EAGLESTAR.NET LAND AND PROPERTY REVIEW
http://www.eaglestar.net
Issue #57
February 26, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE:
Properties of the Week: IL, NM, OR
Special Report: Forests and Water - Why Trees Matter
Auction News: AZ, CT, GA, FL, IL, MS, OK, TN
Sponsor's Corner: Eagle Spring Ranch
LandTerms.com Term of the Week: Confluence


"The connection between forests and rivers is like that between father and son.
No forests, no rivers."
- Gifford Pinchot (first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and former governor
of Pennsylvania, b. 1865 - d. 1946), from 'The Fight for Conservation' (1910)


PROPERTIES OF THE WEEK
40 Acres, 2 Homes, Nat'l Forest Access
Drew, Douglas County, Oregon
40 acres with year-round creek, seasonal creeks, trails, pastures, meadows,
water rights, excellent water well, power, two houses. Very private, access is
1/2 mile on dirt road from paved road, to end of road. Surrounded by National
Forest. Barn, outbuildings and sheds, some fenced. 18 miles North of Shady
Cove, Oregon. One hour to Ashland, Medford Oregon area. Listing ID: 19721. Find
photos and more information at ttp://www.eaglestar.net/wgt1-.html

Rolling Hills with Lake View
Davis, Winnebago County, Illinois
Beautiful 85 acre property in the country. Enjoy the clean air and privacy.
This property features woods, rolling hills and views of Lake Summerset.
Perfect for horses, country home, vacation home, recreation property, vineyard,
farm, or several private estates. 1.5 hours from Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Listing ID: 20740. View photos and additional information at
http://www.eaglestar.net/sped2-.html

13 Acres near El Morro Nat'l Monument
Ramah, Cibola County, New Mexico
13 acres of land for sale by owner west of Albuquerque. These five adjoining
lots totaling 13.03 acres are located in Pine Meadows Ranch on the back side of
El Morro National Monument in northwest New Mexico near the town of Ramah. We
are selling the five lots as a group as they make up a beautiful chunk of land!
Pine Meadow Ranch Unit 4 Lots 724 -727 & 779. Listing ID: 23180. View photos,
maps, and more information at http://www.eaglestar.net/edn3-.html

5200 Acre Valley Falls Cattle Ranch
Valley Falls, Lake County, Oregon
Same family ownership since 1910! Over 5,200 deeded acres plus contiguous BLM
and private lease for spring turnout. All except 500 acres (with reservoir
site) are tillable and approximately 1,600 acres are flood irrigated meadows.
Two homes, two large steel hay barns, livestock barn, 40' x 80' shop, good
corrals with 32,000 lb scales and hydraulic squeeze. All the fences and
improvements are in excellent condition. Listing ID: 19097. Photos and
additional information available at http://www.eaglestar.net/swngl1-.html


SPECIAL REPORT
I Can't See the Stream for the Forest:
Part 8 - The Importance of Trees
So far in our series on forests and water we have discussed pending water
shortages and seen how different watershed characteristics affect the amount of
surface water available. In so doing, we have touched several times on the
relationship between trees and water supply. This next article in our
continuing series on the link between looming water crises and the forests of
the world presents in more detail the interactions between trees and surface
water dynamics. These relationships are key to understanding how human
manipulation of forests can affect local water supplies - and provide long-term
sustainable forest habitat for generations to come.

For previous articles in this series, go to http://www.eaglestar.net/newsletter
Use the links on the right to navigate to the issues(s) of your choice. Prior
articles appeared in Issues 42-46, 55, and 56.

The type of soil, the annual amount of rain or snow, and the shape and
elevation of a given watershed are all abiotic factors that control, to
different degrees, the quantity of water available. Abiotic is simply a fancy
word that refers to things that aren't alive. Biotic factors, on the other
hand, refer to watershed elements that are living. Of these, only one has any
discernible effect on the amount of water available in a given area. Only the
largest and most prevalent of forest organisms could possibly affect streamflow
in such a way. Of course, we are talking about trees. Trees dictate to a
phenomenal extent the interplay between precipitation that falls from the sky
and water that rushes in river channels and pools in ponds and lakes.

No matter the advanced technology he uses, the incredible power of machinery he
harnesses, nor the centuries of learning, research, and innovation he employs,
it is very difficult for man to intentionally change the abiotic factors that
affect water supply, at least on large scales. However, man (and woman, too)
can much more easily manipulate the spatial arrangement, species types, and
tree ages of the forests that provide our water. In so doing, we can also
improve the health of our forests, which have largely been suffering under
decades of mis- and under-management, and make them more resistant to disease
and more resilient in the face of large, destructive disturbances like pest
outbreaks or catastrophic wildfire.

The way that trees affect the amount of surface water available is through a
process called transpiration. Trees, like people, need to respirate, although
the mechanics are somewhat different. As they "breathe", trees open pores
called stomata in their leaves or needles that allow moisture to escape from
the inside of the leaf to the surrounding air. It makes sense, then, that the
more trees you have, the more leaves, and therefore the more stomata releasing
water into the atmosphere. The fewer trees, the less water released and the
more surface and ground water available. This concept is the backbone of water
supply augmentation through vegetation manipulation.

