Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy

Richland, Grant and La Salle Parishes added to La. Purchase Cypress Legacy Registry

Centuries old trees discovered in three new parishes

We are happy to announce that three new Parishes have been added to the LPCL Registry of Parishes containing cypress living at the time of the Louisiana Purchase-- "Alive in 1803".

Thanks to former residents of Richland Parish near Rayville, we have identified two centuries old trees on the Boeuf River north of Rayville that have been added to the registry.

Trees are located on Boeuf river north of Rayvill

            Richland Parish N32 30.316  W91 43.055

       Plaque #69  Circumference Measured at 16’9” at 6ft. from base. Trunk approx. 15’9” circum.

      

        Bore 1—3.75 inches ==95 rings counted

              3.75” bore/ 30” radius = 95 rings/x

              X=760  projected years

Bore 2—9.75 inches—119 rings counted

       9.75”bore/ 30” inches = 119/x

       X= 366 projected years

Estimated age: 325 + years

Note very closely spaced rings on Bore 1, Boeuf River cypress boring, Richland Parish

Grant Parish

Thanks to Michael Weeks for a tip on Valentine Bayou near Colfax, where a good number of older growth cypress are located. Two at least, shown below, are Cypress Legacy trees. The cypress awarded Plaque #70 (photo below)will be entered in the LPCL Registry

Plaque #70  12’4” circumference

Bore 10”—115 rings counted

10”bore / 24” radius = 115 rings / x

       X = 273 projected rings

       Estimated age 220+ years

Boring from Valentine Bayou, Grant Parish tree  (Plaque #70) shown above

N31 32.887 W92 41.040  (Trident tree)

Mature cypress on Valentine Bayou

Location of "Trident Cypress" Landmarked tree (Plaque 70) is between Trident cypress and bridge (kayak/canoe access) crossing at Lemoine Cutoff Road. about a five minute paddle upstream.

    LaSalle Parish

Thanks to George Castille for pointing the way to several potential old growth Cypress locations in LaSalle Parish. Easily accessible is a grove old old growth cypress along the Catahoula Lake shore near the boat launch off Hwy 28 

 Plaque #31 Trunk 14’4” circum.

N91 30.565  W92 05.217

       Bore: 8.25”—118 rings counted       

8.25” bore/ 27” radius = 118/x

       x= 386 projected rings
Projected age: 325+ years

Closely spaced rings reflect slow growth and old age for this 325+ year old cypress (Plaque 31)

Location of LPCL landmarked cypress  (Plaque 31) near Catahoula Lake Boat Launch, Dewey Wills WMA

Exposed roots of mature cypress along Caatahoula lakeshore, Lasalle Parish

Fall color along Big Saline Bayou

Plentiful mature growth cypress along Big Saline Bayou, which connects Catahoula Lake to Saline Lake. Access is from Paul Rd bridge over Big Saline bayou, via La. State Route 1206

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 The upcoming January 2020 blog entry will include recently landmarked old growth cypress in St, Tammany and East Baton Rough Parishes. I am grateful for the many individuals, including those mentioned above, who have generously disclosed, and often accompanied me to, old growth cypress hide-aways during the past seventeen years . The many benefactors and stewards of these trees that have endured through the centuries have contributed immeasurably to preserving and promoting Louisiana's natural heritage.