Ancient Cypress in Atchafalaya Basin Identified

Despite the ecological damage to our coastal wetlands, our coastal Louisiana cypress forests have thus far escaped the encroaching oil from the BP spill.
Among the coastal forests which must be spared the destruction facing our fragile coastal marshes, are the vast stretches of cypress comprising the Atchafalaya Basin.
We have been aware of several areas of the basin that are likely to have old growth cypress, but this is the first tree we have been able to measure and core. It is in the Williams Canal area of the Swamp east of the village of Bayou Sorrell (See map below)



This is area is well known to Dean Wilson (seen below measuring the tree), who takes visitors into this area with his Last Wilderness Swamp Tour. Dean is also the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and a vigilant steward of this fragile ecosystem.

Here is a summary of location, tree size, core sample, and rings counted, and estimated age:

Iberville Parish
Inventory Code: IP-1
GPS coordinates30.06.173N 91.19.916W
Circumference: 16’8” Radius:2’8”
Core Samples (a) 2.63” percent of radius: .08% rings counted: 85
(b) 3.25” percent of radius: .10% rings counted: 110
Extrapolated age 900-1100yrs LPCL plaque #12 "Alive in 1803"

Based on the two corings and rings counted we are conservatively estimating the age of the tree at 900 years. This estimate would take into account the likelihood that, as with many old cypress that are hollowed out, the rings counted on the sample core are likely to represennt the slower growth periods of the tree.

Several other trees in the vicinity are equally as large, likely at least as old, and await LPCL measuring, coring, and dating.

Des Allemands Cypress Likely 300+ Years Old

Good news!—the Dufrene’s cypress in Des Allemands (see previous entry) is a Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy tree. In fact, it’s likely that it was at least 100 years old at the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Here’s how we arrived at the tree’s estimated age of at least 300 years:
Circumference: 14’4”—measured above buttress, 9 ft. from base
Diameter: 4’8”
Radius: 2’4”
Core Sample length: 14.75 inches Rings counted: approx. 197.
Extrapolated total rings: 14.75” /197 = 28”/x x = 365 rings
This tree has been well known to the Dufrene family for several generations. Before construction of a levee behind the tree in the early 1900’s, this tree was part of the Grand Bayou swamp , likely growing in a habitat conducive to very slow steady growth, as reflected in the many closely spaced growth rings on the core sample (see photo below).

This grand old cypress is very much part of community life in Des Allemands—several weddings have taken place beneath its canopy.
Murray, Terri, Chelsey, and Bryleigh Dufrene (shown in picture with LPCL plaque #27) are now proud stewards of what is likely one of the oldest cypress in St. Charles Parish.

If you know of others in St. Charles Parish (or any where else in Louisiana) that may qualify as La. Purchase Cypress Legacy trees (alive in 1803), please let us know. Leave a message in the comment section or at LaPurchaseCypressLegacy@gmail.com.

How Old is this St. Charles Parish Cypress?

The Dufrene family of Des Allemands, LA invited the Cypress Legacy campaign to measure and core a beautiful old cypress on their property. It measured 14'4" in circumference.
We obtained a good core from the tree -- preparing the core sample for ring counting comes next. Our next blog entry will give a determination of the approximate age of the tree-- hopefully it's a Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Tree: "alive in 1803". We'll also have some more information on the history of this fine old cypress.