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33-553: The Qualicum National Wildlife Area (NWA) was officially established in 1977, under the Canada Wildlife Act (1973). The primary objective of the Qualicum NWA was to conserve crucial habitats for migratory birds and various other species. The national wildlife area consists of three small units - Rosewall Creek, Marshall-Stevenson , and Nanoose Bay - spread out along the northeastern coast Vancouver Island between

66-772: A shrub understory. Wetter oak woodlands historically had a substantial shrub understory, primarily snowberry . Oregon white oak woodlands in British Columbia and Washington are critical habitats for a number of species that are rare or extirpated in these areas, plant, animal, and bryophyte: Quercus garryana woodlands create a landscape mosaic of grassland, savanna, woodland, and closed-canopy forest. This mosaic of varied habitats, in turn, allows many more species to live in this area than would be possible in coniferous forest alone. Parks Canada states that Garry oak woodlands support more species of plants than any other terrestrial ecosystem in British Columbia. It grows in

99-890: A variety of soil types, for instance, rocky outcrops, glacial gravelly outwash, deep grassland soils, and seasonally flooded riparian areas. The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 encouraged settlement of Washington and Oregon by the United States and marked the beginning of the end of regular burning by native peoples of the area. The arrival of Europeans also reduced the number of natural fires that took place in Oregon white oak habitat. With fire suppression and conversion to agriculture, oak woodlands and bunch grass prairies were invaded by Douglas-fir, Oregon ash ( Fraxinus latifolia ), and imported pasture grasses. Oaks were logged to clear land for pasture, and for firewood and fence posts. Livestock grazing trampled and consumed oak seedlings. By

132-814: Is actively pursuing conservation of the city's namesake tree with the formation of the Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society. In Southwest Washington , significant acreages of Oregon white oaks are preserved in the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, in sites such as the Scatter Creek Unit , which contain some of the few remaining areas of south Puget Sound prairie. In Oak Bay, British Columbia, a fine of up to $ 10,000 may be issued for each Garry oak tree cut or damaged. The mildly sweet (but perhaps unpalatable) acorns are edible, ideally after leaching . The bitterness of

165-816: Is commonly known as the Garry oak, Oregon white oak or Oregon oak . It grows from sea level to an altitude of 690 feet (210 metres) in the northern part of its range, and from 980 to 5,900 ft (300 to 1,800 m) in the south of the range in California. The eponymous Nicholas Garry was deputy governor of the Hudson's Bay Company . Quercus garryana is typically of medium height, growing slowly to around 80 feet (24 metres) and occasionally as high as 100 ft (30 m), or in shrub form to 10 to 15 ft (3.0 to 4.6 m) tall. The trunks grow to 3 feet (0.91 m) thick, exceptionally 5 ft (2 m). The bark

198-507: Is gray and fissured. It has the characteristic oval profile of other oaks when solitary, but is also known to grow in groves close enough together that crowns may form a canopy. The leaves are deciduous , 2–6 inches (5.1–15 cm) long and 1–3 inches broad, with 3–7 deep lobes on each side, darker green on top and finely haired below. The flowers are catkins , the fruit a small acorn 3⁄4–1 inch (rarely 1 1⁄2 inches) long and 1⁄2–3⁄4 inch broad, with shallow, scaly cups. Its fall color

231-457: Is in the white oak group. Oregon white oak is the only native oak species in British Columbia, Washington, and northern Oregon. In these areas, oak woodlands are seral, or early- successional ; they depend on disturbance to avoid being overtaken by Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ). The disturbance allowing oak to persist in an area that would otherwise succeed to coniferous forest was primarily fire. Natural wildfires are relatively common in

264-507: Is not native to British Columbia and is originally from temperate parts of Europe and Asia.  It was brought to BC likely through cultivar in the 1800's, and then spread to Qualicum through rhizomes. The grass finds the Qualicum area favorable because it needs long daylight hours for flowering and it thrives in areas with wet soil adjacent to rivers and streams. However, as an invasive species , it reduces biodiversity by occupying much of

297-765: Is situated on the Nanaimo lowland, which is a stretch of land that lies above the Jordan River, west of Victoria, and stretches up to the Johnstone Strait. The topography of the Qualicum National Wildlife Area (NWA) consists of both coastal and land ecosystems. The land ecosystems found in the Qualicum NWA are upland meadows, whereas the coastal ecosystems include intertidal marsh habitats, and estuarine ecosystems, which take up 82 hectares. Coastal Douglas-fir forests are also located in

330-531: Is unspectacular, with many trees turning plain brown. Other individuals may have subtle mixtures of brown, green and yellow, or in less common cases a fairly bright 'peas and corn' effect. The Oregon white oak is commonly found in the Willamette Valley hosting the mistletoe Phoradendron flavescens . It is also commonly found hosting galls created by wasps in the family Cynipidae. ' Oak apples ', green or yellow ball of up to 5 cm in size, are

