Destination Thursday: March Sap Runs

If someone were to inform you that maple syrup is completely organic, contains the same calcium content as milk, is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and has trace amounts of amino acids, would you believe them? Though maple syrup is usually considered simply a sweetener, it is also good for you! During these warmer days of spring, when the sap starts to run, it is the perfect time for maple sugaring, the process of collecting sap from maple trees ( Acer sp .).

At Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's Northwest Field Station, we have taken advantage of the abundance of sugar maples with some experimental maple sugaring of our own. Though small in scale, currently involving only six trees, it is our intention that maple sugaring will eventually become an annual spring activity, incorporated into the Northwest Field Station's environmental education program. We believe it is important to appreciate trees for their non-timber value, and activities such as maple sugaring offer an educational and sustainable activity with tasty rewards.

Like much of our outdoor knowledge, the tapping of maple trees in the spring was a practice passed on by the Native Americans of the northeastern North America. Lasting for roughly 6-8 weeks from February to late March, maple sugaring entails drilling a small hole in a maple tree, usually the sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ) , inserting a small spike or spigot, and collecting the sap in a bucket or other container. In its raw form, the sap extracted from the tree is approximately 97.5 percent water, and must be slowly boiled off to achieve a thick syrup consistency. This labor-intensive process requires about 40-50 gallons of raw sap to equal one gallon of finished syrup.

Most importantly, the sugaring process features a completely sustainable commodity, causing no harm to the health of the tree, as long as the tree is of a significant diameter (greater than 13 inches). Trees can even be tapped year after year without impairment, and larger trees can be tapped with multiple spikes, producing as much as a 1-2 gallons per day/ tap.

Though it's late in the maple sugaring season, recent temperature flucuations of freezing nights and sunny days are perfect conditions for beginners to experiment with a few trees. If you aren't feeling overly ambitious, you might be able to locate a maple sugaring operation in close proximity, which often feature educational visitor days to allow the public to observe the process and taste the finished product.

Today's photo shows some sap work being performed at WPC's Northwest Field Station in Erie County by Aquatic Ecologist Tamara Smith. The photo was taken by Watershed Resource Specialist Curtis Stumpf.

Some places to visit are:

Myersdale Maple Festival - March 20-21 and 27-28

This quaint little town is nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania's southern Laurel Highlands. For details, go to Maple Festival Web site .

Learn more about our Watershed Assistance Center.

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