Recent
events
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Fall Tree
Planting
Summer
Research
Clayplain Conference
Wildflowers and Spring Ecology |
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Fall
Tree Planting
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The Cornwall 6th
Grade class, with teacher Andrew Hirsch, joined Marc Lapin near Dead
Creek in October to plant native clayplain forest trees. Thanks
to the help of this enthusiastic crew, hundreds of swamp white oak and
white pine seedlings are now becoming established in a successional
field. This land, which was once clayplain forest, will be home
to towering trees again someday.
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The class watches as one student
sets a stake that will support a
tree seedling. |
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A white pine seedling is ready
to be planted. |
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After planting, a protective
plastic tube encircles the seedling
and is attached to the post. |
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Summer
Research top |
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The Champlain Valley
Clayplain Forest Project gathers information about plants, wildlife,
and soils in many of the remaining tracts of clayplain forest. This
data helps explain the dynamics of the complex clayplain forest
ecosystem and provides information for future conservation and
restoration decisions. |
Tii McLane (upper photo) and Marc Lapin inventory plants in a 1 meter
square area within the sample plot.
Healthy clay soils often show mottling, a brownish
color created by the presence of iron, in the upper layers.
Core samples are taken from a few trees in the plot
to determine the ages and growth rates. |
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Clayplain Forest Conference
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Addison, Vermont -- More than seventy people gathered
at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area on a blustery
April day to attend the first Vermont conference on
clayplain forests. Familiar to many by sight if not by
name, the small parcels of oaks and hickories amidst
agricultural fields in much of Addison County represent a
type of forest that dominated the Champlain Valley before
European settlement.
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© 2000 Heather Karlson
Swamp white oak
of the clayplain forest near Dead Creek
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Landowners, residents, ecologists, foresters,
biologists, and others spent the day on April 5, 2000
learning about the characteristics of clayplain
forests and the many related projects currently
underway at the state and local levels. In the
afternoon, the group braved the chilly April wind
to explore several examples of clayplain forest
firsthand.
In addition to shagbark hickory, white oak,
bur oak, and swamp white oak, clayplain forests
are home to a wide array of other trees, shrubs,
herbaceous plants, and animals. Because the clay
soils hold nutrients needed for survival by many
plants, the clayplain forest supports a larger
number of species than most other forest types in
the state. Due to the high quality agricultural
soils and because of the flat terrain, most of
the clayplain forest was cleared long ago for
farming.
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Presenters at the conference
discussed the economic importance of the clay
soils to agriculture, as well as the biological
importance of restoring and maintaining areas of
healthy clayplain forest for wildlife and native
plants. Many attendees expressed an interest in
preserving areas of clayplain forest for the
long-term health of the Champlain Valley. Bill
Crenshaw, district wildlife biologist with the
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and 25
years experience at Dead Creek Wildlife
Management Area, showed two examples of clayplain
forest tracts that were formerly pastured and are
now regenerating healthy understory growth. |
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© 2000 Heather Karlson
Ecologist Marc Lapin, right,
discusses clayplain forests with conference
attendees
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Wildflowers and Ecology of the Clayplain
Forest
top
The April conference provided a first step for people
interested in the clayplain forest of the Champlain
Valley to share ideas. In early May, ecologist Marc Lapin
of the Champlain Valley Clayplain Forest Project led a
natural history walk in the clayplain forest, which was
sponsored by Otter Creek Audubon Society, the Champlain
Valley Clayplain Forest Project, and the Middlebury Area
Land Trust.
More than 30 community members enjoyed the early
spring wildflowers, birds, and budding trees. Visit Otter
Creek Audubon Society's programs page for pictures
of the walk.
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