MEETING MINUTES
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 sent the board financial status in an attached report to all members. Board will discuss some items in the next meeting.
Update on Big Tree Program:
John reported:
In
October, volunteers set a new MBTP record by measuring or re-measuring 44
trees. I am still trying to get all
trees recorded and certificates mailed as of 11/3. Here are the details:
Anne Arundel – 1 new tree and
3 re-measurements, including 3 county champions. Joli McCathran, Sandra Drew
Baltimore – 2 new trees and 1
re-measurement, including 1 new State Champion, a dawn redwood. One tree did not qualify. Joli McCathran, Geary Schwemmer
Cecil – 6 new trees,
including 3 new county champions and one new State co-champion, a pignut
hickory. John Hudock and John Bennett.
Carroll – 9 new trees,
including four new county champions and one new State champion, a saucer
magnolia. Joli & Gary, Eric Schlitzer (3 trees)
Frederick – 8 new trees and
2 re-measurements, including 8 county champions and State co-champion, a
bitternut hickory. One tree did not
qualify. Bethany Dellagnello, Claude Eans, David Hunter, Mike Kay.
Harford – 2 new trees and 5
re-measurements. These were all at
Aberdeen Proving Grounds
and
the photos have not yet been approved by government officials. Joli McCathran, Jim Sherring, John
Bennett, Deidra DeRoia, Hannah Schmidt
Montgomery – 4 new trees,
including 1 new county champion and 1 new State Champion, a deodar cedar. Joli McCathran, Joe Howard, Vince Fillah
Prince George’s – 1 new tree. Christopher
and Sharon Winton
4
trees were reported deceased. Two trees,
a white ash in St. Mary’s County and a white oak in Quiet Waters Park in AA
County, have been registered since before 1990 (appear in the “green book”.)
The
new State Champion dawn redwood is 30 points larger than the previous champion;
a remarkable difference. The new State
Champion saucer magnolia is in Leister Park in Carroll County and publicly
accessible.
Geary
Schwemmer is a new volunteer based in Carroll
County. He nominated all of the new
Carroll County trees and one of the Baltimore County trees. We are working with the Maryland Forestry
Foundation and DNR Forest Service to try to equip Geary with measuring
equipment thru the Carroll County Forestry Board so Joli
doesn’t have to travel from Montgomery up to Carroll to help Geary.
Jim
Bardsley wrote a report on a previously measured oak
on the Hood College campus that Bethany Dellagnello
nominated and measured last month (see below).
It is attached to this report.
You will note this may be the first reported case of a northern red
oak/southern red oak hybrid.
We
are registering it as a northern red oak.
Hood College Hybrid Oak Morphological Determination,
November 2, 2020
We can register the Hood oak as Northern red oak, Quercus rubra, but technically it is a
putative red oak hybrid. Southern red
oak, Quercus falcata is the other suspected progenitor. FOLIAGE: Attached is a pic showing a
leaf from the subject tree
that has several
characters suggesting southern red, namely some lobes are slightly falcate (recurved, sickle-shaped), the base is rounded instead of
wedge shaped or tuncate, and it has an extended terminal lobe. These and other Q rubra leaf character departures,
such as lack of distal flaring in laterals, are noted on this leaf photo. Also
attached is a pic of the tree showing what appears to be sun
leaves with deep sinuses and a pair of
exaggerated lateral lobes, both could
suggest Q falcata but not Q rubra. Q rubra on the other hand has leaf
undersurfaces nearly devoid of pubescence while Q falcata
is characterized by persistent tomentum. The Hood specimen
seems lacking this heavy pubescence as
does Q rubra and Q shumardii.
