Bottineau, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 28, 2013) — North Dakota State Forester Larry Kotchman has announced two new state champion trees have been added to the 2012 North Dakota Register of Champion Trees, including a tree located in Jamestown.

The Register is the official list of the first and second largest trees of each native and non-native species in the state.

Entries are submitted throughout the entire year and the Register is updated after December.

A white pine (Pinus strobus) owned by Levi Nenow of Jamestown has replaced the former champion in Fargo belonging to Carlee O’Dell. The new white pine champion has a total of 140 points for having a circumference of 5 feet 9 inches, a height of 60 feet, and an average crown spread of 42 feet.

　

A weeping white birch (Betula pendula) owned by Anton J. Kautzman of Mandan has replaced the former champion in Griggs County owned by the Dybwad Family of McHenry, ND. The new state weeping white birch champion has a total of 157 points for having a circumference of 8 feet 2 inches, a height of 47 feet, and an average crown spread of 47 feet.

　

Three new second place trees were found and added to the register. An American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) with a circumference of 5 feet 11 inches, height of 43 feet, and average crown spread of 67 feet for a total of 123 points belonging to Steve Hauge of Fargo, ND. A cottonwood (Populus deltoids) belonging to Robert Bensen of Horace, ND, with a circumference of 28 feet 7 inches, a height of 94 feet, and an average crown spread of 81 feet for a total of 457 points. This cottonwood tree has the largest circumference of any tree in the state! The other is a honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) with a circumference of 6 feet, height of 39 feet, and an average crown spread of 33 feet with a total of 119 points.

Champion trees located on public land can usually be visited without a problem. However, if a champion tree is located on private property, we ask you respect the landowner and ask permission before making a visit.

The Champion Tree Program in North Dakota is sponsored by the ND Forest Service and Dakotas Society of American Foresters. It is patterned after the National Big Tree Program sponsored by American Forests.

All state champion tree records are on file at the headquarters of the NDSU-North Dakota Forest Service and can be viewed on their web site at

www.ndsu.edu/ndfs, click on Champion Trees. To obtain a Register or information on how to nominate a champion, contact Glenda.Fauske@ndsu.edu or call (701) 228-5446.