February 10, 2016
Regarding the Trees
at Riviera
As a layperson and avid gardener, I wondered about the ages of the trees in question.
So, I looked up a variety of tables online and found there is a pretty standard formula for figuring it out. Assuming that the trees were measured correctly (caliper at 4.5 feet from the ground), I was astounded at the results!
The information listed below was taken primarily from the International Society of Arboriculture website. A growth factor (for example x3) is used to calculate the age of a tree based on species and diameter. There were two maples (Sweet and Freeman’s) I could not find, so I estimated conservatively, based on how maples grow.
Pin Oak x3
Little leaf Linden x3
Sweet gum x4
Red Maple x4.5
Sugar maple x5.5
Silver maple x3
River birch x3.5
London Plane x3
Scots Pine x4
Blue spruce x6
Honey Locust x4
Red Oak x4
White pine x5
Linden x3
River Birch x3.5
Ornamental Pear x3
The table below from the Friends of Dublin website shows the trees that the group requests saving.
Tree
|
Caliper
Inches
|
Condition
|
Species
|
Factor
|
Age
|
37
|
12
|
Good
|
Red Maple
|
4.5
|
54
|
444
|
12
|
Good
|
Red Maple
|
4.5
|
54
|
147
|
13
|
Good
|
Red Maple
|
4.5
|
58.5
|
334
|
14
|
Good
|
Blue Spruce
|
6
|
84
|
404
|
15
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
60
|
535
|
15
|
Good
|
Thornless Honey Locust
|
4
|
60
|
622
|
15
|
Good
|
Sugar Maple
|
5.5
|
82.5
|
903
|
15
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
60
|
642
|
16
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
60
|
794
|
16
|
Good
|
London Planetree
|
3
|
48
|
902
|
16
|
Good
|
Ornamental Pear
|
3
|
48
|
243
|
17
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
68
|
450
|
17
|
Good
|
Black Locust
|
4
|
68
|
904
|
17
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
68
|
66
|
18
|
Good
|
Scots Pine
|
4
|
72
|
76
|
18
|
Good
|
Thornless Honey Locust
|
4
|
72
|
656
|
18
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
72
|
858
|
18
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
72
|
134
|
19
|
Good
|
London Plane
|
3
|
57
|
256
|
19
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
76
|
224
|
20
|
Good
|
Sugar Maple
|
5.5
|
110
|
251
|
20
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
80
|
301
|
20
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
80
|
380
|
20
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
80
|
449
|
20
|
Fair
|
Black Locust
|
4
|
80
|
516
|
20
|
Good
|
Freeman Maple
|
Est. 4
|
80
|
542
|
20
|
Good
|
Linden
|
3
|
60
|
49
|
21
|
Good
|
Linden
|
3
|
63
|
443
|
21
|
Good
|
Red Oak
|
4
|
63
|
154
|
22
|
Good
|
Red Oak
|
4
|
88
|
160
|
22
|
Good
|
Linden
|
3
|
66
|
442
|
22
|
Good
|
White Pine
|
5
|
110
|
797
|
22
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
88
|
302
|
23
|
Good
|
River Birch
|
3.5
|
80.5
|
660
|
23
|
Good
|
Sweet Maple
|
Est. 4
|
92
|
21
|
24
|
Good
|
Sugar Maple
|
5.5
|
132
|
156
|
24
|
Good
|
Red Oak
|
4
|
96
|
270
|
24
|
Good
|
Linden
|
3
|
72
|
512
|
24
|
Good
|
Sugar Maple
|
5.5
|
132
|
614
|
24
|
Good
|
Sweet Gum
|
4
|
96
|
143
|
26
|
Good
|
London Planetree
|
3
|
78
|
441
|
26
|
Good
|
Red Oak
|
4
|
104
|
19
|
28
|
Good
|
Thornless Honey Locust
|
4
|
112
|
22
|
28
|
Good
|
London Planetree
|
3
|
84
|
51
|
28
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
84
|
57
|
28
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
84
|
155
|
28
|
Good
|
Red Oak
|
4
|
112
|
159
|
28
|
Good
|
Linden
|
3
|
84
|
177
|
28
|
Good
|
Littleleaf Linden
|
3
|
84
|
330
|
28
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
84
|
336
|
29
|
Good
|
London Planetree
|
3
|
87
|
18
|
30
|
Good
|
London Planetree
|
3
|
90
|
55
|
30
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
90
|
371
|
30
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
90
|
381
|
30
|
Good
|
Red Oak
|
4
|
120
|
391
|
30
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
90
|
692
|
31
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
93
|
149
|
34
|
Good
|
Pin Oak
|
3
|
102
|
Their ages range from 48- 120 years old based on the
size/factor equation. Their combined ages equal 4714.5 years!! What a legacy to treasure!
So many of these trees have been alive longer than most of
us who live in the area.
Fifty-two are 60+ years old, making them true GOLDEN
BUCKEYES. Twenty five are in their 80’s
and 90’s (noted in bold type). Nine are
over 100 years old!
The thirty-four trees that are eighty-to-well over one
hundred years old have seen a lot. Historical references were found in Dublin (Images of
America) by Nancy L. Richison.
The two 132-year-old sugar maples were saplings in 1884, the
year before a town pump was installed at Bridge and High Streets to serve
residents and horses pulling carts.
In 1912, a cyclone damaged the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian
churches. The congregations joined the
Christian church to become Dublin Community Church. Sugar maples, white pine, red oak, and honey
locust were already growing and thriving.
Girls were first allowed to play on basketball teams at
Dublin High School in 1921 and O’Shaughnessy Dam was built in 1925. Trees that began their growth in 1926 include
sweet maple, red oak, sweet gum and pin oak and are over 90 years old.
The stone bridge crossing the Scioto was built as part of
the Works Progress Administration Program in 1935. Sweet gum, Littleleaf Linden, London
Planetree and numerous pin oaks had begun to grow.
The trees that are seventy-one years and older ushered in
the era after WWII ended.
During Thanksgiving weekend in 1950, a freak snowstorm dumped
20 inches of snow and created drifts up to 25 feet deep. A diverse group of forty-five trees survived
and thrive today.
I could go on and on with the number of changes and events
that have occurred in Dublin over time.
The rate of change brought about by people has increased, but nature’s
timetable is a constant.
The fifty-eight trees on the list above are healthy and
deserve the opportunity to flourish and enhance the property and the city of
Dublin. It would be an absolute travesty
for the City to grant a variance to kill these trees. Further, the Developer should be required to safeguard
the above trees during the construction process. The City needs to have an active watchdog to
assure these trees are saved.
Respectfully,
Becky Klosterman, Dublin resident since 1989
6801 Vineyard Haven Loop
Dublin, Ohio 43016
September 3, 2016
September 3, 2016
 |
| 7th Fairway |