Of course, different trees use different amounts of water during the
transpiration process. Some release a lot of water, and some just a little. The
quantity of water available in rivers, streams, and lakes depends on how many
trees of each tree species exist in a watershed, and how much water is released
by each of those species. Deciduous (broadleaf, hardwood) trees are those that
lose their leaves in the winter like oak, elm, ash, sycamore, maple, and so on.
They generally release significantly more water during transpiration than
gymnosperms (conifers, evergreens) such as pine, fir, and spruce.

This would seem to suggest that in terms of water production through tree
removal, better results could be obtained by thinning or harvesting deciduous
trees rather than gymnosperms, but such is not always the case. The primary
reason is the temporal nature of water response to vegetation treatments. In
other words, trees and shrubs grow back over time after trees have been
removed, and this causes the initial surface water gains to decrease over time.
Sometimes, the plant growth is extremely vigorous due to the increased
sunlight, soil moisture, and nutrients available.

Often, if no further treatments (vegetation removal or growth retardation) are
carried out, all the water increases that were seen following the initial
thinning treatment will be lost within 5-10 years. This is true in all cases,
but especially so for deciduous trees and shrubs, which tend to grow much
faster overall than evergreens. In most cases, the "follow-up" treatments that
are necessary to sustain the improved water yields are not as intensive as the
initial treatments, with less time and expense than the initial operation.

In addition to the types of trees present, the number of trees and their
distribution across the landscape, or spatial arrangement, also greatly affect
how much water flows following a rainstorm or from melting snow. In forestry,
the number of trees in a given area is sometimes referred to in terms of trees
per acre, or TPA. Whether there are 250 TPA or 1250 TPA can make a huge
difference in local water supplies.

It is also important to consider how the trees are arranged? Are they evenly
distributed throughout the watershed, so that each individual area yields
roughly the same amount of water? Or is the distribution more "clumpy", with
some acres having 2500 trees and others with 50 or less, so that different
areas of the watershed yield vastly different amounts of water? Two watersheds
with very different spacing patterns of tree stands that are otherwise similar
can yield very different amounts of water. Fortunately, all these things can be
taken into consideration when planning forest operations to improve water
supplies, especially since the advent of computer models that continue to grow
ever more sophisticated and accurate.

Artificially manipulating the number of trees in a watershed as well as their
spatial arrangement can thus profoundly impact local surface water supplies.
This is primarily due to the reduction in transpiration that accompanies tree
removal. Different types of trees transpire at different rates, so species
composition is also quite important. In previous articles, we discussed the
general rules that must be followed in order to achieve water supply increases
from vegetation treatments:

- A minimum of 15% of the trees must be thinned (removed) from an area equal to
20% of the area of an entire watershed, or no water increases will be
detectable.

- The creation of openings is key; that is, cutting groups of adjacent trees
rather than using a more uniform spacing technique. Uniform tree removal
produces little water gain.

- Watersheds that receive less than 18 inches of precipitation annually will
generally not produce extra surface water no matter how may trees are cut.

To these three general rules we can add a fourth: all water gains after the
initial thinning operation will be lost within 5-10 years if further treatments
are not conducted. These "follow-up" treatments will differ by forest type and
location.

In next week's article, we will use the southwest United States as a case study
of human-caused changes in our forests over the last 130 years, focusing on how
humans have unintentionally impacted both water supplies and forest health.


AUCTION NEWS
Browse thumbnail photos and short property descriptions at
http://www.eaglestar.net/Land_Auction_Calendar/index.html

78 Acres Farm, Hunting, Timber Land
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Broxton, Coffee County, Georgia
78 acres farmland, hunting land, fishing land for sale. Located in Coffee
County outside of Douglas, GA. This tract of real estate will be offered to the
highest bidder with the best contract terms. This property is a combination of
wooded land and cropland. Enjoy fishing and hunting year-round on this gorgeous
tract. Property features large pond with plenty of largemouth bass, brim, and
catfish. Enjoy a waterfront view from Turkey Hill Rd. Listing ID: 23101. Photos
and additional information available at http://www.eaglestar.net/ddsn.html

220 Acres with Tree Farm
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida
220 Acres with established slash pine tree farm, scores of towering live oaks,
5 minutes from downtown Live Oak, FL. Selling Divided, High Bidder's Choice
March 7. Former estate of W.D. "Duke" Peppers. Don't miss this opportunity to
purchase prime Suwannee County real estate. Listing ID: 23102. Photos and
contact information at http://www.eaglestar.net/bmr.html

