Friday, March 21, 2008
wrap up so soon
In spite of myself this had been a very full quarter and it amazes me that it is over already. I have been able to spend a fair amount of time in the woods, and get to look forward to ever-increasing amounts as the days get longer.
Technical difficulties and compatibility issues are still keeping a map linger over my head that totally needs to get made, that aside I am proud of the video I made about the project. When I get it up on the Tube tomorrow I'll embed it here so you all can see my multimedia madness and get the nitty-gritty on my project.
Thanks for tuning in this quarter- sorry for not keeping more frequent posts, but frankly, there hasn't been that much new and exciting going on!
Oh, one thing I thought to put in but did on another blog: I was interviewed in the Spring catalog! Check it out, its near the beginning where there in the scoop on Dan's summer research classes!
Technical difficulties and compatibility issues are still keeping a map linger over my head that totally needs to get made, that aside I am proud of the video I made about the project. When I get it up on the Tube tomorrow I'll embed it here so you all can see my multimedia madness and get the nitty-gritty on my project.
Thanks for tuning in this quarter- sorry for not keeping more frequent posts, but frankly, there hasn't been that much new and exciting going on!
Oh, one thing I thought to put in but did on another blog: I was interviewed in the Spring catalog! Check it out, its near the beginning where there in the scoop on Dan's summer research classes!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
On the Forestry side of things...
Its official: Record Height Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
We wen
t back out to the Rainy Creek woods yesterday to find the dogwood and document its height, diameter and to try to figure out its age.
here goes:
87 feet high with a diameter of 10 inches
Core rot prevented us from determining its age. Still, it is most likely the same age as the rest of the stand (63 years).
The spread of the crown is about 10-12 feet.
There is very little crown left on this tree, this and the core rot lets us know that even if measures are taken to try to save it, there is little chance it will live much longer. Go visit is while you can!
We wen
t back out to the Rainy Creek woods yesterday to find the dogwood and document its height, diameter and to try to figure out its age.here goes:
87 feet high with a diameter of 10 inches
Core rot prevented us from determining its age. Still, it is most likely the same age as the rest of the stand (63 years).
The spread of the crown is about 10-12 feet.
There is very little crown left on this tree, this and the core rot lets us know that even if measures are taken to try to save it, there is little chance it will live much longer. Go visit is while you can!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Three miles uphill, in the snow, eating sticks
The trail winds through forest, patchy at times with the sun gleaming through breaks in the canopy. Here and there an enormous (relatively) yew tree with its shaggy bark leans over the trail, a green cocoon embracing the path.
Cougar prints alight the section of trail- clearly embossed in the untarnished snow.
We turn a corner and step out up on Deer Ridge.
The clear blue sky stretched out overhead, pure and bright. The only cloud hung close to the not-so distant mountain peaks, seeming to find safety nestling near the snow and rocks, far from the never ending open pierced only by the bright glowing orb overhead.
We stop to freshen up, eat some, drink some- put the snowshoes on and continue along the ridge to find a good spot to sample.
A little trickier than you'd think.
Need to find a place with out too much slope (good luck) or too much canopy cover (yeah right). In the end we decided on Compensation Point to get it started, and began our descent. Stopping at a few points back down off the trail to set our new sampling locations.
Beautiful day.
Wonderful crew.
Deep snow.
Quality snow chains are important.
very important.
Hurrah for modern snowshoes! Some have a bracket that flips up in back to assist in steep uphill climbs- very handy when climbing up a ridiculous ascent!
So I got to the college thinking it would be a regular field day of driving up to the hills, stopping at the different sampling areas, trotting off road a bit to get to the plots, nothing too exciting... and lo! I get to PC to discover that there has been a change of plans- instead of same ole same ole, we get to go up Deer Ridge!
Man, I love field work.
What a glorious place to live.
Cougar prints alight the section of trail- clearly embossed in the untarnished snow.
We turn a corner and step out up on Deer Ridge.
The clear blue sky stretched out overhead, pure and bright. The only cloud hung close to the not-so distant mountain peaks, seeming to find safety nestling near the snow and rocks, far from the never ending open pierced only by the bright glowing orb overhead.
We stop to freshen up, eat some, drink some- put the snowshoes on and continue along the ridge to find a good spot to sample.
A little trickier than you'd think.
Need to find a place with out too much slope (good luck) or too much canopy cover (yeah right). In the end we decided on Compensation Point to get it started, and began our descent. Stopping at a few points back down off the trail to set our new sampling locations.
Beautiful day.
Wonderful crew.
Deep snow.
Quality snow chains are important.
very important.
Hurrah for modern snowshoes! Some have a bracket that flips up in back to assist in steep uphill climbs- very handy when climbing up a ridiculous ascent!
