Starkey Experimental Forest and Range

United States of Agriculture Department

February 2004 Forest Service Paciﬁc Northwest Research Station

Cover photograph: Frank Vanni Frank Vanni T T at 4,927 feet. rolling Broad, Mountain is Bally elevation highest the elevation, and in is at aboutStarkey 4,140 feet its activities are adminis are its activities all and Starkey Station, Research PNW with associated areas experimental demonstrations. and studies One of ten field long-term for short- and opportunities provide and types tem National Forest.National Wallowa-Whitman of the part District, Ranger Grande La and Station Research PNW by cooperatively tered ecosystems. Most of the 28,000-acre forest and range forest range and Mostecosystems. of28,000-acre the on of deer, studycattle ofeffects the and elk, scientific for location field primary is the Starkey Oregon. of northeastern Blue the Mountains in located facility, research world-class is aone-of-a-kind, (Starkey) enhance ecosystem health. ecosystem enhance restore to and regimes of disturbance management the and ecology of facets disturbance explores research Starkey recreation. and plants, agement, wildlife, Experimental areas represent important ecosys represent important areas Experimental he Starkey Experimental Forest and Range and Forest Experimental he Starkey h e entrance into into e entrance Environment Introduction - ies on forest man Starkey includes stud Starkey at research Other Wildlife. and of Fish Department Oregon the and Station Research (PNW) Northwest Pacific USDA Forest Service the by ducted jointly mammals) is con mammals) (hoofed on ungulates proof fence. is enclosedagame- by

USDA Forest Service project research The regulations for bull elk. bull for regulations hunting to changed led research Starkey - -

- - for July are 87 and 53 °F, 53 87 and for are July respectively. low temperatures and high average the tively; tures for January are 38 and 24 °F, and 38 are respec for January tures trucks. Ponderosa pine was the preferred spe preferred Ponderosa the was pine trucks. on 244 log new Highway the down hauled 1955, After logs were mills. logs to for hauling area Starkey the in valleys mostalong stream built were railroads 1950s,the narrow-gauge 1920s late the into From and years. early in or stream river by transported were Logs 1890s. the in began 1890s,and logging and 1880s the in occurred grazing livestock Heavy patterns. disturbance historical the changed settlers butecosystem, European-American ofStarkey the part been have always ing frost free. The average high and low tempera and high average The free. frost about 120 but days, noconsidered months are lasts season complete May by 1. growing The summer, snowmelt is generally and during falls rain Very little snow, rain. spring and winter rain, Most comes fall precipitation as watershed. Johnthe Day River in southwest the are corner in acres thousand several watershed; Ronde Grande the River within lies Most of Starkey drainages. canyon moderately by steep separated uplands are left as the principal seed sources. seed principal the as left often were fir grand and Douglas-fir cies, and Average yearly precipitation is 20 inches. is 20 precipitation Average yearly Disturbances by fire, people, and graz people, and fire, by Disturbances F of Douglas-fir, grand fir, and fir, and grand of Douglas-fir, on south slopes. slowly grasslands into grade stands pine The acreage. Starkey the half nearly cover and forestcommon types most the are Douglas-fir, with ponderosa pine, or mixed pine of stands Open openings. land mingled with natural grass natural with mingled percent Other forest types consist forestOther types o rests cover about70 cover rests Forest Types of Starkey, inter ------Cheatgrass is the most common invasive plant species in Starkey. Other invasive plants are sulfur cinquefoil, knapweeds, bull thistle, Canada thistle, and Scotch thistle. Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer were abundant in the Starkey area in the mid-1800s but scarce by the late 1800s, probably owing to hunting and livestock grazing. Populations rebounded in the 20th century after hunting and grazing were regulated. Other large mammals include cougar, black bear, coyote, and bobcat. These predators are able to go either over or under the game-control fence and are part of the Starkey ecosystem, just

