Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a shade-tolerant foundation species that has dominated the composition of North American forests for thousands of years. Hemlock stands create damp microclimates and are known to be found in riparian areas, suggesting that they may also prefer moist microclimates. Eastern hemlock faces ongoing decline due to hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), a non-native sap-sucking pest that may be the largest threat to hemlock forests in eastern North America. Our work aims to better understand the relationship between site characteristics and the impact of HWA on Eastern hemlock. The internal decay and decline of Eastern hemlock may be expedited in microclimates that are more moist due to the proliferation of anaerobic conditions. Using acoustic wave technology (Fakopp 1D Microsecond Timer) and internal moisture content calculated from the dry density of tree cores, I compared the moisture and decay characteristics of hemlock stands in Harvard Forest across an upland, riparian, and sloped site. I also used data collected from a healthy, uninfested stand on a sloped site in Hanover, New Hampshire. Initial analysis shows slower acoustic velocity in the healthier New Hampshire stand, which may be due to the higher internal moisture content compared to the three stands sampled at Harvard Forest. Hemlocks in the drier upland site have experienced greater foliage loss than hemlocks in both the stream and sloped sites. Further assessment of the variables that affect decay within HWA-infested hemlock stands will better inform forest management services on how Eastern hemlocks will be impacted by climate and moisture variables.