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Location  

     The Manitou Experimental Forest is located 28 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and covers about 26 square miles in the South Platte River drainage. 

Terrain        The Forest is representative of the montane ponderosa pine zone in the Front Range which extends from southern Wyoming to northern New Mexico.  Elevation ranges from about 7,500 to 9,300 feet.

Wildlife/Urban research opportunities

     Manitou Experimental Forest is uniquely situated for studies of wildland-urban interface interactions, recreational values, and land management effects on water quality delivered to urban areas. The Experimental Forest is dissected by a major state highway, is in close proximity to both Denver and Colorado Springs metropolitan centers, contains and is adjacent to several picnic and campground facilities administered by the Pikes Peak Ranger District.  The Experimental Forest contains several small private in-holdings as well as a major subdivision occupying over 700 acres.

Vegetation

     Includes grassland parks, willow fields along streams, sagebrush and oak brush areas.  Ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and aspen are found above roughly 8,000 feet in elevation.  Lodgepole pine grows at higher elevations on the eastern boundary of the forest.  Englemann spruce and blue spruce grow in the wetter areas. (complete list of principal plants is available)

Climate

     The dry climate usually has 70 percent of its average annual 15.6 inches of  precipitation in the growing season (April through August).  The winters are cold and dryer with snow possible from late September to late May.

Facilities

     The Experimental Forest has excellent facilities.  The majority of buildings were constructed in the late 1930's by the WPA out of locally quarried stone.  Buildings include a large lodge for meetings and housing field crews, an office/lab, a residence for a technician stationed at the Experimental Forest, and two large garages, one with a shop.  These facilities have been designated a Colorado State Historic site and has been included in the National Register of Historic Places.  Also available is a bunkhouse and barn/shed storage area.
 

Office/lab	Lodge

   

