Watershed 2 gauging station, Andrews Experimental Forest.

Field tour on the Andrews Experimental Forest.

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NEARBY RESEARCH NATURAL AREASSeveral Research Natural Areas (RNAs) havebeen established close to the ExperimentalForest which provide examples of forest andmeadow communities and aquatic habitats notfound within the Experimental Forest. LocalRNAs include:

Wildcat RNA (1,415 acres, 573 ha) High-elevation true fir (Abies) and mountain hemlockforests as well as wet and dry subalpinemeadows.

Ollalie Ridge RNA (655 acres, 265 ha) High-elevation true fir (Abies) forests, moist and drysubalpine meadows, and several endemic plantspecies.

McKenzie Pass RNA (1,187 acres, 480 ha)Small, shallow lakes and high-elevation mead-ows and forests surrounded by lava flows.

Hagan RNA (1,127 acres, 456 ha) Dense,mature Douglas-fir forests at mid to low eleva-tion which established following wildfires in the1840s and 1880s.

Three Creek RNA (711 acres, 288 ha) High-elevation 800-year old-growth forests andassociated streams, and avalanche trackcommunities.

Several other RNAs are within a 1- to 2-hourdrive of Andrews Experimental Forest.

TRAVELThe Experimental Forest is about a 1-hour driveeast of Eugene, Oregon. About 3 miles east of thetown of Blue River on Oregon Highway 126, turnleft/north onto USFS road 15, drive about 4.5miles (7.25 km) on road 15 and turn right/eastonto USDA FS road 130, bear right at Y (about0.5 mi.[0.8 km]) onto USDA FS road 132.

A few restaurants and motels are available withina 15-mile (24.1 km) drive of the ExperimentalForest. Many are available in Eugene (1 houraway).

FACILITIESHousing facilities are limited to people involved inon-site research or educational activities. There areovernight accommodations for about 80 people, asmall cafeteria (capacity 32), open air pavilion,mechanical/wood shop, and a 10,000 square-foot(929 m2) laboratory-office complex with class-rooms and conference and meeting rooms.

BIBLIOGRAPHYA bibliography of over 2,500 publications fromresearch at the Experimental Forest is availablefrom the Pacific Northwest Research Station, theAndrews Experimental Forest office, or throughthe Internet. (See back panel.)

OTHER MAPSWillamette National Forest maps are availablefrom the McKenzie River Ranger District,McKenzie Bridge, Oregon or the Willamette

Supervisor’s Office, Eugene, Oregon.

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is part ofa system of research properties including otherexperimental forests, watersheds, rangelands,and RNAs.

HIKING TRAILSTwo public-use trails provide excellent introduc-tions to the Andrews Experimental Forest. TheLookout Creek Old-Growth Trail travels about3.5 miles (5.6 km) through unbroken old-growthforest along the lower slopes of Lookout Moun-tain. A short (about 1 mile [1.61 km] long) trailclimbs to the top of Carpenter Mountain, site ofa restored fire lookout with far-ranging views ofthe Cascade Range.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

H.J. Andrews Experimental ForestP.O. Box 300Blue River, OR 97413(541) 822-6300Internet address:www.fsl.orst.edu/LTER

Pacific Northwest Research Station333 S.W. First AvenueP.O. Box 3890Portland, OR 97208(503) 808-2592

McKenzie River Ranger Station57600 McKenzie HighwayMcKenzie Bridge, OR 97413(541) 822-3381

Willamette National Forest211 E. 7thP.O. Box 10607Eugene, OR 97440(541) 465-6521

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Andrews, Regional Forester for Oregon andWashington from 1943 to 1951, when he diedin an automobile accident. Born October 31,1892 in Sidnaw, Michigan, H.J. Andrewsobtained a BS (1915) and MS (1916) inforestry from the University of Michigan; servedas an air cadet in World War I; taught forestry atNew York State College of Forestry in Syracuse,and Iowa State; was appointed Michigan’s stateforest fire warden; became a forest economistwith the USDA Forest Service’s PacificNorthwest Research Station; and was promotedto Assistant Regional Forester in 1939. Widelyrecognized as a leading authority on theproblems of Northwest forestry, he was adriving force in the selection and establishmentof the Experimental Forest to address regionalproblems.

