2021 Maryland Big Tree Program Report
SUMMARY
In 2021, the MBTP volunteers measured, re-measured, or deleted 388 trees. There were 225 trees newly measured, 112 trees were re-measured, and 51 deceased. All of these numbers are records for the program. We were unable to obtain permission forms to re-measure 31 trees and they will be moved to the “Inactive” file. There are currently 2465 active trees (measured in the last 10 years) on the Maryland database, 631 deceased trees & 689 inactive trees (trees not re-measured in the last 10 years for various reasons). We were not able to re-measure 24 trees and they will be carried over to 2022.
As in previous years, the MBTP was funded by grants from the Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee, the Anne Arundel County Forestry Board, and several other MD Forestry Boards that provided reimbursement to their members, or in-kind donations.
The web site, www.mdbigtrees.org. continues to be an important source of new big tree referrals, with many of the new trees being referred automatically from the web site nomination form. The designer of the original web site went out of business in 2014, but we were extremely fortunate that a volunteer was able to lease a new hosting site and migrate the web site to this new site for several years. In 2017 a campaign was started to raise funds for a new website and Ken McCathran volunteered to prepare the specifications for the solicitation of bids. Bids for a new web site were cost prohibitive. Ken once again volunteered his time to research and develop a new site using a combination of platforms Wix and Airtable. With assistance from Dawn Balinski, the licenses for both platforms were obtained with substantial discounts. The new site was deployed in early 2021and additional features have been added since.
The new web site has also been a source of forestry-related questions, ranging from requests for financial assistance in dealing with dying trees, to locations of places to hike and visit big trees, to asking about deceased trees. We are finding these requests are taking much additional time to research and respond.
Beginning in 2010, the MBTP was managed by the Cecil County Forestry Board, until 2016, when a new State-wide committee was formed from members of the Forestry Boards Association. In October, 2021 Geary Schwemmer was added as a new Board member. Geary is a member of the Carrroll County Forestry Board and the Carroll County Big Tree Coordinator.
DECEASED STATE CHAMPIONS – 11
BT-2266 Norway Maple
Cecil
301 points
BT-2933 Mockernut Hickory
Montgomery
259 points
BT-0739 Austrian Pine
Baltimore
196 points - Hampton National Historic Site
BT-2865 Common Apple
Montgomery
133 points - National Institutes of Health
BT-2122 Downy Serviceberry
Garrett 124 points - co-champion
BT-2237 Downy Serviceberry
Garrett 124 points - co-champion
BT-2254 Pumpkin Ash
Anne Arundel 108
points - Jug Bay Wildlife Refuge
BT-3029 White Spruce
Baltimore City 93 points
BT-2521 Castor Aralia
Montgomery
90 points
BT-2286 Striped Maple
Garrett
52 points
BT-2318 Staghorn Sumac Harford
42 points – Rocks State Park
NEW STATE CHAMPIONS – 11
BT-3797 Black Walnut
St. Mary's
350 points
BT-3774 European Beech
Baltimore
City 302 points - Loyola University
BT-3874 Japanese Chestnut
Anne
Arundel 276 points
BT-0830 Yoshino Cherry
Carroll
275 points
BT-3831 Honeylocust
Montgomery 60 points
BT-3835 Callary
Pear "Bradford" Montgomery
198 points
BT-3775 Port Orford
Cedar Baltimore City 176 points - Loyola University - co-champion
BT-3776 Port Orford
Cedar Baltimore City 175 points - Loyola University - co-champion
BT-3825 Yellow Birch
Baltimore
174 points - Prettyboy Reservoir
BT-3815 Tamarack
Baltimore 125 points
BT-3891 Green Hawthorn
Baltimore City 124 points
BT-3851 Mountain Maple
Allegany
35 points - Dan's Mountain Wildlife Management Area
VOLUNTEERS – We are very fortunate to have an active group of volunteers. A separate attached page lists these volunteers by category. It does not include numerous big tree owners who were happy to assist us in measuring their trees. In December Cecil County obtained a new volunteer who is an arborist at the University of Delaware.
MEDIA PRESENCE – There were 9 media accounts regarding Maryland Big Trees in 2021:
· “A love of trees that has lasted a lifetime” – Carroll County Times
· “Anneslie resident shows, that tree in your front yard may just be a champion” – Baltimore Sun
· “Big Trees on Campus” – Towson University publication
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/86582d1d189f4b8faec8f60ebcea2cea
· “Frederick County Forestry Board and MBTP announce three new county champions” – Frederick News-Post
· “Loyola University Recognized For Having Biggest Trees In Maryland” (Video) – WJZ / CBS Baltimore
· “Deep Creek Lake tamarack remains champion in Big Tree Program” – Garrett County Republican
· “Oakland Tree Awarded GC County Champion Title” – Deep Creek Times
https://deepcreektimes.com/tree-awarded-champion/
· “Oakland is home to champion pine” - Garrett County Republican
· “Three county champions named to Big Tree Program” - Garrett County Republican
COMMITTEE
As of December 31, 2021, the Committee includes the following members:
· John Bennett, Chair
· Joli McCathran, Vice-Chair
· Dawn Balinski
· Jim Bardsley
· Linda Barker
· Anne Gilbert – DNR Liaison
· Doug Inkley
· Kathie Jarmon
· Dori Murphy
· Jim Sherring
· Geary Schwemmer
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Beginning Balance: $ 379.92
2021 Income: $3,243.88
2021 Expenses: $3,051.71
Ending Balance: $ 571.09