By Frank Hanson

Upcoming Evening Talk: “Updates on the Long Term Ecosystem Productivity (LTEP) Study and the ONRC Interns’ experience for the summer of 2018.

When: Monday, August 13, from 7-8 p.m.

Where: Forks, at the Olympic Natural Resources Center in our Hemlock Forest Room. ONRC is located at 1455 S. Forks Ave.

This summer we have had five interns spending time at ONRC and the LTEP sites at Hebo -USFS in southern Oregon and our DNR site at Sappho, WA investigating coarse woody debris data and processing soil samples for further analysis, as well as duties as assigned. The story of the LTEP is ongoing and is a unique in-depth long term study to help us understand what has happened in the forest over time and the effects on soil at the site. This year our intern program was overseen by master’s degree student, Roxana Rautu and earlier in the summer by ONRC staff member and UW/ PHD student Courtney Bobsin. Both Roxana and Courtney will be supporting our undergrad interns for an “Evening Talk” on their summer field experience here at ONRC. The interns are Kari Jessett, Thuy Luu, Chloe May, Lily Allred, and Esaac Mazengia. Their summer experience is part of the 200 year Long Term Ecosystem Productivity Study comparing the effects of forest management techniques on ecosystem productivity, soil systems, and biodiversity.

The study was originally set up over 20 years ago by Dr. Bernard Bormann, Director of ONRC, and Dr. Richard Bigley of the DNR. The purpose of the LTEP was in response to questions of the 1990’s on conventional methods of forestry. There was a reality that lower quality and output was happening at each successive planting of Douglas-fir in the plantation style plantings. Questions began to develop: Can there be a balance between timber production and ecosystem health? What are the best management styles to manage our forest to maximize ecosystem services? This ongoing LTEP study is designed to help determine a better way of providing financial, recreational, and cultural values to the people on the Olympic Peninsula.

Evening Talks at ONRC are funded through the Rosmond Forestry Education Fund, an endowment that honors the contributions of Fred Rosmond and his family to forestry and collegiate education for the Forks community. Refreshments will be served and a potluck of your favorite dessert is encouraged. For more information, call Frank Hanson at 374-4556 or fsh2@uw.edu.