Some fine brownish fuzz might be expected on leaf undersides when Q falcata
is paired with another red oak member that is devoid of this tomentum - like
northern red or Shumard. I would expect to see a reduction in tomentum on the
undersurface of the leaves of the hybrid. However, pubescence
density could vary somewhat between individuals of the same species anyway and,
with a hybrid, they could also be deciduous and shed before the leaves
drop in fall. More about the leaves: Typical
Northern red has sinuses usually less than or equal to halfway to midrib. Although many leaves show these shallow sinuses,
some leaves, that could be sun foliage on the subject,
clearly deviates from this distinguishing trait. Additionally,
the photos show leaves with rounded leaf bases - NOT a character of either
northern red or Shumard but is diagnostic of Southern red. FRUIT: The large size of the acorns
helps support the second contributor as a northern
red (or Shumard oak. BARK: An examination of the bark, also suggest
influence by Northern red or even Shumard. Both trees can have
similar bark on older trees; however, the bark on the subject has twisting flat plates that do not look as much like
the straighter ski tracks more characteristic of Q rubra, but this feature has a lower diagnostic value than
the other characters. BUDS: The
buds that I see in the 10/2 pics suggest a combination situation. They appear
weakly angled and slightly hairy on the subject. Q rubra buds are
usually round, un-angled with little to no fuzz. It could sometimes appear to
have some hairs on the bud apex but the specimen here shows some buds with
hairs a bit lower on the bud, as well. A cross between an oak with fuzzy
buds with one not so much could yield a hybrid with less fuzzy buds. Also, if Q falcata
is a progentitor with Q. rubra; the buds of the Hood oak could appear at least weakly angled (5-point star in cross section. I note your pics do show some of the buds either unangled or weakly angled.
DETERMINATION: I believe this specimen to be a hybrid of Quercus rubra and Q falcata. Since most of the leaves have shallow to moderate sinuses, like Q rubra, and the buds do not appear strongly angled, I believe Q shumardii is less likely involved. Having said that, this tree does not key out cleanly to any species but could pass for a northern red for purposes of the registry. However, I would be hesitant to put a species-specific tag on it at a school where students could get confused trying to confirm its identity. It should be identified as a putative hybrid, Quercus rubra x Q falcata. I say this with confidence but with some hesitation because there is no such known hybrid documented in the literature (that I could find). In contrast, the cross between falcata and shumardii is well documented. Nevertheless, the putative hybrid Q rubra and Q falcata is certainly conceivable and there is sufficient morphological evidence to support it in my opinion. Congratulations, you could have found the very first hybrid taxon of these two species!
Dori reported that BT 1693, the Bitternut Hickory at Holly Hall has dropped a major limb. BT 1829, the Pitch Pine has died. It is still standing but, there is not a needle on it!
State Association Report:
Report submitted by Gabrielle (Thanks
for the great report!)
Tom attended but didn’t have sound
for the first half of the meeting.
October, 2020 Forestry Board Meeting
Jim Bardsley, President of the State Association introduced himself, gave some background, thanked Anne Gilbert, talked about the program, and then introduced Ken Jolly.
State Forester’s Report, Kenneth Jolly, Maryland State Forester
Budget
FY21 35% increase, $12.6 million to &17 million $4.4 million increase
$355,000 for Forest Legacy in Cecil County
·
None of the money can be used for
operations it all goes into the Reserve Fund
FY22 6.775% cut to operating budget
·
Mel Noland Fellowship Program is still in
FY22, it was cut from the FY21 budget.
·
Unfilled Forest Technician Position in
Frederick/Washington Project was eliminated.
·
All vehicle replacement money was
eliminated
·
Hiring Freeze 10% of open positions can’t
be filled. Half a million dollars in savings.
·
DNR receives $84m in General Funds,
Department of Budget Management directed DNR to find $8.6m in General Funds to
cut (10%) Not all DNR budget is GF fortunately. DNR will be replacing most of it
with Special Fund money. There will be no reduction to staff or operations.
Smaller cushion in Reserve Fund.
Personnel
·
Forest Service currently has 8
vacancies. The
will be 2 more by the end of the year, one of those in early November.
·
Hiring freeze exception forms have been
submitted, there has been no action taken. Probably not filled until next
fiscal year.
Operations: Selected Highlights
Tree Planting
·
508,000 seedlings planted on 1,030 acres
·
Forest Stewardships Plans: 1,604 land
owners on 79,667 acres
·
New FS Plans: 473 landowners on 23,601
acres
·
Ongoing plans: 1,131 landowners on 56,066
acres
Wild Fires in Maryland:
·
73 on 1,416 acres
·
Interagency Fires (Western Fires): 99
firefighters sent to 27 incidents in 12 states. There are currently 9 Forest Service
personnel in California fighting fires. It’s unusual to have personnel deployed
this late in the year.
