An experimental

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

, or experimental

range Range may refer to: Geography * Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra) ** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands * Range, a term used to i ...

, as defined by the

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Natio ...

, is "an area administered ... 'to provide for the research necessary for the management of the land.'"

Size and relation to other areas

According to the USFS, "Most Experimental Forests are large enough to contain significant stream systems and several dozen contain experimental watershed study sites with multiple paired

basins Basin may refer to: Geography and geology * Depression (geology) ** Back-arc basin, a submarine feature associated with island arcs and subduction zones ** Debris basin, designed to prevent damage from debris flow ** Drainage basin (hydrology), ...

." Individual experimental forests range from in area. Experimental forests are distinguished from research natural areas and intensive monitoring sites.

History

The present system of 80 experimental forests and ranges began in 1908. Many experimental forest are more than 50 years old. The system provides places for long-term science and management studies in major vegetation types of the of public land administered by the Forest Service.

Experimental forests and ranges in the United States

* Alum Creek Experimental Forest,

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

* Argonne Experimental Forest,

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

* Baltimore Long Term Ecological Research,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

(cooperating) * Bartlett Experimental Forest,

New Hampshire New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

* Beaver Creek Experimental Watershed,

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

* Bent Creek Experimental Forest,

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

* Big Falls Experimental Forest,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

* Black Hills Experimental Forest in

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

is used to study ponderosa pine timber production, mountain pine beetle, and wildlife habitat. * Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest, California * Blue Valley Experimental Forest, * Boise Basin Experimental Forest in

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...

is used to study old-growth restoration, prescribed fire, and root-system structures. * Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest,

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

* Calhoun Experimental Forest,

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

* Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed, Alaska (cooperating) * Cascade Head Experimental Forest, Oregon * Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed, California * Challenge Experimental Forest, California * Chipola Experimental Forest,

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

* Clemson Experimental Forest surrounds the

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

campus in

. The 17,500 acre forest is the largest university forest adjacent to its campus in the country. It is used for research, education, and recreation. * Crossett Experimental Forest is located in

Ashley County, Arkansas Ashley County is a rural South Arkansas county with a culture, economy, and history based on timber and agriculture. Created as Arkansas's 52nd county on November 30, 1848, Ashley County has seven incorporated municipality, municipalities, incl ...

. * Coulee Experimental Forest, Wisconsin * Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina *

Coram Experimental Forest The Coram Experimental Forest was established in 1933 within the Flathead National Forest in the US state of Montana, about 45 kilometers east of Kalispell, near Coram, and just outside the borders of Glacier National Park. The forest is an out ...

Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...

is used to study western larch, Douglas-fir, forest regeneration, forest growth, silvicultural systems, climate, and hydrology. * Cutfoot Sioux Experimental Forest,

* Deception Creek Experimental Forest in Idaho is used to study sediment movement and transport, forest genetics, root disease, small tree use, and fire effects. * Delta Experimental Forest,

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

* Denbigh Experimental Forest, North Dakota * Desert Experimental Range in

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...

is used to study cold-desert-plant communities, desertification, sheep management, rodent ecology, pronghorn antelope, soils, and bird and mammal populations. * Dukes (Upper Peninsula) Experimental Forest,

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

* Entiat Experimental Forest, Washington * Escambia Experimental Forest,

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

* Estate Thomas Experimental Forest,

U.S. Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands, officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and a territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located ...

* Fernow Experimental Forest,

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

* Fort Valley Experimental Forest in

is used to study forest diseases,

forest restoration Forest restoration is defined as "actions to re-instate ecological processes, which accelerate recovery of forest structure, ecological functioning and biodiversity levels towards those typical of climax forest", i.e. the end-stage of natural ...

, wildland-urban interface studies, and fire effects. * Fraser Experimental Forest is on the western slopes of the

Continental Divide A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not ...

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

. * Glacier Lakes Ecosystem Experiments Site (GLEES) in

Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...

is used to study seedling germination, nitrogen deposits, riparian hydrology, disturbance changes, tree growth, atmospheric pollutants. * Great Basin Experimental Range in Utah is used to study plant adaptation and ecosystem shifts,

nutrient cycling A nutrient cycle (or ecological recycling) is the movement and exchange of inorganic and organic matter back into the production of matter. Energy flow is a unidirectional and noncyclic pathway, whereas the movement of mineral nutrients is cyc ...

, replanting, restoration ecology, and game habitat. * H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest,

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

* Harrison Experimental Forest, Mississippi * Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest,

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

* Héen Latinee,

* Henry R. Koen Experimental Forest,

* Hill Forest, NC State Univ. North Carolina (cooperating) * Hitchiti Experimental Forest,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

* Howland Cooperating Experimental Forest, Maine (cooperating) * Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest,

* Kane Experimental Forest,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

* Kaskaskia Experimental Forest,

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

* Kings River Experimental Watershed, California * Long Valley Experimental Forest (Arizona) — ponderosa pine, burning interval effects, tree growth history. * Lower Peninsula Experimental Forest, Michigan *

Luquillo Experimental Forest The Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) (''Bosque experimental de Luquillo'') is a protected area of tropical rainforest in northeastern Puerto Rico. The experimental forest is located in the Sierra de Luquillo some east of San Juan, the capital ...

