MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Meeting Held Through Email Due to Coronavirus Restrictions

Attendees:

Gabrielle Oldham Dori Murphy

Ron Anderson Kathie Jarmon

Michael Morgan Tom Frederick

John Bennett

Treasurer’s Report:

Tom reported on current financial status.

Update on Big Tree Program:

John reported:

On June 5^th, a freelance reporter published an article in the Chesapeake Bay Journal about the Maryland Big Tree Program. This article was a result of several interviews in March. Originally the reporter was to travel with Joli and me to Talbot County to re-measure the multiple trees at a private estate. Unfortunately COVID-19 became active in MD and the reporter decided not to attend. Since the article appeared, I have had three inquiries, with one owner providing the necessary paperwork for two new trees. Jim Bardsley has volunteered to measure those trees on 7/2 in Talbot County.

Joli nominated Jim Sherring to become the 9^th member of the Maryland Big Tree Program Committee. Jim is the Harford County Forestry Board Chair and a civil engineer working for a large construction company in Baltimore County, Hunt Valley. The vote of the committee was unanimous to accept him as a member. (see photo)

On 6-18, I met with Diane, the mother of the manager of a large private equine center in Colora, to tour the 480 acre property and measure any qualifying trees. We measured 5 trees that qualified (and two that did not qualify). Those that qualified were a pecan (261 pts., new county champion), willow oak (285 pts.), red maple (259 pts.), black birch (197 pts.), and a white ash (297 pts.) The ash has not been treated for EAB, so I recommended that it be done.

On 6-22, Jim Sherring and I walked a 20 acre parcel in Abingdon (Harford). DNR Forester Frank Lopez had previously done a management plan update and nominated the property to be explored. We measured 4 trees that qualified (and two that did not). One tree, an eastern arborvitae, became the new Harford County Champion. In the afternoon we drove to Phoenix (Baltimore) to measure two trees nominated by the owner. They were a Nordmann fir and a dawn redwood. Both qualified as new Baltimore County champion trees. The owner also has a very nice paperbark maple, which is no longer eligible under the new policy for non-native small trees and shrub-like trees.

We currently have 5 new trees with signed permission forms—in QA, Howard, Baltimore County, Carroll and the latest in Harford (which came in after 6-22—Murphy’s Law). I have permission forms for 4 trees in Cecil to be re-measured. I also received a signed permission form for a tree measured in Howard County in 2018 but not registered. With the receipt of the permission form, the tree is now registered.

I am asking potential new owners to provide a circumference measurement and photos of the tree if possible (not required). This is to reduce unnecessary trips for undersized trees.

Natural Resources Career Conference (NRCC) Update:

Gabrielle had a late breaking update that the Board of Public Works voted to implement over 400 million in cuts to the FY 2021 State Budget (now). This included the Mel Noland Grant that funds 2 contractual positions, one of which does NRCC recruitment. This will definitely hurt the recruiting process.

Website Update:

Ron reported that he:

Checked current county champions with mdbigtrees.com data

County Big Tree Program Cecil County Champion Tree Page –

Replace Blue Atlas Cedar BT1792 (200 pts) with BT1645 (213 pts) – (no pic?) **

Re-format Lebanon Cedar BT3555 as no longer MD state champion

Correct Total Points error for Chinese Chestnut (was 231, now 213) **

Re-format Coast Douglas-Fir (BT1329) as MD state champion

Add Common Hackberry (BT3534) as Cecil county co-champion **

Replace Canadian Hemlock BT2067 (deceased?) w/ BT2008 as Cecil champion (no pic?) **

Re-format Pignut Hickory BT3312 as no longer MD state champion

Question – What is status of European Linden BT1535 – re-measured?

Remove Japanese Maple BT1302 as no longer Cecil county co-champion

Replace Red Maple BT2701 (257 pts) with BT3592 (276 pts) **

Re-format Blackjack Oak BT2918 as MD state champion

Replace Genus+species name of Chestnut Oak from Quercus prinus to Quercus Montana

Update measurements on MD state champion Northern Red Oak BT3407

Replace Northern Pecan BT2875 (203 pts) with BT3603 (261 pts) **

** - no .pdf picture available – cannot create with my current facilities

Replaced June Agenda with July Agenda

Added June minutes

Checked most web links for applicability, availability

New Business:

John reported the proposed Forest Legacy Easement on his property is moving forward. The survey of the property will be difficult and the bids have come in high.

John also forwarded an article co-authored by Jim Bardsley, President of the Forestry Board State Association and professor at UM Eastern Shore that concluded, that larger (Some Big Trees) studied provided more carbon sequestration than smaller trees.

Tom reported heavy EAB damage in the northern part of the County and John reported that EAB was found in Charlestown.

Next Meeting: August 5, 2020