North Central Research Station - Experimental Forests

Udell Experimental Forest Huron-Manistee National Forest, MI 3,845 acres, Est. 1961 Contact: Bob Haack Watershed management on deep sands.

Brief introduction

In 1961, the 3800 acre Udell Experimental Forest was established by the USDA Forest Service as a field laboratory for studying the hydrology of forested glacial sand softs. One of the major objectives was to compare water yields from the primary forest cover types. The Udell Experimental Forest is located in Manistee County on the Manistee Ranger District, Huron-Manistee National Forest.

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Climate

January average minimum temperature: 16°F (-9°C)
January average maximum temperature: 29°F (-2°C)
July average minimum temperature: 59°F (15°C)
July average maximum temperature: 80°F (27°C)
Average annual rainfall: 31 in (79 cm)
Average annual snowfall: 92 in (234 cm)
Days above 90°F (32°C): 6 Days below 0°F (-18°C): 5

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Soil types

Upland softs are predominantly within the Grayling sand soil type, a Spodic Udipsamment. On some ridgetops in the morainal hills, a clayey sand subsoil within the surface 120 cm characterizes inclusions of the Graycalm series (Alfic Udipsamment). Shallow water table areas on the northwest and southeast boundaries contain the imperfectly drained Au Gres sands (Entic Haplaquod) and poorly drained areas contain Roscommon sand (Typic Aquipsamment) interspersed with woody Tawas histosols. Grayling sands cover more than 90% of the Experimental Forest.

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Vegetation types

Approximately 70% of the Udell Experimental Forest is in oak (Quercus spp.) and aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest cover types. Stand composition in these types varies from mixed oaks with relatively few aspen to pure aspen stands. There are approximately 1500 acres of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations that have been established on the eastern and western outwash plains. In the southeast and northwest portions, lowland hardwood forests of elm (Ulmus spp.), red maple (Acer rubrum), and occasional white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) are included.

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Long-term data bases

We are not aware of any.

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Research – past and current

• Effects of forest type and partial cutting on groundwater yields.
• Pulp and papermill sludge fertilization of red pine plantations.

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Major research accomplishments

Numerous reports have been published on changes in streamflow resulting from reforestation and cutting.

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Collaborators

Huron-Manistee National Forest, Manistee Ranger District

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Research opportunities

Considerable portions of the upland moraines, level outwash plains, and hardwood swamp areas present in the unit are instrumented with wells and other measurement devices to determine the behavior of ground-water level under existing forest conditions. The forest includes the major portions of the surrounding plains and segments of extensive hardwood swamp areas.

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Facilities, contact address, location

The forest extends from one to three miles south of the major access highway M-55. Research personnel assigned to the forest are headquartered at Cadillac, 35 miles to the east. Field operations at the forest are centered at the Pine River Forest Laboratory 10 miles east of the forest near the junction of highways M-55 and M-37.

Contact information:
Dr. Robert Haack
North Central Research Station
Stephen S. Nisbet Bldg.
1407 S. Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
phone: 517-355-7740; ext. 36
e-mail: Bob Haack

USDA Forest Service - North Central Research Station
Last Modified: Thursday, 19 February 2004