Numbered Publications by Hackworth, Zachary J.
FOR-167: Group Opening (Gap) Harvest for Upland Oaks
John Lhotka, Zachary J. Hackworth, Jeff Stringer | May 4, 2026 (New)
Creation of canopy openings (i.e., silvicultural gaps), typically < 1.5 acres, where all or the majority of the overstory is removed and removal of midstory is sufficient to allow for the unhindered development of a new age class. These gaps create a range of light availability across the gap, from the edge to the center, and into the adjacent forest area surrounding the gap. These varying light conditions provide opportunities for a range of species to perpetuate based on their shade tolerance and where they occur in the gap. Gap-based regeneration provides a regeneration option for small tracts and/or where ownership is hesitant or resistant to significant harvest disturbance, and for stands where the potential for oak regeneration occurs in relatively small areas within a stand.