In Southern California, nestled in the eastern part of the Angeles National Forest, lies the San Dimas Experimental Forest. Over the course of its 90-year history, San Dimas has served as a bastion for environmental research. But first, you may wonder, what is an experimental forest? The U.S. Forest Service maintains a host of sites across 76 forests, four ranges, and four watersheds as long-term research preserves. Beginning in 1908, these sites, now known as experimental forests, ranges and watersheds, were set aside to allow for long-term research and demonstration sites by Forest Service researchers and their collaborators. Together, researchers and partner organizations, such as local universities, can help solve questions for not only the local populace, but also for nearby national forests, which share similar ecosystems to their experimental counterparts. The Pacific Southwest Research Station oversees the Casper Creek Experimental Watershed along the northern Pacific coast, the San Joaquin Experimental Range on the edge of the Sierra Nevadas, and ten additional experimental forests throughout California. Outside of California, the research station also oversees the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest.

As we turn back towards the San Dimas Experimental Forest in Southern California, it’s important to talk about what makes this location unique. Beginning in the late 1930s, San Dimas was a bustling research site, with the Civilian Conservation Corps constructing several buildings, such as residences, a mess hall, barracks, and even a laboratory. This area came to be known as the Tanbark Flat Administrative Center.

Knowledge Keys

⦿ Experimental Forests/Ranges are research preserve areas set aside where science can be conducted on representative ecosystems.

 

Sites under PSW

• Blacks Mountain EF
• Challenge EF
• Hawai'i Tropical EF
• North Mountain EF
• Onion Creek EF
• Redwood EF
• Sagehen EF
• San Dimas EF
• San Joaquin ER
• Stanislaus-Tuolumne EF
• Swain Mountain EF
• Teakettle EF
• Casper Creek EW

The sign upon entering the San Dimas Experimental Forest.

Historically, San Dimas has served as a place to study hydrology and available water budgets in semi-arid lands, with several gaging structures installed in the late 1930s, aiding our understanding of the local water cycle. While a series of wildfires in 1960 and 2002 swept through the area, the San Dimas still presents an extraordinary research opportunity, with several species of mammals and birds, examples of upland chaparral (low to medium height shrubland) ecosystems, and fir and pine trees at higher elevations.

Today, while San Dimas still provides the opportunity to study water budgets and the post-fire impact on hydrologic cycles, the experimental forest also found a new use, helping PSW research social scientist José Sánchez and ORISE Fellow Michelle Carr connect youth from the Los Angles Metro Area with nature. You can read more about the work at San Dimas, and some of the other experimental forests and ranges around PSW in the article below.

Tanbark Staff House San Dimas Experimental Forest

Photo by E.L. Hamilton; Circa 1940

Photo by Pete Wohlgemuth; Circa 2000

 

More on Experimental Forests and Ranges

Webinars & Events

Applications of the Lost Meadow Model for Management

Dr. Karen Pope and Adam Cummings            
USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station            
December 13, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. PST            
 

Meadows play important cultural, ecological, and hydrological roles for human and non-human communities. As fire occurrence increases and high elevations warm, restoring and protecting meadows can support fire management, water supply, and rare species. The Lost Meadow Model has multiple management applications for Tribal lands and national forests, including planning post-fire treatments, promoting desirable plant communities, and improving water storage.

This webinar will cover:

• The role and importance of montane meadows
• A machine learning model that identifies potential “lost meadows” which can support meadow restoration
• Demo: How to access and use the maps generated by the model

Webinar Sign Up

California Land and Fire Management Needs Assessment

To gain an updated understanding of needs around knowledge exchange, information sources, and scientific research, the California Fire Science Consortium (CFSC) is leading a survey and inviting you to participate. All are welcome, from those working in fire as well as those in non-fire roles to complete the survey to help inform science delivery and regional knowledge exchange within California. Please share the survey link with others.

The survey should take ~15 minutes to complete. It will be open until January 1, 2024.

Take the survey

Station News

PSW Researcher Helps Get Underserved Youth Outdoors

Pacific Southwest Research Station Research Economist, Dr. José Sánchez, is working closely with Dr. David Flores from the Rocky Mountain Research Station, Outward Bound Adventures in Los Angeles, and other partners to get BIPOC youth outdoors. Operating since 1962, Outward Bound Adventures is the oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to giving BIPOC youth access to nature.

Read More

PSW Ecologist Frank Lake Shares How Indigenous Knowledge Promotes Healthy Forests

Ecologist Dr. Frank Lake has worked for the Pacific Southwest Research Station for almost 20 years. His connection to Orleans, California runs deep. As a Karuk tribal descendant, with Yurok family, you could even say it runs in his blood. Lake is concerned about how the land upon which he grew up is changing before his eyes.

Read More

Two New Fellows from American Samoa and Palau Join the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry in Hawai’i

Perhaps when you think of the Pacific Southwest Research Station, California comes to mind, and you’d be right. But the Research Station’s footprint extends far beyond the borders of the Golden State, reaching to the distant tropics of Hawai’i and the U.S.- affiliated Pacific Islands. Two new fellows recently joined the Pacific Southwest Research Station’s Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry in Hawai’i.

Read More

External Media

Forest Focus Podcast: Episode 36: Being Beavers

PSW Researcher(s): Karen Pope

Listen in: USFS Pacific Southwest Region

Can humans be part of healthy ecosystems?

PSW Researcher(s): Frank Lake

Read more at: BBC

More PSW News

Publication Highlights

More PSW Publications via Treesearch

Pacific Southwest Research Station

The Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) was founded in 1926 as a part of the Research and Development branch of U.S. Forest Service. Since its inception, PSW has expanded to serve California, Hawai'i, and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. PSW develops and delivers science-based information, technologies, and applications to help people make informed decisions about natural resource management, conservation, and environmental protection.

Fact and Trivia Corner          
When was the first experimental forest opened?

At the direction of then Forest Service Chief Gifford Pinchot, Fort Valley Experimental Forest (formerly the Coconino Experiment Station)first experimental forest was opened in Flagstaff, AZ in 1908. Read more about Fort Valley Experimental Forest.