Early History   1861-1867 Homesteaded      This fertile area off the beaten path avoided the Indian raids that were common to Colorado Springs in the 1860's and most of the grasshopper plagues of the late 1860's and early 1870's.  The land use for this time was primarily small-scale farming (wheat, oats, barley, radishes, onions, cabbages, and potatoes) and grazing.     1867-1869 First General Land Office surveys recorded.  Earliest local name was Bergen Park, after an early settler.   1867 John Wesley Powell visited while on a trip to collect natural history specimens for museums.   1872 William A. Bell, physician from London, bought out several homesteaders in the area, acquiring about 11,000 acres in all.  For almost 30 years Bell influenced the area with his business ventures which included grazing, farming, logging, fish hatcheries and resort hotels.         1873 Resort      Dr. Bell built a large hotel at the present site of the headquarters of the Manitou Park Ranch. Isabella Bird, a famous early Colorado traveler, stayed at the park.  She wrote of the rustic nature of the accommodations. Early lodge at Dr. Bell's resort     1874 Talk of a planned wagon road from Monument, Bergen Park and Fairplay looked certain.  This wagon road would have brought much traffic to Bergen Park in the form of tourists, and deliveries of produce, timber and other mining supplies.  The road was delayed until 1896.  Bell, however, still continued with plans to develop Bergen Park.         Fish Ranch One of the earliest, and most successful, business ventures.  A 45' X 30' fish house was built over a spring that flowed into Trout Creek.  In 1874 Bell bought 100,000 Eastern brook trout eggs from New York.  He sold the fish to the  Colorado Springs and Leadville markets.  The fishery was expanded and successfully run until at least 1890.     1875 The name was changed from Bergen Park to Manitou Park to avoid confusion with a similarly named Colorado town and probably to further its impression as a resort by tying its name to the  nearby resort town of Manitou.  Manitou Park rivaled Estes Park Colorado for tourism at this time.  Many people from the east came to the park for its reputed health benefits.  Advertisements from this period tout "the beneficial effects of Pine timber upon delicate lungs.."1, the dry air and clear water for ones health.         1880-1885 Logging      Dr. Bell logs the areas western yellow pine and Douglas fir.  It is estimated that seventy million board feet was cut, however, Bell lost money on the venture.  No attempt was made, as was common of the time period, to encourage regrowth of the forest.  The brush left from the logging left the area ripe for a forest fire.  Luckily none occurred  (the only recorded fires since 1880 are building fires). Railroad      8-9 miles of narrow gauge rail was laid for use in the logging venture.  A wood burning D. & R. G. locomotive, hauled up Ute Pass    by mule teams, ran on the rails. The remains of part of the cross-ties for the railroad were found in 1980, 3 feet below the soil surface of the Trout Creek flood plain.      1884 Horace G. Thornton takes over management of the Park.  Thornton adds on to the tourist accommodations.   1888 Fire destroys the hotel and new dinning room, the surrounding cottages are spared and tourism use continues. Surrounding cottages     1889 New hotel built of local timber - tourism trade continues to be good.   1892 Mining      Manitou Park Mining District announced with plans to mine gold ore in the area.  Previously it is believed that the area saw some prospecting and that about 25 mine shafts had been dug in 1859.  Due to a fire in a newly built ore mill and floods by Trout Creek, once in the 1890's and twice in 1932, the Park escapes heavy mining and its associated dumps and smelter fumes.     1896 Town of Torrington      Town of Torrington is filed by Bell in the Recorder's office.  Bell planned the town on the East side of a lake he made by damming Trout Creek south of the Hotel.  The town had a post office, saloon, general store, carpentry shop and livery.         1899 Hotel burns along with all the recent improvements (including a Casino with a billiard room, bowling alley and amusement hall).  The resort continues to operate using the surrounding cottages which accommodated as many as 100 guests.     1903 Town plat of Torrington vacated by the Torrington Town Company due to people moving on to Cripple Creek Colorado for its gold rush.  The remaining portion was vacated by Colorado College in 1909.         1905 Bell tries to unload his Colorado real estate and move back to England.  After already having unsuccessfully tried to sell Manitou Park in 1885 (after his failed logging operation) and in 1889 (after the first hotel burnt down) he tries once again to sell the Park.     1906 General Palmer, a neighboring land holder, and Bell  deed a total of 10,635.64 acres to the Colorado College.  Palmers interest in forestry and concern about the areas western yellow pine bark beetle are the impetus for the creation of the Colorado School of Forestry under the Colorado College.  It becomes  the fifth school of forestry in the United States.         Later History   1936 Station went to the U.S. Forest Service as the Manitou Experimental Forest to study problems of land use as they relate to management of natural resources of the Colorado Front Range ponderosa pine zone.       1937-1939 Works Progress Administration built the 6 building complex currently at the Manitou site of native sandstone from the Missouri Gulch quarry just north of Manitou Park.   Lodge under construction Lodge in 1998           1938 CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) establish camp along Trout Creek and plant  525,000 young trees from their Monument Nursery.  Many of these trees survive today.   1998 Manitou Experimental Station, with its six buildings,  named into the National Register of Historic Places.

 

     Gary, Howard L.  A Summary of Research at the Manitou Experimental Forest in Colorado, 1937-1983.  General Technical Report RM-116.  March 1985.

    ¹Mason, Ellsworth.  The Early History of Manitou Park, Colorado.  February 19, 1963.

      Parker, Gordon, Director of the former Colorado School of Forestry.  Early History of Manitou Park. 1937.

     Wyatt, Kenneth.  Peak View Newspaper.  October 21, 1998.

Current Research

      On-going research is centered on studies of ponderosa pine regeneration in both even- and uneven-aged systems, initial tree spacing and growth, provenance testing of ponderosa pine, growth and yield in uneven-aged and irregular stand structures in ponderosa pine, and old-growth characteristics of Front Range ponderosa pine.
     Other studies include dwarf mistletoe effects and control in ponderosa pine, and studies of habitat requirements, habitat use, and population dynamics of flamulated owls.  The Pikes Peak Ranger District, Rocky Mountain Station, and CSU Department of Range Science are cooperating in a riparian area restoration project on Trout Creek, the major stream channel on the Experimental Forest.

