Survey Results

During the fall of 1996, a 5% systematic survey was conducted on McDonald Island to survey the forest and groundcover layers. Twenty acres of McDonald Island were planted into a red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantation by the 1960’s. The plantation is in desperate need of a harvest. The average diameter of the red pine trees is currently 8.5". An estimate of the total merchantable volume is 2,994 cubic feet. The pine plantation has not been maintained due to the difficulty of transporting the equipment onto the Island and the logs off of the Island. The only logging that has taken place on the Island was a sanitation cut for Dutch elm disease (Cerotcystis ulmi) in 1974.

The remaining 34 acres are a natural hardwood community dominated by red oak (Quercus rubra) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum). The sugar maple community is located in the SE corner of the Island. This area is in a late successional stage and is marked by several dominant, large trees, including several 20-30" dbh (diameter at breast height - 4.5' from the ground) sugar maples, 30" dbh white ash (Fraxinus americana) and 23 - 28" dbh silver maple (Acer saccharinum).

The red oak community is centered on higher ground on the north and west sides of the Island. This community is also reaching a climax phase, which is illustrated by 20-35" dbh red oaks. There are very few smaller trees in canopy. The north end of the island has lost three large oak trees to windthrow in the last two years. This has greatly opened up the canopy and allowed for other species to invade including, basswood (Tilia americana), bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) and silver maple.

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Tree Information (>3.5' tall, >5.5" dbh)*