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4. North Fork <br />These subdivisions will be referred to as areas 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. All areas are single family homes. Areas <br />1, 2, and 3 are fully or nearly fully stocked with homes built 10 or more years ago, while area 4 contains homes <br />less than five years old and is less than one-half developed. <br />According to City staff, area 1 was developed within a mature oak forest or woodland, area 2 was once pasture, <br />area 3 was once an open field and area 4 contained some elements of each of the other three. <br />Figure 1. Locations of Study Areas <br />Twenty four parcels were selected in each subdivision with the use of aerial photography such that a variety of <br />vegetation types and densities would be represented within each area. City staff requested permission from these <br />owners and about one-half responded affirmatively. In order to fit time and budget constraints, ten lots in each area <br />were selected for a tree survey. <br />Plot locations for areas 1, 2 & 4 were chosen by inspecting aerial photographs overlaid with parcel outlines and <br />selecting sites that represented a variety of wooded conditions within each subdivision: heavily wooded, open lawn, <br />wetland, forest edge, etc. Plot size on all sites was 1/20tt' of an acre (2,178 sq. ft.) and circular in shape. Area 3 <br />presented trees with a spatial arrangement unlike the other three areas. Many of the lots in Area 3 have trees <br />planted densely along the lot lines with few or scattered trees in the interior. It was felt that plot sampling would <br />not likely represent these conditions very well, so it was decided to count all trees on these lots. <br />All trees tall enough to reach 4.5 feet in height were counted in each plot. Tree diameter was measured at 4.5 feet <br />above ground level (DBH) using a Biltmore stick. Estimates were made for trees too small to be measured using a <br />Biltmore stick (< 4.0" DBH). At each of the thirty 1/20tt' acre plots, information was recorded that could be used <br />with the Minnesota Land Cover Classification system (MLCCS). Information included (where applicable): type of <br />