Germinating Oak and Pine at Snow Mt. Ranch

                   Germinating Gerry Oak 
                     and Ponderosa Pine 

                       at Snow Mt. Ranch

                              Garry Oak Stand, Windy Point, photo by Kristin Hiler

This post is a cursory blurb about the efforts of Cowiche Canyon Conservancy to return Ponderosa Pine and enhance existing Garry Oak stands at Snow Mt Ranch.  

Garry oak seedling

Indicated by Ponderosa stands in the Cowiche Canyon and directly west of Snow Mt Ranch, it seems logical that scattered Ponderosa Pine once extended through the riparian zones in these areas.   At present there are 33 individual Ponderosa Pine trees throughout Cowiche Canyon which are apparently natural (based on where they are located).  This thin stand was probably well established in the Canyon when the Railroad was constructed there around 1905 and the density of the stand in the Canyon is probably near to what it was in 1900.   In an effort to re-establish Ponderosa to the riparian zone at Snow Mt. Ranch, volunteers have planted Yakima county seedlings along the creek there.  These trees are now 4 - 5 yeears old.  

Cowiche Canyon Ponderosa Pine Tree, photo by Jo Miles

It is estimated that some 60 seedlings have been planted along the creek (at the ranch).  Many were destroyed in the 2010 fire, an anomoly since P. pine is a fire dependent species, but nonetheless.  At present volunteers can identify 5 of these trees which are still growing.  All of the trees have been subjected to comprehensive physical damage, probably from Deer and elk.  It is estimated that their root systems are healthy or they would have perished.  Here is an example of those trees. 

Struggling Ponderosa in Umptanum Canyon, photo by Matt Dahlgreen

This tree (at Snow Mt Ranch, below) is over 4 feet high and doing well, EXCEPT for the massive rubbing and nibbling on the trunk.  It is guessed it will either survive as is or the lower branches will bush out and up. Judging by the adjacent oak, if this tree can eventually reach a height of 8 feet it will probably survive. 

Garry Oak:  Garry Oak is sustaining loss at Snow Mt Ranch where the beaver are moving their ponds out from Cowiche Creek.  This is a natural result of the Conservancies efforts to return this area to the natural condition and is expected.  However, this trend may move faster than the Oak are accustomed to moving.  We are therefore seeking a way to (in the short term) help the oak to migrate outward with the changing water table.  Once that is completed, the oak should be able to give and take with the beaver in a natural system.

 Cut and drilled tubes ready for the dibble

The garry oak project is based on the fact that we have lots of acorns and not much money to complete this (what should be simple) project.  Therefore, our efforts are based on a simple method based on the principals of natural regeneration.   We simply want to mock the natural process, get the oak stands moving outward, and then let them fend for themselves in a natural system.  Rich Haydon has volunteered a lot of time to keep me in line with this project (science based) and his expertise is truly appreciated.  However I doubt if  he'd stand behind all of my foolishness as follows: 

The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree

We decided to harvest acorns after they fall (October) and directly dibble them into outward edges of the moving riparian zone.  We are trying four of these dibbles this year.  Starting with a 4 Inch plastic tube (for protection and identification), we dibble an acorn in a suitable area, and install an 18" mulch cloth for further  protection.   Here is one of the three dibbled acorn sites with ground cloth and brush for protection.  The green flag is for identification. This tube has been "dibbled", or do we say, "acorned?"  

If anyone wants more pictures I have all three (plus a fourth control site) photographed.  Here is another dibbled tube: 

Now, all we have to do is monitor the plant sites in the spring and possibly water them once or twice in late summer.  All plant sites are 10-40 feet from the creek.  If we get 50% mortality, we can assume 1 or 2 of these acorns will not survive the winter.  In that case we'll re-dibble them next October and the process starts again. If we feel we are on the right track we'll try to talk Betsy into adding three plant sites next fall.  Options discussed are to soak the acorns before dibbling, introducing a nutrient to the plant sites, and offering some physical protection if needed.  We may shorten the planting tube, AND, we'll remove it from any tree that reaches the second year.  Split tubes have been discussed as an  option.  After observing the small oak in the area, it seems that oak gets it's start in a small grove of juvenile trees, which as a group fight their way to 4 or 5 feet, then one dominates and the others die.  The physical damage to young oak at Snow Mt is extensive, but they seem to produce a survivor occasionally on their own. 

Arent' these little oak cute!  I am wondering if they would make good residential landscape trees in Yakima.  They require little water, seem hearty, grow slowly, are relatively strong, and occasionally, when mature, host natural honey bee colonies in their hollow trunks.  And, you get acorns.  

Thanks Rich, 

Any suggestions folks?