H.J. Andrews (1892-1951).Originally named the Blue River ExperimentalForest, the Andrews Experimental Forest wasrenamed in 1953 to honor Horace Justin

INTRODUCTIONThe H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is a worldrenowned center for research and educationabout the ecology and management of forestsand streams. Located about 50 miles (80 km)east of Eugene, Oregon, the Andrews Experi-mental Forest lies in the Blue River RangerDistrict of the Willamette National Forest.Established in 1948, the Experimental Forest isadministered cooperatively by the USDA ForestService’s Pacific Northwest Research Station,Oregon State University, and the WillametteNational Forest.

Funding for the research and education programscomes from the National Science Foundation(NSF), USDA Forest Service, NASA, OregonState University, U.S. Geological Survey, andother sources. In 1976, the Experimental Forestwas designated a Biosphere Reserve as part ofthe United Nations’ Man and the BiosphereProgram, and in 1980, the Experimental Forestbecame a charter member of the NSF's Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program, whichby 2003 had grown to 22 sites around the

nation and 2 in Antarctica.

ENVIRONMENTThe Experimental Forest is on the western slope ofthe Cascade Range of Oregon, and occupies the15,800-acre (6400-ha) drainage basin of LookoutCreek, a tributary of Blue River and the McKenzieRiver. Elevation ranges from about 1,350 feet (410m) to 5,340 feet (1630 m). Broadly representativeof the rugged, mountainous landscape of thePacific Northwest, it features excellent examplesof west-slope conifer forests and steep, fast-flowing streams.

The Experimental Forest’s maritime climate haswet, mild winters and dry, cool summers. At theprimary meteorological station near the head-quarters at 1,400 feet (430 m) elevation, themean monthly temperature ranges from a low ofabout 34 °F (1 °C) in January to 64 °F (18 °C) inJuly. Precipitation is concentrated from Novem-ber through March and increases with elevation,averaging about 90 inches (230 cm) per year at

lower elevations to over 140 inches (355 cm) atupper elevations. Rain predominates at lowelevations, whereas snow is common at highelevations with deep snowpacks lasting late intospring. Highest streamflows generally occurfrom November through February when theoccasional warm rainstorm melts the deepsnowpacks.

FOREST TYPESBefore timber cutting began in 1950, about 65percent of the Experimental Forest was cloakedin old-growth forests with towering, 400-plusyear-old Douglas-firs. The rest of the Experimen-tal Forest was largely in stands that regeneratedfollowing wildfires in the mid-1800s. Lowerelevation forests are dominated by Douglas-fir,western hemlock, and western redcedar. Upperelevation forests contain noble fir, Pacific silverfir, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock.Clearcutting and shelterwood cuttings overabout 30 percent of the Experimental Foresthave created young plantation forests varying incomposition, stocking level, and age. Wildfirewas the primary disturbance type in the naturalforest; windthrow, landslides, root rot infections,and lateral stream channel erosion were second-ary disturbance agents.

SPECIESThe wide range of habitats supports a diverseflora and fauna. About 500 vascular plantspecies are found on the Experimental Forest.Vertebrate species include northern spotted owl,pileated woodpecker, osprey, black bear, bobcat,mountain lion, coyote, black-tailed deer, andRoosevelt elk. Invertebrate species total morethan 3,000. Species lists for the ExperimentalForest are available through the Internet (Seeback panel).

STREAMS AND RIPARIAN ZONESThe clear, fast-flowing streams of the ExperimentalForest contain cutthroat and rainbow trout,Pacific giant salamanders and other vertebratespecies, as well as various invertebrate species.

Streamside vegetation, which includes deciduousand coniferous forests and herbaceous vegetation,strongly influences stream ecosystems by shad-ing and contributing large woody debris andlitter to streams.

