Oak mortality monitoring project

Winnakee is conducting a comprehensive oak monitoring effort on our properties in response to significant oak mortality observed across Dutchess County. Field assessments on Winnakee properties—along with reports from concerned landowners—point to a significant die-off driven by repeated defoliation from spongy moth outbreaks and two consecutive years of drought. Early evaluations suggest oak loss may be as high as 50% in some areas, particularly on upper-elevation sites more vulnerable to drought stress.

While tree mortality is a natural part of forest dynamics, large-scale losses such as this are uncommon and alarming. Losing over half of the oak population on our properties threatens long-term forest health, including risks such as failed natural regeneration, invasive species encroachment, and a potential decline in biodiversity. Winnakee is currently surveying the most at-risk areas of our forest holdings. Although we cannot reverse the current die-off, establishing an accurate and actionable baseline will allow us to track future impacts, identify priority areas for intervention, and develop a proactive response strategy.