 This infestation is considered mild, and should not affect the oaks' ability to survive.Some valley oaks in this area were also noticeably infested with dwarf mistletoe in the 1990 survey.This facultative epiphytic parasite can lead to the detriment of oak trees if allowed to persist and spread among trees

The dominant surface soil category of Bennett Valley is Clear Lake clay, a soil type occurring here on slopes ranging from zero to two percent gradient.