ENTS,

I was informed today that the utterly immense Dunn Creek Hemlock has died
from hemlock woolly adelgid. This 18'1" x 143.3' x 1355 ft3 tree was treated
systemically in an effort to save it. The Dunn Creek tree was the seventh
largest known hemlock by volume and one of the scarce 18 footers. Jason
Childs and I frame mapped the huge bifurcation fusion that was over 5 feet
across (photo below by Jess Riddle).

The death of this tree leaves only ONE Tsuga Search superlative tree
confirmed to still be alive (Cheoah Hemlock) with two others of unknown
status (Laurel Branch Leviathan- #2 large, and Ellicott's Rocket- #8 tall).
I will be visiting the Laurel Branch Leviathan next week- and hope to report
some good news.

Will F. Blozan
President, Eastern Native Tree Society
President, Appalachian Arborists, Inc.