Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network

Projects

KSON was formed to address oak restoration needs and challenges. Because 65% of oak habitat in southern Oregon and northern California is on private land, the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network (KSON) partnership has secured $7.5 million to restore more than 6,400 acres of oak woodland across federal and private lands, largely supported by NRCS partnership programs and USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Upper Rogue Oak Initiative

Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network’s (KSON) Upper Rogue Oak Initiative (UROI) will restore over 3,000 acres of oak habitat within three watersheds east and northeast of White City and Medford, Oregon. Work will occur throughout the Little Butte Watershed and may extend north as far as the Big Butte Watershed. Restoration will remove conifers that are crowding oaks, use prescribed fire where feasible, reduce noxious weeds, and reestablish a native understory.

Strategic Conservation Planning with the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network

In 2020, with the support of a grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, KSON finalized its Strategic Conservation Action Plan for oak conservation in the Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion. Strategic conservation planning is a science-based process that helps regional conservation partnerships plan for the future.

Oak Woodland Restoration on the Scott River Ranch

On the dry east side of the Scott River Valley in Siskiyou Co., CA, juniper encroachment poses a major threat to the health and function of oak habitats. To address this issue the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Lomakatsi Restoration Project partnered with the Scott River Ranch to reduce juniper encroachment on 91 acres of oak habitats.

Using Birds as Indicators in Oak-Chaparral Restoration Projects

KSON identified the research need to inform landscape and site-level planning when chaparral reduction is warranted to reduce fire risk and meet oak restoration objectives.