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Fox Hollow Research Natural Area

Eugene District , BLM

Willamette Valley Ecoregion

Cell(s):

  • Douglas fir/salal/swordfern and Douglas fir/Oregon grape forest
  • Ponderosa pine-Douglas fir/California fescue woodland
  • Ponderosa pine-Douglas fir-California black oak woodland
Fox Hollow Research Natural Area

Access by aggregate-surfaced road and trails

The 65 ha Fox Hollow RNA was established to protect a dry-site, mature Douglas fir/ponderosa pine (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Pinus ponderosa) forest in the Willamette Valley foothills south of Eugene, Oregon, in Lane County. The RNA is situated on the moderate, west-facing slope of a north-trending ridge which is part of the dissected upland area located between the Camas Swale Creek and Fox Hollow Creek drainages. The spur ridges have distinct microclimates and vegetation patterns on opposing north and south exposures. Elevations range between 213 and 348 m. The temperate marine climate has by cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual rainfall is 122 cm, most of which falls between November and March. Bellpine silty clay loam, the primary soil, formed in colluvium and residuum derived from sandstone, siltstone, and volcanic tuff and breccia. The conifer forest includes three cohorts, the oldest of which includes scattered Douglas fir and ponderosa pine established on or before 1850. The Douglas fir exhibits open grown characteristics, e.g., large limbs and limb stubs extending well down the boles of the trees, and both species have basal fire scars, indicating past ground fires. The second cohort consists of mature Douglas fir established after 1850, and the third includes pole and sapling size Douglas fir scattered throughout the stand and in a reforested clearcut. Grand fir (Abies grandis) is present on the cooler and wetter northern exposures of the east-west trending spur ridges while southern exposures support mixed stands of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and occasional incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens). Hardwood species include Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), golden chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla), Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and red alder (Alnus rubra). Natural disturbances include fire and windstorms. Timber along the east line of the section was harvested in trespass in 2000. Allan Curtis wrote a guidebook, Fox Hollow Research Natural Area Supplement 22, 1986. David Cole (1977) reported his research in the RNA in Journal of Biogeography, 4: Ecosystem dynamics in the coniferous forest of the Willamette Valley.
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