363-659: The Fraser River on the British Columbia mainland. The northernmost population of Garry oak can be found just below 50°N on Savary Island , in the northern stretches of the Strait of Georgia . The Garry oak is the only oak native to British Columbia, and one of only two oaks (along with the bur oak ) native to western Canada. It is a drought-tolerant tree. Older specimens are often affected by heart rot . The acorns are consumed by wildlife and livestock. David Douglas recorded that bears consumed them. In British Columbia,

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396-454: The great blue heron . The birds are removing 3% of fish heading out to the Salish sea. The herons live in woodlands adjacent to estuaries, but they are very sensitive to human activity and can abandon their nests if people come too close. Qualicum NWA contains Garry oak ecosystem, the only oak species native to British Columbia. These oaks are rapidly dwindling due to habitat loss in many of

429-1126: The 1990s, more than half the Oregon white oak woodland habitat in the South Puget Sound area of Washington was gone. On Vancouver Island, more than 90% was gone, and on Whidbey Island up to 99% of native understory Oregon white oak habitat is gone. Remaining Oregon white oak woodlands are threatened by urbanization, conversion to Douglas-fir woodland, and invasion by shrubs, both native and nonnative (Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius , sweetbriar rose Rosa eglanteria , snowberry Symphoricarpos albus , Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis , poison-oak Toxicodendron diversilobum , English holly Ilex aquifolium , bird cherry Prunus avens ). Conversely, oak groves in wetter areas that historically had closed canopies of large trees are becoming crowded with young oaks that grow thin and spindly, due to lack of fires that would clear out seedlings. Chionodes petalumensis caterpillars feed on oak leaves, including those of Quercus garryana and valley oak ( Q. lobata ). Oregon white oaks and their ecosystems are

462-453: The Garry oak can be infested by three nonnative insects: the jumping gall wasp Neuroterus saltatorius , the oak leaf phylloxeran, and the spongy moth . While the invasive plant disease commonly called sudden oak death attacks other Pacific Coast native oaks, it has not yet been found on the Oregon white oak. Most oak hosts of this disease are in the red oak group, while Oregon white oak

495-794: The Qualicum NWA, only being found in 0.3 percent of the province. These Ecosystems make a habitat for many organisms, including several endangered species. The area has a meadow / arbutus system. The Qualicum NWA resides on the lands of the Coast Salish First Nations, specifically, the Qualicum First Nations . The name "Qualicum" means "where the dog salmon run". Traditionally, in the fall, Indigenous nations across Canada would gather in Qualicum to catch dog salmon . The Qualicum First Nations' diet also traditionally included abalone, oysters, geoducks and horse and butter clams. The Qualicum First Nations still reside on

528-585: The area has undergone much more human intervention than Qualicum NWA. Hunting is not permitted at most of the NWA except waterfowl such as Brant geese which may be hunted at the Rosewall Creek unit. The necessary permits but be obtained in order to hunt. Marshall-Stevenson Wildlife Sanctuary The area was originally part of the Kinkade Farmstead (now a Federal Heritage site). Farmed in

561-678: The communities of Fanny Bay and Nanoose Bay. Since it is a National Wildlife Area (NWA) , Qualicum NWA is governed by the Canada Wildlife Act and managed by the Canadian government department Environment and Climate Change Canada . While most National Wildlife Areas are closed to the public to reduce the human impacts on the land, vegetation, animals, and insects, the Qualicum NWA is open for certain recreational activities, such as wildlife viewing and hiking as well as hunting in certain areas. The Qualicum National Wildlife Area (NWA)

594-871: The drier portions of the Pacific Northwest where Oregon white oak is found, but fire suppression has made such events much less common. In addition, early settlers' records, soil surveys, and tribal histories indicate that deliberate burning was widely practiced by the indigenous people of these areas. Fire perpetuated the grasslands that produced food sources such as camas , chocolate lily , bracken fern , and oak; and that provided grazing and easy hunting for deer and elk. Mature Oregon white oaks are fire-resistant, and so would not be severely harmed by grass fires of low intensity. Such fires prevented Douglas-fir and most other conifer seedlings from becoming established, allowing bunch grass prairie and oak woodland to persist. Fire also kept oak woodlands on drier soils free of

627-627: The first non-native person who recorded the species (1820s) and named it after Nicholas Garry , who was deputy governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1822 to 1835 and a supporter of Douglas. There are three varieties : In Oregon , the tree grows on the west side of the Cascade Range, primarily in the Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue River valleys, and along the Columbia River Gorge, as well as in canyons adjacent to

660-409: The focus of conservation efforts, including communities such as Tacoma, Washington , where an Oak Tree Park has been established; Oak Bay, British Columbia , which is named after the tree; and Corvallis, Oregon , which has protected the oak savannah remnants around Bald Hill . Oak Harbor, Washington , named after the tree and home to Smith Park that contains a dense grove of mature Garry Oak trees,

