The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center will host a Fireside Lecture today with ecologist Rick Edwards, lead scientist for the US Forest Service’s Héen Latinee Experimental Forest. In 2009, the federal agency established the experimental forest at Cowee Creek, near the end of the road in Juneau. Héen Latinee means “River Watcher” in Tlingit.
The Héen Latinee Experimental Forest is a special reserved site where scientists study coastal temperate rainforests from icy mountain peaks to sea level estuaries, over an elevation change of 6,000 feet. Research is designed to understand the complex relationships of landscape topography, watershed drainage, climate change, forest carbon, and stream chemistry.
“Our first step is to determine what exists – to create a baseline – so we can study and understand the connection of all these elements as they change over time,” Edwards said in a press release.
A newly built weather station network is key to learning more about the area.
“The equipment helps assess how weather varies with elevation and location,” Edwards said.
Also important is LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, uses light from a laser in a manner similar to radar.
“(LiDAR) allows researchers to visualize the entire area with and without vegetation in high resolution,” Edwards said.
Edwards said the Forest Service hopes to build an access trail into Davies Creek and a research cabin to support field work when funding becomes available.
Fireside Lectures are free and offered at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center each Friday night at 6:30 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. during January, February and March. Doors open at 6 p.m. Call 789-0097 for details.