Frank Vanni as they would be outside Starkey is the only Forest Service area in the United States that is both an experimental forest and an experimental range. Starkey. Small mammal species at Starkey include the

western larch, found on north slopes, some flats, Columbian ground squir- Euell Macke and lower slopes in canyons. Some Engelmann Plant and Animal Species rel, yellow pine chipmunk, Buttercups are a sign of spruce and Pacific yew grow in canyons, and dense red squirrel, flying squirrel, spring on the range. stands of lodgepole pine occur on old burns and in Grasslands and meadows cover about 30 northern pocket gopher, deer cold air drainages. percent of the Starkey acreage. Meadows occur on mouse, three vole species, Wildfire was always part of Starkey ecosystems. bottomlands along seasonal and year-round streams vagrant shrew, snowshoe Fire intensities and frequencies varied, with a wide and cover only about 2 percent of the Starkey hare, mountain cottontail, range of ecological effects. Fire interacted with other acreage. Plants grow from late spring to early porcupine, little brown bat, disturbances such as insect outbreaks, elk and summer, with little or no growth during the dry and long-eared bat. deer grazing, and eventually timber harvest and season. Fall rains often initiate some greening-up The diverse ecosystems livestock grazing. In the early 1970s a pine beetle and regrowth. provide habitat for dozens of outbreak killed In grassland openings, the most abundant species bird species, from northern a number of are bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass. goshawk in dense forests ponderosa pines. On larger scab grasslands, the most common species to western meadowlark in Spruce budworm are bunchgrasses such as Idaho fescue, bluebunch the grasslands. Besides the

populations wheatgrass, onespike danthonia, and Sandberg goshawk, raptors include Euell Macke exploded in the bluegrass. Less common grasses include prairie the sharp-shinned hawk, Indian paintbrush. early 1980s after Junegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and needle- Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed several drought grasses. hawk, bald eagle, and occa- years and killed Flowers are most common in spring when abun- sionally the golden eagle. many trees in dant moisture is available. Just a few of the grass- Other birds include the some parts of land spring flowers are buttercup, camas, wild common nighthawk, pile- Starkey. Healthy onion, and Mariposa lily; grassland summer flowers ated woodpecker, northern young trees, include western yarrow, low gumweed, and rush flicker, Steller’s jay, Vaux’s already 4 to 12 pussytoes. Forest and riparian flowers include lupine swift, mountain chickadee, feet tall, are species, larkspur, mountain bluebell, shooting star, red-breasted nuthatch, ruby- and many others. The most common brush species crowned and golden-crowned

growing among Bridgett Read on Starkey are snowberry, wild rose, willow species, kinglet, chipping sparrow,

Bridgett Read the snags and Mariposa lily. View from near Cow Camp. fallen dead trees. ninebark, huckleberry, and buckbrush ceanothus. and many more. Evelyn L. Bull Frank Vanni Frank Vanni Great gray owls nest and hunt on Starkey. Starkey scientists share their findings with people through Disturbances such as timber harvest (shown here), fire, insect field trips and workshops. outbreaks, and grazing interact with each other in many ways.

