Walnut Creek, PA Update  
  

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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