693-779: The gorge. In California, the garryana variety grows in the foothills of the Siskiyou and Klamath Mountains , the Coast Ranges of Northern California, and of the west slope of the Cascades. The semota variety grows in the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges as far south as Los Angeles County . In Washington , the tree grows on the west side of the Cascade Range , particularly in the Puget Sound lowlands,

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726-526: The ground cover. Invasive knotweed is also an invasive plant that prefers wet areas near streams. The city of Qualicum is concerned with both Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed . The plant is outcompeting native species and is also difficult to eradicate because the roots will fragment and grow into new plants when attempting to dig them up. Knotweed was initially brought from East Asia as an ornamental gardening plant in 1901 but it propagates easily and becomes dominant. Giant Hogweed seeds remain viable in

759-495: The land in Qualicum beach. Two BC Parks management plans related to the Qualicum NWA did not mention consultation with the Coast Salish First Nations, although one plan includes intentions to consult the first nations to develop "cultural inventory": Reed canary grass is one of the invasive species in the Qualicum National Park.  Reed canary grass is dominant to the understory .  Reed canary grass

792-625: The late 19th century by settler Thomas Kinkade, the area was donated to the Federal Government in 1974 by Maureen and Sherwood Marshall and is now part of the Qualicum National Wildlife Area under supervision of Environment Canada . The sanctuary is named in honor of their respective families. The sanctuary is adjacent to the Little Qualicum River Estuary Regional Conservation Area, 4.5 hectares of beach and estuary habitat at

825-399: The most spectacular. They are attached to the undersides of leaves. One common species responsible for these galls is Cynips maculipennis . Other species create galls on stems and leaves. Shapes vary from spheres to mushroom-shaped to pencil-shaped. Individual specimens can grow to around 500 years in age, such as those on Sauvie Island near Portland, Oregon . David Douglas was

858-536: The mouth of the Little Qualicum River. The wetland is a tidal marsh absorbing flow from both the outlet of the Little Qualicum River and the Strait of Georgia, supporting a complex ecosystem, including salmon spawning. Migratory waterfowl (including ducks, geese, and swans) rely on the area along with resident habitat users (including eagles, owls, egrets, deer, and otters). Because of the outflow of

891-759: The northeastern Olympic Peninsula , Whidbey Island, the Chehalis river valley, and the San Juan Islands . It also grows in the foothills of the southeastern Cascades and along the Columbia River Gorge . In British Columbia , the Garry oak grows on the Gulf Islands and southeastern Vancouver Island , from west of Victoria along the east side of the island up to the Campbell River area. There are also small populations along

924-489: The periphery of the property. Mount Cokely and Mount Arrowsmith are visible from the sanctuary. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [REDACTED] Media related to Marshall-Stevenson Wildlife Sanctuary at Wikimedia Commons Garry oak Quercus garryana is an oak tree species of the Pacific Northwest , with a range stretching from southern California to southwestern British Columbia . It

957-475: The places they are found. Within these ecosystems, the soil is dark and rich, benefitting herbaceous understory vegetation. The ecosystems are thought to have upwards of a hundred plant and animal species. The Garry Oaks are drought resistant plants with leaves that prevent a lot of water loss. About a 20 minute drive from Qualicum NWA is Qualicum Beach, a popular tourist destination. The attraction prides itself on their extensive beaches, forests and wildlife though

990-409: The river, pinnipeds are attracted to the area in the Strait of Georgia during spawning seasons. There are concerns about the health of the marsh habitats. Non-migrant Canada Geese overgraze, changing fresh and sea water levels and channel movement affect the tidal replenishment necessary to the marsh’s health. There are no public trails into the sanctuary, though there are adequate viewing areas at

1023-569: The soil for up to 15 years. The leaves and stems themselves contain a toxic sap that has averse effects when brought into contact with skin. The primary method way to remove invasive knotweed plants is through herbicide, which Parks Canada implements in addition to other control methods like biological, mechanical and chemical. Chemical methods are only considered for plants with long viability periods in soil. The diverse biotic environment includes many species, including over 60 water bird species. The aviary population includes endangered species such as

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1056-542: The toxic tannic acid would likely prevent anyone from eating enough to become ill. Native Americans ate the acorns raw and roasted, also using them to make a kind of flour. The hardwood is hard and heavily ring-porous. It has distinctive growth rings and prominent rays. Heartwood can be a deep chocolate brown color and sapwood will vary from golden brown to nearly white. This makes it particularly attractive to woodworkers, however it can be difficult to use in woodworking without experiencing warping and cracking. Although it

1089-468: Was popularly used around the turn of the 20th century, historically, the tree has not been regarded as having significant commercial value and is frequently destroyed as land is cleared for development. The wood is suitable for making fence posts. With similar qualities to those of other white oaks , the wood has been used experimentally in Oregon for creating casks in which to age wine. In Washington, it has been used for aging single malt whiskey since

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