into alternative approaches to grazing management, La Grande in 1969. Year-round electricity came to More research topics were added in the 1980s. seasonal flock reduction options, invasive plants, Starkey headquarters in 1970. Studies included work on western spruce budworm thermal cover, and competition among sheep, cattle, The first wildlife research looked at the effects of population dynamics, root diseases, and damage to and elk. grazing management and cattle numbers on the trees from insects and diseases. Other research In 1939, Gerald D. Pickford reported that the distribution and abundance of deer and elk. focused on the life cycles of insects and their host Starkey Cattle and Horse Allotment was a suitable Scientists began the first Starkey research on trees, particularly on the influence and interaction research area and the first field crew was assigned nongame wildlife with a study of pileated woodpeck- of factors such as temperature, day length, budding, to Starkey in the same year. Starkey Experimental er biology and habitat needs in the 1970s. This and flowering. Forest was established on July 11, 1940. Several research eventually influenced regional policies on years later the name was changed to Starkey snag and down wood retention. The Meadow Creek Experimental Forest and Range. riparian habitat studies began in 1975 in response Current Research Starkey scientists pioneered several research to concerns about grazing in streamside areas. directions in the 1940s. They developed new range Hydrology, water chemistry, aquatic biology, fisher- he common themes of managing disturbance survey methods and started using aerial photo- ies, and livestock nutrition were all included in the T regimes and ecosystem management run through graphs in range surveys. The first grazing exclosures new research. the research projects at Starkey. A coordinator were installed in 1941 to assess ecological change juggles logistics for the many different studies. over time. In 1945 two large grass nurseries were established at Starkey to produce seed from range The Starkey Project. The Starkey Project was grass species. Research on grazing management initiated in response to debates about how best to tested a system of rotational deferred grazing and manage habitats and populations of mule deer and ways to improve cattle distribution by developing elk in the Western United States. “The big fence” was off-stream water sources, salting, and range riding. built in 1987 and enclosed about 25,000 acres with During the late 1950s, scientists expanded their an 8-foot-high fence of woven wire that contains elk studies of grazing forage and started their first stud- and deer with minimal risk of injury. More game- ies of seasonal weight gain in heifers and steers that proof fencing divides the project area into four study grazed open range at Starkey. areas: the main study area (19,180 acres), Campbell As research expanded, facilities were built. In the Flat pasture (1,537 acres), the intensive timber late 1940s, a permanent office was established in La management or northeast study area (3,590 acres) Grande, and the Starkey headquarters got its first subdivided into two pastures, and the winter feeding permanent buildings. A new laboratory was built in Frank Vanni and handling area (655 acres). Meadow Creek. Small animals often are less noticed by people, The big fence encloses about 500 elk and 250 have given scientists the largest, most accurate set of but play important ecological roles. In Starkey, mule deer year round, and 550 cow-calf livestock animal locations ever collected on ungulates in the reptile and amphibian species include the long-toed pairs during summer. This area is larger than the world. salamander, western toad, Pacific treefrog, Columbia summer home range of most deer and elk, and All studies are summer range investigations. spotted frog, rubber boa, western skink, and two animals inside the big fence are living under condi- During winter, most elk are moved to the winter species of garter snakes. tions similar to wild, free-ranging herds. The elk and feeding and handling area. Most deer spend winter Juvenile chinook salmon use the lower reaches of deer are wild animals that have been handled in in the forest and are fed hay in times of need. The Meadow Creek, and juvenile steelhead summer in all winter feeding areas and traps but are not acclimat- winter feeding evens out effects of winter weather on perennial streams in this watershed. Insects that eat ed to humans (with the exception of the tame elk animal body condition, thus making winter a control foliage or boles of trees include the Douglas-fir bark herd; see below). As the elk and deer populations period. Researchers check the animals individually beetle, Douglas-fir tussock moth, larch casebearer, grow, surplus animals are removed during winter for pregnancy, disease, and overall body condition, mountain pine beetle, and spruce budworm. Starkey and released to forests outside Starkey. and change or equip telemetry collars or ear tags as also has many species of beetles, butterflies, and Movements of over 150 elk, deer, and cattle are needed. moths. monitored annually with radio collars. LORAN-C- The 58 elk in the tame herd include 56 cows, based telemetry was used for the project’s first 10 1 gelded bull, and 1 branched bull. These elk are years (1989–99) and is gradually being replaced hand-raised, tractable, and acclimated to human Streams and Geology with global positioning system- presence for research on forag- based telemetry. The automated ing preferences and food habits, eadow Creek, the largest stream in Starkey, telemetry systems record animal and work that requires frequent M locations several times a day and blood samples. The tame elk are flows east through the experimental forest and eventually into the Grande Ronde River, maintained separately on the beyond the Starkey boundary. Starkey has feedgrounds and no hunting is several other small perennial and intermit- allowed. tent streams, and springs and bogs are common along major streams. Small ponds and spring boxes have been built to provide

watering spots for animals. ForestUSDA Service Most Starkey soils are derived from basalt, The Starkey project, with game-proof fencing, automated telemetry, and controlled studies, pumicite (abrasive volcanic dust), and allu- has yielded unprecedented data sets on vial materials such as silt, clay, and gravel ungulate ecology. deposited by running water. Grassland soils

