| PA's
Contribution |
Robert
Leverett |
| Feb
09, 2004 06:59 PST |
Dale:
Let me first reiterate the PA sites.
Site Rucker
Index
Cook Forest State Park 135.27
Wintergreen Gorge 127.89
Fairmont Park 127.72
Walnut Creek Gorge 120.6
Ricketts Glen SP 119.85
Ander's Run Natural Area 118.65
Heart's Content Natural Area 113.79
Alan Seeger Natural Area 111.13
Coho Property 109.59
Tionesta N.A. 109.36
Glenwood Park 98.08
Parker Dam SP 85.57
I suspect that the number of sites that have a
120 or above Rucker
index will continue to grow for PA and that the density of such
sites
will become a benchmark for latitudes 40 to 42 degrees latitude
north.
It will be interesting to follow the trends from about 34 to 48
degrees
in terms of Rucker indices for a variety of habitats. We could
eventually develop a good map of site indices for older forests
and
forests that occupy a variety of growing habitats. What would be
the
benefits? At the least, we could develop measures to help us
assess how
far removed a forest habitat is from reaching its potential.
This isn't
synonymous with gauging forest maturity in an age context
because most
of the higher Rucker values are achieved before the onset of old
growth
status. If we know what a particular site should have in the way
of a
species mix if left alone for some sequence, say 60, 80, 120,
and 150
years and what that mix should reach in the way of a Rucker
index, we
would have a measure of potential left to achieve for the age
thresholds
- OR some measure of site degradation. Something such as this is
what
I've had in mind for a long time using Mohawk Trail State Forest
as one
of the benchmark forests. John Eichholz has added Mount Peak to
the mix.
Lots to do.
Bob
Robert T. Leverett
Cofounder, Eastern Native Tree Society
(413)-538-8631
dbhg-@comcast.net |
| Re:
PA's Contribution |
Linda
Luthringer |
| Feb
09, 2004 12:42 PST |
Bob,
Yes, good points. I was just explaining this aspect to some
folks in the
bureau, but I'm afraid it wasn't quite as eloquently described
as yourself.
Dale
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