Rhinelander Experimental Forest

History of the Site

The West Unit was formerly known as the Harshaw Forestry Research Farm established in 1972 by the USDA Forest Service and the Department of Energy as a venue for experiments related to trees as bioenergy crops. It has been managed for more than 40 years by the Forest Service.  Historical research focused on 1) pioneering genomics research, 2) genetics of northern conifers, and 3) maximum fiber yield through short-rotation woody crops. The East Unit consists of lands adjacent to the Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies and managed for more than 50 years by the Forest Service. The East Unit consists of a northern hardwood mix, scattered black spruce wetlands, two lakes, and conifer plantings adding good diversity to the site.   

About the Rhinelander Experimental Forest

A range of physiography and ecosystems native to the region are represented within the REF boundaries    

West Unit - Several small woodlots of red pine and second-growth upland hardwoods (primarily aspen, paper birch, and red maple) provide opportunities for silvicultural, ecological, and physiological research.  Areas of fallow pasture are currently being invaded by native conifers and provide opportunities for research on forest succession, agroforestry, or reforestation.  There are 2 fenced areas: 1 of 80-acres, and 1 of 40-acres that provide opportunities for enclosure research, or forest farming of non-timber products (e.g., Native American cultural forest plants).

East Unit - Primarily composed of mixed swamp conifer and mixed upland hardwoods with pockets of wet meadows.  In addition, lands surround over two-thirds of Vicks Lake and a third of Langley Lake offering opportunities for research on lowland-riparian forest ecosystems, natural shoreline, lotic systems, and fisheries research.  Both lakes have undeveloped shorelines.   

Size

The Rhinelander Experimental Forest encompasses 685.22 acres (277.31 ha).

Elevation Range

Topography is gently rolling to level.  Elevations range from 1,574 feet (480 meters) to 1,676 feet (511 meters) above sea level.  For comparison, the highest point in Wisconsin, Timm’s Hill, is 1,951 feet (595 km) located in Price County approximately 48 miles southwest of the experimental forest.

Climatic data

The nearest weather station is Rhinelander, station no. 477113, latitude 45° 37’ N, longitude 89° 25' W, elevation 1,533 ft (467.2 m). This station is adjacent to the East Unit and about 12 miles east of the West Unit.  Climatic normals from the years 1981 to 2010 are given below.
Annual precipitation: Annual precipitation averages 31.4 inches (79.8 cm), 60% of which falls between April and September. Average seasonal snowfall is 46.0 inches (116.8 cm).
Maximum and minimum temperatures: Daily summertime temperatures average 65.9°F (18.8°C); average daily maximum temperature is 52.4°F (11.3°C). Average temperature in the winter is 15.1°F (-9.4°C); average daily minimum temperatures is 31.0°F (-0.6°C).

Geology

The experimental forest is located in the major physiographic region called the Northern Highlands.  The Northern Highlands is a dissected glacial pitted outwash plain, end and ground moraines, and smaller areas of hilly terrain; kettle lakes and depressions are common in the northern part.  The bedrock in and around the REF is composed of Precambrian rocks of Proterozoic age, Lower Proterozoic System described as metamorphic, metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks: mafic, intermediate and felsic metavolcanic rocks with subordinate metasedimentary rocks; dominantly of greenschist metamorphic facies; more than one metavolcanic sequence is recognized.

Soils

West Unit – Soils consist of young, glaciated, Alfasols, predominantly mixed, frigid, coarse loamy Alfic Haplorthods of the padus-loam series, characterized by a loamy drift over stratified sandy and gravelly outwash.  Prior to Forest Service ownership, most of the site was farmed for potatoes and small grains for approximately 50 years creating a 30 cm plow layer over much of the area.

East Unit – Soils consist of a blend of lowland (54%) and upland (46%) soils.  The lowland soils are made of primarily very poorly drained Carbondale, Lupton, and Markey.  The black muck of this soil type range from a depth of 26 to 60 inches deep and in places the surface layer is mucky peat or peat.  These mucks are a combination of herbaceous and woody organic materials over sandy outwash.  The upland soils are made primarily of the well-drained Keweenaw-Sayner complex, which is loamy and sandy drift over gravelly loamy sand drift best suited for growing trees.  These upland soils occur on moderately steep areas such as knolls, ridges, and side slopes.  In most areas it has stones in the surface layer.

Ecological Classification

Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (212); Northern Highlands (212X) Section, Northern Highlands Pitted Outwash (212Xb) Subsection of the Ecological Units of the Eastern United States. 

West Unit

All current facilities are located within the 80 acre secure study area on Grace Lane.  Facilities include: a 1520 ft2 office and shop, 1536 ft2 fiberglass storage shed, a 3600 ft2 Implement shed, and a 2700 ft2 field laboratory. There are twelve 120 ft2 sheds distributed evenly throughout the 80 acre secure study area, interconnected to the office building by a buried optic fiber network.  There is electrical power at each shed.