may be as shallow as 1 inch on open ridges ForestUSDA Service USDA ForestUSDA Service but can be more than 2 feet deep on better The elk handling facility has a specially designed series The age of breeding bulls affects sites. Forest soils range from 1 foot to several of chutes and pens so that scientists can safely and timing and synchrony of calving in elk. efficiently check animals for pregnancy, disease, and feet deep. overall body condition. Funding is provided by the USDA Forest Service, the Past Research Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Rocky orest Service personnel established the first Mountain Elk Foundation. F Research partnerships occur grazing research plots in northeast Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains in the early 1900s. The director of PNW with Boise Cascade Corporation, Leslie Naylor The National Council for Air Research Station, Thornton T. Munger, assembled ForestUSDA Service The original LORAN-C based telemetry the first staff dedicated to range research in 1936 Mule deer have a strong collars (on elk at left) are being gradually and Stream Improvement, in La Grande. The range research program started flight response to chutes replaced by a global positioning system Oregon State University, the and pens, so they are technology (elk on right), which has greater University of Alaska Fairbanks, by developing ways to survey and measure forage trapped and handled accuracy and more sampling flexibility, production, use, and cover. Research soon expanded individually. and requires less maintenance. University of Idaho, University of Montana, Purdue University, and other organiza- ecology and habitat of La Grande on Oregon State Highway 244, roughly tions. Researchers have a close partnership with La red squirrels and flying midway between La Grande and Ukiah. From La Grande Ranger District personnel. squirrels, pileated wood- Grande, drive west on I-84 to exit 252. Take Highway peckers, bat species, and 244 about 21 miles to the Starkey entrance. The first 10 years of the Starkey Project. The various insect species. project’s four original studies, started in 1989 and Research on the declin- completed during the 1990s, addressed the most Facilities ing Vaux’s swift popula- prominent issues under debate. (1) Road and traffic tion is testing whether management studies produced a set of compelling Overnight housing at Starkey Experimental Forest scarcity of high-flying findings about deer and elk responses to open roads and Range is limited to people involved in onsite insects, loss of nesting with varying traffic rates; these results are now used research or educational activities. Other forest visi- trees, or other factors are to manage road access throughout western North tors are allowed to camp in dispersed sites, although the cause. America. (2) Timber production studies found that no developed campgrounds are available in Starkey changes in forests from intensive timber harvest had Disturbance ecology. Evelyn L. Bull itself. During summer, visitors can also camp along little or no negative effect on deer and elk survival; Disturbances such as Vaux’s swift, a species of Highway 244 at Hilgard Junction State Park, Red fires, insect outbreaks, concern, nests in hollow thermal cover studies found no positive benefits for trees on Starkey. Bridge State Park, and Bird Track Springs and Four elk condition from dense forest cover. (3) Studies on and grazing by large Corners Campgrounds. Motels, restaurants, and competition between wild ungulates and cattle on mammals interact with each other and have cas- stores are available in the nearby city of La Grande, summer range led to a new model for allocating cading effects. When the spruce budworm kills or in Ukiah to the west. forage among the ungulate species. (4) Studies on trees, other insect species are affected, and in turn the breeding efficiency of bull elk and reproductive populations of birds and bats that feed on insects. success showed that older bulls are more efficient Overgrazing affects ground-nesting birds. Starkey Hunting and Recreation breeders, resulting in earlier, more synchronous calf research shows that even moderate grazing is an influential ecological force. People enter into the births the next spring, which may provide calf Starkey is open to the public from May 1 to mid- puzzle in many ways, from cutting trees to mountain survival benefits. These results led to changed December each year. Public access is through the biking to hunting. Interdisciplinary research is teas- hunting regulations for bull elk in many states and main gate just north of Highway 244 (see map). The ing out the ways that disturbances and their interac- provinces across western North America. gate is closed but not locked, and visitors are asked tions affect energy flow, nutrient cycling, ecological st to close the gate after going in or out. Vehicles are The Starkey Project in the 21 century. Definitive succession, and biodiversity. results from Starkey give managers defensible restricted to options for managing off-road recreation, range roads posted allotments, and fuel treatments, in relation to Education and Field Tours with green ungulates. These findings are commonly used across dots. Some the Western United States by state, private, and research areas tarkey staff host many field tours and edu- federal resource managers. The original research S have controlled cational workshops. Hundreds of people, including access so that has been the agency staff, professional societies, tribal foresters, research activi- catalyst for new Congressional staff, international visitors, and col- ties are not studies, some of lege students visit. Please contact Starkey staff well disrupted. which will take in advance to schedule a trip for organized groups. another 10 years or Camping, more to complete. horseback riding, moun- Nongame wildlife Travel tain biking, research. Scientists Leslie Naylor hiking, and are studying many The existing automated tracking a Grande is located about 260 miles east of mushrooming other wildlife species system makes Starkey uniquely L Portland on Interstate 84. Use exits 259 and 261 for equipped to carry out studies Frank Vanni are a few of the in Starkey. These La Grande. The nearest airport with commercial such as one in progress on deer Crews build and maintain game-proof activities the studies include and elk responses to off-road service is at Pendleton, about 51 miles west of La fencing that encloses the project and public can research on the recreation. Grande. Starkey is about 28 miles southwest of separates study areas. Map by Keith Routman Regulations Game Big publication, Oregon annual department’s that in listed and Wildlife and of Fish Department Oregon the by administered are hunts elk of deer and Controlled research. ongoing of the activities. human response to monitors animal that of research the part become visitors Starkey, into projects. Upon entry of research because or fishing cutting enjoy. is not firewood to open area The

