H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest & LTER H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest & LTER ProgramProgram

H.J. ANDREWS EXPERIMENTAL FOREST

Since its establishment in 1948, the H.J. Andrews Experimental

Forest has grown to be a major center for research and education

about the ecology and management of forests and streams. The

Andrews Forest is dedicated to research and to communication of

research results to land managers, policy makers, scientists,

students, and the general public. Located about 80 km east of

Eugene, Oregon, the Andrews Forest is centrally located in the

coniferous forest biome of the Pacific Northwest. The Andrews

Forest is administered cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service’s

Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University, and

the Willamette National Forest.

THE ECOSYSTEM

The Andrews Forest is on the west slope of the Cascade Range of Oregon, and

occupies the 6400-ha watershed of Lookout Creek, a tributary of Blue River

and the McKenzie River. Elevation rangers from about 410 m to 1630 m.

Broadly representative of the rugged, mountainous landscape of the Pacific

Northwest, the Forest features excellent examples of the big, Pacific

Northwest, conifer forests and steep, fast-flowing streams. Annual average

precipitation exceeds 2500 mm, falling mainly in the fall and winter as rain at

low elevations and snow in upper elevation areas.

Before timber cutting began in 1950, about 65 percent of the Forest was

cloaked in 450-year-old Douglas-fir forests. The remainder was largely

stands regenerated following wildfires in the mid- and late 1800s. Since 1950

clearcutting has created plantations over about 25 percent of the Forest.

The wide range of canopy to soil and stream habitats supports diverse fauna

and flora. About 500 species of vascular plants are found on the Forest.

Vertebrate species include cutthroat trout, Pacific giant salamander, black

bear, coyote, mountain lion, osprey, Roosevelt elk, and bobcat.

RESEARCH PROGRAM HISTORY

In the 1950s the program of research began as a few Forest

Service scientists studied effects of forest practices on

vegetation, wildlife, and watersheds. In the 1970s university

researchers began working at the Forest as it became a site in

the Conifer Forest Biome of the International Biological

Program (IBP). This basic science examined how forest and

stream ecosystems function in old-growth and managed

forests. The Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program

of the National Science Foundation began in 1980, making it

possible to sustain this basic work on ecosystem structure and

function. Also in the 1980s researchers and land managers

teamed up to develop approaches to ecosystem management.

The 1990s saw major growth in landscape studies and

development of ecosystem management concepts and

practices.

Time line of selected LTER-related research, programmatic, and issue history of H. J. Andrews

Experimental Forest.

Biodiversity/Arthropods

Hydrology/Small Watersheds

Forest-stream Interactions

Disturbance/Landscape

Blue River Experimental Forest establishedNamed H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest

forestry research ecosystem researchIBP

1990s1980s1970s1960s1950s

managementefficiency

environmentalprotection

clearcuttingcumulative effects

of managementold growth

species conservationglobal change

EVENTS

ISSUES

aquaticterrestrial conifer

canopylitter/soil CWD riparian

landslides fire history forest harvest patterns windthrow

river continuumold-growth/clearcutcomparisons coarse woody debris hyporheic

geomorphic templateriparian

land use treatment effects, water quality, peak flows

rain-on-snow revisit peak, low flows, roads

Vegetation Succession

growth and yield post-clearcut succession characterize old growth species diversity

Decomposition/C Dynamics

leaf log decomposition regional C

Soils

soil characterization, mapping soil solution chemistry mycorrhizal mats trace gases

LTER 4LTER 3LTER 2LTER 1

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Research themes of LTER and Andrews Forest - Over 100

research projects are underway at Andrews Forest under the

direction of dozens of lead investigators from many institutions.

Central Question of Andrews Forest LTER Program:How do land use, natural disturbance processes, and climate

variability affect key ecosystem processes such as biodiversity,

carbon dynamics, and hydrology?

Landscape EcologyPattern dynamics, and effects of vegetation patchworks and stream networks on biodiversity, hydrology, and carbon dynamics

Watershed StudiesExperimental watershed studies of water, sediment, vegetation, and nutrient dynamics

Stream and Riparian Zone Ecology and Restoration

Dynamics of woody debris dynamics and riparian vegetation, hyporheic

zones, water temperature, and nutrient dynamics.

InvertebratesIdentification of species

and their functional roles.

Forest Development, Growth and Yield

Forest structure and composition dynamics at stand and regional levels

Carbon DynamicsCarbon flux and storage at log to regional

scales

Remote SensingApplication of diverse technologies to ecosystem

science

View of a SLICER lidar transect through H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest140

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For

est H

eigh

t

Ground Surface- vertical scale of forest height exaggerated 10x

Distance Along Transect (km)0 4

Close-up of young stand

0

70

0 550Distance Along Transect (m)

Hei

ght (

m)

Low Canopy Density

Close-up of mature stand

0

70

0 550Distance Along Transect (m)

Hei

ght (

m)

Close-up of old growth stand

0

70

0 550Distance Along Transect (m)

Hei

ght (

m)

High Canopy Density

LINKS WITH LAND MANAGEMENT

The Andrews Forest program has a long history of important

contributions to forest management and policy on themes as diverse

as old-growth forests, watershed protection, ecology of northern

spotted owl, and efficient road construction practices to minimize

water quality effects. Currently land managers of the Willamette

National Forest working closely with the Andrews Forest ecosystem

research program develop, test, and apply new approaches to

management of forest and stream ecosystems through the Cascade

Center for Ecosystem Management and Central Cascades Adaptive

Management Area. Projects to develop and apply landscape

management plans based in part on the historic wildfire disturbance

regime draw on studies of fire history and fire effects as well as

habitat requirements of individual species. Several large-scale field

and modeling experiments concerning alternative silvicultural

practices examine tradeoffs between wood production and

ecological properties of stands.

Simulated future landscape patterns, Central Cascades Adaptive Management Area, Willamette National Forest, Oregon. Landscape Plan based on historical wildfire disturbance; Interim Plan based on Federal land-use mandate for matrix land allocation.

BROADER PERSPECTIVES

The Andrews Forest is a major node in a series of networks at regional, national (e.g., LTER), and global (e.g., MAB Program) scales. It is the hub of many regional studies of forest cover change, carbon sequestration in forests, forest hydrology, decomposition processes, historic fire regimes, and other phenomena.

FURTHER INFORMATIONFor further information check out the webpage http://www.fsl.orst/lter for a science emphasis or http://www.fsl.orst/ccem for information with management emphasis or call the Andrews Forest at 541 822-6300.