Love this Kentucky Weather

By: Allan Coldiron

Week of February 11-15, 2008

FOR 480

The past few weeks have been very difficult on the Forestry Class with the mysterious Kentucky weather. On days that travel to Cleft Rock was possible, work in the field was slow-going and not very cheerful with rain, cold winds, and little sunshine. This past week was not any more pleasant with snow causing the entire University to delay classes. Upon meeting after the delay, closures of Interstate 75 prevented travel to the property, to put the teams that much further behind schedule.

To make up some time each group gave up their free Thursday to start their inventories. My group finished 11 of the 126 projected plots to be done for the inventory of Cleft Rock property. In the inventory plots we are collecting data on standing trees, snags, fallen woody debris, any signs of wildlife, possible regeneration or re-growth species, any invasive species found, and any other general information (such as locations of streams, drains, landmarks, buildings, etc.) that would be relative to the management plan.

The 126 projected plots were calculated from the 288 acres measurable for the Skegg Creek group. With 126 plots the group will reach the goal of measuring 10% of the total 288 acres. Once all plots are complete, a final inventory report will be generated, including board foot volumes for the property, wildlife found, invasive species, etc… This inventory report will help our group draw up a management plan based on what the inventory report shows.

Picture1: Odd growth found on a tree during inventory, we assumed some type of canker or disease.

Previously, each group turned in an inventory proposal report that was generated from data recorded during the cursory inventory. This report laid the tracks on how the main inventory would be conducted. Decisions were based on amount of area measurable, number of different stands in measurable area, and what needs to be measured period.

This week we learned that the inventory will be very time consuming, considering that 11 plots took all day. Thus a couple of weeks will have to be put into finishing the inventory. I may be speaking for my self but the only thing I would change at this point is the weather. Once the weather starts getting warmer, the work in the field will be much more enjoyable. The way this course has gone thus far with the weather, next week could be 20 below and snow a foot deep.

Picture 2: David Parrot and Matt Strong taking it easy during a day at Cleft Rock.