CZO Partner Organization
The Pacific Southwest Research Station represents Forest Service Research & Development in the states of California and Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific islands. The region has the lowest, driest desert in the country, the highest elevations within the 48 contiguous States, and the wettest tropical forests. It is the home of an abundant diversity of native plants and animals and nearly 50 percent of the nation's threatened and endangered species. PSW scientists conduct a broad array of natural resources research to achieve our mission to "develop and communicate science needed to sustain forest ecosystems and their benefits to society."
The flagship research area of the Southern Sierra CZO is co-located the Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW), a set of research catchments operated by the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW), USDA Forest Service. The SSCZO foothill site (located at ~400m in elevation) is at the San Joaquin Experimental Range.
USDA Forest Service
(list may be incomplete)
06 Nov 2017 - By Michelle Gilmore and Leigh Bernacchi Ever wonder how we know what we know about water? Twenty-five intrepid water and forest managers,...
01 Apr 2016 - A study by Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory researchers was featured in a recent issue of Natural Inquirer, a middle school...
13 Mar 2015 - The Kings River Experimental Watershed (KREW) Group led by Dr. Carolyn Hunsaker form the Pacific Southwest Research Station are recognized for their...
19 Mar 2013 - Research Ecologist Carolyn Hunsaker presented a USFS Landscape Science webinar on the Kings River Experimental Watershed on March 19th. This hourly...
Science & forest management in the mixed-conifer forest
Sierra National Forest - Providence Creek & other sites.
The SJER tower is situated on a small rise in the north part of the Experimental Range property. The tower is at approximately 405 m in elevation in a landscape of oak and pine woodlands.
With the rains of the past few weeks, the grass around the tower has greened up. Still, 2013-2014 has been a very dry and warm winter.
The SJER tower stands roughly 28 meters tall.
Filters on the air sampling lines at SJER are replaced every month to few months.
A heavy-duty box at the foot of the tower houses the data logger, IRGA, and other electronics.
The vegetation is dominated by oak (Quercus kelloggii) and foothill pine (Pinus sabiniana).
A warm morning at the Range, February 2014.
The SJER office is along the main road, past the turnoff to the tower.
Affordable accommodations are available at the SJER through the U.S. Forest Service.
A meteorlogical station stands near the office and guesthouse buildings.
The landscape was very dry in September 2013.
University of Wyoming researchers visited SJER in September 2013 to conduct geophysical surveys of the subsurface.
This gallery showcases the landscape, vegetation, equipment and facilities at the SJER field area.