Steve,
You and Randy continue to provide superb coverage of Ohio and the central Mid-west for ENTS. It is becoming increasingly apparent that we have not even scratched the surface of what lies in wait for us within the incredibly rich Mid-western farm belt. The wooded sites may be small by eastern standards, but the possibilities for tall trees appears endless. Thanks from all of us for the super job you all are doing. It is truly inspirational. You, Randy, and Beth are the Mid-western pioneers. If we could only entice Dr. Tom Diggins to return to the fold. Regardless, I think it is only a matter of time until a Steve or a Randy pops up in Indiana. I am embarrassed to say how many times I've driven across Ohio and Indiana without really exploring the possibilities. Yes, I've visited a few sites off the beaten path, but there are so many, many more that I haven't seen. Your recent showcasing of Sand Run really opened my eyes. Ohio rules! Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Galehouse" <[email protected]> To: "ENTS" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 11:22:57 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [ENTS] Ohio & Erie Canal, CVNP ENTS- Last week I visited a portion of Cuyahoga Valley National Park that contains the ruined locks of the Ohio & Erie Canal, which was built in the late 1820's and abandoned in 1913. This canal once connected the Great Lakes watershed with that of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and in the mid 1800's was a very vital part of the state and national economies. The area has reverted to a flood plain forest dominated by sycamores and cottonwoods--the sycamores are especially prevalent and average about 120'. I've attached a few photos of the area with the old locks: the first shows walls about 8' high, the second shows walls about 6' high with a good sized sycamore growing between them---this shows how large a sycamore can become after at most 96 years. Other finds in the area, on higher ground, were chinkapin oak, very uncommon in this part of the state, and common juniper. I remember the common junipers being much taller and more tree-like many years ago, and now it is just barely surviving in this location. In another area of CVnP there is a sizable heron rookery, with several large sycamores each holding 20 or more nests. Steve -- 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] -- 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]
