Vegetation surveying in Eagle Heights Woods

Ann Burgess, Suzy Will-Wolf, and Glenda Denniston

As part of the Preserve’s 5-year management plan for Eagle Heights Woods, a team of volunteers has begun surveys of trees, saplings, shrubs layer, and ground cover.  Ecologist Suzy Will-Wolf, an experti in survey techniques and protocols, Preserve Steward Glenda Denniston, with extensive knowledge of the plant species in the Preserve, and biologist Ann Burgess, offering her skills in documentation and record keeping, have developed a survey plot location scheme, survey protocol details, and methods of documentation. They intend to survey randomly located plots of 100 square meters (including two 1 square meter quadrats within each focusing on ground layer plants) in many locations the central zone. They will do this in spring and then again in summer or early fall to account for spring ephemerals as well as later vegetation. 

On May 8, they were setting out to sample their 4th plot in the Eagle Heights woods. Results and analysis of their work will provide important information for developing adaptive management strategies for the area. Suzy, Glenda, and Ann are part of the Preserve's Planning and Implementation Committee and work closely with Preserve staff and project manager Adam Gundlach. They are also members of the Friends. The Eagle Heights Woods rejuvenation project is the focus of the Friends current fundraising efforts. All photos Gisela Kutzbach

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