ENTS
Last summer I had a chance to meet with Dan Kincaid, the new Big
Tree Coordinator for West Virginia to express my concern on the
moribund status of the Big Tree register in West Virginia. After a
couple of additional meetings and one with the WV State Forester I can
announce that the WV Division of Forestry has appointed 2 Big Tree
measurers in each their regions(3). They also have eight new Nikon 550
rangefinders and a desire to bring the register up to date in next two
years with good height measurements.
I would like to relay how ENTS made this possible. First, ED Frank
maintains a pretty good web site with lots of good information and
links that I still have not fully reviewed. Second, occasionally some
ENTS venture forth to measure a big tree or two and post their results
on the web site. On such foray was made in March of 2006 by Carl
Harting, Anthony Kelly, Russ Richardson and Mike Plevich to check out
the 195’ Widen (Clay County) Yellow-poplar. It turned out to be a
measly 172’, but still the tallest verified north of the Smokies
However I had access to the past files on this poplar and prior
measurements varied by more then 60’ with some higher then 195’. They
were quite receptive when I pointed out that there was a method that
is more accurate and consistent and easily taught.
The rangefinders were ordered and arrived last week. I spent last
Thursday with six foresters to get them started using the sine method
to measure tree height. I expect we will have better tree height
information coming out of West Virginia. I also encouraged them to use
the great ENTS website and participate in discussions and share
measurements. A promise to Chief ENT Will Blozan - The 196’ Yellow
Buckeye and 185’ Yellow-poplar will be found and measured.
Turner Sharp
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Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org
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