GEOLOGYLower elevations of the Experimental Forest aremade up of Oligocene-lower Miocene volcanicrocks composed of mudflow, ash flow, andstream deposits. In higher areas, bedrock iscomposed of andesite lava flows of Miocene ageand of younger High Cascade rocks. Streamerosion, landslides, and glaciation have createda deeply dissected and steep landscape. Soilsdeveloped from these parent materials aremainly Inceptisols with local areas of Alfisolsand Spodosols.

Horace Justin Andrews

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest ServiceMay 2003

Pacific NorthwestResearchStation

H.J. AndrewsExperimentalForest

Watershed 2 gauging station, Andrews Experimental Forest.

Field tour on the Andrews Experimental Forest.

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NEARBY RESEARCH NATURAL AREASSeveral Research Natural Areas (RNAs) havebeen established close to the ExperimentalForest which provide examples of forest andmeadow communities and aquatic habitats notfound within the Experimental Forest. LocalRNAs include:

Wildcat RNA (1,415 acres, 573 ha) High-elevation true fir (Abies) and mountain hemlockforests as well as wet and dry subalpinemeadows.

Ollalie Ridge RNA (655 acres, 265 ha) High-elevation true fir (Abies) forests, moist and drysubalpine meadows, and several endemic plantspecies.

McKenzie Pass RNA (1,187 acres, 480 ha)Small, shallow lakes and high-elevation mead-ows and forests surrounded by lava flows.

Hagan RNA (1,127 acres, 456 ha) Dense,mature Douglas-fir forests at mid to low eleva-tion which established following wildfires in the1840s and 1880s.

Three Creek RNA (711 acres, 288 ha) High-elevation 800-year old-growth forests andassociated streams, and avalanche trackcommunities.

Several other RNAs are within a 1- to 2-hourdrive of Andrews Experimental Forest.

TRAVELThe Experimental Forest is about a 1-hour driveeast of Eugene, Oregon. About 3 miles east of thetown of Blue River on Oregon Highway 126, turnleft/north onto USFS road 15, drive about 4.5miles (7.25 km) on road 15 and turn right/eastonto USDA FS road 130, bear right at Y (about0.5 mi.[0.8 km]) onto USDA FS road 132.

A few restaurants and motels are available withina 15-mile (24.1 km) drive of the ExperimentalForest. Many are available in Eugene (1 houraway).

FACILITIESHousing facilities are limited to people involved inon-site research or educational activities. There areovernight accommodations for about 80 people, asmall cafeteria (capacity 32), open air pavilion,mechanical/wood shop, and a 10,000 square-foot(929 m2) laboratory-office complex with class-rooms and conference and meeting rooms.

BIBLIOGRAPHYA bibliography of over 2,500 publications fromresearch at the Experimental Forest is availablefrom the Pacific Northwest Research Station, theAndrews Experimental Forest office, or throughthe Internet. (See back panel.)

OTHER MAPSWillamette National Forest maps are availablefrom the McKenzie River Ranger District,McKenzie Bridge, Oregon or the Willamette

Supervisor’s Office, Eugene, Oregon.

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is part ofa system of research properties including otherexperimental forests, watersheds, rangelands,and RNAs.

HIKING TRAILSTwo public-use trails provide excellent introduc-tions to the Andrews Experimental Forest. TheLookout Creek Old-Growth Trail travels about3.5 miles (5.6 km) through unbroken old-growthforest along the lower slopes of Lookout Moun-tain. A short (about 1 mile [1.61 km] long) trailclimbs to the top of Carpenter Mountain, site ofa restored fire lookout with far-ranging views ofthe Cascade Range.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

H.J. Andrews Experimental ForestP.O. Box 300Blue River, OR 97413(541) 822-6300Internet address:www.fsl.orst.edu/LTER

Pacific Northwest Research Station333 S.W. First AvenueP.O. Box 3890Portland, OR 97208(503) 808-2592

McKenzie River Ranger Station57600 McKenzie HighwayMcKenzie Bridge, OR 97413(541) 822-3381

Willamette National Forest211 E. 7thP.O. Box 10607Eugene, OR 97440(541) 465-6521

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Andrews, Regional Forester for Oregon andWashington from 1943 to 1951, when he diedin an automobile accident. Born October 31,1892 in Sidnaw, Michigan, H.J. Andrewsobtained a BS (1915) and MS (1916) inforestry from the University of Michigan; servedas an air cadet in World War I; taught forestry atNew York State College of Forestry in Syracuse,and Iowa State; was appointed Michigan’s stateforest fire warden; became a forest economistwith the USDA Forest Service’s PacificNorthwest Research Station; and was promotedto Assistant Regional Forester in 1939. Widelyrecognized as a leading authority on theproblems of Northwest forestry, he was adriving force in the selection and establishmentof the Experimental Forest to address regionalproblems.

H.J. Andrews (1892-1951).Originally named the Blue River ExperimentalForest, the Andrews Experimental Forest wasrenamed in 1953 to honor Horace Justin

INTRODUCTIONThe H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is a worldrenowned center for research and educationabout the ecology and management of forestsand streams. Located about 50 miles (80 km)east of Eugene, Oregon, the Andrews Experi-mental Forest lies in the Blue River RangerDistrict of the Willamette National Forest.Established in 1948, the Experimental Forest isadministered cooperatively by the USDA ForestService’s Pacific Northwest Research Station,Oregon State University, and the WillametteNational Forest.

Funding for the research and education programscomes from the National Science Foundation(NSF), USDA Forest Service, NASA, OregonState University, U.S. Geological Survey, andother sources. In 1976, the Experimental Forestwas designated a Biosphere Reserve as part ofthe United Nations’ Man and the BiosphereProgram, and in 1980, the Experimental Forestbecame a charter member of the NSF's Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program, whichby 2003 had grown to 22 sites around the

nation and 2 in Antarctica.

ENVIRONMENTThe Experimental Forest is on the western slope ofthe Cascade Range of Oregon, and occupies the15,800-acre (6400-ha) drainage basin of LookoutCreek, a tributary of Blue River and the McKenzieRiver. Elevation ranges from about 1,350 feet (410m) to 5,340 feet (1630 m). Broadly representativeof the rugged, mountainous landscape of thePacific Northwest, it features excellent examplesof west-slope conifer forests and steep, fast-flowing streams.

The Experimental Forest’s maritime climate haswet, mild winters and dry, cool summers. At theprimary meteorological station near the head-quarters at 1,400 feet (430 m) elevation, themean monthly temperature ranges from a low ofabout 34 °F (1 °C) in January to 64 °F (18 °C) inJuly. Precipitation is concentrated from Novem-ber through March and increases with elevation,averaging about 90 inches (230 cm) per year at

lower elevations to over 140 inches (355 cm) atupper elevations. Rain predominates at lowelevations, whereas snow is common at highelevations with deep snowpacks lasting late intospring. Highest streamflows generally occurfrom November through February when theoccasional warm rainstorm melts the deepsnowpacks.

FOREST TYPESBefore timber cutting began in 1950, about 65percent of the Experimental Forest was cloakedin old-growth forests with towering, 400-plusyear-old Douglas-firs. The rest of the Experimen-tal Forest was largely in stands that regeneratedfollowing wildfires in the mid-1800s. Lowerelevation forests are dominated by Douglas-fir,western hemlock, and western redcedar. Upperelevation forests contain noble fir, Pacific silverfir, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock.Clearcutting and shelterwood cuttings overabout 30 percent of the Experimental Foresthave created young plantation forests varying incomposition, stocking level, and age. Wildfirewas the primary disturbance type in the naturalforest; windthrow, landslides, root rot infections,and lateral stream channel erosion were second-ary disturbance agents.

SPECIESThe wide range of habitats supports a diverseflora and fauna. About 500 vascular plantspecies are found on the Experimental Forest.Vertebrate species include northern spotted owl,pileated woodpecker, osprey, black bear, bobcat,mountain lion, coyote, black-tailed deer, andRoosevelt elk. Invertebrate species total morethan 3,000. Species lists for the ExperimentalForest are available through the Internet (Seeback panel).

