Fire Since Time Immemorial: An Indigenous Fire Chronology for Western Oregon

 

Fire Since Time Immemorial

January Tree of the Month!

Article is from HERE.

The Hood River City Tree Committee tree of the month for January is actually two Oregon white oaks (Quercus garryana), said committee members.

“They were selected due their designation as Hood River City Heritage Trees,” writes the committee. “These trees are located on city property and are immediately adjacent to a recent residential construction project. Established trees such as these increase the aesthetics and property value of new homes and neighborhoods.

“There are many beautiful examples of Oregon white oak throughout the Gorge. This species is the only oak native to Oregon. It occurs throughout the Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon, and is seldom seen west of the Oregon Coast Range. Only throughout the Columbia Gorge does it venture into eastern Oregon.

“Each summer, a few leaves of Oregon white oak can develop large, golf ball to tennis ball sized galls, often called ‘poppers.’ These galls are actually the homes of tiny gall wasps. Don’t worry — these wasps do not harm people. They lay their eggs inside oak leaves, and the leaves react by creating a hard, globe shaped gall that protect the young wasps in their larval stage.”

This information was provided by the City of Hood River Tree Committee, a citizen advisory committee appointed by the Hood River City Council. The committee works to promote and protect trees on city property and throughout our community.

Information for this article was taken from an excerpt of the OSU Department of Forestry Publication EC 1450, entitled, “Trees to Know in Oregon”.

The Willamette Valley Oak Accord

http://willamettepartnership.org/the-oak-accord/

Turning back the clock

A Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department project unfolds that is transforming 100 acres of forestland in an effort to preserve the Willamette Valley’s declining stock of oak savanna.

Restoration goals in Corvallis natural area:
Remove competitive Douglas and big-leaf maples
Retain and protect all legacy oaks Retain existing oak and fir snags
Remove invasive species
Retain selected legacy Douglas firs Improve viewing areas

 Read the Corvallis Gazette Times article here.

Clear Creek acquisition protects native oaks, fills critical gap

Metro recently acquired a 30-acre property near Clear Creek in Clackamas County that will protect high-value Oregon white oak and savanna habitat. The latest acquisition brings Metro’s Clear Creek Natural Area to 511 acres, protecting a large, significant area for water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. A separate Clear Creek North Natural Area a short distance north provides an additional 69 acres of publicly protected habitat. Read the rest here.

Oregon's Oaks - video

https://vimeo.com/144947937

Plants to help your property resist wildfire

FROM:  http://portlandtribune.com/sl/270320-145442-plants-to-help-your-property-resist-wildfire-

As population grows in urban centers like Portland and Eugene, more homes are being built in the "wildland urban interface" areas of our state — areas near or among lands prone to wildland fires. Oregon’s last two fire seasons have been severe, and this year's fire season is following suit. With the continuing drought and hot weather it’s a good time to take stock of your property and put a plan together for fall landscaping ideas.

If you’re an avid gardener residing in the urban interface, there are many fire-resistant plants available to help your home become more fire-resistant, as well as help native birds and other wildlife with shelter and food. Since most of these plants require less frequent watering and are low-maintenance, even non-urban-interface residents might like to consider adding some of them to yards and gardens.

“Fire-resistant" does not mean "fireproof." It does mean that these plants have little dead wood and don’t tend to accumulate dry materials that are flammable. The leaves of these plants are usually moist and supple, with water-like sap.

What to avoid: plants that contain dry needles, twigs and leaves, or have gummy, resinous sap or loose or papery bark. One highly flammable shrub to avoid in your home landscape, for example, is spreading or upright juniper. It accumulates dead needles and has volatile oils in its foliage.

What are some good choices?

One species you might like to consider is manzanita (Arctostaphylos), including a native that's also fire-resistant, "kinnikinnick." Kinnikinnick is a charming ground cover that features small white or pink flowers in the spring, followed by red berries. Once established, it will spread and create year-round interest in the landscape while requiring little maintenance.

Oregon boxwood (Paxistime myrsinites) is another good choice. This attractive evergreen shrub features an alluring, tiny red flower display and can survive our hot summers with little or no water. Be sure to give Oregon boxwood enough water during the first one to two years to establish it.

Look for oceanspray, with its graceful growth habit and pendulous, creamy white flowers. Flowers have a faint, sweet sugary scent and the plant requires little watering.

Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and Nootka rose are other good selections. Red flowering currant is an attractive drought-tolerant woody perennial and an early springtime draw for hummingbirds.

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is an upright, arching shrub featuring small pink flowers in the summer followed by white, rounded fruits that persist through the winter and attract birds. Snowberry does well in full sun or part shade. Like red flowering currant, it grows quickly and is low-maintenance.

No stranger to landscapers, Pacific rhododendron is ever-popular for its dark-green leaves and lovely pink and white flower clusters. Prefers acidic soils and part shade, and is deer-resistant.

Plants such as purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), giant or Eastern columbine, yarrow and lupine are not only fire-resistant but will attract butterflies and pollinators to your yard or landscape as well.

 Tree choices

Looking for some good fire-resistant tree choices? If your yard or garden has ample room for a new tree to grow to maturity — both above, and below ground — try red alder or sweetgum. Consider a dogwood for small, partly-shaded sites.

Willamette Valley Ponderosa Pine, an attractive tree with long needles and lovely cones, develops thick bark when mature, which protects it from surface fire and makes it more resistant than other tree species, like Douglas fir. It’s moderately fire-resistant, is drought-resistant and grows in full sun. It can reach more than 150 feet in height so plant where it has ample room to grow.

Oregon White Oak: Besides the welcome shade they provide during hot summer months, Oregon white oaks provide favorable habitat for important wildlife types including nuthatches, pileated woodpeckers and western grey squirrel. They should only be planted in wide open areas where overhead wires or conflicts with homes or structures are unlikely. Provide full sun, good drainage and plenty of room for these eventual "giants" of the landscape.

A reminder: for the first three years following planting, all newly planted trees require regular watering.

  

Lawns and bark mulch

In Oregon, bark mulch is popular in urban landscapes. Unfortunately, embers from a wildfire or cigarettes can ignite dry bark mulch, so try to use mulch in your yard or garden well away from your home.

If your property already has a grassy area, remember that a well-maintained lawn can be included in a fire-resistant landscape. If drought and Oregon’s dry summers regularly turn your lawn to brown, it might be time to consider removing some or all of your lawn area and replacing it with fire-resistant trees and plants.

Be sure to inquire at your local reputable neighborhood nursery or look online to read more about good fire-resistant plant choices.

For more information:www.firefree.org/images/uploads/FIR_FireResPlants_07.pdf

Cynthia Orlando has a degree in forest management and is a certified arborist with the Oregon Department of Forestry

Gifford Pinchot National Forest is seeking comments by Dec. 20, 2014 on restoration

By The Columbian
Published: December 12, 2014, 6:02 AM

 TROUT LAKE (Ore.)— The Gifford Pinchot National Forest (map) is seeking comments by Dec. 20 on a proposed restoration project in the Bear Creek watershed north of Carson in Skamania County.

The project’s goals include developing old-growth characteristics in dense Douglas fir plantations, maintaining the quality of the domestic water supply for Carson, restoring Oregon white oak habitat and improving big game winter range.

Specifically, actions would include commercial thinning on 657 acres, harvesting small trees on 28 acres to improve oak habitat, decommissioning or closing roads causing damage and improving culverts, water bars and road shoulders at 21 locations on Pinchot roads Nos. 68, 6808, 6830 and 6835.

Comments may be mailed, faxed or delivered to Mose Jones-Yellin, Mount Adams District Ranger, 2455 Highway 141, Trout Lake, 98650. Electronic comments may be submitted to comments-pacificnorthwest-gifforpinchot-mtadams@fs.fed.us.

Electronic comments should be within the email message or as an attachment in .pdf. .doc or .rtf formats and specify Bear Creek Restoration in the subject line.

More information is available from Erin Black at 509-395-3411 or ekblack@fs.fed.us.

Noble Oaks: New Nature Conservancy Site near Willamina, Oregon

Sneak Peak: Noble Oaks Preserve

Near Willamina, Oregon's newest preserve covers 470 acres and connects two conservation easements. Together, these sites will establish a habitat “anchor” in Oregon's wine country.

Save the Ancient Oaks in Salem

NOTE:  The Oregon White Oak is a slow-growing tree and supports many native species of animals --- activism around the trees should be focused on saving the Oaks.