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TOPIC: Walnut Creek update
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/50980304b06f0bdf?hl=en
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== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 18 2008 8:59 pm
From: "Dale Luthringer"
ENTS,
On 12/28 & 12/31/07 I took some time to re-measure some old
records and
search for new ones along Walnut Creek in the vicinity of Asbury
Woods
Nature Center in Erie County, Erie, PA. The first tree on the list
was
to re-measure the old giant Am. Beech tucked away at the base of the
valley on the bend of the creek. I last measured it on 02/24/04 to
15.9ft CBH x 119.3+ft high. It had a visible crack in it's trunk
about
6ft up that went about 1/3 the way through. I was not sure if it was
even going to be still standing. I was pleased to see it still
standing
and in better shape than before. The crack I observed almost three
years ago, was now not visible at all. It is still hollow through
the
center. It probably would've come down years ago if it wasn't for
its
being in a wind protected area. It is located at the base of a very
steep south and west facing slope which protects it from prevailing
winds just inside the woodline and adjacent to a powerline ROW. It
now
stands at 16ft CBH x 120.1+ft high x 59.8ft avg crown for 327 AF
Points.
I also incrementally tape measured its trunk for volume to 7ft up
from
midslope base. Here's the stats:
CBH Height up trunk
19.7 2
17.7 3
16 4.5
13.7 7
The bottom taped trunk volume comes in at 121.2ft^3. I intend to
return
with the Macroscope 25 to get the rest of the tree. The main trunk
breaks into two separate stems about 60ft up, so the end volume
result
should be interesting.
I then attempted to re-measure some old record trees in the area,
but
noted no new reliable results that would change any previous
heights. I
then forded the stream and gathered data as I worked upstream along
a
section I hadn't sampled before. Found a few new fatties, some
select
old trees, as well as a new personal best black walnut height for
the
creek.
My wife & I also re-measured a large "wolf" red maple
closer to the
nature center at 15.8ft CBH x 93.1+ft high x 75.6ft avg spread for
302AF
Points.
Here's the data for these two days in the field:
Species CBH Height Comments
Am. Beech 16 120.1+ 327AF Points, bottom
trunk volume to 121.2ft^3
Big tooth aspen N/A 100.7
Bitternut hickory N/A 103.1
Bitternut hickory 6.1 111.1+
Black walnut 7.7 105.1+
Black walnut N/A 107.6
Black walnut 7.4 114.1+
Black walnut 6.4 118 new personal best for
species, 5.4 x 121.1 is the current record at Fairmont
E. hemlock N/A 106.3
N. red oak 7.6 102.1+
N. red oak 8.7 114.1+
N. red oak 12.7 117.1+ gorgeous oak, ~125 year
age class visual estimate
Red maple 15.8 93.1+ 302AF Points
Sugar maple 11.2 93.1+ ~200 year age class
visual estimate
Sugar maple 11.8 87.1+ old property
boundary/field edge, 1 of a few in row of older sugars
Sycamore N/A 108.4
Tuliptree N/A 118.2
Tuliptree N/A 122.4
Tuliptree 9.3 124.9
Tuliptree 7 129.1+
Tuliptree 13.1 130.4+ nice surprise, ~200
year age class visual estimate
Vitus sp. 1.2
White ash 7.4 108.2
Walnut Creek Gorge's RI now stands at 122.34. Currently ranking 6th
for
PA out of 36 sampled sites.
Species CBH Height
Tuliptree 9.5 135.5
Sycamore 15.3 133.8
Slippery elm 6.7 124.6
White ash 8.2 124.2
Sugar maple 9.3 122.9
Am. Beech 16 120.1+
Black walnut 6.4 118
Black locust 7.6 116.5
Bitternut hickory 6.4 115
Shagbark hickory 6.3 112.8
It was another great day as part of my Christmas vacation.
Dale
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