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Goldsworth Valley Dining Unit
Tree Valua on Survey
March 26– April 5, 2013
WMU Facili es Management, Landscape Services and
WMU Natural Areas and Preserves Program
INTRODUCTION Plans to develop a new dining unit on the WMU campus located north of the Goldsworth Valley Pond in the
wooded area South of Valley 2 and east of Valley 3 have prompted the need to develop a objec ve valua-
on of trees impacted by this project. This detailed survey of woody plants was accomplished during the
dormant season from March 26 – April 5, 2013. Along with trees herbaceous groundcover popula ons
were surveyed based on direct iden fica on and photos from previous years to iden fy wildflowers in the
understory.
The areas surveyed include Valley2, Zone 1 woodlot and Valley 3, Zone 1 woodlot, as well as the service
drive between Lot #54 & Lot #55 ( Please refer to WMU Woodlot management Plan , July 2012 page 4 and
15) Maps of these survey areas are included in this report.
Accredited Tree Evaluator: Darrell Junkins
ISA Cer fied Arborist: #MI0529A
Hor culturalist and GPS operator: Nicholas Gooch
ISA Cer fied Arborist: # MI4141A
Senior Arborist :John Disbro
ISA Cer fied Arborist: #MI0032A
Data Recorder, assistant Botanist: Steve Keto
Na ve Plant Specialist, B.S. Wildlife Mgt.
Addi onal assistance by:
Steve Root
ISA Cer fied Aroborist: #5930-PN
Aaron Dykstra
CLP (P.L.A.N.E.T)
Mike Taylor
ISA Cer fied Arborist #4057A
Tree Assessment Protocol: 1. Iden fy tree species
2. Enter individual tree to survey form and assign unique tree ID number .
3. GPS locate tree and enter ID number.
4. Measure trunk circumference at 54” above ground (DBH measurements) using circumference tape
measure
5. Crew assesses quality: root base, trunk, branching, height, shape, height, loca on, defects, assign :
Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent, street tree, forest tree to aid in valua on.
1. Enter notes with each measurement on Tree Survey form
2. Indicate tree has been surveyed: pink dot on north side of base.
3. Enter informa on to “The Michigan Tree Value Guide”: calcula ons set to $ value
4. Link GPS tree data points to maps.
Sample Tree Survey form
Wildlife During the tree survey period from 3/ 26– April 5, 2013 wildlife use of the woodlots was
noted. Evidence of wildlife use was based on Visual sigh ngs, scat, pellets, tracks, nests,
dens, past photographic evidence and used food resources.
Whitetail Deer: tracks, scat. ( Deer are rou nely seen in vicinity of Valley woods)
Eastern Co ontail rabbit: scat
Fox Squirrel: visual sigh ngs , nests , hulled hickory nuts
Red squirrel: sigh ngs, hulled hickory nuts.
Chipmunks: sigh ngs, burrows.
Skunk: odor and feeding ac vity in soil
Woodpecker: sigh ngs, (downy woodpecker, Flicker, Red bellied) nest and feeding holes in
snags
Turkey: sigh ngs in proximity to woodlots ( valley 1 Fall 2012)
Red Fox: sigh ngs in proximity of woodlots (Valley 3 summer 2012)
Wood Duck: sigh ngs in proximity of woodlots (Valley 3 spring 2011)
Red Tailed Hawk: regular sigh ngs in valley
Habitat Quality : the large concentra on of mast bearing trees in these woodlots and the
quan ty of empty Hickory nuts and Oak acorns in the duff layer suggests regular use by
Mammals and birds. In addi on the large number of mature Oak and Hickory support a
large diversity and number of insect species that feed resident and seasonal bird species
during rearing of young in the Spring and Summer. Large trees also support nests for birds
and mammals that frequent the Valley.
Valley Woods Tree count and animal species they support
Tree Genus Tree Species # in woodlots # Dependent Wildlife
Ash 1 20
Cherry Black 107 81
Cherry Cornelian 4 81
Crab Apple 1 NA
Dogwood 1 64
Elm American 24 20
Elm Slippery 1 20
Hawthorne 5 29
Hickory Shelbark, Shagbark,
Pignut
210 25
Hop Hornbeam 2 11
Locust Honey 4 4
Maple Amur 1 33
Maple Norway 6 33
Maple Sugar 1 33
Maple Red 1 33
Musclewood 3 10
Oak Red, White 122 96–
Pine Scotch 1 82
Pine White 2 82
Redbud 1 2
Sassafras 6 23
Serviceberry 2 58
Sumac 2 50
Hickory
235 Lepidopteran spe-
cies (bu erfly/moth)
Oaks support over 600
species of insects
543 Lepidoptera
(bu erfly/moth) species
REFERENCES:
“Western Michigan University Woodlot Management Plan” July 2012.
Facili es management, Landscape Services and WMU Natural Areas and Pre-
serves Program.
“Michigan Tree Valua on Guide”. January 2011. Michigan Forestry & Parks
Associa on Inc.
Symonds, George W.D., “The Tree Iden fica on Book” 1958. William Morrow
& Company Inc. New York
Petrides, George A. “ A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs” 1972. Houghton
Mifflin Co. Boston
Sibley, David Allen “ The Sibley Guide to Trees” 2009. Albert A. Knoff, New
York
Mar n, Alexander C., Herbert S. Zim and Arnold L. Nelson. “American Wildlife
and Plants” 1951. Dover Publica ons. New York.
