Archive for October 24, 2013

Oct
24

Forestry work along the Western Edge

FORESTRY: 1.5 hours: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Thinning and pruning in the established forest near the creek in RMZ unit #3 and South Side unit #4.

Forestry portion of west edge trail creation south of Clearwater Creek. Thinning and pruning in the established forest along the western property boundary just south of the tidal portion of Clearwater Creek. Focused on the open-understory area adjoining the creek (where the boundary line trees were marked with paint), and especially the mini-knoll with the two old-growth spruces. Thinned out the dead and spindly suppressed stems, pruned up as high as possible; cut up and piled obstructing logs and tree tops on the ground to create an accessible, more park-like setting around these impressive specimens.

Oct
24

Trail creation along the Western Edge

TRAILS: 3 hours: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Opened new trail along the western boundary from RMZ unit #3 into South Side unit #4.

Trail creation on the south side of Clearwater Creek, along the western boundary from the tidewater bank, south up the gentle grade to the road at the SW corner. The first half of the trail was through mature remnant forest, culminating in a mini-knoll dominated by two old-growth spruces and a few large hemlocks. The second half was through a brushy area, following a very roughed-out road grade in a SW arc along a row of trees to the east.  The brushy area was over-stocked with very young alder (less than 5 years old), in tight patches with seedlings and saplings inches apart. This trail for the most part follows an elk path up a natural ridge, avoiding wet, seepy spots on both sides. It appears that the east side would be a running freshet during high rain events.