Urban and Community Forestry
·
3,450 trees were donated and planted in 44
communities.
2019 Annual Report
·
Ken apologized for overlooking The Forestry
Boards in the Annual Report. The oversight will be corrected in the 2020
report. (Of course we didn’t do as much in 2020
because of Covid-19.)
·
Five Biomass webinars with over 173
attendees from Maryland and across the country and the globe!
·
Draft State Forest Action Plan for
2020-2025 required by the Feds through the Farm Bill so Maryland can get
Federal funding.
·
Forest Service personnel started doing BMP
inspections on logging sites October 1. It had been requested by the logging
industry because they felt the FS folks would know what they were looking at.
FS worked with MDE and Soil Conservation to make it happen. Central region is
doing 70% of inspections. Regulations are different county to county. They are
only looking at sediment and erosion control.
·
State Forest Dual Certification was
obtained again from Sustainable Forest Initiative and FSC.
·
Economic Adjustment Strategy for Maryland
Forest Industry: how to strength and improve Maryland’s forest industry.
Invasive Insect Detection at the Port of Baltimore
Guest Speaker: Matt Travis (State Plant Health Director- MD/DC USDA APHIS PPQ- Field Operations)
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
·
Two missions:
Protect American Agriculture
Facilitate Safe Trade
·
He had an awesome world map that showed
all the shipping lanes. Think hurricane spaghetti models on steroids. It showed
a tremendous amount of activity to Mid-Atlantic ports.
·
Wood Product exports mostly to China,
Taiwan, and one more.
·
They check cargo and passengers entering
the country. Anything they find has to be identified. They have an array of
experts for insect, disease, plants, and animals. If a shipment is contaminated
it’s handled one of 3 ways. It can be treated, if there’s not much, the product
that’s contaminated can be destroyed, or the ship can be sent back. They can
also send the ship out to Open Waters (Atlantic Ocean, not the Bay) to
decontaminate it themselves. The cargo is reinspected when it returns.
·
Domestic regulatory work:
Quarantine enforcement
Certificates
Limited Permits
Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC)
·
Checking local markets and the internet
for illegal plants or animals.
Investigative Enforcement Service (IES)
·
Follow up and decide who to take to court
and what charges to make.
Current Trends
·
Asian Longhorn Beetle- Tree treatment
research is ongoing. Not a significant spread in Ohio or Mass. Area in New York
have been declared free of ALB.
·
Spotted Lanternfly- Found in Pennsylvania
in 2014. It’s now in 10 states, Ohio is the latest. It travels easily. They have
treated Fair Hill and vineyards in Harford and Cecil Counties.
·
Foreign Seeds- Don’t plant unsolicited
seeds you get in the mail. You could be planting an invasive species.
·
Capra Beetle-?
·
Asian Gypsy Moth-10 detections in the Port
of Baltimore since March. If found on ship, it’s out to Open Waters to clean
and remove GM and reinspected.
·
Paracles
Azollae (Erbidae)- A moth found in June of 2020.
Semi-aquatic, found in stagnant or slow moving fresh
water. Non-selective feeder of aquatic plants.
·
Asian Giant Hornet (Murder
Hornet)-inspections on going at Port of Baltimore for AGH, there is nothing on
the East Coast.
·
Emerald Ash Borer- Quarantine may end in
January, 2021
·
Port of Baltimore discontinued use of
Ethel Bromide treatments because of environmental concerns. They will be
reestablishing the use because a way has been found to recapture the fumes.
·
A Maryland business is looking for a way
to export wood chips. They have been working for 2 ½ years with the Port to get
it done. Permitting, etc. Treating the chips?
Urban and Community Forestry
·
Outdoor exams for Forest Product Operators and ?
·
Analysis of the Tree Care Industry in
happening in 21 states. Local economy: taxes, salaries, equipment purchased.
·
Social Media #Fromthetreetops on Facebook,
highlighting the Forest Service and forest industries. Each Tuesday, check it
out and “Like” it!
·
Upcoming General Assembly: Hearings will
be virtual, right now voting on bills will be in person
·
4HForestryinvitational.org for high school
students. Check with Melissa Nash, Garrett County Forester. Think environthon with just Forestry. They are looking for
donations of equipment and money.
