Recently Jess Riddle and I revisited the Savage Creek drainage in the Savage Gulf State Natural Area. We had been shown the "Still Hollow" area of the Savage Creek Gorge last year by Tom Simpson with the state of Tennessee, who guided us to some of the state champion trees there. During our last visit, the leaves were out in full force, which made measuring very difficult; the forest is densely packed and very tall. The report from last time, which describes the area, is at:

http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/tennessee/savage_gulf/savage_gulf05.htm . 

During this last visit the canopy was leafless (except the hemlocks), which helped with the measuring. We spent two days around the middle section of Savage Creek and there is still a great deal of territory to cover. 

Photos from Savage Gulf. by Michael Davie

A panoramic shot from the plateau across Savage Creek

The tall trees extend from the creek to just below the cliffs along the rim very consistently, and though there are some spots with shorter trees, the tall trees are generally everywhere on the south side of the creek, with some on the north side as well. It will be very interesting to explore some of the other areas downstream where the drainage widens, and the elevation drops. The sheltering effect might lessen overall, but there is still enough topographic variability to create many niches for height, and some species may do better, as well as new ones popping up.

Angle is kind of odd, but I like it, it shows the normal incline of Savage Gulf

Lick Creek is interesting. Jess and I saw a cave across the creek with a stream  flowing out. Apparently part of Lick Creek sinks

Sycamore growing in the middle of Savage Creek.

The very top of Still Hollow going into the Savage Creek Gulf

Species                        Cbh      Height

Ash, Green                  10'2"   113.2'
Ash, Green                  6'7.5" 132.6'
Ash, Green                  9'4"     143.4'
Ash, Green                  8'6"     143.9'
Basswood, White        NA      124.4'
Basswood, White        NA      127.5'
Basswood, White        NA      134.0'
Basswood, White        5'9"     134.4'
Basswood, White        9'4"     135.1'
Basswood, White        6'9"     136.0'
Basswood, White        9'7"     137.8'
Basswood, White        10'6"   140.6'
Basswood, White        8'1.5" 141.9'
Basswood, White        NA      146.7'
Basswood, White        10'2"   146.7'
Basswood, White        10'3"   151.7'
Beech, American         7'3"     123.4'
Beech, American         7'1"     143.2'
Buckeye, Yellow         NA      121.3'
Buckeye, Yellow         6'4"     126.8'
Buckeye, Yellow         9'10"   129.9'
Buckeye, Yellow         9'1"     136.0'
Elm, American            8'7"     136.5'
Elm, American            8'10"   137.6'
Hemlock, Eastern        NA      131.4'
Hemlock, Eastern        NA      137.2'
Hemlock, Eastern        10'0.5" 140.5'
Hemlock, Eastern        NA      142.2'
Hemlock, Eastern        9'0"     156.5'
Hophornbean, Eastern 2'6"     71.1'
Hickory, Bitternut        5'10.5" 126.9'
Hickory, Bitternut        NA      133.1'
Hickory, Bitternut        6'9"     138.4'
Hickory, Pignut           7'2"     136.5'
Hickory, Pignut           NA      141.3'
Hickory, Pignut           9'3"     144.9'
Hickory, Pignut           6'0"     147.0'
Hickory, Pignut           5'1"     147.6'
Hickory, Pignut           9'8"     153.1'
Hickory, Pignut           9'1"     154.7'
Hickory, Pignut           9'7"     157.9'
Hickory, Shagbark       6'8"     139.7'
Hickory, Shagbark       NA      142.8'
Hickory, Shagbark       9'6"     145.3'
Hickory, Shagbark       6'10.5" 146.6'
Hickory, Shagbark       NA      147.1'
Hickory, Shagbark       7'6.5" 148.2'
Hickory, Shagbark       9'1"     148.4'
Hickory, Shagbark       7'0.5" 152.6'
Hickory, Shagbark       5'8.5" 154.4'
Magnolia, Cucumber   NA      130.1'
Magnolia, Cucumber   14'0"   135.3'
Magnolia, Cucumber   7'4"     136.1'
Magnolia, Cucumber   7'5.5" 140.6'
Magnolia, Cucumber   6'4"     141.1'
Magnolia, Cucumber   9'1.5" 141.7'
Magnolia, Cucumber   6'6"     147.3'
Maple, Red                 7'2"     122.9'
Maple, Sugar               NA      126.8'
Maple, Sugar               10'6"   135.4'
Maple, Sugar               9'0"     136.0'
Oak, Chestnut              9'2"     138.8'
Oak, Chestnut              8'11"   139.6'
Oak, Northern Red      6'0"     133.1'
Oak, White                  7'10"   126.9'
Sweetgum                    7'1"     150.1'
Sycamore                    12'9"   ~120'
Tuliptree                     NA      144.2'
Tuliptree                     NA      147.9'
Tuliptree                     NA      148.0'
Tuliptree                     16'9"   149.0'
Tuliptree                     NA      151.0'
Tuliptree                     9'9"     152.7'
Tuliptree                     NA      156.7'
Tuliptree                     6'10"   160.9'
Tuliptree                     NA      161.4'
Yellowwood               NA      71.1'
Yellowwood               NA      77.2'

Rucker Index               152.45'

Pignut Hickory             162.3'
Tuliptree                     161.4'
Eastern Hemlock         156.5'
Shagbark Hickory        154.4'
White Basswood         151.7'
Northern Red Oak       150.1'
Sweetgum                 150.1'
Cucumber Magnolia    147.3'
Mockernut Hickory     146.8'
Green Ash                   143.9'

Prow- Savage Creek

Typical rocky forest floor of Savage Creek

A few of these are remeasurements of trees from last time, such as the sweetgum. This Rucker puts Savage Gulf currently in second place behind the Smokies; not bad for roughly a one-mile stretch of creek that's been measured so far. There's still much more territory to cover there...

Mike Davie and Jess Riddle