STREAMS AND RIPARIAN ZONESThe clear, fast-flowing streams of the ExperimentalForest contain cutthroat and rainbow trout,Pacific giant salamanders and other vertebratespecies, as well as various invertebrate species.

Streamside vegetation, which includes deciduousand coniferous forests and herbaceous vegetation,strongly influences stream ecosystems by shad-ing and contributing large woody debris andlitter to streams.

GEOLOGYLower elevations of the Experimental Forest aremade up of Oligocene-lower Miocene volcanicrocks composed of mudflow, ash flow, andstream deposits. In higher areas, bedrock iscomposed of andesite lava flows of Miocene ageand of younger High Cascade rocks. Streamerosion, landslides, and glaciation have createda deeply dissected and steep landscape. Soilsdeveloped from these parent materials aremainly Inceptisols with local areas of Alfisolsand Spodosols.

Horace Justin Andrews

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest ServiceMay 2003

Pacific NorthwestResearchStation

H.J. AndrewsExperimentalForest

Stream team strings restraining net across Lookout Creek, Andrews Experimental Forest, 1991.

Seining hole on Lookout Creek, Andrews Experimental Forest, 1955.

ment practices in determining forest landscapepatterns and the effects of those patterns on suchthings as severity of rain-on-snow flooding, orhow disturbances like wildfire or an insectoutbreak might move through the landscape.

EDUCATIONThe educational program includes collegeclasses, formal and informal short courses,symposia, field trips, and nature talks at localcampgrounds. Participants include high schoolclasses, college undergraduate and graduatestudents, scientists, natural resource managersand other professionals, elected officials, mediarepresentatives, and the general public.

PHILOSOPHYThe Experimental Forest is dedicated to researchand to communication of research results to landmanagers, policymakers, scientists, students, andthe general public. The educational program is ahighly valued component. It is firmly believedthat management of forests and streams will beimproved with better understanding of how theywork. The Experimental Forest is open to allbasic and applied research that does not conflictwith existing programs or detract from the qualityof the site. Experimental manipulations,including logging, are permitted in specific areasand are broadly advertised to the scientificcommunity with the intent of fostering collabora-tive research. In addition to these experiments,an array of young stands has been created withknown initial conditions and mixtures of species,stocking densities, and genetic makeup, whichoffer many research opportunities.

The Experimental Forest, with its long history ofexperiments and extensive data sets, is committedto sustaining long-term, interdisciplinary researchprograms, which are critical to addressing presentand future problems in natural resource manage-ment. Long-term observations are maintained forbasic meteorological and hydrological factors,vegetation development, stream habitat condi-tions, and other variables. Many of these datasets are available through the Internet (See backpanel for address).

condition, road density and placement, and stormintensity on timing and height of peak flows. Theeffects of vegetation composition on summer lowflows also are being studied.

Stream and Riparian Zone Ecology and Restora-tion: This diverse research area includes studiesthat examine links among different types of forestsand stream food resources and habitat structure;response of riparian zones and streams to floodsand logging; effects of landforms and geomor-phology on stream ecosystems; sources andeffects of large woody debris in streams; andeffect of nutrient enrichment on food weborganization. Stream-restoration experiments haveinstalled different levels of coarse woody debris todetermine the effects on channel complexity,aquatic habitat, and stream productivity.

Forest Development, and Growth and Yield: Alarge network of permanent vegetation plots hasbeen established in a wide range of vegetationages and types. This network is periodicallyresampled to study the changes of forest structureand composition through time; the patterns ofbiological diversity; and changes in wildlifehabitat. Particular attention is paid to growth andyield of various forest types.

Young-Forest Structure and Wildlife Use: Tobetter understand the relations between foreststructure and composition of young stands andwildlife use, several areas are beingprecommercially and commercially thinned tocreate different patterns and densities. Thegrowth and yield of the different stands also arebeing followed.

