Fairmount Park, Wissahickon Section   John Eichholz
  Apr 27, 2005 18:54 PDT 

ENTS:

Wednesday, April 20, 2005
My recent trip to the Wissahickon Park section of Fairmount resulted in
an increase in Fairmount's Rucker Index. The area I studied was a
stream valley off of Chestnut Hill Ave., which drains into the north
bank of Wissahickon River at the far northwestern end of Fairmount
Park. The park is dominated by an impressive stand of very large
tuliptrees. Also present in fairly large numbers are American beech,
black birch, white oak, chestnut oak, and a few very large red oak. The
topography is sloping with several rock outcrops, and the surface has
moisture and seeps in several places. There are several wide trails
through the park, which are regularly used for hiking, jogging and
walking. Leaves were just beginning to emerge, especially on beech, but
also on tuliptrees.

Entering the park on the south bank of the stream, one finds spectacular
tuliptrees that appear to be quite old. Among them are a few beech and
white oak, which yielded two of the record heights among them. There
are a couple really nice black birch on this side of the cove, but on
the bank opposite beyond a ledge outcrop are the tallest black birches I
found. In the stream basin itself are found the tallest of the
tuliptrees in the cove. At the confluence of this brook and the
Wissahickon is the hemlock that holds the height record so far. Along
the Wissahickon itself are more very nice tuliptrees, some exceeding
150' in height. I was getting ticks on my pants as I entered this, more
brushy area, so I did not measure too extensively there.   Across the
Wissahickon lies another, larger wilderness area which should be explored.

We also entered the park off of Lincoln Ave. on the southern end of the
upper section of Fairmount, at the beginning of Forbidden drive. That
area looked pretty good, but after looking at the map posted near the
parking lot we decided to explore the area we did.

The list:

Forbidden Ave. at Lincoln:

TT   124.0
TT   137.8
TT   140.3
TT   143.6
NRO   100.3

Wissahickon Park

Sp. Abbr.   Hgt.   CBH
Tulip tree
TT   123.8   14.7
TT   134.0   nt
TT   143.4   nt
TT   146.6   9.4
TT   143.0   nt
TT   150.5   14.3
TT   152.5   13.6
TT   150.7   8.3
TT   148.1   13.5

American Beech
AB   114.1   7.3
AB   112.2   5.3
AB   105.2   4.4
AB   114.0   nt
AB   122.1   8.0   park record

Northern Red Oak
NRO   130.0   10.5
NRO   121.0   10.0
NRO   131.9   nt

Eastern Hemlock
EH   106.3   5.3
EH   122.5   8.4   park record

White Oak
WO   111.0   9.2
WO   122.3   9.1   park record

Black Birch
BB   107.9   8.7
BB   107.3   nt
BB   113.5   8.0    PA record
BB   107.7   6.1

Sweet Cherry   103.1   nt

Chestnut Oak   105.5   nt

There was also a really nice tree near the top of the rocky ledge which
was probably a black gum. I didn't measure it but it is over 100'.

The Fairmount Park Rucker Index is now:

Tuliptree   10.9   158.6    Northeast record
Sycamore   11.4   139.0   PA record
White Ash   7.3   135.7
Northern Red Oak   9.7   135.2   PA record
Bitternut Hickory   6.7   134.2   PA record
Green Ash   8.7   132.0 Northeast record
Eastern Hemlock   8.4   122.5
White Oak   9.1   122.3
American Beech   8.0   122.1
Black Walnut   5.4   121.2   PA record

Rucker Index      132.3

Lots of records in Fairmount. I think beech and white oak could go
higher in that area, too. The area where Will Blozan found the
bitternut, ashes and the walnut must be a different environment, as I
saw none of them in this area.

John
RE: Fairmount park   Will Blozan
  Apr 28, 2005 09:51 PDT 

Excellent finds, John! All the trees I measured where near the creek along
the "Forbidden Drive". I have no doubt Fairmont will produce a Rucker that
will challenge other PA sites. I did spot some white pines in the mid 120's
last visit. Red oak should reach 140' somewhere, and tuliptrees may reach
the mid 160's.

Your turn Scott!

Will B
Re: Fairmount park    John Eichholz
   Apr 28, 2005 20:11 PDT 

Will, Scott, Bob, ENTS:

I'd like to pass on a tidbit I have come across while online. It
appears that Fairmount Park and Wissahickon Valley Park are at least for
marketing purposes different places. The Wissahickon Valley area is
where we have documented the large/old/tall trees. In fact, the lower
park is a different geology, being coastal plain rather than piedmont.
There is a "Friends of the Wissahickon" organization, similar I guess to
the "Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest" we know and love. An
interesting reference can be found at:
http://www.fow.org/download/parkassess.pdf
which documents work being done towards the long term sustainability of
the trail system of Wissahickon. While this group appears to
acknowledge many of the unique resources in Wissahickon, it does not
appear to recognize the unique forest resources there. I met a hiker
while there that seemed very interested in the work I was doing, so I am
projecting that some of the Friends would also be interested. They are
not shy of sophisticated environmental analysis, for instance they are
aware of the adverse effects of earthworms and deer browsing. I don't
think the forests are in any immediate danger in Wissahickon, but
awareness of their unique qualities could be an asset for them in their
fundraising or advocacy work. And, by joining you can get a nifty trail
map!

Another map is available online at:
http://www.nlreep.org/wissahickonmap.htm 
and includes place names we could use to identify particular tree
sites. The area I was studying is called "Covered Bridge", (although I
didn't see one.) Kinda makes me want to go to the place called
"Cathedral" or even move to Philadelphia. (Strong tea tonight I guess.)

The park was known for its hemlocks earlier this century. There has got
to be taller than 122 in there. That was only the second one I saw. But
can we really expect Fairmount/Wissahickon to sweep the Pennsylvania
Rucker index for every thing but white pine, hemlock and black cherry?
It already has five species. It is mighty close on white ash, and with
slightly better red oak, bitternut and green ash it might only take an
exceptional pignut or shagbark to bump red maple out of the top ten. Or
is it only because the park is likely to get the thorough ENTS treatment
it deserves? Or is it something in the water? (There is a place called
"Radium Springs" at the lower part of the park.) Now that is some
strong tea.

John