Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest

The Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest was established in 1961 and is representative of the vast expanses of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) found east of the Continental Divide in Montana, southwest Alberta, and Wyoming. Lodgepole pine stands on the experimental forest form a mosaic, typical of the fire-prone forests at moderate to high altitudes in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The forest stands are classified as 1-aged (47% of the forested area) and 2-aged (53% of the forested area) which were created by past stand replacement and mixed severity fires. Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) grows in the area's sparse but species-rich wetlands, while whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) grace the higher ridge tops.

Figure 1. Fire mosaic patterns in the Sun Creek subwatershed.

The Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest encompasses 9,125 acres (3,693 ha) at the headwaters of Tenderfoot Creek in the Little Belt Mountains on the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Meagher Country, Montana. It is approximately 40 miles (64 km) north of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, or 71 miles (114 km) southeast of Great Falls, Montana. Lodgepole pine and mixed lodgepole pine with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir stands occupy about 8,681 acres (3,514 ha), wet meadows cover 311 acres (125 ha), and drier grass and scree slopes make up another 133 acres (54 ha). Elevations range from 6,035 to 7,941 ft (1,840 to 2,421 m).

Figure 2. Onion Park Research Natural Area

Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest is the only experimental forest formally dedicated to research on the east slope of the Northern Rockies. Established originally for watershed research, its scope was expanded in the late 1980s to include research in fire history, fisheries, vegetation composition, animal communities, including rare, endangered, and sensitive species, and other physical and biological factors as they relate to landscape-level management.

Research activity on the forest is designed to develop and evaluate methods for sustaining the productivity and biodiversity of east-side lodgepole pine communities. There has been sporadic information collected since the establishment of the experimental forest. However, more intensive baseline data has been collected since the late 1980s encompassing the resource areas of overstory and understory, hydrologic inputs and outputs including measurement of winter precipitation, water quality (chemical and sediment), climate, wildlife (avian and mammals), fisheries resources (habitat and population surveys), fire history, stream channel characterization, and forest fuels.

Figure 3. Depth integrated sediment sampling for calibrating automated sediment samplers.

Figure 4. Manual snow sampling and automated snow pillows for measuring winter precipitation.

Hydrologic monitoring of the Experimental Forest consists of 9 flumes and one weir where continuous stream flow is measured with stream level recorders. Yearly sediment production, carbon content of sediment, water temperature, specific conductance, pH and water quality (nutrients) are also measured at most stream gage locations.

Figure 5. Water quantity measured with a 10 foot Parshall flume.

Research emphasis on the forest was expanded in 1991 to develop and evaluate ecosystem-based treatments for sustaining productivity and biodiversity of lodgepole pine forests and watersheds. The Tenderfoot Research Project was developed to take a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluating ecosystem-based treatments in lodgepole pine stands. Treatments will serve as demonstration sites where the public can view new management alternatives.

Figure 6. Tours for the public, educators, managers and scientists.

Objectives for the project are to:

1) Evaluate and quantify the ecological and biological effects of alternative silvicultural treatments and prescribed fire in lodgepole pine forests by creating reserve stand structures that emulate those created by natural disturbances;

2) Evaluate damage to reserve trees relative to alternative stand densities and structures and examine regeneration and understory vegetation changes associated with alternative silvicultural treatments;

3) Develop linkages between vegetation management activities and hydrologic responses at the sub-watershed level;

4) Manage and integrate the knowledge gained from the variety of studies at TCEF to improve ecosystem-based management in lodgepole pine forests;

5) Develop demonstration sites for education of the general public, students, professional, and researchers;

6) Test and verify hydrologic and vegetation models and evaluate harvest costs and product recovery values associated with alternative silvicultural prescriptions and harvest systems;

7) Contribute to the scientific knowledge through publication of results in appropriate outlets; and,

8) Integrate knowledge gained from these studies into ecosystem management guidelines that enhance the function and sustainability of lodgepole pine forests in the Northern Rockies through a variety of technology transfer products.

Silvicultural treatments for the Tenderfoot Research Project began in the fall of 1999 and will be completed during the summer of 2000. Prescribed fire treatments are scheduled for the summer of 2001.

Contact: Dr. Ward McCaughey
USDA Forest Service - RMRS
Forestry Sciences Laboratory
Montana State University
1648 S. 7th Avenue
Bozeman MT 59717-0278
Telephone: 406-994-4852 FAX 5916
E-mail: wmccaughey@fs.fed.us