- Rocky Mountain Research Station
- 240 West Prospect
- Fort Collins, CO 80526
- (970) 498-1100
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Home > Experimental Forests > Sierra Ancha
Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest
The Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest, located on the
Tonto National Forest about 48 km northeast of Globe,
Arizona, was established in 1932 as a research area
devoted to studying watershed management. This 5,364-
ha experimental area is typical of watershed and
vegetation conditions throughout the Southwest,
particularly in Arizona.
The climate, soil, and physiography are typical of much
of the southwestern region, and are particularly
representative of the Verde, Salt, and Upper Gila
watersheds. The Sierra Ancha lies along the crest of the
Sierra Ancha Mountain range and includes areas between
1,082 to 2,354 m in elevation. Vegetation types within
the forest range from semidesert shrub and grassland to
the pine-fir forests at higher elevations.
Climate
Precipitation averages about 850 mm at the higher
elevations at Workman's Creek, 635 mm at the
intermediate elevations (1,460 to 1,830 m) surrounding
the headquarters, and 410 mm at the lower elevations.
Soils
Geology of the range is complex with sedimentary,
metamorphic, and igneous rocks uplifted in a dome like
structure. Thick formations of Dripping Springs
quartzite, dissected by deep canyons or with intrusions of
diabase and basalt plugs and sills are common in much of
the forest. Troy sandstone occurs at higher elevations.
Vegetation
Eight vegetation types have been identified on the Sierra
Ancha including, from the high elevations to low: mixed
conifer, mountain park, ponderosa pine, chaparral, oak
woodland, desert grassland, desert shrub, and riparian.
Fifty-seven percent of the forest is covered by chaparral
shrubs.
Research, Past and Present
Research studies on watershed management problems in
woodlands, chaparral, ponderosa pine, and pine-fir
forests were conducted on the sites that ranged in size
from several square meters to complete watersheds
comprising several thousand hectares. The Sierra Ancha
is still maintained as a research site under the
administration of the Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Many of the earlier watershed studies have been
concluded and the results published. Currently, only one
stream gauge is maintained for collecting long-term
hydrologic data.
Collaborators
Collaborators have included the Salt River Water Users
Association, Tonto National Forest, Arizona State
University, and University of Arizona.
Facilities
All of the buildings at the headquarters site are being
maintained by the Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Lat. 33.5° N, long. 111° W
Contact Information
Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest
US Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Research Station
2500 South Pine Knoll
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001-6381
Tel: (928) 556-2176
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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.
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