Hemlock in understory is more abundant on both sides of creek, upslope under a deciduous canopy. Noise from highway heard from stand. Trails lead to stand. Much of stand has a trampled understory with little understory vegetation.;Terrace and lower slope along a bedrock bottomed stream. Narrow zone in bottom is dominated by large hemlocks which appear healthy, without obvious infestation by adelgid. Adjacent trail is called "virgin hemlock trail". Most large hemlocks have tags indicating research or monitoring. Parts of plot, and greater stand, are probably flooded occassionally. Leaves are falling from hemlock at sample date. There is a large downfall which enters uphill side of plot and has created a significant opening.
Representativeness
Small patch, narrow zone of old growth hemlock along creek. Plot placed to avoid trampled patches under hemlock which are more abundant in this old growth stand. Therefore, cover by Rhododendron is above average for the stand.
