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TOPIC: Erie Wildlife Refuge
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/9628929bb566088a?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Feb 6 2008 7:22 pm
From: "Dale Luthringer"


ENTS,

On 9/25/07, Brian Perry-naturalist from Presque Isle State Park, and I
took a trip into the Seneca Division of the Erie National Wildlife
Refuge in the vicinity of Cambridge Springs, PA in northern Crawford
County. Dr. Gordon Whitney received a reliable tip that there was
suspected old growth here off of RT408.

I had never been in this section of the swamp, so I enlisted the help of
my friend, Brian, who lived nearby and grew up hunting the area.
Thankfully, Brian's intimate knowledge of the area eventually led us to
pay dirt. Without his help, it would've been a VERY long time for me to
find this on my own. The area is a vast wetland with few places of high
ground. Muddy Creek and French Creek are the two main meandering
streams that wander through this site which is interspersed with ponds,
scrub-shrub and emergent wetlands, and oxbows. The streams meander so
much in places that there are many locations where they virtually wrap
back into themselves. During high water, the oxbows are connected,
making for a very confusing track to follow from point to point. Moving
in a straight line is not an option except in very dry times of the
year, and then, only if you go in with waders.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/erie/

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/erie/r5ernwr_directions.html

One of the Western PA history books I read this winter, spoke of George
Washington making a crossing through here on his trip up the Allegheny
River & French Creek to inform the French that were building forts on
"English" soil. one of the precursors of the French & Indian War.

Brian led me through a variety of different habitats in an attempt to
show me some of the largest examples of trees he new of in this section.
It was a meandering trip up hummocks and around oxbows to finally come
to a very small section of old growth forest dominated mainly by small
to medium stature ancient hemlocks, interspersed with old sugar maples.
The area was very small in size. I'd say no more than 5 acres, which is
being very generous. I'd estimate the following ages for these species:

Species Visual Age Estimate (on the low end)

E. hemlock 250
Shagbark hickory 150
Sugar maple 150
Am. Beech 100

The old growth is located on a high point of ground adjacent to Muddy
Creek at 41 47.142N x 79 58.777W. There very well could be more, but I
would expect them to be in relatively small pockets as the one we
observed that day. It would've been incredible to view the surrounding
forested wetland before it was harvested. It is a very wild place, and
quite easy to get turned around in. I am very thankful Brian offered
his exceptional guide service. Without a map & GPS, I'd have to do a
good bit of wandering before I found this site again.

The day's tally follows:

Species CBH Height Comments

Am. Basswood 5.2 81.1+
Am. Hornbeam 1.9 38.1
Am. Hornbeam 2.3 N/A
Bitternut hickory 5.5 90.1+
E. hemlock 7.8 N/A
E. hemlock 8.5 87.5
E. hemlock 9 90.7
E. hemlock 7.9 92.8 41 47.142N x 79
58.777W
E. hemlock 7.1 93.8
E. hemlock 10.4 95.4 ~250 age class
E. white pine N/A 101.3
N. red oak 10 90.1+
Shagbark hickory 5.5 68.3
Shagbark hickory 7.2 89.1
Slippery elm 5.8 95.4
Sugar maple 6.3 N/A
Sugar maple 6.8 N/A
Sugar maple 6.7 103.1
Swamp white oak 8.6 78.1+
Swamp white oak 9.7 87.1+
Vitus sp. 1.5 N/A

We were able to get just enough species for a preliminary Rucker Index
of 87.08:

Species CBH Height

Sugar maple 6.7 103.1
E. white pine N/A 101.3
E. hemlock 10.4 95.4
Slippery elm 5.5 95.4
N. red oak 10 90.1+
Bitternut hickory 5.5 90.1+
Shagbark hickory 7.2 89.1+
Swamp white oak 9.7 87.1+
Am. Basswood 5.2 81.1+
Am. Hornbeam 1.9 38.1

All in all, it was a very interesting site. Although the trees weren't
exceptional in size, the refuge is an ideal spot if you have a penchant
for wildflowers and birds.

Dale

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Thurs, Feb 7 2008 5:53 am
From: djluthringer@pennswoods.net


Kirk,

I think Swamp Road runs more N/S. So, the site would be say ~1/2 mile west of
Swamp Road. Following Muddy Creek downstream to the site would be excellent
recon training for my old Marine platoon, but an absolutely miserable walk
through waiste deep bogs, "quicksand", and speckled alder "surfing".

Brian & I actually met at the junction of RT408 & Swamp Road, but parked in the
field just east of the pheasant propogation area on RT408. We walked north
along the field adjacent to the propagation area to the woods & swamp. That's
were we began our "snake" trace.

Dale