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DNR Announces Maryland’s Largest Tree In Celebration Of Arbor Day
ANNAPOLIS — In honor of Maryland’s Arbor Day and the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Maryland’s Forestry and Parks, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that a silver maple (Acer saccharinum), located in the Eder Park section of Elkton in Cecil County, is currently Maryland’s largest tree on record.
DNR’s Forest Service coordinates Maryland’s Big Tree Program, which identifies the largest tree within each species and also designates Maryland’s largest tree. The Eder Park silver maple, at 464 points, replaces the Wye Oak (501 points) near the hamlet of Wye Mills, which fell in June 2002. The maple’s measurements are: 27' 0" (324") circumference at 4.5' from ground level; 114' tall; 106' average crown spread. It is also the second largest silver maple in the United States behind a 477-point silver maple located in Michigan. The award-winning tree is owned by Mary Sue Slagle and the Eder Park Association, and leased to the Town of Elkton, Department of Recreation and Parks.
“Arbor Day is a terrific time for DNR to announce the state’s new largest tree,” said DNR Secretary C. Ronald Franks. “Maryland is rich with beautiful natural resources like this magnificent silver maple, and I encourage all our citizens to take time to enjoy them.”
Currently, there are almost 1,700 Big Trees registered in the State of Maryland, including 21 trees with 400 points or more on record. The 10 largest trees are:
Tree County Size Silver maple Cecil 464 points Sycamore Carroll 447 points Sycamore Frederick 439 points Weeping willow Allegany 436 points American beech Anne Arundel 428 points Yellow poplar Montgomery 428 points Swamp chestnut oak Kent 426 points Yellow poplar Montgomery 424 points Northern red oak Anne Arundel 424 points Sycamore Baltimore 418 points The Maryland Forest Service has been collecting data on the largest tree of each species since 1925, when the formula for calculating the size of a tree was developed by Maryland’s first forester, Fred Besley. The formula has since been adopted nationwide. To calculate total points, add the circumference in inches, the height in feet, and the average crown spread and divide by four.
This year, Arbor Day falls on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 1906 Maryland Forest Conservation Act that created the Maryland Forest Service and its sister agency, the Maryland Park Service. In recognition of Maryland Arbor Day, DNR Forest Service employees distributed seedlings to third grade students in all Maryland counties. DNR’s Forest Service manages nearly 200,000 acres of public forestland and the Maryland Park Service manages 131,000 acres of public parkland. Together they host more than 12 million visitors per year.
For more information on Maryland’s Big Tree Program or to access a database on Maryland trees, please visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/trees/bigtree.html. For more information on the Centennial celebration, please visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/centennial/.
April 5, 2006The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov