[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E937-E938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING ARMSTRONG WOODS STATE NATURAL RESERVE

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2009

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th 
Anniversary of California's Armstrong Woods State Natural Reserve, the 
only protected old growth Redwood forest in Sonoma County that was once 
thick with some of the largest trees on the planet. This serene and 
stunning natural retreat comprises 805 acres of land and is home to 
California's majestic coast Redwoods.
  Armstrong Woods boasts a diversity of trees and shrubs that create a 
multi-layered canopy

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supporting the growth of each species in the grove. Trees and plants in 
Armstrong Woods, such as Douglas Fir, Big Leaf Maple, Redwood Trillium, 
Sword Fern, and the most renowned, the imperial coast Redwood, 
contribute to the forest's diverse ecosystem.
  Nurtured by abundant winter rain, moderate year-round temperatures 
and partial shade, coast Redwoods can grow up to 2-3 feet per year. At 
more than 310-feet tall, Parson Jones is the Reserve's tallest tree. 
The cloak of fog that protects the Redwoods from summer's harsh drought 
conditions allows these supreme trees to flourish along the coast from 
southern Oregon to central California.
  Despite logging and raging fires, these mighty trees continue to 
provide their striking beauty, ecological significance and are 
witnesses to hundreds of years of history. The Reserve's oldest tree, 
Colonel Armstrong, is estimated to be more than 1,400 years old.
  Part of the Redwood's resiliency is attributed to its natural 
resistance to insects, fungi, and fire. Some trees bare scars of the 
fire that roared in 1926, which is a testament to the strength of the 
thick, reddish bark.
  The history of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve extends back 
to 1850, when the area was established as a lumber camp on the north 
bank of the Russian River called Stumptown, known today as Guerneville.
  In 1874, Colonel James Boydston Armstrong, a journalist, surveyor and 
colonel with the Union Army, relocated from Ohio to Sonoma County where 
he logged and operated a sawmill site. Armstrong acquired 440 acres of 
land three miles north of Guerneville, and deeded the land to his 
daughter, Kate Armstrong, with the intention of preserving the land 
until its opening as an arboretum.
  Because of Armstrong's financial distress and his daughter's ailing 
health, the parcel was eventually purchased by a family friend, 
Harrison M. LeBaron. Armstrong's vigilant efforts to preserve the land 
prevailed under the direction of his daughter Lizzie and the LeBaron 
family. They launched a well-supported campaign to protect the once 
mighty forest.
  In 1917, the County of Sonoma purchased the property for $80,000 and 
operated the grove until the State of California assumed ownership in 
1934. The Reserve's trails and amphitheatre were created by the Civil 
Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
  Thanks in large part to Colonel Armstrong's preservation efforts, 
today the beauty, history and serenity of Armstrong Woods is enjoyed by 
students, campers, hikers and visitors from around the globe.
  Armstrong Woods State Natural Reserve offers visitors an abundance of 
hiking trail choices, ranging from brief one-mile walks, to an intense 
9-mile loop that ascends from 120 feet to 1,250 feet at the summit by 
Bullfrog Pond. Adventure seekers can enjoy back country campsites, 
equestrians can trot along trails and families can meander into the 
park to enjoy lunch flanked by awe-inspiring, 300-foot trees.
  Through Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, the Reserve's cooperating 
volunteer association, students learn about the forest's flora and 
fauna and can participate in an Environmental Living Program where they 
discover and explore the area.
  Madam Speaker, my hope is that through continued preservation efforts 
and work on behalf of park staff and volunteers, Armstrong Woods State 
Natural Reserve will continue to serve as a tranquil reprieve, an 
ecological treasure, and a recreational destination for years to come.

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