RECONNAISSANCE TYPE: Limited Visual Inspection.
PRIMARY AGENT: Winter Desiccation / High-Velocity Wind Scouring.
GROUNDING: 2025 Cohort (First Winter Cycle).

The wind is a thief in the watershed. Reconnaissance confirms a hard survival boundary dictated by the snowpack depth. The Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)—the five and six-footers seated in 2025—show a distinct vertical split. The upper canopy is desiccated, a burnt orange hue where the air stripped the needles of moisture while the roots remained locked in anaerobic ice. Below the snow line, the foliage remains hydrated and green.

The Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.), also seated in the 2025 cohort, exhibit turgor loss. Leaves are bronzed and tightly curled where they were exposed above the pack. This is a structural defense, but the cellular stress is evident. Cambium viability is currently unverified; we wait for the break in dormancy to record the final toll.

Exhibit A: Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). 2025 Cohort. Visible desiccation line at the 36-inch mark. Upper canopy functionality is currently in question.

Exhibit B: Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.). 2025 Cohort. Advanced leaf curling and bronzing. Evidence of cellular stress due to atmospheric moisture extraction.