Invertebrates: Insects, spiders, mites, and theirrelatives play many roles, which are poorly

PAST RESEARCHThe Experimental Forest has a rich and diverseresearch history with the dominant themeschanging through time. Research in the 1950scentered on road engineering, logging methodsfor old-growth forests, and rapid forest regenera-tion. In the 1960s, research focused on effects oflogging on water yield, sediment loads, andnutrient losses from small watersheds. During theInternational Biological Program (IBP) of the1970s, basic ecological studies examined howforest and stream ecosystems function (e.g.,nutrient cycling, energy flow, and communityorganization) in old-growth and managed forests.These basic ecological studies continued in the1980s, which also saw the beginning of researchon ecosystem management. The 1990s researchprogram has been characterized by landscape-scale studies and testing of ecosystem manage-ment methods.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the research wasconducted by a few Forest Service scientists. Thesize and scope of the research changed dramati-cally in 1970 with the start of IBP and the use ofthe Experimental Forest by university scientistsand graduate students. The program has grown toinclude scientists and graduate students fromaround the country and the world.

Many of the past research projects establishedpermanent study areas (i.e., watersheds, forestplots, stream reaches, and weather stations),where periodic measurements are needed toexamine natural changes as well as the effects oflogging and other management activities. Thedata from these long-term studies have made theExperimental Forest an important monitoring siteto detect regional changes in climate. Thisinformation also provides excellent opportunitiesto examine the effects of catastrophic or episodicevents such as major floods, windstorms, or insectoutbreaks. The Experimental Forest has become aworld leader in development of data managementand archiving methods to ensure high quality andeasy access to long-term data.

Since 1980, the Experimental Forest has been oneof the 230-plus stations in the National Atmos-pheric Deposition Program, which monitors thechemistry of the Nation’s precipitation. It has thepurest precipitation in the network.

CURRENT RESEARCHMore than 100 research projects are underway atthe Andrews Experimental Forest each year.Selected examples are:

Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): Thecenterpiece of Andrews Experimental Forestresearch, which holds as its central question:How do forest management, natural disturbances,and climate changes affect key ecosystemproperties such as biodiversity, carbon dynamics,and hydrology? Results from LTER studies are beingtested at large landscape and regional scales.

Watershed Studies: Several sets of watershedsprovide information on the effects of differentlogging systems and road construction on yieldsof water, sediment, and nutrients; development ofvegetation; and biological diversity. Integratedstudies examine the roles of topography, geology,vegetation age and composition, snow depth and

understood, as is their response to differentmanagement treatments. Several studies addressthe habitat requirements and distribution of thesespecies as well as their roles in decomposition,nutrient cycling, pollination, defoliation, pestcontrol, and other ecological processes.

Carbon Dynamics: The concern over “green-house gases” has made this a prominent topic.The basic processes controlling carbon flux in oursystems are being studied at the ExperimentalForest and then extrapolated over larger areas byusing models and remote sensing. PacificNorthwest forests play a disproportionately largerole in carbon dynamics because of their highproductivity, the extremely old ages they canattain, and the slow rate of decomposition ofmany tree species.

Remote Sensing: Sites like the Andrews Experi-mental Forest provide excellent information abouthow forest and stream ecosystems work, but thatknowledge needs to be tested over large areas tobe truly useful. Several studies are examining theapplication of remote-sensing imagery toinventory, monitoring, and modeling questions atlarge, regional scales. Methods are beingdeveloped that offer the promise of rapidlymeasuring ecosystem variables such asaboveground biomass, carbon stores, leaf area,and certain aspects of wildlife habitat.

Landscape Ecology: Several studies are underwaythat examine the effects of vegetation pattern onbiological diversity, carbon dynamics, andhydrology. Landscape-scale models are used tocompare presettlement forest disturbance patterns(particularly wildfire) with current forest manage-

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Spotted owl

Red-legged frog

Morel

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Watershed 2 gauging station, Andrews Experimental Forest.

Field tour on the Andrews Experimental Forest.

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NEARBY RESEARCH NATURAL AREASSeveral Research Natural Areas (RNAs) havebeen established close to the ExperimentalForest which provide examples of forest andmeadow communities and aquatic habitats notfound within the Experimental Forest. LocalRNAs include:

Wildcat RNA (1,415 acres, 573 ha) High-elevation true fir (Abies) and mountain hemlockforests as well as wet and dry subalpinemeadows.

