An Old-Growth Definition for Red River Bottom Forests in the Eastern United States

Abstract

Our goal was to develop a description of old-growth red river bottom forests of the Southeastern United States. We compared the characteristics of forests described in the scientific literature and forests we examined to various published criteria for old-growth condition. Because red rivers are a relatively new landscape feature (most 250 years old, resulting from human-induced soil erosion) and because dramatic changes to their floodplains continue to occur, we do not believe that any old-growth red river forests exist. all the stands along these rivers present at european settlement have been cut and/or otherwise severely altered. in the dynamic landscape after settlement, there have been no opportunities for new old-growth forests to develop. stands older than 50 to 60 years are rare. therefore, we propose a stand condition called older growth and list the characteristics. with time and stable site conditions, we believe that old-growth red river forests can develop from older-growth forests.

Citation

Shear, Ted; Young, Mike; Kellison, Robert. 1997. An Old-Growth Definition for Red River Bottom Forests in the Eastern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-10. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 13 p.