“Landscaping for Wildlife.” 1987. Minnesota Department of Natural Re-
sources.
Tree Stewards. “Oaks: More Wildlife Value.” November 2011. Retrieved from:
h p://treestewards.org/2011/11/27/oaks-more-wildlife-value/. March 28,
2013.
Tree Stewards. “Hickory Trees and Wildlife.” January 4, 2012. Retrieved from:
h p://treestewards.org/2012/01/04/hickory-trees-and-wildlife/. March 28
2013.
h p://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-213.pdf
Survey Area for Valley Tree Assessment
March 29—April 5, 2013
Herbaceous Na ve Wildflowers
Valley Tree Survey
During the process of doing the Tree Valua on Survey in the valley woodlots, an
a empt was made to survey na ve popula ons of woodland ephemeral wildflowers
that naturally occur on this site. Since most na ve species will not be fully observable
un l Late April or mid May other methods of assessment were used. In addi on to di-
rect observa on of root stock in soil, spent or dormant plant parts above ground; pho-
tos from previous seasons were used to assess the value of this resource. These are
es mates of plants found in only one of the woodlots, actual numbers could be deter-
mined by late May.2013
Carex pensylvanica, Pennsylvania Sedge: 750 sq. on site :
Michigan source 3” pots $5.00 each. 1 per sq. . $3750.00
Podophyllum peltatum, Mayapple: 200 sq. . on site:
Midwest source: bare root, $4.49 ea. 1 per sq. . $898.00
Trillium grandiflora. Large flower trillium, 150 sq. . on site
Michigan source: 4” pot , $8.00 ea. ,1 per sq. . $1200.00
Geranium maculatum, Wild geranium 50 sq. . on site
Michigan source: 3”pots, $5.00 ea. , 1 per sq. . $250.00
Es mated value of woodland wildflowers impacted $6098.00
Valley 2, Zone 1 only
< Frasera columbo, American Columbo
Arisaema triphyllum, Jack-in-the-Pulpit >
< Caulophyllum thalictroides, Blue Cohosh
Anemone quinquefolia, Wood Anemone >
< Podophyllum peltatum, Mayapple
< Geranium maculatum, Wild Geranium
Valley Woodlot Na ve Wildflower Groundcovers
Trillium grandiflora, Large Flower Trillium >
Conclusion and Recommenda ons The following conclusions and recommenda ons are based on he detailed Tree Survey done by Landscape
Services in the area to be impacted by the construc on zone of the proposed Valley Dining Unit . Trees
over 1” diameter were iden fied using appropriate taxonomic resources and the combined experience of
the a ending ISA cer fied arborists. While every a empt was made to iden fy, assess and record all
woody specimens in the construc on zone, the fact that woody plants are dormant complicated the iden-
fica on of may individuals that were under 1” diameter. These specimens represent the volunteers of
the exis ng species in these older growth woods and will in their me replace this community of trees as
part of the canopy or understory species. While we did not value these trees they are poten ally as valua-
ble as the small non na ve trees slated by the developer to replace the mature na ve specimens to be
removed. Herbaceous Na ve Wildflowers though difficult to accurately asses, were surveyed where physi-
cal and photographic evidence allowed. These remnant popula ons are an index of forest health as they
are difficult to propagate, slow to establish, and adapted to undisturbed, non-compacted organic forest
soils. Wildlife species evidence was based on physical, photographic and personal observa on over the
last several years. The large amount of food ; (flowers, seeds, nuts, browse), cover and nest sites, support
the regular use by a variety of organisms at all tropic levels. Soils in this survey site are deep , friable, or-
ganic and func on by way of soil biology to filter large amounts of rain water in the valley. The aesthe c
of a large mature na ve stand of Michigan hardwoods is significant as currently many species are not
commercially available, and if they are, only available in sizes 3” and under. The cost to purchase,
transport, install and establish mature trees in quan es sufficient to restore these woodlots is prohibi-
ve. These woodlots surrounding the valley halls represent one of the best example of pre-se lement
South West Michigan Oak / Hickory forest and could with investment be a posi ve public rela ons op-
portunity and a unique feature on Westerns campus for future genera ons of Bronco’s to enjoy.
Conclusions reached in this report are developed from observa ons and data collected from the Tree val-
ua on Assessment and represent a group effort to a empt to value the ecologically services of this natu-
ral landscape. The age, size, landscape value, species mix, wildlife value and the overall posi ve benefit
these trees have on the aesthe c of the Valley Residence Hall Landscape cannot be dismissed as having no
value to our campus aesthe c , our commitment to sustainable land use prac ces and community public
rela ons . The unanimous recommenda on of this tree survey group based on all available informa on is
to consider another site for the Valley Dining unit construc on and to preserve and enhance this site for
future stewards of this WMU landscape.
Based on the proximity to the Valley Halls, poor quality of the landscape, a steam line that is damaging
lawn and trees, and parking lots in need of repair, the group recommends evalua ng Lot #59, #60, #81 as
possible site for a new dining unit. Addi on parking could be found by using lots #89 and #97more effec-
vely for staff and students and opening parking spaces in the Valley that will be vacated by dining staff
and employees.
A
E
C
B
D
Valley Tree Survey Master Valua on Map
Region Total Trees Total Value
A 173 $158,681.28
B 333 $258,829.49
C 163 $136,562.96
D 50 $30.047.30
E 19 $25,234.00
Grand Total 738 $609,355.03