Brock Sampson Nature Preserve Indiana Department of Natural Resources—Division of Nature Preserves

Floyd County, 453 acres
Brock Sampson Nature Preserve is located in the Knobstone natural region of southern Indiana. This preserve is typical of the rugged terrain of the “Knobs” with steep slopes and deep ravines. The ridges and the south and west facing slopes are very dry habitats dominated by Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus. Several dry slopes with outcrops of siltstone bedrock creating openings called glades have been observed in this region.

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) had invaded high quality mesic and upland forest communities at Brock Sampson Nature Preserve. There were many large colonies of 40-50 trees that were 2-3 feet in diameter. Eco Logic performed a basal bark application during the late fall of 2007 with an oil based herbicide. One of the biggest challenges of the project was to locate, treat and re-visit the various clones and individual trees. We relied heavily on GPS units and GIS mapping to streamline the applicators time in the field.

A follow up treatment on the project was performed in the spring of 2008 to exterminate any Tree of Heaven that were not completely eradicated during the first phase of the project.