RIVER BENDS PARK-WEST AND HOLLAND ... - Shelby Township

EXISTING CONDITIONS FOR 'STAND 8. COTTONWOOD'
Land area: 2.6 Acres
Land use history: Like other parts of this Holland Ponds complex, the soils map shows this area as a former
gravel pit.
Forest Type:
-Existing: Cottonwood
-Potential:
Successional trend: Cottonwood was the main tree in this relatively upland stand located between wetland
areas. All were poles or small sawlogs. There were a few twisted or corkscrew willows. In the understory
were sycamore, autumn olive, buckthorn and sandbar willow. Ground vegetation in the sparse forest
included birch, buckthorn, marsh and swamp horsetails, Canada anemone, bee balm, goldenrod, poison ivy,
tartarian honeysuckle, daisy, yarrow, heal-all, tall buttercup, aster and grasses. Vegetation in the southwest
corner, devoid of tree cover, included birdfoot trefoil, crown vetch, yarrow, sandbar willow, a sycamore
sapling, spotted knapweed, curly dock, staghorn sumac, common milkweed, Queen-Anne's-lace, quackgrass,
English plantain, brome, redtop grass, bouncing bet, wild grape and white sweet-clover.
Forest health: Trees appear to be healthy, but autumn olive, tartarian honeysuckle and buckthorn should be
controlled or eradicated.
Site quality: Site index is estimated at 65 for cottonwood, a moderate to good site for cottonwoods and
associated species.
Approximate age: 66 Size Class: Poles (5.5 - 11.5")
Trees per acre: 36 Mean Stand Diameter: 9.9 in.
Basal Area (BA): 15.4 Acceptable BA:
Growth Rate: % Timber Quality: medium
Stocking: Pole-size and small sawlog size cottonwoods make up 98% of the trees surveyed. Corkscrew
willow is the other tree species.
Stand volume: 3.7 Gross total cords/acre
Habitat and wildlife use: As an upland area surrounded on 3 sides by wetlands, this small stand is probably
used by a large variety of wildlife species, especially birds. With the small clearing in the center and the
extensive shrub component, it is not surprising that woodcock were observed using the stand. Others
observed were catbird, goldfinch, purple finch and cedar waxwings. Unfortunately much of the shrub
component consisted of autumn olive and buckthorn, which provide abundant foods for birds but are highly
invasive. These should be removed, and replaced with appropriate native fruiting shrubs.
Recreational opportunities: Wildlife observation is perhaps the most likely human recreation that may take
place here. Another would be gathering wild edible foods. There are some small open areas in the middle
38