Restoration of oak woodland and native bunchgrass prairie in California’s central coast

The latest efforts here at Sudden Oak Life have involved the restoration of about 20 acres of oak woodland and native prairie habitat in the Central Coast. I have pulled together a strong team of workers who are well trained in the principles and practices of fire mimicry.

On one particular hillside young coast live oaks have been invading an adjacent prairie of native bunchgrasses dominated by California fescue. Coastal prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in California due to fire suppression and conversion to agricultural uses. In places, the oak trees have shaded out and all but replaced the native prairie species. Our work here focused on removing many of the woody shrubs and young oaks along the prairie margin, and thinning and pruning oaks in nearby woodlands that still support substantial bunchgrass cover. Efforts were made to preserved many of the native understory species including toyon, currant, sage, and mountain mahogany. All the removed oaks were less than 6″ in diameter, per county regulations.

Young coast live oak invading native bunchgrass prairie, marked for removal

Another young coast live oak invading native bunchgrass prairie, marked for removal

Remnant of bunchgrass prairie amidst an oak woodland

Pruning of the oak canopy to allow in more light will help sustain native prairie species in the understory

This fire-scarred dead limb indicates the past occurrence of fire on the site, which may account the the continued presence of the native prairie in this area.