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 Kawishiwi Experimental Forest in northeastern Minnesota.](/peth04/20041015224745im_/http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/ef/images/maps/kawishiwi_1.gif)
|
Kawishiwi Experimental ForestSuperior National Forest, MN
|
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 Kawishiwi Experimental Forest was established in 1931 as a tract of land in the Superior National Forest for permanent, long-term silvicultural experiments. The original area for the Kawishiwi was 2,635 acres of National Forest land. The research goals dealt primarily with finding the best ways to convert jack pine, aspen, and birch to white and black spruce. In 1955, the majority of the Kawishiwi reverted back to the Superior National Forest for management, leaving 116 acres for research activities.
Climate
Lake Superior influences the climate of nearby land, moderating extreme temperatures and increasing precipitation toward the northeast. Yearly rainfall ranges from 26 to 31 inches and average snowfall is approximately 60 inches. Temperatures range from -50°F in the winter to 98°F in the summer. Average seasonal temperatures are 42°F in the spring, 64°F in the summer, 45°F in the fall, and 12°F in the winter.
Soil types
Seventy-five percent of the Superior National Forest in mapped as rock outcrop, 17 percent as till boulder clay, and 8 percent as moraine sand. Kawishiwi is mostly in the rock outcrop geological type. The land surface is generally rolling with alternating low rocky ridges and pat swamps. Some of the depressions are well drained and contain good quality loam soil of fair depth. The soil on the slopes and ridges is also of good quality, but is very shallow and rocky. These conditions make the area strictly non-agricultural. The podsolic profile is notably absent or poorly developed.
Vegetation types
At time of establishment, the forest was primarily jack pine (Pinus banksiana), black spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (Picea glauca), and aspen (Populus tremuloides). Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), maple (Acer spp.), white pine (Pinus strobus) and red pine (Pinus resinosa) were also present.
Long-term data bases
We are not aware of any.
Research – past and current
Silvics and silviculture of jack pine, spruce, and balsam fir especially on rock outcrop formations.
No research is currently being conducted on the Forest.
Major research accomplishments
The silvicultural research conducted in the first three decades of the Kawishiwi Experimental Forest added a great deal to the knowledge on the silvics and silviculture of jack pine, spruce, and balsam fir. This information furnished the basis for the handling of such species on the Superior, particularly on rock-outcrop formations. In the 1950’s, however, the timber types and condition classes of the Kawishiwi were no longer suitable for the research needs in northern conifer silviculture.
Collaborators
Superior National Forest
Research opportunities
No formal program currently exists. Proposals may be directed to the contact person.
Facilities, contact address, location
Kawishiwi Field Lab, Star Route 1, Box 7200, Ely MN 55731, is currently being used as a base for many wildlife biology studies with the University of Minnesota Field Station Wolf Project (team leader: David Mech, phone: 651-649-5231).
USDA Forest Service - North Central Research Station
Last Modified: Thursday, 19 February 2004