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

* Manitou Experimental Forest (Colorado) — ponderosa pine ecosystems, fire, insect and bird biology, dwarf mistletoe, and wildland-urban interface issues. *

Marcell Experimental Forest Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) is a 1,140 ha long-term ecosystem research site operated by the Northern Research Station of the U.S. Forest Service. It is located 40 km north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota within the Chippewa National Forest ...

located in

Chippewa National Forest Chippewa National Forest is a National Forest located in north central Minnesota, United States, in the counties of Itasca, Cass and Beltrami. Forest headquarters are located in Cass Lake, Minnesota. There are local ranger district offices ...

and 40 km north of

Grand Rapids, Minnesota Grand Rapids is a city in, and the county seat of, Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,126 at the 2020 census. The city is named for the long rapids in the Mississippi River which was the uppermost limit of practi ...

. * Massabesic Experimental Forest, Maine * Maybeso Experimental Forest, Alaska * North Mountain Experimental Area, California * Olustee Experimental Forest,

Olympic Experimental State Forest Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece bet ...

, Washington (cooperating) * Onion Creek Experimental Forest, California * Palustris Experimental Forest,

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

Paoli Experimental Forest Paoli may refer to: People *Antonio Paoli, a tenor singer from Puerto Rico * Amalia Paoli, a soprano singer from Puerto Rico *Pasquale Paoli, Corsican patriot and leader Places ;In the United States * Paoli, Colorado, town *Paoli, Georgia, unincor ...

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

* Penobscot Experimental Forest located in

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

is and focuses on

silviculture Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, as well as quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production. The name comes from the Latin ('forest') and ('growing'). The study of forests ...

research. * Pike Bay Experimental Forest, Minnesota * Priest River Experimental Forest in Idaho is used to study woody debris, soil productivity, acid deposits, seedling development, water yield and quality, and wood decomposition. * Pringle Falls Experimental Forest, Oregon *

Redwood Experimental Forest The Redwood Experimental Forest (also Yurok Redwood Experimental Forest, formerly Yurok Experimental Forest) (established 1940) is an experimental forest in Del Norte County, California. The forest is near the mouth of the Klamath River in the Cali ...

is located in Northern California near the mouth of the

Klamath River The Klamath River (Karuk language, Karuk: ''Ishkêesh'', Klamath language, Klamath: ''Koke'', Yurok language, Yurok: ''Hehlkeek 'We-Roy'') is a long river in southern Oregon and northern California. Beginning near Klamath Falls, Oregon, Klama ...

. * Rhinelander Experimental Forest, Wisconsin * Sagehen Experimental Forest, California * San Dimas Experimental Forest in southern

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

covers 6,945 hectares in the

San Gabriel Mountains The San Gabriel Mountains () are a mountain range located in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, California, United States. The mountain range is part of the Transverse Ranges and lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert ...

. * San Joaquin Experimental Range is in the foothills of the

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada ( ) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...

. *

Santa Rita Experimental Range The Santa Rita Experimental Range and Wildlife Area is the longest continuously active rangeland research facility and among the five oldest biological field stations in the United States. Located south of Tucson in Pima County, Arizona, the 52 ...

is located in southern

and is the oldest experimental range in the United States. * Santee Experimental Forest, South Carolina * Scull Shoals Experimental Forest, Georgia * Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest in Arizona is used for long-term hydrologic studies. * Silas Little Experimental Forest, New Jersey * Sinkin Experimental Forest, Missouri * South Umpqua Experimental Forest, Oregon * Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest is in the central

. *

Starkey Experimental Forest and Range Starkey may refer to: Places United States * Starkey, New York, a town ** Starkey United Methodist Church, on the National Register of Historic Places * Starkey, Oregon, an unincorporated community * Starkey, Virginia, an unincorporated community ...

, Oregon *

Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest Stephen or Steven is an English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the firs ...

, Texas * Swain Mountain Experimental Forest, California * Sylamore Experimental Forest, Arkansas * Tallahatchie Experimental Forest, Mississippi * Teakettle Experimental Forest, California * Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest in Montana is used to study hydrology, climate, and regenerating and restoring lodgepole pine. * Udell Experimental Forest, Michigan * Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest, Ohio *

Wind River Experimental Forest The Wind River Experimental Forest is an ecology, ecological and silviculture, silvicultural research in Stabler, Washington, in the United States. Used as a research site by the U.S. Forest Service beginning in 1908, and functioning as an exper ...

, Washington * Young Bay Experimental Forest, Alaska

References

External links

{{Authority control Agriculture in the United States Forestry in the United States Types of formally designated forests

Size and relation to other areas

History

Experimental forests and ranges in the United States

See also

References

External links