·
Teri Batchelor Memorial: Chestertown Tree
planting and bench, NRCC scholarship. Checks can be made to the Forestry
Foundation.
·
Tree-mendous
website update, new logo! Coupons!
·
5th grade poster contest,
posters due to county boards by January 15, 2021, wnnerss
due to Anne by February 15, 2021.
Forestry Foundation Update Gary Allen
Challenges
·
Fellowship funding lost for 2020
·
Cancelation of NRCC and Urban Forestry
Camp pilot
·
Funding shortfall
Legislature
·
No new bills will be considered that
involve new funding
·
Urban Forestry Camp still has a lot of
interest
·
Woodland Incentive Fund (WIF) Changing funding
and use of funds. It got lost in last Legislative session, will be revisited in
2022
·
Restoring the Fellowship Program and the
Urban Forestry Camp
·
Modify the state biomass incentives
·
Set a state tree planting goal (500,000
trees a year for 10 years)
Funding must
involve long term survival
To plant that many
trees: private landowners
·
Set a D.C. metro region canopy cover goal
Healthy Forest, Healthy Waters
·
Continuing and expanding
·
Most have been in Western Maryland
·
The program has been building in Frederick
County for the past 7 years.
·
People want to participate which improves
survival rate (85%)
·
Landowner signs a Stewardship agreement
for the care of the trees.
·
HFHW is a significant part of the Forest
Service’s tree planting numbers.
·
Supported by Trust Fund (Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund?)
Maryland Municipal League
·
Building Resilience Against Climate
Effects (BRACE) special edition of Municipal
Maryland September/October edition available
online
·
Invitation for local leaders
·
Resilience financing 2021, 2
municipalities will be chosen to participate in Natural Capital Financing for
local governments.
Treasurer’s Report Dawn Balinski
·
Memorial Fund for Teri Batchelor – you can
still donate to the NRCC scholarship
or to a tree to be planted in
Chestertown with a bench
·
Healthy Trees Healthy Waters also has
local economic benefits: people are employed, equipment is purchased, and one more
Committee Reports
Scholarship & Chestnut Tree Glenn Farnencheck
·
2 Scholarships to students attending
Garrett, $1,000 each
·
All the Chestnuts got planted this year how many?
Maryland Big Tree Jolee
·
330 new or remeasured trees
·
31 Bicentennial Trees still living
·
18 National Champions
·
Big Tree website is being rebuild on a new
and better platform, it show be ready by January
NRCC
·
Applications for 2021 open in January
·
Counties should contact any student who
applied last year and encourage them to apply this year.
·
Students who were interviewed and
accepted, don’t have to do the process again.
·
There will be new health and safety
guidelines in place at Hickory.
MUCFC
·
12 grants were awarded in 2020
·
Almost $10,000
·
Next round of grants will be awarded
February 15, 2021
Other Business
·
Spring awards in honor of Mel Nolan and
Connie Hoge Where do they find the criteria?
·
Submit nominations to Anne Gilbert
·
Next meeting will be in March, 2021 Most
likely online again.
Natural Resources Career Conference (NRCC) Update:
Update contained in the State Association Mtg
minutes.
Website Update:
Ron reported that he:
Added October minutes
Inserted November agenda
Changed three County Champion Trees:
Boxelder
River Birch
Pignut Hickory (also a state
co-champion)
New Business:
Tom reported:
It sounded from the last meeting, to hold off on
ordering White Pine seedlings, but keep that in mind if you want to order
any. There are still 82,000 left on the last inventory that I received. Kathie suggested to revisit this issue next
meeting.
The Salvage Harvest at ENSP is progressing intermittently
and going pretty well. Maybe about 25% done. I found a Black Oak
that was blown down and cut that was 125-130 years old. That was the
oldest I found.
Kathie reported that she
suspects the Black Oak on her property is about 125-130 years old also. We
believe the one in our yard might be somewhat close to that age, since we have
pictures of it from not long after the house was built. Unfortunately, it
is not doing well.
There have been no Sediment & Erosion Control
Plans approved since October 1st that would require Best Management Practice
reviews.
Next Meeting: December 2, 2020