289 Acres Farm and Hunting Land
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Kampsville, Calhoun County, Illinois
Productive river bottom farmland. Premier deer and waterfowl hunting. Beautiful
views of the Mississippi River. Home on 0.3 acre for sale. These 289 acres are
being offered in 5 tracts. Tract 1 is mostly tillable. Tract 2 is 115 acres and
offers both CRP income and timber. Tract 3 is 75 acres and is comprised of both
tillable ground and timber. Tract 4 is nearly 100% timber and offers some of
the premier duck hunting in the Mississippi River flyway. Tract 5 is a 1 story
home in Mozier, Illinois and sits on approximately 0.3 acres on Hwy 96. Listing
ID: 23098. View photos and more information at
http://www.eaglestar.net/bsn.html

5 Room/Office Commercial Building
Monday, March 16, 2009
Folkston, Charlton County, Georgia
Foreclosure auction. 5 bedroom or office, 3.5 bathroom commercial building for
sale. Approximately 8,567 square feet. Most recently used as a beauty salon.
Built in 1950. Approximately 0.29 acre lot. Listing ID: 23196. See photos and
more at http://www.eaglestar.net/ww1.html

2 Mixed-Use Commercial Units
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi
Foreclosure auction. Property being auctioned as one unit. 2 unit mixed-use
commercial opportunity near the intersection of W Northside Dr. and Bailey Ave.
Listing ID: 23198. Photos and additional information are available at
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww3.html

486 Acres in 11 Parcels
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Beggs, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
Approximately 486 acres in 11 parcels ranging from 5 to 95 acres each, located
in Okmulgee County north of Beggs, Oklahoma. Hunting land, recreation land,
home sites, pastures, draws, ponds, hills, and more. All parcels have access
via county road and offer a variety of features including pastures, woods,
rolling terrain, ponds, wet weather creeks and draws. Listing ID: 23197. View
photos and more information at http://www.eaglestar.net/ww2.html

Upscale Golf Course Home
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Payson, Gila County, Arizona
Luxury home with detached guest casita, upscale amenities include wine cellar,
wet bar, jetted tub, oversized shower, natural stone, wood flooring, Pella
windows, granite countertops, bronze fixtures and many other custom features.
Views of 3rd fairway. Detached guest casita provides full living quarters for
guests including a kitchen and one-car garage, and views of the water and 5th
fairway. Listing ID: 23199. Find photos and additional auction information at
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww4.html

One-of-a-Kind Vintage Luxury Home
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Enchanting 1926 Cotswold Cottage with 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and 5,457+/-
square feet. This storybook home sits back off the road and has a gated
entrance with a brick driveway. Many unique living spaces, irreplaceable
features and details throughout. Extensive wood paneling and built-in armoires,
rich hardwoods and wall panel murals in the den, dramatic ceiling beams and
marble fireplaces. Listing ID: 23200. Photos and more information at
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww5.html

5,835 Heavily Timbered Acres
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Crossville, Cumberland County, Tennessee
The Walden Reserve Property, nestled in the Tennessee Mountains on the
magnificent Cumberland Plateau, is truly one of a kind. This offering of 5,835
contiguous acres all heavily timbered is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Natural springs and mountain streams are abundant throughout the property. This
timber property will be divided and offered at auction on April 7. It is
located just a few miles southeast of Crossville, TN. Don't miss out on this
opportunity to purchase a large piece of timber land in beautiful eastern
Tennessee. Listing ID: 23097. Find photos and more at
http://www.eaglestar.net/snydr.html


SPONSOR'S CORNER
The Land and Property Review would like to thank this week's sponsor, Eagle
Spring Ranch. The beautiful Washington land for sale at Eagle Spring Ranch is
just twenty minutes away from the delightful town of Moses Lake, and offers
more than forty acres of land at truly exceptional prices. The state of
Washington may be known for its rain, but this region of Washington, the
Columbia Basin, has an average of 300 days of sunshine per year! Located just
two-and-one-half hours from Seattle, just over an hour from Spokane, and only
twenty minutes north of Moses Lake, Eagle Spring Ranch boasts a mix of rolling
hills, pasture, rock outcroppings, beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains,
private gravel roads, and ground water. Listing ID: 23211. Photos and more
information are available at http://www.eaglestar.net/Detailed/23211.html


LANDTERMS.COM TERM OF THE WEEK
http://landterms.com
Each issue we feature a real estate, forestry, natural sciences or other
land-related term from our partner site, LandTerms.com.

This week's term: Confluence
The point where two streams or rivers meet, forming a larger river; the point
where a tributary joins the main river channel.

Find thousands of land-related terms, definitions, articles, abbreviations,
quotations, and more at Landterms.com! Click on the "Categories" button at the
top of each page to see the list of over 35 categories.


SUGGESTIONS
We welcome reader suggestions, comments, and questions.
Email: newsletter@eaglestar.net

ARCHIVES
See archived issues of the Eaglestar.net Land and Property Review at
http://eaglestar.net/newsletter.

CONTACT
American Eagle Star
Tel: +1 702-471-0077 Toll Free 800-239-3448
Web: www.eaglestar.net
Email: info@eaglestar.net

All land areas (acreages) listed in the Land and Property Review are
approximate.

Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved