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Home > Experimental Forests > FraserFraser Experimental Forest![[image]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090119095725im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/images/experimental-forests/fraser.jpg)
The 23,000 acre Fraser Experimental Forest was established in 1937 as a representative site for conducting studies in the alpine/subalpine environment of the central Rockies. It is located on the Sulfur District, Arapaho National Forest, approximately 70 miles west of Denver, on the west side of the continental divide. Most early research was oriented toward timber or water production resulting from forest management. To this end there are numerous long term study plots in both lodgepole pine and englemann spruce as well as 9 gaged watersheds and attendant meteorological installations and snow courses. Some of the records now exceed 50 years in length. Research on forest/wildlife interactions began in the 1950's. Biogeochemical studies began in the 1960's, were restarted in the 70's, and have been continuous since 1982. Much of this work is done in cooperation with the National Park Service. Today, most of the new research addresses questions that deal with stand and landscape diversity or specific plant allocation and water processes that better define ecosystem function. Fraser is unique in that it has relatively long term record, pristine atmospheric input, and significant areas that have not been impacted by management or non-conforming uses. In addition to several RMRS projects that conduct research at Fraser, North Central Station and faculty and graduate students from 6 universities also participate. Scientists from Europe, Asia, and Canada spend extended periods there as well. ClimateElevation ranges from 2,680 to 3,900 m, and about onethird of the forest is above timberline at 3,350 m. Climate is strongly correlated with elevation, with snow increasing and temperatures decreasing with elevation. Overall, the climate is cool and humid, with long cold winters and short cool summers. Average annual temperature at Fraser headquarters (2,745 m) is 0.5 °C, and frost can occur any month of the year. At headquarters, the mean monthly temperature is -10 °C for January and 12.7 °C for July. Annual precipitation averages 584 mm (range, 432 to 711 mm), and average annual precipitation over the entire forest is 737 mm. Nearly two-thirds of the precipitation falls as snow from October to May.SoilsSoils are generally derived from gneiss and schist. Typical soils contain angular gravel and stone with little silt and clay. These soils are permeable and can store considerable water during snowmelt. At high elevations, especially on the west side, soils are derived from sandstones. These soils are shallow, have large amounts of stone, and have fine sand or sand textures. Alluvial soils occur along main streams, with parent material a mixture of glacial till, glacial outwash, and recent valley fill.VegetationThe Fraser includes subalpine forests and alpine tundra typical of the central Rocky Mountains. In the forested areas below the timberline, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir are the predominant trees at higher elevations, or north slopes, and along streams; lodgepole pine is the predominant tree at lower elevations and on drier upper slopes. The majority of the forest regenerated naturally (sometimes slowly) after a stand-replacing fire in 1685. There are pockets of older trees in draws and at higher elevations. The flat, low-elevation portion of the forest was logged in the early 1900s.Long-Term Data BasesThe primary research focus on the Fraser has been the effect of management practices on water yield and quality. Snow depth and water content are collected on five watersheds, with records dating to 1941 for one of them. Streamflow is monitored on seven watersheds, and a continuous record of streamflow for the oldest watersheds dates from 1941-43. Sediment transport and bedload are measured periodically. Precipitation and temperature are measured at more than eight locations and records are available from 1969 (one location from 1939). An NSF Long-Term Ecological Research quality environmental monitoring system was installed in 2001. Precipitation, streamflow, and snowpack chemistry have been monitored weekly since 1982. Tree growth, seed production, and tree mortality have been recorded at the Fraser since in 1938. Climate and streamflow data are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/fraser/fefdatabase.htm.Research, Past and PresentMost early research on the Fraser was oriented toward timber or water production and effects resulting from forest management. Additionally, much research focused on the effect of forest structure and species water use, snow distribution, and water yield. A number of integrated studies examined management impacts on ecosystem processes and animal populations for a landscape. Much early research is summarized in RMGTR- 118, available on the web. Current research addresses questions about links between forests, riparian areas, and streams, and aims to better understand mechanisms important in nutrient cycling, snow hydrology, and ecosystem carbon storage. More than 30 individual studies are in progress in addition to the continued long-term monitoring of climate, streamflow, and water chemistry.Major Research Accomplishments and Effects on ManagementResearch at Fraser has provided significant advances in our understanding of subalpine forest ecology and hydrology, and most of the silvicultural and hydrological practices used in managing subalpine forests in the central Rocky Mountains are derived from research done here. Improvements in understanding the factors that control snow distribution and water yields across heterogeneous landscapes have been incorporated into water-yield models and applied widely. Studies of tree water use and ecophysiology have provided a better understanding of the growth dynamics of forests and transpiration water loss, and have been incorporated into mechanistic models of ecosystem function used to predict the impact of changing climate on forest production and carbon storage. Long-term studies of manipulated forest stands indicate that recovery requires substantially longer than originally hypothesized. Aquatic and terrestrial biogeochemistry have been studied in manipulated and control catchments, providing a greater understanding of the processes that control stream-water quality.CollaboratorsResearch collaborators working at the Fraser have come from the USDI Geological Survey, US Forest ServiceRocky Mountain and North Central Research Stations, Colorado State University, University of Colorado, State University of New York, and Texas Tech University. Research OpportunitiesThe Fraser is ideal for research that extrapolates from the plot to the watershed for hydrology, biogeochemistry, and vegetation. Outstanding opportunities are available to examine issues of landscape-scaling by expanding the Fraser's GIS to cover biogeochemistry (carbon storage and flux; nitrogen cycling, and retention) and forest structure and dynamics. Additionally, the dramatically increasing recreation use offers an opportunity to assess the effects of recreation. We welcome and encourage research at Fraser, and especially encourage research that takes advantage of the long-term records.FacilitiesThe Fraser Experimental Forest is easily accessible (less than 2 hours from Denver), has lodging for 20 to 25 people (main lodge, two cabins, bunkhouse, lounge, and washroom), a new biogeochemistry and ecophysiology laboratory and meeting/office space, and extensive shop and storage facilities. Lodging is available for researchers and their field crews for a nominal fee. Although well roaded, less than 25 percent of the area has been affected by research.Lat. 39°54'25" N, long. 105°52'58" W Contact InformationFraser Experimental Forest US Forest ServiceRocky Mountain Research Station 240 West Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526 Tel: (970) 498-1255 Or
Manager, Fraser Experimental Forest |
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The material for the Experimental Forests pages was originally published in: Adams, Mary Beth; Loughry, Linda; Plaugher, Linda, comps. 2004.
Experimental Forests and Ranges of the USDA Forest Service.
Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-321. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 178 p.
GTR-NE-321 - 5.5 mb pdf Information has been updated since original publication. | |||||||||||||||||||
Rocky Mountain Research Station
Last Modified: Monday, 28 April 2008 at 17:14:20 EDT (Version 1.0.5)