The soil at one profile pit was described and sampled (see profile no. 84 in the HJA Soils Data Base). The upper portion of the profile was uniformly silt loam in texture, with about 30% gravel and shot. Depth to saprolite averaged about 90 cm. Beneath the solum, the weathered saprolite was silty clay loam in texture. Bulk density of the soil was about 0.9 g/cc and organic matter content was 4.3% in the surface and 1.6% in the subsoil.
RS 6 conforms closely in landform and vegetation to the TSHE/CACH habitat type described by Dyrness et al. (1974). The stand was clearcut logged in 1975 as part of the IBP/Coniferous Forest Biome research.
Prior to logging the tree layer of this stand was diverse but relatively open. Old-growth Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus lambertiana, and occasional Castanopsis chrysophylla dominated the overstory of more open areas. Understory tree species indicative of the climax included not only Tsuga heterophylla and Castanopsis, but also Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus lamberitana.
The shrub layer was dominated by the tall shubs Rhododendron macrophyllum, Castanopsis chrysophylla, Acer circinatum, which formed often impassable shrubthickets. The dense low shrubs were dominated by Gaultheria shallon. Berberis nervosa was present in minor amounts.
The herb stratum was moderately developed for a submesic site and was dominated by Xerophyllum tenax which is characteristic of low-elevation xeric to submesic forests in the Andrews Forest region. Mosses were common but not abundant in the stand. Eurhychium oreganum was the most abundant representative species of this layer with 3.2% cover.
Ecosystem and Population Dynamics: no data available