Major current research efforts include long-term studies of:

Ponderosa Pine Regeneration Study   Flamulated Owl Biology	Ponderosa  pine seedling Ponderosa  pine cone Ponderosa  pine cone Ponderosa  pine  bark photos by Bill Everitt, PicturesNOW!
Front Range Ecosystem Management Project - to explore acceptable management alternatives to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and insect attack in these forests.

Ponderosa Pine Regeneration Study 

Purpose 

     This long-term research project was established on the Manitou Experimental Forest in 1981 to study ponderosa pine seed production, natural seedling establishment and growth, and planted seedling growth and survival.

Plot Layout 

Seven replications of a randomized split plot design were installed using two overstory treatments (seedtree and shelterwood), two regeneration methods (planted versus natural seedlings), and two seedbed preparations (scarified and non-scarified)

Thinning 

     In 1981 the original mature ponderosa pine forest was thinned from below to the seedtree and shelterwood overstory treatments that were each randomly assigned to four of eight half-acre blocks in each replication.

Computer generated map of a Manitou Pine Regeneration Study Shelterwood block.
Computer generated map of a Manitou Pine Regeneration Study Seedtree block

Scarifying/Planting 

     In 1982, seedbeds in half of the blocks were scarified with a tractor mounted rototiller. Twenty-five containerized 2-0 ponderosa pine seedlings from local seed sources were then planted in a shelterwood /scarified block, a shelterwood/unscarified block, a seedtree/scarified block, and a seedtree/unscarified block in each replication. Likewise, sixteen 6 X 6 ft. plots were established in the remaining four overstory/seedbed blocks in each replication to monitor natural seedling establishment. Two 1 X 1 ft wire basket seed traps, one covered with rodent-proof hardware cloth were placed adjacent to each 6 X 6 ft. plot to monitor seed production from overstory trees. 

Basket seed trap

Results 

     Subsequent monitoring of seedfall and establishment, growth, and survival of planted and natural seedlings in this study has yielded valuable information on how to manage ponderosa pine forests in the Colorado Front Range. For example:

1.	Seedfall is dependent upon the density of overstory trees and varies considerably from year to year (see seedfall graph at left). Seedfall years producing less than 200,000 seed / Hectare had few viable seed. Otherwise, about 40% of the total seedfall is viable. On average, about 48% of the seedfall was consumed by  animals, regardless of the total seed production. Seed in open traps had only 66% of the germinative capacity of that in closed traps indicating that predatory animals can distinguish viable seed. When seed availability, and predation are considered, only 14%  of ponderosa pine seeds produced in good seedfall years are available to germinate.
2.	Survival (graph 1below) and growth (graph 2 below) of planted seedlings is much greater than that of natural seedlings.  graph 1  1982 SEEDLING SURVIVALS AVG BY TREATMENT graph 2  16 YEAR AVERAGE SEEDLING HEIGHTS SWU=Shelterwood/Unscarified SWS=Shelterwood/Scarified STU=Seedtree/Unscarified STS=Seedtree/Scarified
3.	Most natural seedling mortality occurs during the first years following germination and fewer seedlings die on scarified seedbeds.      Seedling mortality rates for scarified and unscarified seedbeds can be accurately predicted using the negative exponential decay models shown.
4.	Although there was no significant difference in survival between seedtree and shelterwood overstory treatments, overstory basal areas were positively correlated to the total number of established seedlings found on treatment units.
5.	Surveyed maps of treatment units also revealed that some individual overstory trees produced large numbers of established seedlings. Further work to identify characteristics associated with these trees is underway.
6.	Additional data on the microenvironments associated with overstory and scarification treatments has been collected. Mid-day soil surface temperatures under seedtree overstories can average 5-10 C° above those under shelterwood overstories. Scarified surfaces are generally warmer than unscarified surfaces.  Daytime surface temperatures are usually much warmer than air temperatures at 1.5m above ground.

