OAK PATCH NATURAL AREA PRESERVE

Features Protected: Oregon white oak woodland and Oregon white oak/conifer mosaic
Ecoregion:  Puget Trough (Mason County)

Site Description
This 17 acre site preserves an Oregon white oak woodland and an Oregon white oak-Douglas-fir mosaic which is extremely unusual on the Kitsap Peninsula, and represents a vanishing woodland community in the Puget Trough. Spring wildflowers such as fawn lilies, chocolate lilies and camas lilies thrive on this site, along with populations of the Puget fritillary and Shelton pine elfin butterflies, and the western toad.

Science, Research and Monitoring
Public and private universities, other research institutions and individual researchers may contact DNR to propose a research project at the site. If you are interested in pursuing research at Oak Patch NAP, please contact David Wilderman, natural areas ecologist, at david.wilderman@dnr.wa.gov. 

Examples of research and monitoring projects that have been carried out at Oak Patch NAP:

• Monitoring of acorn production on Oregon white oak trees
• Monitoring of prescribed fire effects on oak woodland vegetation
• Bryophyte inventory of Oak Patch Natural Area Preserve
• Kertis, J. 1986. Vegetation dynamics and disturbance history of Oak Patch Preserve, Mason County, Washington. Unpublished contract report to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA. 112 pp.

Environmental Education and Public Access
Currently no formal educational programs are available at Oak Patch NAP. The site is not ADA accessible and facilities are not available. For more information, contact the DNR South Puget Sound Region natural areas manager.