Nature Notes From Crater Lake
Volume 1, No. 1, July 1928
A Migrant Tree
By Earl U. Homuth
Joseph Diller in his report on the
geology of Crater Lake (Professional Paper, No. 3, Series B. Descriptive
Geology, 22), mentions a phenomenon occasionally observed in the lake. A
tree becoming dislodged may slide from the cliffs root foremost, and
come to rest with the lower portion in the water. The root mass then
becomes water-logged, and later the tree may be pushed out into deeper
water and will float upright. A tree in this position has occassionally
become lodged near the shore again and is often pointed out as evidence
that the lake level has risen. Conclusions from one tree would hardly be
acceptable, but nevertheless this is often the case.
A tree in the position described is now
lodged near the shore of Wizard Island, on the southeast side.