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�� e k Whitman Wallowa- National Forest �� PN an equal opportunity provider and employer. and provider opportunity an equal 14th Avenue, Independence SW, and Washington, 20250-9410 DC (202) call or USDA (voice 720-5964 TDD). or is 326-W, Building, Room Rights, Whitten Civil To of USDA, write acomplaint discrimination of file Director, Office Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice TDD). and USDA’s contact should etc.) audiotape, large print, (Braille, information program of communication for TARGET require alternativemeans who disabilities with Persons to all programs.) apply bases all prohibited (Not status. family or marital and orientation, sexual beliefs, political age, religion, disability, race,of color, sex, origin, national basis the on activities and programs (USDA) Agriculture of in all its discrimination prohibits Department U.S. The fs.fed.us/pnw. sitepublica lists This Experimental Forest Range. and Experimental at Starkey on research based those scientists, including Station by tions http://www. Station. W Research research progress: a historical doc ahistorical progress: research J.M. of 1991.Skovlin, years Fifty 62 p.Station. Research Northwest Pacific Service, Forest of Agriculture, Department U.S. OR: Portland, PNW-GTR-396. Tech. Gen. Rep. research. ungulate methods for collection data and project:history, facilities, Starkey 1997. al.]. [et B.K. The Johnson, L.D.; Bryant, M.M.; Rowland, 76 Station. p. Research Northwest Pacific Forest Service, Agriculture, of U.S. OR: Department Portland, research. forest in &range covery Duncan, S.; Miner, S.; C. 2000. Duncan, opera trapping and feedgrounds near concentrated are animals the Closer to the truth: 75 years of dis 75 years truth: Closer the to tions are in effect. in are tions Station. 58 p. 58 Station. Research Northwest Pacific Service, Forest of Agriculture, Department U.S. OR: Portland, PNW-GTR-266. Tech. Gen. Forest Rep. Range. and Experimental ument Starkey on the Resources Web on the For Further Reading For Further

- - - - Pacific Northwest Research Station Research Northwest Pacific and Forest Experimental Starkey Sciences Laboratory Sciences Range and Forestry Grande La La Grande Ranger District Ranger Grande La Wildlife and of Fish Department Oregon 333 SW First Avenue First SW 333 infor detailed sitestarkey. has This http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/Range. 1401 Lane Gekeler Web http://www.dfw.state.or.us site: Phone: 541-963-7186 30 Highway 3502 Phone: 541-963-7122 Phone: 541-963-5960 La Grande, OR Grande, 97850 La La Grande, OR Grande, 97850 La La Grande, OR Grande, 97850 La P.O. 3890 Box r6/w-w/lgrd Web http://www.fs.fed.us/ site: mation on Starkey research, person research, on Starkey mation Portland, OR 97208 Portland, 1208 20 Web http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw site: Phone: 503-808-2592 photo gallery and research updates. research and photo gallery a with publications,nel, along and Pacific NorthwestPacific Research Station For Further Information For Further th Street

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