How Big Is Big

Two hundred ninety nine feet and three inches is the answer to the question, “How big is the tallest Douglas Fir tree in the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest?”

I have been exposed to forests and agriculture land all of my life and did not expect to be completely mesmerized by the forest as I was during my two day seminar for the OSU Extension sponsored Citizen Science Program, Oregon Season Tracker.
Volunteers and teachers from across western Oregon converged on the Headquarters at the HJ Andrews to get a hands-on view of the impressive old-growth forest, see a glimpse of the myriad complexity and breadth of the kinds of tests and monitoring that are being done, and a chance to visit with some of the scientists that are collecting the data.
The size of the HJ Andrews is nearly 16,000 acres of rich forestland that is dense with 300-800 year old Douglas Fir, hemlock, yew, with dense understories, steep canyons of pristine watershed headlands, miles and miles and miles of drive-able forest roads and many more miles of trails that lead to the wide variety of test sites. We had the opportunity to trek to a few of the stations.

This site used solar panels to power the monitoring stations wind, barometric pressure and temperature while ‘sniffing’ the air quality at 15 minute intervals. Data collection is just the beginning and can be accessed to accompany the other on-going experiments.
Some of the collecting stations resemble structures with this one designed to monitor winter time moisture. Since it is high above Headquarters on one of the ridges, snow and rain levels are recorded.
The snow depth, water content and purity of the moisture are checked constantly. At this site, particles traveling the jetstreams from all over the globe can be detected as they pass or fall here at the forest.
Nearby, a state-of-the-art, worldwide recognized, ultimate snow measuring compound has been erected and maintained to exacting proportions.
This tall snow fence around the inner collection site blocks wind and blowing snow from interfering with the collection of data. On this peak, the snow has been above the fence line during previous winters.
Heaters inside the collection area keep the collected moisture from freezing without evaporation for the exacting measures.
Water quality is monitored in many of the canyons.
Bacteria, flora, fauna, temperature are some of the basics that are being tested on a regular schedule. Bugs and invertebrates are tracked along with frogs and salamanders as species that identify healthy ecosystems from those who are struggling.

This small ravine is being used for several tests including water quality, storm water release from watershed, debris flow, summer/winter fluctuations, etc. Experiments lead to better understanding of how much water is being utilized by the forest both above ground and under the ground.
Some of the tests span merely a season or two with some longer term. The longest study is currently in year 40 of a 200 year program that studies the decay process in the natural forest.
The data from this forest is shared freely as is the Citizen Science Program that monitors weather conditions and phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life) in our local areas. Teachers are encouraged to bring entire classrooms into the program to monitor, report and share information.
If you happen to be interested in Citizen Science, contact your local Extension Agent. They can get you the information and training you need to be a part of this valuable program.