| Clear
Creek Rucker Index Update |
Dale
Luthringer |
| Oct
25, 2005 14:16 PDT |
ENTS,
Suzann, Gary,
I spent last Friday afternoon familiarizing myself with the
River and Irish
Rock Trails along the Clarion River at Clear Creek. There is a
long type of
island that runs parallel to the bank that starts almost at the
junction of
River and Irish Rock Trails. I feel VERY confident that this
island is a
man-made sluece-way or dam of sorts that was used channel the
water between
the island and the river bank to possibly drive a water driven
mill
(grist/lumber?). I didn't get out and wade around to look for
further sign
directly IN the river, but right where Irish Rock Trail cuts off
of River
Trail is another man-made built up area of earth that was also
used for this
mill (end of an old railroad grade?). It appears there was a
secondary
channel dug along the bank that ran approximately parallel to
river and
extends at least the same length as the island. You can easily
see this
island from across the river on River Rd. I've seen it for years
and was
curious about it, but never investigated it until Friday. Are
either one of
you familiar with this site or know any of its history?
This is really quite a neat place... especially in terms of some
NICE N.
red oaks. When you continue up Irish Rock Trail just upstream
from the end
of the island, their is a distinct "bench" where a
number of dandy red oaks
are growing. It's the greatest concentration of 120ft class N.
red oaks
that I've come across so far in NW PA. Many of these tall red
oaks are
coppiced trees, although my measurements were all taken on one
of their
single stems. Many of these oaks will surpass 100 years, one in
particular
probably surpasses 200 years. Found a nice 120ft class fat ash
just
downstream from this island too. NICE hardwood forest here.
Definitely the
most impressive I've seen so far at Clear Creek. Here's some
stats of some
of my latest measurements at Clear Creek:
Species CBH Height Comments
black birch 7.1 90.1+ River Trail
black cherry 6.5 116.2 River Trail
black cherry 8.5 118.7 River Trail
cucumbertree 7.2 105.2 River Trail
cucumbertree 8.1 110.8 Irish Rock Trail
cucumbertree 7.6 118.9 River Trail
E. hemlock 7.9 103.9 River Trail
E. white pine 8.6 117.2 River Trail
E. white pine 9.7 129.9 River Trail
N. red oak 12.6 105.3 River Trail, WAY 539, 41 20.506N x 79
6.124W
N. red oak 10 111 River Trail
N. red oak 13.4 118.2+ Irish Rock Trail, gorgeous form, WAY 544,
41 20.479N x 79 5.868W
N. red oak 8.5 122.6+ Irish Rock Trail, WAY 542, 41 20.466N x 79
5.882W
N. red oak 7.4 122.7+ Irish Rock Trail, WAY 542, 41 20.474N x 79
5.892W
N. red oak 10.1 126.7 Irish Rock Trail, tallest documented oak
in NW PA, WAY 541, 41 20.477N x 79 5.888W
red maple 7.2 105.2 River Trail
red maple 8.2 106.4 River Trail
sugar maple 6.4 110.4 Irish Rock Trail
white ash 10.7 91.4 campground, in field near bluebird box &
confluence of Clear Creek
white ash 7.5 124.1 River Trail, WAY 538, 41 20.442N x 79 6.256W
white ash 9.1 124.4 River Trail, WAY 537, 41 20.414N x 79 6.256W
white ash 10.3 125 River Trail, WAY 540, 41 20.514N x 79 6.063W
white oak 5.7 94.6 River Trail
white oak N/A 96.6 River Trail
white oak 4.6 100.1 River Trail
white oak 6.4 110.8 River Trail
I haven't made it to Irish Rock yet, but I expect there to be
more red oaks
in the 120ft class along this bench.
Clear Creek now ranks 7th out of 22 documented sites with a
Rucker Index
(average of ten tallest different tree species at a site) of
117.54.
Species CBH Height RI
E. white pine 9.7 137 117.54
N. red oak 10.1 126.7
white ash 10.3 125
cucumbertree 7.6 118.9
black cherry 8.5 118.7
Am. basswood 7.7 117.6
white oak 6.4 110.8
sugar maple 6.4 110.4
red maple 8.2 106.4
E. hemlock 7.9 103.9
I feel confident that a taller hemlock and red maple will
eventually be
found that should put the RI well over 118. That puts Clear
Creek above the
following well known Pennsylvania sites in terms of "tall
tree" status:>
Site RI
Erie Bluffs 115.75
Hemlocks N.A. 114.75
Hearts Content N.A. 113.79
Alan Seeger N.A. 111.13
Tionesta Scenic & Research N.A. 109.36
Detweiler Run N.A. 104.65
Hemlock N.A.-Laurel Hill SP 99.82
Bear Meadows N.A. 93.72
Dale Luthringer
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