Ken Bible University of Washington P.O. Box 370 Carson, WA 98610 (509) 427-5941 kbible@u.washington.edu
Robert Edmonds University of Washington Box 352100 Seattle, Washington 98195 bobe@u.washington.edu
Sarah Greene Forestry Sciences Lab 3200 Jefferson Way Corvallis, OR 97331 sgreene@fs.fed.us
Domain 16 - Pacific Northwest (PNW)
Wind River Experimental Forest (WREF) is nominated as a NEON Core site. WREF totals 4280 ha (www.fs.fed.us/pnw/exforests/windriver.shtml) in 2 divisions (Trout Creek and Panther Creek) (Fig. 1). Trout Creek Division includes the 478-ha T. T. Munger Research Natural Area (RNA) and Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility (WRCCRF) (Lat. 45.833 N, Long. 121.9 W) (depts.washington.edu/wrccrf). Associated files: WindRiverExpForest-CoreNEON-D16.E00.
Unique characteristics making WR an ideal core site for PNW domain: Site formally dedicated to scientific and educational use in 1932 and with a history of ecological research dating back to 1908. Access and protection can be guaranteed for >30 years. WREF is near the geographic center of the PNW domain and highly accessible (75 km from Portland International Airport and Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area). Federal laws and regulations mandate that impacts on environmental and cultural values be minimized. Security is provided by variety of mechanisms including fences, gates, and patrols by Forest Service, county, and state law officers.
Environmental regime and biota are broadly representative of the PNW domain. The mild moist marine climatic regime is characterized by wet, cool winters and warm, dry summers. Soils are derived primarily from volcanic rocks and tephra and include an extensive area (~2500 ha) of deep (2 m), stone-free soil ideal for belowground research. Site is dominated by tall mixed coniferous forests highly characteristic of the domain, composed primarily of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, western red-cedar and true firs. Presence of many forest ages and successional stages including significant areas of natural forest originating following wildfires in ca. 1500, 1845, and 1902 and planted forests established following logging in 1945-1985. Old-growth (500 yr) and mature (104 yr) forests dominate in Trout Creek and older mature forests (160 yr) dominate in Panther Creek. Good opportunities for studies based on forest chronosequences.
Presence of Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility (WRCCRF)—an operating construction tower crane within an old-growth forest (Fig. 2). With 85 m jib, the crane accesses ~2 ha or 1.7 million cubic meters of old-growth Douglas-fir/western hemlock forest canopy via a gondola. Crane site is Ameriflux site in its 10th year of eddy covariance flux measurements as well as the site of numerous other studies on forest carbon.
Potential for NEON cost-saving partnership with University of Washington-USFS and available human expertise currently (4 FTE) or potentially available at site to operate and maintain NEON infrastructure.
Extensive and diverse experimental NEON set-asides available including: (1) ~30 ha of open field with an existing irrigation network; (2) multiple intact mature forest watersheds suitable for gauging; and (3) multiple tracts of old, mature, and young forest. Experimental manipulations are possible with some possible limitations on significant tree removals from natural forests (but not plantations) and on alteration of streamflow levels from watersheds (but internal redistribution possible).
Many existing structures available to NEON and a potential site for a construction of a new 3000 sq ft facility, all with road access, power, and appropriate zoning. Existing facilities include those currently used by the WRCCRF, numerous other FS structures excess to FS needs available at little or no cost, and county-owned structures that could be leased or purchased.
Several low-order watersheds are available for siting the Advanced BioMesoNet Tower System and auxiliary towers, all with potential or existing line power within 1500 m. NEON has choice of core-site watershed that is either: (1) topographically well-defined and moderately steep with mature forest cover and perennial stream or (2) topographically poorly-defined and gentle (fluxable topography) with old-growth forest watershed cover and an intermittent stream. Option (2) is the location of the WRCCRF and Ameriflux site and already has line power.
Extensive areas of flat terrain exist that are suitable for biosphere/atmosphere flux measurements (Fig. 3). These include the old-growth forest site where flux measurements have been underway for the last 10 years, but fluxable topography also occurs in areas occupied by young and mature forests.
Deployment and operation of the FIU, FSU and experimental research infrastructure in the experimental set-aside is feasible; i.e., sites can support the sampling and disturbance accompanying efforts to address a variety of science questions. Use restrictions mandated by NEON, Inc are likely to be more severe than any existing restrictions on use at WR, except as noted in “e” above.
As with all federal lands, an environmental analysis will be required regarding impacts of proposed NEON use of the WREF site and their compatibility with federal land management mandates and plans.
Relation to NEON Gradients and Themes: WREF is a wildland site representative of Domain 16 that can be incorporated into the continental network of NEON core sites. WREF is characteristic of the mountainous topography, mild Mediterranean climate, and tall coniferous forest ecosystems and is located near the geographic and environmental center of Domain 16. As a core site it will be used to address the primary NEON focus on ecological impacts of climate and land use change. The continuing long-term carbon flux studies and representative environment make WREF particularly valuable in assessing impacts of climate change. WREF also is at the wildland end of a land-use/urbanizing gradient centered on the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. WREF is incorporated into several RFI Part 1 gradient proposals, including those associated with climate change and urbanization. It is also an appropriate location to address NEON programs related to biodiversity and invasive species, disturbance, and aquatic ecosystems.