Ollalie Ridge RNA (655 acres, 265 ha) High-elevation true fir (Abies) forests, moist and drysubalpine meadows, and several endemic plantspecies.

McKenzie Pass RNA (1,187 acres, 480 ha)Small, shallow lakes and high-elevation mead-ows and forests surrounded by lava flows.

Hagan RNA (1,127 acres, 456 ha) Dense,mature Douglas-fir forests at mid to low eleva-tion which established following wildfires in the1840s and 1880s.

Three Creek RNA (711 acres, 288 ha) High-elevation 800-year old-growth forests andassociated streams, and avalanche trackcommunities.

Several other RNAs are within a 1- to 2-hourdrive of Andrews Experimental Forest.

TRAVELThe Experimental Forest is about a 1-hour driveeast of Eugene, Oregon. About 3 miles east of thetown of Blue River on Oregon Highway 126, turnleft/north onto USFS road 15, drive about 4.5miles (7.25 km) on road 15 and turn right/eastonto USDA FS road 130, bear right at Y (about0.5 mi.[0.8 km]) onto USDA FS road 132.

A few restaurants and motels are available withina 15-mile (24.1 km) drive of the ExperimentalForest. Many are available in Eugene (1 houraway).

FACILITIESHousing facilities are limited to people involved inon-site research or educational activities. There areovernight accommodations for about 80 people, asmall cafeteria (capacity 32), open air pavilion,mechanical/wood shop, and a 10,000 square-foot(929 m2) laboratory-office complex with class-rooms and conference and meeting rooms.

BIBLIOGRAPHYA bibliography of over 2,500 publications fromresearch at the Experimental Forest is availablefrom the Pacific Northwest Research Station, theAndrews Experimental Forest office, or throughthe Internet. (See back panel.)

OTHER MAPSWillamette National Forest maps are availablefrom the McKenzie River Ranger District,McKenzie Bridge, Oregon or the Willamette

Supervisor’s Office, Eugene, Oregon.

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is part ofa system of research properties including otherexperimental forests, watersheds, rangelands,and RNAs.

HIKING TRAILSTwo public-use trails provide excellent introduc-tions to the Andrews Experimental Forest. TheLookout Creek Old-Growth Trail travels about3.5 miles (5.6 km) through unbroken old-growthforest along the lower slopes of Lookout Moun-tain. A short (about 1 mile [1.61 km] long) trailclimbs to the top of Carpenter Mountain, site ofa restored fire lookout with far-ranging views ofthe Cascade Range.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

H.J. Andrews Experimental ForestP.O. Box 300Blue River, OR 97413(541) 822-6300Internet address:www.fsl.orst.edu/LTER

Pacific Northwest Research Station333 S.W. First AvenueP.O. Box 3890Portland, OR 97208(503) 808-2592

McKenzie River Ranger Station57600 McKenzie HighwayMcKenzie Bridge, OR 97413(541) 822-3381

Willamette National Forest211 E. 7thP.O. Box 10607Eugene, OR 97440(541) 465-6521

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Andrews, Regional Forester for Oregon andWashington from 1943 to 1951, when he diedin an automobile accident. Born October 31,1892 in Sidnaw, Michigan, H.J. Andrewsobtained a BS (1915) and MS (1916) inforestry from the University of Michigan; servedas an air cadet in World War I; taught forestry atNew York State College of Forestry in Syracuse,and Iowa State; was appointed Michigan’s stateforest fire warden; became a forest economistwith the USDA Forest Service’s PacificNorthwest Research Station; and was promotedto Assistant Regional Forester in 1939. Widelyrecognized as a leading authority on theproblems of Northwest forestry, he was adriving force in the selection and establishmentof the Experimental Forest to address regionalproblems.

H.J. Andrews (1892-1951).Originally named the Blue River ExperimentalForest, the Andrews Experimental Forest wasrenamed in 1953 to honor Horace Justin

INTRODUCTIONThe H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is a worldrenowned center for research and educationabout the ecology and management of forestsand streams. Located about 50 miles (80 km)east of Eugene, Oregon, the Andrews Experi-mental Forest lies in the Blue River RangerDistrict of the Willamette National Forest.Established in 1948, the Experimental Forest isadministered cooperatively by the USDA ForestService’s Pacific Northwest Research Station,Oregon State University, and the WillametteNational Forest.

