Hello, I am afraid your email got lost in the shuffle. I am very interested in hemlock in MN. The extreme edges of their range of a species is of particular significance in terms of species genetics. You may have some time before the HWA progresses to Minnesota, but a infection from another state could inadvertently be brought into the state anytime. I corresponded with officials from the MN DNR a couple years ago, but did not get much information. It would be great to have some better descriptions of the hemlock populations in the state. There is the Camcore Project that is collecting seeds from certain areas in eastern US, but their activities are restricted to those states for which they have funding. If there were funds to do so, I am sure they would be interested in collecting seeds from Minnesota populations.
Brandon Gallagher talks about some hemlocks in a park in Minneapolis. http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/minnesota/hemlocks_mn.htm It is unclear if these are planted (likely) or native populations (possible.) I don't know what to say about treatment. There is some hope that colder temperatures will mitigate the damage done by the adelgid. I am not completely convinced that this is not just wishful thinking. Treatment by the release of predatory beetles has been an abysmal failure by any reasonable look at the data (naturally the people profiting form their sale think they are doing a great job). Early successes were had with treatment with the chemical Imidacloprid which lasts for several years. However in landscape settings its use has resulted in an explosion of mites which also damage or can kill the trees. More recently the chemical Safari has been use with some success, however it is more expensive and the effects of the treatment are not a as long lasting. There is potential for other alternative treatments down the line. I hope these will become reality before the eastern and Carolina hemlock species are wiped out. What is needed is funding to harvest and transplant the hemlock seeds from MN, and a good plan for treatment once the HWA arrives in the state. The treatment plan would simply serve as a holding action until a long term solution can be found (a solution besides just letting the trees die!). The references on some maps to hemlock in the Boundary Waters area inaccurate. Ed Frank [email protected] Here is a piece of correspondence from MN DNR from 2007 and my follow up letter (never answered) ------------------------------------------------- From: "Alan Jones" <[email protected]> To: "Edward Frank" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Hemlock Survey Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 5:58 PM Again, no hemlock of significance exists on state forestry administered state lands. ------------------------------------------------- >>> "Edward Frank" <[email protected]> 2/28/2007 4:29:24 PM >>> Mr. Jones, Within Minnesota I have found some references to hemlock. Some of these are in state park lands. As this is the extreme western range of the species any population, even a small one is of significance. Porcupine-eastern Hemlock interactions at Hemlock Ravine Scientific and Natural Area http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_services/nongame/projects/ [Hemlock] Usually grows on acid soil containing considerable organic matter; the hemlock barely reaches Minnesota, occurring native in Carlton County just southwest of Lake Superior; also a few scattered trees in Aitkin and St. Louis counties; very shade-tolerant. Glacial Lake Superior Plain Subsection http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/212Ja/index.html This subsection was almost completely forested. Marshner (1974) classified the presettlement vegetation as pine flats, consisting of hemlock, spruce, fir, cedar, and white pine. This was the western extent of eastern hemlock. On the edge of Jay Cooke State Park, a scientific and natural areas sign explained how steep slopes protected Minnesota's largest remaining stand of hemlock forest, which includes eastern white pine, sugar maple, American basswood, yellow birch, and paper birch. Fire and logging eliminated most of the state's hemlock. A species fond of cool, moist locations, it is at the very western edge of its range in Minnesota. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/marapr03/loggingmiles.html Hemlock Ravine State Natural Area http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01013/index.html Minnesota Big Tree List: Hemlock Tsuga Canadensis 52 65 25 123 Mille Lacs Private Isle, MN Mark Anderson, Larry Long DNR-Forestry 1997 Draft amendments to Minnesota's list of endangered, threatened, and special concern species, Jan 02, 2007 http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/ets/all.pdf Tsuga canadensis eastern hemlock SC E Five locations found since 1974; most are single trees, with >10 trees at only 2 sites, both with little repro; scattered forest locations in east-central MN; surveys thorough. (19 EOs) Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:SNR; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:-; ON:S5 Nemadji State Forest eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Special Concern Microsoft Word - NemPlan.doc Forest Classification & Motor Route Designation Plan for the Nemadji State Forest Final Draft June 7, 2006 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Nemadji State Forest Access Plan Page 1 of 2107 June 2006 DNR .. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/input/mgmtplans/ohv/designation/nemadji_planfinal.pdf- 1252.4KB which suggests its presence in the forest. Tsuga canadensis, Canadian Hemlock, a northwoods conifer absent from the BWCA http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/flora.html If you have any additional information on the distribution of the tree in Minnesota please send it to me. It would be very worthwhile to better characterize the species in its northern and western-most population. If you have email addresses for anyone who may be able to help me learn more about the Minnesota Hemlocks, please forward them to me. Edward Frank --------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "lostgroe" <[email protected]> To: "ENTSTrees" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 11:45 AM Subject: [ENTS] Hemlock > > Hello, > My first post here @ ENTS.I have a great interest in Eastern Hemlock, > especially because there are some native stands here in Minnesota. > Normally that would not be such a big deal, but NE Minnesota is the > last native far-Western range of this species, and there are not very > many trees. Been trying to see if there's any interest in collecting > seed and growing to reforest and expand the range, especially in light > of the Woolly Adelgid infestation out east. DNR officials are > sympathetic to an endangered species here, and protect those trees, > but hands are tied to take on any projects. Would love any input. > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
