George,
Thanks, and I glad that the message of Mohawk isn't wearing too thin, since I frequently report on it. Mohawk is my forest Mecca. Now to your questions. MTSF covers approximately 6,500 acres. MSF adds another 4,500. Mohawk has about 35 species of trees. Monroe has less, maybe 30 - if quite that. Monroe reaches elevations from about 1,000 to 2730 feet. Mohawk reaches elevations from about 600 feet to 2080 feet. Mohawk has more lower elevation forests. Precipitation in both state forests is between 50 and 60 inches and a few spots may reach 62 or 63 inches. What makes these two state forests special is that they are the crown jewels of the Deerfield River Valley and Gorge in terms of forest. Most of the upland Berkshire forests are undistinguished. Private properties within the Deerfield Valley region are constantly being worked over and are always in a relatively early state of recovery. Many of the private forests have been high graded, so trees are unimpressive. But Mohawk and Monroe State Forests and part of Savoy Mountain State Forest is a different story. They have a combined old growth acreage of approximately 650 acres, with at least a few hemlocks pushing 500 years in age. This alone makes them special. They contain approximately half of all the State's old growth. But there is another story. These properties have several thousand acres of mature second growth - forests aged between 80 and 150 years and it is these forests within Mohawk and Monroe that are showing us what tree sepcies in the region can do. Mohawk has at least 17 state, New England, or Northeastern champions of height. The following list summarizes the champion trees of Mohawk. I am working constantly to keep the list current. Species Current Height All time Height Championship status White Pine 169.3 169.3 New England White Ash 152.3 152.3 Northeast N. red oak 133.5 133.5 New England Bitternut Hickory 133.2 133.2 New England Sugar Maple 132.2 136.0 Northeast (probably some taller in PA) American Beech 130.5 130.5 New England (probably some taller in PA) Norway Spruce 129.2 129.2 New England Bigtooth Aspen 126.0 127.7 Northeast American Basswood 126.9 126.9 New England Red Maple 125.5 128.0 New England Black Cherry 125.3 125.3 New England American Elm 117.5 120.5 New England Black Birch 111.0 116.0 New England White Birch 106.0 110.0 New England Yellow Birch 105.6 105.6 New England Hop Hornbeam 78.2 78.2 Northeast Striped Maple 68.0 68.0 Northeast (probably some taller in PA) There is the possibility that southern Connecticut could have New England champions in two or three of the above species. We could probably confirm that if we searched enough, but no matter how you cut it, the height achievement of Mohawk's trees is extraordinary for 42 degrees latitude - which is really to say the tree growing capacity of the Deerfield River Valley and Gorge. I say this because John Eichholz is finding that the extraordinary ash growth we see in Mohawk extends down river at least as far as Catamount State Forest. He has an ash up to 143 feet there. I'm beginning to think that ash may reach its maximum heights in western Massachusetts and perhaps across New York at latitudes of around 42 degrees. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Fieo" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:36:49 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: RE: [ENTS] Fwd: Continuing the mission Bob, Sweet! I truly enjoy your photos and reports. MTSF is amazing. I am inspired by your passion and enthusiasm for MTSF. How many acres and species are within MTSF? Those aspen are incredible. When I find them there are usually only about a handful of them. The largest I have measured here in SE Pa. is 4’1” x 87.5’. I hope to revisit the Airdrie Forest Preserve tomorrow with my son, mostly to take some pictures. My first visit was in June. The canopy was thick and I’m sure I missed the top on many of the trees. I hope to find a 150’ tulip poplar. I’ll report on it later this winter. George -- 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]