Conclusions

• Seedfall to establish natural seedlings occurs only every 3-5 years (only 14% of seedfalls over 200K/ha are available to germinate). 
• Natural seedlings establish better on scarified seedbeds 
• 8-15 years are needed to establish a seedling 
• Most mortality occurs in the first 2 years 
• More established seedlings result with increasing overstory Basal Area 
• Planting is the quickest way to establish Pinus ponderosa in the Front Range of Colorado

Front Range Ecosystem Management Project

Purpose

       This project is a demonstration of Management Techniques Applicable in Front Range Urban-Interface Ponderosa Pine Forests to evaluate several hypotheses in a test of acceptable vegetation manipulation techniques that could be used to maintain the health and vigor of forested ecosystems within the Front Range Urban Interface in Colorado.

Demonstration Project Objectives

     The objectives of this demonstration project have been developed cooperatively by
participating scientists and encompass both biophysical and human dimensions research. Specific biophysical objectives include:
 

Human Dimensions Research Objectives

     Human dimensions research is focusing on stakeholder goals and objectives for the Manitou Experimental Forest and on measuring how implementation of treatments proposed for the demonstration project would affect stakeholder perceptions of their own wellbeing. The structural equations model is being utilized to determine the impact on public values-objectives-attitudes-behaviors of information presented in different formats. Human dimensions research objectives include:

1. Development of techniques to ascertain public perceptions about specific treatments, i.e., controlled burns or mechanical thinning.

2. Perform experiments utilizing a structural equations model to determine the impact on public values-objectives-attitudes-behaviors of information presented in different formats.

 

Study Description

A 25 ha forested site near the MEF (Manitou Experimental Forest) headquarters was chosen for the demonstration (see aerial photo map at right).        Readily accessible to the public, the site consists of a series of small drainages that are populated with a structurally diverse ponderosa pine stand that has developed after logging during the late 1800's. Small portions of the site were harvested in the late 1940's as part of the early watershed experiments at MEF, but the remainder of the forest has remained undisturbed by man during the 20th century.

      Fire-scarred trees, stumps and burned logs indicate a history of past fires in the site (see fire history graph below).
 
     A stand in the eastern portion of the site is heavily impacted by mistletoe and has suffered heavy mortality. Few dead trees or logs exist throughout the rest of the site, indicating no other insect or disease outbreaks have occurred. A stand in the western portion of the site is more open and contains some seedlings and saplings, but little regeneration exists elsewhere.

Site Layout / Pretreatment Data Collection

The site will be used to compare a no treatment control against a prescribed fire treatment, an uneven-aged silvicultural treatment, (see model projection at right), and a combination of silvicultural treatment followed by fire – all designed to maintain the health and vigor of this forested ecosystem. Layout and pretreatment data collection were completed in 1997 and the treatment sale was marked and sold in 1998. Plans are to harvest the sale in 1999 and begin subsequent monitoring following treatment.

Computer Projection of Demonstration Site

 

Types of Pretreatment Data Collected

    Pretreatment data collection included the surveying and installation of a grid of permanently marked reference points at 100m intervals throughout the site to be used as reference points by researchers working in the area. A series of inventory plots describing the species composition, size, age, and density of the forest throughout the area were established on these grid points in 1997.

Extensive tree ring data was collected to describe present and past forest structure and development (tree age data graph to right)
	Each horizontal red line represents the life span of an individual sampled  tree.  Lines ending before the right margin represent samples taken from dead wood.