So I got to the college thinking it would be a regular field day of driving up to the hills, stopping at the different sampling areas, trotting off road a bit to get to the plots, nothing too exciting... and lo! I get to PC to discover that there has been a change of plans- instead of same ole same ole, we get to go up Deer Ridge!
Man, I love field work.
What a glorious place to live.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Right On!
Ron Paul placed second in Nevada!!!!!
Yay!
update: and Louisiana! A very close second!
update II: Main?
Yay!
update: and Louisiana! A very close second!
update II: Main?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Tallest Pacific Dogwood Ever!
This just in:
It has been confirmed that right here in the Olympic Peninsula is the world record for the tallest Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii). Last summer on our research expedition in the Sol Duc area by Rainy Creek we found this lone soldier in a mixed Douglas-Fir stand.
It came in at 83 feet- head and shoulders above the prior record holder, though now chopped down, was 60 feet (in 1986, at the last verified measurement).
(In case anyone is concerned, in the experimental forest we are working in all, all unique species (any deciduous such as this and ceders) are untouched as this wood is being managed to increase habitat and structural diversity.)
Keep on growing baby!
It has been confirmed that right here in the Olympic Peninsula is the world record for the tallest Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii). Last summer on our research expedition in the Sol Duc area by Rainy Creek we found this lone soldier in a mixed Douglas-Fir stand.
It came in at 83 feet- head and shoulders above the prior record holder, though now chopped down, was 60 feet (in 1986, at the last verified measurement).
(In case anyone is concerned, in the experimental forest we are working in all, all unique species (any deciduous such as this and ceders) are untouched as this wood is being managed to increase habitat and structural diversity.)
Keep on growing baby!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Update
Progress is slow in the forestry front.
I have had a hell of a time getting the data from concerned parties, all the equipment seem to be blowing up and if that were not enough, the whole process we are trying to study is held up in court. So, this seems like a perfect time to let you know what we are trying to do.
Since the implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) Federal Forest lands are now managed moreso for habitat than simply for timber production. The group working out here on the Olympic Peninsula has taken second-growth stands that are currently in stem exclusion (understory in deep shade, tree growth limited while they compete for light) and have prescribed various treatments that enrich structural diversity. The intent has been to mimic natural disturbances (wind-throws) that open up the canopy and allow the understory to become more complex.
We have gone out to a number of stands near Bear Creek (Sol Duc area) and have gathered the baseline date to compare the effects of the treatments on the health and diversity of the shrubs and forest herbs. The treatment are setup so there are patches of small gaps (no trees) large areas that will not be touched at all and blocks that will be thinned. This should encourage a boost in understory development with the addtional growing space while leaving enough of the forest intact that it does not fully eliminate any late-seral forest species.
This sort of treatment has been done in a similar stand of Federal Forest land near Copper-Ranch Road, but no one has ever quantified the success of such prescriptions to actually improve a forest's health as an ecosystem to support a variety of animal and floral life.
This is where we come in.
Right now I do not know the status of the court battle over the fate of the stand. If it takes another year to clear up, we can always get in another year of baseline data so we can see the growth rate of forest before the understory trees, shrubs and herbs are released.
I'll keep you updated.
I have had a hell of a time getting the data from concerned parties, all the equipment seem to be blowing up and if that were not enough, the whole process we are trying to study is held up in court. So, this seems like a perfect time to let you know what we are trying to do.
Since the implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) Federal Forest lands are now managed moreso for habitat than simply for timber production. The group working out here on the Olympic Peninsula has taken second-growth stands that are currently in stem exclusion (understory in deep shade, tree growth limited while they compete for light) and have prescribed various treatments that enrich structural diversity. The intent has been to mimic natural disturbances (wind-throws) that open up the canopy and allow the understory to become more complex.
We have gone out to a number of stands near Bear Creek (Sol Duc area) and have gathered the baseline date to compare the effects of the treatments on the health and diversity of the shrubs and forest herbs. The treatment are setup so there are patches of small gaps (no trees) large areas that will not be touched at all and blocks that will be thinned. This should encourage a boost in understory development with the addtional growing space while leaving enough of the forest intact that it does not fully eliminate any late-seral forest species.
This sort of treatment has been done in a similar stand of Federal Forest land near Copper-Ranch Road, but no one has ever quantified the success of such prescriptions to actually improve a forest's health as an ecosystem to support a variety of animal and floral life.
This is where we come in.
Right now I do not know the status of the court battle over the fate of the stand. If it takes another year to clear up, we can always get in another year of baseline data so we can see the growth rate of forest before the understory trees, shrubs and herbs are released.
I'll keep you updated.
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