I have a bur oak savanna that I would like to expand. We are seeing more of the oak diseases. I am wondering what other species might work for savanna development. The location is northern Iowa. Also would like to know if water is my limiting growth factor? I have the ability to water. Could I use basin irrigation and only apply a couple of times per year? From a timber harvest stand point does the savanna compare favorably to a forest? I would expect the forest to be more effective user of water since understory is not as competative for moisture. I am harvesting some smaller oaks in areas that are more forest like. These make great logs for shitaike mushrooms. It might make sense to plant at forest density and thin to savannah timber in the long term. What do you think?