Foothills of the Sierra Nevada
Credit: Carl Raymond
Protecting an important ecological buffer zone
To many Californians, the Sierra Foothills — often called Blue Oak Woodland — are emblematic of our state: grasslands golden in the summer sun mingling with rolling oak woodlands. Ecologically, Blue Oak Woodland is an important feature of the landscape as a buffer between lower elevation grasslands, and montane hardwoods and conifers at higher elevations. However, this iconic landscape is threatened by subdivision and residential sprawl, especially along transportation corridors.
Identifying strategic areas for conservation, connectivity
TPL is working to identify areas within the Sierra Foothills to strategically conserve core areas of intact habitat, particularly oak woodland and grasslands, and to establish connectivity between these lower-elevation communities and the high Sierra.
