The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest (HJA) was established in 1948 by the U.S. Forest Service. In 1980, the HJA was designated as one of the first National Science Foundation's Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) sites. Major research themes include disturbance processes, nutrient sequestration and fluxes, biological diversity, forest-stream interactions, soil and watershed processes, and the cultural dimensions of forested ecosystems, including forest management.
Well before the establishment of the experimental forest, Indigenous peoples were in relationship with the forests, streams, and meadows we now call the Blue River watershed. In the Kalapuya Treaty of 1855, the Kalapuya were forced to cede this land to the US Government. We continue to learn about, recognize, and value the attributes of the Blue River watershed that reflect the enduring relationship between Indigenous people and the land.
Human History
For millennia, humans have been in relationship with the land in the area now known as the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. See the Human History page for information on Indigenous presence on the land and history of the site before the 1948 establishment of the experimental forest.
Program History
Over more than seven decades since its inception, the research program at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest has witnessed a diverse and impactful history, with major research foci changing over time.
Long-Term Research Infrastructure
The Lookout Fire burned across 70% of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in 2023, impacting the landscape and the research infrastructure and ongoing studies. Over the months that the fire moved across the research forest, we cataloged its movement and the areas it impacted.