Lewis
Island is a large (5000+ acre) island in the Altamaha River in
south Georgia. The island is approximately 20 miles inland and
most of the
area is below five feet in elevation; consequently, water level
on and
around the island is heavily influenced by the tides. Most of
the land has
a swampy consistency and a sheet flow over the island may occur
after heavy
rains. The island was logged prior to 1920 except for two areas
totaling
40 to 50 acres. The two stands of old growth were purportedly
left because
loggers could not access the stands; however, the two man-made
canals
within sight of the stands renders this explanation implausible
leaving the
stands' history a mystery.
Water tupelo and baldcypress are
by far the most common canopy species
on the island. Carolina ash is probably the most widespread
midstory/understory species on the island. Hazel alder was
scattered
throughout the area and occasionally formed thickets along
waterways.
Other species present in significant quantity include sweetgum,
green ash,
swamp laurel oak, American hornbeam, swampbay, and buttonbush.
Baldcypress
was often the tallest tree in a given area although sweetgum may
be the
tallest tree on the island. We assume the proximity to the coast
and soil
conditions combine to limit tree height. Large baldcypress
occurred as
scattered remnant trees along waterways and in the interior of
the island
in addition to those within the two uncut stands.
Swampbay was
most common
along waterways and reached the greatest size on levees
associated with the
canals. Baldcypress in the old growth areas commonly reach 12 to
15' cbh.
Circumferences of sweetgums were not measured, but the larger
individuals
were around 10'. The tupelos were smaller than old growth
individuals
commonly achieve in low areas within dry floodplains. The lack
of
appreciable swells on either tupelos or baldcypress is probably
attributable to the fact that standing water on the island does
not exceed
a few inches deep for extended periods of time.
Volume estimates were made using
trunk diameters found by using the
method developed by Colby Rucker. Tress were modeled as sets of
conic
frustums except for one tree modeled as a paraboloid frustum.
Big Buzzard
Creek forms the western boundary of the island.
Species
cbh height location Volume
Red Buckeye 1'5"
31.3' South Stand
Buttonbush 2'0"
North,
Levee
Swamp Dogwood 8"
25.8' North
Stand
Swamp Dogwood 12" 20.7'
North
Stand
Swampbay 1'10" 50.4' North,
Levee
Swampbay
2'7" 53.4' North, Levee
Swampbay
3'0" 49.5' North, Levee
Baldcypress
100.0' North,
Canal
Baldcypress 14'5"
North
Stand
Baldcypress 14'8"
North
Stand
Baldcypress 15'0"
North
Stand
Baldcypress 15'3" 104.6' South
Stand
Baldcypress 15'7"
North
Stand
Baldcypress 16'7"
North
Stand
Baldcypress 16'8"
North
Stand
Baldcypress 16'10" ~86'
South Stand
Baldcypress 16'10" ~90'
North Stand
Baldcypress 16'10" ~98'
South Stand
Baldcypress 17'5" ~95'
South Stand
Baldcypress 19'7" ~87'
Isolated tree
Baldcypress 19'8"
South
Stand
Baldcypress 20'0" ~80'
Big Buzzard Creek 1300 cubic feet
Baldcypress 20'5" 104.8' North
Stand 1550
cubic
feet
Baldcypress 21'5" 100.5' South,
Canal 1600 cubic
feet
Baldcypress 25'4" 102.1' Isolated
1600
cubic feet
Many of the cypress have large,
partially broken, flat topped crowns.
Some trees have had the entire trunk snapped. The 20'5"
tree has a large,
intact crown. The spread may exceed 80'. One of the most
impressive and
aesthetically pleasing trees we have seen.
Jess and Doug Riddle
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