In our continuing saga to understand the death of Pinyon Pine, we set out early this morning to confirm the location of the largest one in Idaho. A certificate in the file states that in 1973, a Pinyon pine in Section 36 of the Reserve was declared Idaho’s champion. Its location had not been re-verified since 1983. The park superintendent recalls looking for the tree in the mid-1990s with no success.
Determined to locate the champion, the superintendent scoured the best known area for giant trees, and felt confident he had found it this past Sunday. Park staff returned to the site and measured. The numbers matched the certificate! The champion pinyon pine is approximately 55 feet in height, 26.6 inches in diameter (dbh), 83.6 inches in circumference, with a crown spread of 5 feet.
What bearing does the champion tree have on our understanding of the species decline? This tree is isolated in a steep canyon surrounded by granite fins. We found another half dozen trees nearby of likely the same age and health. These giant, old growth pinyons are thriving, while smaller, younger trees in open slopes are dying. Are the ancient trees immune to the forest pathogens flourishing elsewhere or isolated from them? Next post we will opine on tree-rings sampled from dead pinyon.
|
November 13, 2019
|
Last updated: February 12, 2020