Funding for the research and education programscomes from the National Science Foundation(NSF), USDA Forest Service, NASA, OregonState University, U.S. Geological Survey, andother sources. In 1976, the Experimental Forestwas designated a Biosphere Reserve as part ofthe United Nations’ Man and the BiosphereProgram, and in 1980, the Experimental Forestbecame a charter member of the NSF's Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program, whichby 2003 had grown to 22 sites around the

nation and 2 in Antarctica.

ENVIRONMENTThe Experimental Forest is on the western slope ofthe Cascade Range of Oregon, and occupies the15,800-acre (6400-ha) drainage basin of LookoutCreek, a tributary of Blue River and the McKenzieRiver. Elevation ranges from about 1,350 feet (410m) to 5,340 feet (1630 m). Broadly representativeof the rugged, mountainous landscape of thePacific Northwest, it features excellent examplesof west-slope conifer forests and steep, fast-flowing streams.

The Experimental Forest’s maritime climate haswet, mild winters and dry, cool summers. At theprimary meteorological station near the head-quarters at 1,400 feet (430 m) elevation, themean monthly temperature ranges from a low ofabout 34 °F (1 °C) in January to 64 °F (18 °C) inJuly. Precipitation is concentrated from Novem-ber through March and increases with elevation,averaging about 90 inches (230 cm) per year at

lower elevations to over 140 inches (355 cm) atupper elevations. Rain predominates at lowelevations, whereas snow is common at highelevations with deep snowpacks lasting late intospring. Highest streamflows generally occurfrom November through February when theoccasional warm rainstorm melts the deepsnowpacks.

FOREST TYPESBefore timber cutting began in 1950, about 65percent of the Experimental Forest was cloakedin old-growth forests with towering, 400-plusyear-old Douglas-firs. The rest of the Experimen-tal Forest was largely in stands that regeneratedfollowing wildfires in the mid-1800s. Lowerelevation forests are dominated by Douglas-fir,western hemlock, and western redcedar. Upperelevation forests contain noble fir, Pacific silverfir, Douglas-fir, and western hemlock.Clearcutting and shelterwood cuttings overabout 30 percent of the Experimental Foresthave created young plantation forests varying incomposition, stocking level, and age. Wildfirewas the primary disturbance type in the naturalforest; windthrow, landslides, root rot infections,and lateral stream channel erosion were second-ary disturbance agents.

SPECIESThe wide range of habitats supports a diverseflora and fauna. About 500 vascular plantspecies are found on the Experimental Forest.Vertebrate species include northern spotted owl,pileated woodpecker, osprey, black bear, bobcat,mountain lion, coyote, black-tailed deer, andRoosevelt elk. Invertebrate species total morethan 3,000. Species lists for the ExperimentalForest are available through the Internet (Seeback panel).

STREAMS AND RIPARIAN ZONESThe clear, fast-flowing streams of the ExperimentalForest contain cutthroat and rainbow trout,Pacific giant salamanders and other vertebratespecies, as well as various invertebrate species.

Streamside vegetation, which includes deciduousand coniferous forests and herbaceous vegetation,strongly influences stream ecosystems by shad-ing and contributing large woody debris andlitter to streams.

GEOLOGYLower elevations of the Experimental Forest aremade up of Oligocene-lower Miocene volcanicrocks composed of mudflow, ash flow, andstream deposits. In higher areas, bedrock iscomposed of andesite lava flows of Miocene ageand of younger High Cascade rocks. Streamerosion, landslides, and glaciation have createda deeply dissected and steep landscape. Soilsdeveloped from these parent materials aremainly Inceptisols with local areas of Alfisolsand Spodosols.

Horace Justin Andrews

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Forest ServiceMay 2003

Pacific NorthwestResearchStation

H.J. AndrewsExperimentalForest