Laserfiche WebLink
oak savanna, wildlife associations for both are discussed under section 2., Valley Oak <br /> Savanna. By removing cattle, grasses will become denser thus supporting more rodents <br /> and insects. A regime of seasonal grazing or mowing in selected areas will provide short <br /> grass habitat for species adapted for this cover class, e.g., Swainson's hawk, blackbirds, <br /> and in winter, shorebirds. <br /> 2.52 Live Oak Forest <br /> An outstanding natural feature of the property is the ninety acre oak forest, known locally <br /> as Brovelli Woods after former owner Angelo Brovelli. The live oak forest of Buckeye <br /> Ranch is a unique plant community type and does not exactly conform to the described <br /> riparian community types of Holland (1986). Elements of both interior live oak woodland <br /> and Great Valley valley oak riparian forest sensu Holland (1986) are present.t A new <br /> community type, Great Valley Live Oak Forest, is suggested for the unusual association of <br /> vegetation elements at Buckeye Ranch. The dominant forest tree is interior live oak with <br /> valley oaks scattered throughout. The ratio of interior live oaks to valley oaks is roughly <br /> 3:1. Fewer individuals of ash (Fraxinus latifolia), elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), <br /> cottonwood (Populus fremontii), and willows (Salix spp.) are found. The understory is <br /> dominated by poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), sedge (Carex barbarae), <br /> blackberry (Rebus procerus,R. urcinatus), and California grape (Vitis californicus). The <br /> forest is found on the lower elevation terraces having a predominantly Columbia sandy <br /> loam soil. <br /> 1Discussion about the uniqueness of the forest community at Buckeye Ranch centers around the mix <br /> of interior live oak and coast live oak,species not often found together and not dependent upon <br /> flooding events for regeneration,with limited representation of valley oak,cottonwood,willows, <br /> box elder and oregon ash,species of the"classic"riparian vegetation type. The banks of the <br /> Mokelumne River are relatively high in elevation,thus serving to confine the river's course,and <br /> consequently,the vegetation is found on a relatively stable land form not subject to river <br /> meandering. <br /> Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) <br /> 41 <br />