Frank, I think I can help you out. If you are looking in the Willamette Valley the native oaks are all Oregon White Oak, but there is also Chinquapin(sp) and Pacific Madrone. When you get down South of Cottage Grove it gets a little more complicated. Their you will find California Black Oak, White Oak, Chinquapin, Madrone and Tan Oak. The Tan Oak is usually just a brush species in Oregon with the exception of The lower Rogue and Southern Oregon Coast. Chinquapin can also be brush or 150' tall and 40" DBH!
When you hit Northern California you will find that Tan Oak, Madrone, and some very large Chinquapin occupy most of the Redwood belt. Tan Oak is by far the most common and is probably the most common Oak saw log in California. As you move inland, Black Oak becomes the most common Oak on productive forest lands. The Live Oaks are usually on low productivity forest lands (Canyon Live Oak) or valley bottoms and grass lands. Ironically White Oak are not real common due to their use in wine casks.