The 2700 ft2 field laboratory is located at the secure study area.  The laboratory has two overhead doors providing access to two work areas suitable for processing field samples.  A third work area contains four standard household refrigerators and two chest freezers and a 17 ft3 ultra cold (-80°C) chest freezer.  The field laboratory also has a tornado-proof shelter.
An instrumented meteorological monitoring tower is located at the north end of the secure study area.  Voice and data communications are available.

East Unit

There are no facilities on this unit, but there is good road access to the land.  A gated 0.7 mile stretch of maintained gravel road traverses through the center of the unit and paved roads (Nursery Road, County Road K) border the east and north sides of the unit.  Langlade Lake has a public boat ramp; however, no public access exists for Vicks Lake except by hiking.  Approximately 40 acres of this unit are enclosed within a 12’ fence, which is accessed through a locked gate (secured area) at the end of a gravel road accessed from Nursery Road.  The unit is adjacent to the Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies that has offices, greenhouses, and chemical, soil and genetic analytical laboratories. 

Site Administration

The Rhinelander Experimental Forest is administered by the Northern Research Station of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and managed locally by research unit NRS-13: Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies: Theory and Application of Scaling Science in Forestry.

Contact:

Project Leader: Deahn Donner
Mailing address: USDA Forest Service, NRS
Institute of Applied Ecosystem Studies
5985 Highway K
Rhinelander, WI 54501

All portions of the experimental forest can be accessed by county or township roads.  The local roads are weight restricted every spring from approximately March 15 to May 1.

West Unit – Beginning at the intersection of County Road K and Nursery Road, travel west on County Road K 7.75 miles to Horsehead Lake Road.  Turn north and travel 1.5 miles to Harshaw Road.  Turn west for 0.5 miles to Grace Lane.  Turn north and travel 0.75 miles to the security gate access to the building facilities, which are in the middle of experimental forest lands.

East Unit – Starting from the intersection of State Highway 47 and County Road K in Rhinelander, travel west approximately 0.8 mile to Nursery Road.  The intersection of County Road K and Nursery Road is the northeast corner of this Unit.

The greatest research opportunities at the Rhinelander Experimental Forest are for new or follow-up studies on existing plantations, establishment of new model forest studies, expanding genetics work, phytoremediation, agroforestry, and establishing new long-term research projects.

Current research projects focus on 1) advancing short rotation woody crop production systems for pollution remediation and renewable energy and 2) improving forest management guidelines in changing climate and atmosphere.

Current Research

Advance short rotation woody crop production systems for pollution remediation and renewable energy

Developing phytoremediation and other phytotechnologies for ecosystem recovery, remediation, and restoration along the urban to rural continuum

1. Phyto-Recurrent Selection: A Method for Selecting Genotypes for Phytotechnologies
2. Phytoremediation of Inorganic Contaminants
3. Phytoremediation of Organic Contaminants
4. Salt Tolerance and Salinity

Refining silvicultural methods to provide ecosystem services such as optimal biomass productivity of hybrid poplar and willow across variable site and climate conditions

5. Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Bioproducts from Short Rotation Woody Crops
6. Technical Innovations to Enhance Energy Crop Production
7. Breeding and Selecting Poplar for Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Bioproducts

Improve forest management guidelines in changing climate and atmosphere

Evaluating the resiliency and adaptation potential of northern forest conifers to changing climates, specifically as they relate to growth and yield

8. Effects of Climate Change on the Productivity and Ecological Genetics of White Pine

Applying to Conduct Research

Research at the Rhinelander Experimental Forest is encouraged, but must be managed to protect the environment, research infrastructure, other studies, and other researchers and technical staff. Studies that have the potential to disturb or alter the landscape must meet specific guidelines and may require formal environmental analysis.

All research on the Rhinelander Experimental Forest requires a study plan approved by the Rhinelander scientist-in-charge regardless of type, extent, duration, or impact.

If you are interested in conducting research at this experimental forest, please contact Deahn Donner, scientist-in-charge well in advance of initiating the study.

• Annual height & diameter measurements
  • Kubiske, Mark E. 2013. Tree height and diameter data from the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1997-2008. Newtown Square, PA: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0015
• Hourly atmospheric CO2 and O3 concentrations
  • Kubiske, Mark E.; Foss, Anita R. 2015. Carbon dioxide and ozone data from the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1998-2009, and Phase II Experiment, 2010. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2015-0001
• Meteorological and soil temperature data from the treatment plots at the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1999-2009
  • Kubiske, Mark E. 2016. Meteorological and soil temperature data from the treatment plots at the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1999-2009. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2016-0011
• Meteorological and soil moisture data from an ambient monitoring station at the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1999-2009
  • Kubiske, Mark E. 2016. Meteorological and soil moisture data from an ambient monitoring station at the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1999-2009. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2016-0012
• FACE harvests of 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2009 (in process)