The Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is currently seeking nominations for the Geauga County BIG TREE Contest! This voluntary contest promotes the beauty and benefits provided by our county’s biggest and oldest trees, along with their contributions to clean water and healthy soil. The 2016 featured tree species is the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), honoring its ongoing significance to Geauga County’s maple sugar production industry.
Participants will submit a nomination for a Sugar Maple tree which they believe might be the largest in the county. After all nominations are submitted, qualified personnel will verify the measurements using ODNR Division of Forestry’s Big Tree Program procedures. Each tree will receive a score based on trunk circumference, crown spread, and total height to determine the winner. Other factors considered include the ability to capture storm water along with other economical benefits.
BIG TREE Contest Guidelines:
- Nominated trees must be Sugar Maples located in Geauga County.
- Only one nomination per individual tree. The first nomination received will be entered into the contest.
- The tree does not have to be on the property of the nominator; however, permission from the landowner must be obtained prior to nomination.
- Nominations must be submitted to Geauga SWCD no later than Friday, September 23rd – 3:30 pm. Please email to gprunty@geaugaswcd.com or submit in person or through the mail to the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, PO Box 410, 14269 Claridon-Troy Road, Burton, OH 44021.
- Qualified District personnel will verify all nominated tree measurements and use the tree benefits calculator (treebenefits.com/calculator/) to provide the storm water runoff reduction capability. The decision of the District will be final.
- Geauga County’s BIG TREE will be recognized at the District’s Annual Meeting in the fall.
For more information or for a nomination form, contact Geauga SWCD at 440-834-1122, geaugaswcd.com, or gprunty@geaugaswcd.com.
Images Courtesy of: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=12822&picture=maple-tree-in-park
