ENTS,

In October/November I was able to spend a few days continuing to document
various Lake Erie drainage stream valleys in Erie County, Erie, PA.   This
report entails a particular drainage within the Lake Shore Country Club.  It
is very similar to other drainages in the area.  It has very steep side
walls and a shallow, moist, soil,with shale substrate.  I followed the
valley from the main entrance road that runs on its west bank, all the way
to the terminus into Lake Erie.  The lower portion near the lake has more
recent disturbance... selective logging along the banks resulted in numerous
small mudslides into the valley floor.  The majority of the site appears to
not have any major disturbance for ~125 years.

Although not as deep as others I've been in, this one ranges from 60-80
vertical feet in depth.  It holds a mature forest with canopy dominant
tuliptrees and sugar maple, with a smattering of N. red oak and white ash.
Although I found no new records, I was impressed by the abundance of
hardwood diversity in the 120ft class.  There a few select tuliptrees and N.
red oak that may go into the 150 year age class.  A number of sugars should
easily make it to 100 years, if not closer to 125.  Some Am. beech could
make it to the 125 age class as well.

One interesting antedote was vitually walking into a half rack non-typical
buck.  As I was working my way upstream, the valley started to become
shallower, and began wrapping almost back onto itself.  The shallow
meandering valley system was very "tight".  I was pretty quiet most of the
day until I had to jump a section of stream and straddle a downed log all
that the same time... As I came down with force sending a splash into the
creek, I noticed a white flash just in front of me over an adjacent small
ridge finger that was now at eye level.  At about 10 yards out was a nice
half rack buck.  It had a solid 4 points on one side, and at least 2-3
twisted ones on the other that didn't make it far above the brow.  He went
upstream a short distance, then hopped it and used the twisting land
contours to hide himself as he worked up the steep bank, onto the ridge top
and completely around and behind me.  It was quite a display, and I had a
good bit of time observing him.  His eye was on me the entire time, but
wasn't too terribly spooked.  I'm sure he must be a frequent, but seldom
observed resident of the golf course and surrounding upper class
neighborhood.  I feel pretty confident there's no hunting in here, so he has
the whole golf course greens and fancy shrubs to himself.  Nice deer.  All
the deer run this valley on a regular basis, bypassing the multitude of
people and cars on the ridge top.  Deer are a resourceful lot...

The day's stats follows:

Species          CBH   Height   Comments

Am. basswood N/A    98
Am. basswood N/A   102.1+
Am. basswood 7.8    104+
Am. basswood 4.9    115.6
Am. basswood 5.6    116.6

Am. beech      N/A    105.2
Am. beech      9.1     105.3
Am. beech      9.3     108.8
Am. beech      8.6     117.1+

black cherry    N/A     93.8
black cherry    N/A     97
black cherry    6.3      102.6
black cherry    8.1      111.1+

cottonwood     N/A     100.5
cottonwood      9.4     116.5
cottonwood     10.4    *123.9*   42 4.752N x 80 13.002W

E. hemlock     6.4      108.8
E. hemlock     7.4      113.8

E. hophornbeam 2.3  57.8
E. hophornbeam 3.2  59.3

N. red oak      *12.5*    103.6
N. red oak       6.9     107.8
N. red oak       (2x)    111.1+
N. red oak       8.5     *120.3*

Norway maple 3.1     60.1+

red maple       8        98.6

sassafrass     5.1      90.2+

sugar maple   N/A     114.2
sugar maple   N/A     116.8
sugar maple    6.6     116.9
sugar maple    7.8     *120.1+*
sugar maple    8.1     *120.2*
sugar maple    7.9     *123.1+*   42 4.869N x 80 13.003W
sugar maple    6.8     *123.6+*   42 4.864N x 80 13.012W

tuliptree         8.5      118.1
tuliptree         N/A     119.2
tuliptree         ~12     120.2   steep bank, "spooning" bark
tuliptree         N/A     122.6
tuliptree         *12.3*    124      42 4.775N x 80 12.991W
tuliptree         N/A     124.3
tuliptree          7.1     124.8
tuliptree           8.3    125
tuliptree         N/A     127.4
tuliptree         11.2    129
tuliptree         10.4    129.7
tuliptree           7.4    131.1
tuliptree          N/A    131.6
tuliptree           10     138.7
tuliptree          ~9.5   139.6   steep bank

white ash        5.9     114.5
white ash        7.8     *122.8*

yellow birch     3        64.6+

Other species observed but not measured = witch hazel, Vitus sp.

Invasive species = Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, tatarian honeysuckle,
Norway maple

Rucker Index = *118.74*

Species          CBH   Height

tuliptree          ~9.5   139.6
cottonwood      10.4   123.9
sugar maple      6.8   123.6+
white ash          7.8   122.8
N. red oak        8.5    120.3
Am. beech       8.6    117.1+
Am. basswood 5.6    116.6
E. hemlock      7.4    113.8
black cherry     8.1    111.1+
red maple         8       98.6

Dale