 

Fire scar data was collected from living trees and dead material in the area and a complete fire history was developed for the demonstration site (fire history graph at right).
Horizontal lines represent tree ring samples that were cross dated to known calendar dates.  Red triangles represent fire scars present on those samples.

 

Associated Research

        Other studies associated with this project that have been implemented include:

1. An inventory of the spatial disturbance history and examination of the impact of mistletoe infestation on neotropical migratory bird use within the demonstration.

2. An examination of understory plant diversity within the study site prior to overstory treatments using a series of Modified-Whittaker understory plots to determine cover/abundance, species richness at multiple scales, the ratio of native to non-native species, and between-plot heterogeneity.

3. Establishment and monitoring of a series of traps to quantify pre-treatment small mammel populations within the study site.

4. Updating the MEF Headquarters weather station immediately north of the study site to provide a continual climatic record in an electronic digital format.

 

Source/Sink Habitats of Flammulated Owls: Inferring Territory Quality From Long-Term Demographics

Investigators 

Brian D. Linkhart, Dept. EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO  Richard T. Reynolds, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO

Study Description 

Basing the determination of high-quality (source) and poor-quality (sink) breeding habitats on long-term demography is generally regarded as a valuable approach for understanding how animal populations use space, but it has been little tested in the field. The purpose of the present study is to identify the determinants of habitat quality for a breeding population of Flammulated Owls (Otus flammeolus), by comparing habitat conditions in territories of varying quality as inferred from the owl's long-term demographic parameters on territories. We currently have 18 years' data on productivity, nest success, territory occupancy, mate fidelity, breeding dispersal, and tenure of adults on territories for a population on the Manitou Experimental Forest.
Preliminary analyses of data on productivity and territory occupancy demonstrate that there are differences among Flammulated Owl territories with respect to demographic performance, suggesting differences in territory quality. We plan to extend this preliminary investigation by developing an algorithm for ranking territories based on all demographic parameters that discriminate among territories. We will then attempt to correlate ranked territories with specific environmental features in territories such as vegetation structure and floristics. To evaluate potential limiting factors that may underlie the owl's habitat relationships, we will also attempt to correlate frequency of nest predation and insect abundance with demographically-ranked territories.
The result will enhance understanding of the forest characteristics important to the survival and fecundity of Flammulated Owl populations. Moreover, this project represents an unusual case in which the identification of source and sink habitats for a species will be based on long-term estimates of the species' demographic parameters. This study will provide a valuable test of a demographic approach for identifying critically important breeding habitats of other forest species.

Past Research

Manitou was established in 1936, early research focused on:

revegetation of abandoned fields  grazing management in native and seeded pastures  watershed management in gulley control, stream sedimentation, surface runoff and infiltration.

      Range management research conducted through the late 1970's included studies of rotation grazing systems, seasons of use, and overstory/understory relationships.  The range research program has  been terminated.
     Watershed management studies continued through the mid-1980's.  These studies centered on water quality and included studies of impacts of cattle grazing, bacterial pollution in lake and stream water from recreation and mountain home development, and aquatic biota.  The water quality research program has also been terminated.
     General Technical Report RM-116, A Summary of Research at the Manitou Experimental Forest in Colorado, 1937-1983, is available below in pdf format.  This report details the past research mentioned above as well as commenting on some of the research that was on-going at the time it was printed (1985).  Some of on-going research it mentions are:

regeneration of ponderosa pine initial tree spacing and growth of ponderosa pine provenance testing of ponderosa pine growth and yield of managed plantations growth and yield in uneven-aged ponderosa pine dwarf mistletoe control in ponderosa pine ponderosa pine and understory plant growth habitat use and requirements of flammulated owls

This report is contained in the three pdf files below:

	General Technical Report RM-116, A Summary of Research at the Manitou Experimental Forest in Colorado, 1937-1983 - main body  (985 K)
	Bibliography for General Technical Report RM-116  (34 K)
	Species List of Principal Plants for General Technical Report RM-116  (42 K)