We have river birch in the forested bottoms and banks of many of our larger
streams but property ownership patterns in West Virginia are such that most
of these areas and habitats are inaccessible to the general public.

This particular tree is in an open location near the downstream base for an
abandoned foot bridge that was built at least 90 years ago. It has a single
stem and has a small hollow in the base. Although I am certain the tree is a
river birch this tree has the shaggiest and brightest bark I have so far.
If I get by there when there is some decent light I'll try to get a photo of
the bark....the tree is 25' from the edge of a hard top road so the hike isn't
too bad!

Now that I know what to look for I'll be on the watch.

After reading Bob Leveretts' descriptions of some of the patches of sycamore
and cottonwood they measured along the Connecticut River during the early
days of ENTS and all of the scattered patches and stands of old growth trees he
and others have helped identify over the years, I have often wondered how
the Ohio River banks and some of its islands might compare.

Because the Ohio basin has a tradition of private property ownership that
goes back at least two centuries and a different and far more utilitarian land
ethic than New England, it is impossible to know how many small areas of
oversized (older growth) trees might exist along some of the larger tributaries
and forested islands of the region. With the growing chain of islands that
are part of a National Wildlife Refuge in the Ohio River a boating expedition
to measure some big trees on some of the islands might prove very
interesting.

Russ