North Central Research Station - Experimental Forests
 |
Forest Inventory & Analysis |
|
Integrated Research Programs |
|
Knowledge Store |
 |
|
|
Evaluate Our Service We welcome your comments and suggestions |
|
North Central Research Station
1992 Folwell St. (651) 649-5000 |
|
|
|
![[image:] Map shows location of Upper Peninsula (Dukes) Experimental Forest in central Upper Michigan.](/peth04/20041015214447im_/http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/ef/images/maps/UpperPeninsula_1.gif)
|
Upper Peninsula (Dukes) Experimental ForestHiawatha National Forest, MI
|
Climate
Soil types
Vegetation types
Long-term data bases
Research – past and current
Major research accomplishments
Collaborators
Research opportunities
Facilities, contact address, location
Brief introduction
The Dukes Experimental Forest was established in 1926. The Experimental Forest is located about 16 miles southeast of Marquette. A small amount of white pine and elm were logged during the early 1900’s. The remaining forest is essentially old growth today. In 1974, a Research Natural Area (233 acres) was established within the Dukes Experimental Forest boundaries. The Experimental Forest was administered by the Marquette Field Office until it was closed in 1981. It is currently administered by Research Work Unit 4101 (Northern Forest Silviculture) located in Grand Rapids, MN
Climate
Average annual precipitation averages about 34 inches and is evenly distributed throughout the year. Lake-effect snowfall is considerable averaging 140 inches/year, with up to 300 inches some years. Proximity to Lake Superior results in a cool lacustrine climate, with moderated minimum and maximum temperatures. Average annual temperature is 40°F, and the growing season averages 110 days.
Soil types
The Experimental Forest is on a ground moraine deposited by an advance of the Green Bay lobe as it moved southward from the Lake Superior basin. Dominant soils are the well-drained Munising sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained Skanee sandy loam, poorly drained Angelica sandy loam, and Linwood muck.
Vegetation types
The uplands are dominated by old growth northern hardwoods and hemlock-hardwoods. Hemlock dominates the somewhat poorly drained soils and cedar-spruce and hardwood-conifers dominate the poorly drained soils and muck. Most forests are old growth.
Long-term data bases
Data exist for many studies on the Dukes Experimental Forest. However, data collection ended when the Marquette Field Lab was closed in 1981. Recently, 2 studies (stocking levels in old growth and stocking levels in second growth) have been reopened. Plots have been remeasured and treatments will be reapplied in the near future.
Research – past and current
Research began in the experimental forest in the 1920’s and continued until 1981. Studies consisted of stocking levels of hardwoods and swamp conifers, cutting cycles, regeneration, and cutting methods of northern hardwoods. Currently, only the stocking level studies and a red maple growth and yield study remain active.
Major research accomplishments
Information from studies on the experimental forest have been used to develop management guides for northern hardwood forests in the Lake States. These guides are widely applied throughout the region. The Experimental Forest also serves as excellent demonstration to landowners and land managers interested in managing northern hardwoods. From studies on the Dukes Experimental Forest, the only proven sustainable uneven-age structure for managing northern hardwoods was developed. This structure (known as the Arbogast guide) is applied on millions of acres of northern hardwoods in the Lake States.
Collaborators
Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, Michigan DNR, Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, and many industries.
Research opportunities
Research opportunities exist for studying the silviculture and ecology of all the vegetation types on the experimental forest. Also, opportunities exist to study comparisons of treatments that have been applied since the 1920’s. Much of this is managed old growth, of which very little exists in the Lake States. The RNA is available to nondestructive research in old growth northern hardwoods.
Facilities, contact address, location
The Dukes Experimental Forest is accessed by Dukes Road off of Hwy 94, 3 miles east of Hwy 41 and Lamson Road, 4 miles east of Hwy 41. Other roads can be accessed from these roads. These roads are well maintained, but not plowed during the winter. There are no on-site facilities.
Contact information:
Terry Strong
Forestry Sciences Lab
5985 Highway K
Rhinelander, WI 54501
phone: 715-362-1124
e-mail:
Terry Strong
USDA Forest Service - North Central Research Station
Last Modified: Thursday, 19 February 2004