1
Douglas-fir/tanoak/redwoodPlant Community 7. With redwood infill and continued growth, a Douglas-fir and redwood overstory with a tanoak sub-canopy gradually forms over time.
7a) Gradually, redwood and Douglas-fir will become the dominate species in the overstory. See PC#7.
State 9
Oregon white oak/perennial grassesCommunity 9.1
Oregon white oak/perennial grassesPlant Community 3. The historic plant community has been described as a same-aged stand dominated by large old oaks with a closed canopy (Sugihara and Reed, 1987). Perennial grasses present may have included California fescue and Alaska oniongrass (NPS communication). Periodic burning by Native Americans kept the system in dynamic equilibrium (Sugihara and Reed, 1987). Following European settlement, land use practices altered the native vegetation. Development of plant communities may have followed different pathways:
3a) Uncontrolled grazing and the introduction of non-natives lead to a grass understory dominated by introduced perennials and annuals. See PC#1.
3b) When fire was excluded from the system, Douglas-fir and other conifers and hardwoods slowly invaded. See PC#2.
3c) Some oak woodland may have been converted to pasture through harvesting or tree girdling. Introduced perennials and annual grasses dominated under a system of uncontrolled grazing. See PC#9.
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 6.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 7.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 8.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 9.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Oak woodlands are important for a variety of wildlife species. They provide a food and nesting sources for woodpeckers. The cover type provides hunting opportunities for raptors. The acorns are eaten by black-tailed deer, pig, black bear, various rodents and numerous birds including turkey and quail. Oak sprouts are often browsed by deer.
A herd of Roosevelt elk also utilize the bald hills area.
Hydrological functions
These soils are well-drained.
Hydrologic Group:
Coyoterock--D
Maneze--C
Pasturerock--C
Recreational uses
Recreational uses may be limited by steep slopes and rocks or by permeability (Coyoterock).
Wood products
Oregon white oak wood is highly valued for fuel.
Other products
Historically these areas were utilized by Native Americans for gathering bulbs and basket-making materials.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Forestry data was collected in conjunction with soil transects throughout the site.
Other references
Sugihara, Neil G. and Reed, Lois J. Vegetation Ecology of the Bald Hills Oak Woodlands of Redwood National Park. Redwood National Park Research and Development. Technical Report Number 21. 78pp
Contributors
Judy Welles
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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