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Long-Term Vegetation Plots

Submitted by Lina on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 12:04

Studying forest dynamics takes decades, even centuries. The western Cascade Mountains of Oregon, including the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, harbor centuries-old stands of old-growth forests, which are known for their high biomass, complex structure, and multi-layered forest canopies. In 1971, scientists established multiple permanent sample plots across the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest and elsewhere in the region, largely to study old-growth forest ecosystems. Scientists continue to visit the plots every year.

Weather Stations

Submitted by Lina on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 11:58

For the past few days, the Lookout Fire has been burning around one of our remote weather stations, Upper Lookout (UPLMET), and is nearing a second, Central (CENMET). Fortunately, as of the time of this post (August 21), the UPLMET station continues to send useful weather data over our network of radio relays. The first weather stations at HJA were installed to aid research on logging methods starting in 1952. Three more stations were added over time. Today we maintain seven weather stations spread out to capture the environment across the entire research forest.

Carpenter Mountain Fire Lookout

Submitted by Lina on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 11:29

Rob Mutch, the USFS Fire Lookout stationed on Carpenter Mountain, was on duty on August 5 and was the first to spot the tell-tale waft of smoke from the flank of Lookout Mountain, following the lightning storm on August 5. Rob, who is also a professional photographer, shared photos of the fire a week later, as conditions caused a massive column of smoke. For safety, Rob was moved from his station on Carpenter Mountain and is now assisting other USFS fire lookouts in the area.

HJA closure due to fire

News Brief Description: 

From Paul Anderson, Station Director of the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, 8/10/2023:

"The Lookout Mountain fire within the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest continues to elude containment as fuel loading, topography, and access limitations impede mitigation and suppression efforts. Researcher and staff access to the upper watersheds within the forest have the potential to impede fire operations activity and exacerbate personnel safety concerns. With the forecast showing increasing temperatures combined with lack of containment I am directing that all researchers (Forest Service, university, and any other recognized research partners or collaborators) and staff access to the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest will be constrained in the following ways:

  • As of 17:00, Thursday, August 10, 2023, all field activities, accessed by road or trail, by foot or vehicle, are to cease throughout the experimental forest and will not resume until further notice as provided by the site manager, Mark Schulze.
  • Researchers and staff temporarily housed in HJ Andrews facilities will vacate the premises and headquarters compounds by 17:00, Sunday, August 13, 2023. Facilities and compound grounds will remain vacated untill further notice as provided by the site manager, Mark Schulze.

Exceptions to this directive are limited to staff or researchers working in direct service to and at the request of fire operations staff, as vetted by Nora Miebach and as coordinated through the site manager Mark Schulze and Lead Scientist Brooke Penaluna.

The timing of field access and facilities use restrictions may change or be accelerated by further decisions of fire operations staff, the District Ranger, or the PNW Station Director.

These measures are undertaken to promote the safety of all persons, researchers and fire operations, and facilities in a dynamic fire situation. Your cooperation is very much appreciated.

Lookout Fire Update August 7 2023

News Brief Description: 

Notice:  A lightning strike fire started on Saturday, August 5, within the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, between the base of Lookout cliff and the ridge dividing Lookout and Mack Creek drainages.  As of today, August 7, the fire is 2.5 acres. Two helicopters are traveling between the Blue River reservoir and the fire carrying water. The plan is to keep knocking back the fire until ground crews can get a line around it and contain it.  It is burning in steep terrain, in old growth with dense understory, which is making it a challenge for experienced ground crews.  In addition to the helicopters, a hotshot crew has been assigned to the fire, most likely starting August 8. 

Check the Eugene Interagency Communications Office for updates on size and containment.

Researchers and the public are advised to stay out of the area, including the Lookout Old Growth trail, to allow fire crews space and access. We are anticipating a fire closure on site.

Researchers and public should be ready to evacuate if we move to a level 1 evacuation level.  Anyone working on site should have a radio on at all times.

All further updates will be posted to https://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/about/news-events/lookout-fire-updates-2023 

Thesis seminar on Fire and Douglas Fir

Event Date: 
Friday, March 17, 2023
Event Brief Description: 

Please join us on Friday, March 17th at 10am on Zoom for a presentation of Clayton Sodergren’s capstone, titled: “Long-Term Effects of Fire Severity, Time Since Fire, and Topography on Douglas-Fir Canopy Complexity in the Western Cascades, Oregon, USA.” Clayton is earning his MF in Forest Ecosystems and Society with Lisa Ganio and David Bell. Please contact the FES Department for the zoom link or for accommodations for disabilities.

Andrews Forest LTER Monthly Meeting Feb 2023

Event Date: 
Friday, February 3, 2023
Event Brief Description: 

Andrews Forest Monthly Meeting: Friday, January 13, 2023, 9-11 AM

Presentations: 

  • “Long-term data for modeling current and future species distributions at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest.” Presented by Nicolò Anselmetto, PhD student, Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Science, University of Turin, Italy.
  • “Seventy years of watershed response to floods and changing forestry practices.” Presented by Catalina Segura, Associate Professor, Fisher Family Faculty Fellow, Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, College of Forestry
  • Graduate Student lightning talk:“Effects of forest harvest, floods, and wildfire on bedload export from headwater catchments in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, 1957 to present.” Presented by Charlie Wright, MS student / Seasonal hydrologic technician.

After our presentations we will move into our community meeting, which includes updates on graduate student activities, site, WNF, community, education, new faces, and recent publications.

Our meetings follow the academic year; our next meetings will be Mar 3,  Apr 7, May 5, Jun 2.

We'll mee in person in Peavy 315, or contact Lina DiGregorio for Zoom link.

Following Fire

"FOLLOWING FIRE: A Resilient Forest / An Uncertain Future" is a long term inquiry by photographer David Paul Bayles and disturbance ecologist Frederick J Swanson.  The collaboration combines David’s artistic sense of form and color and Fred’s scientific focus on the biological and physical processes shaping forest history and the forest’s future.

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