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COLORADO—Located in the Idaho Panhandle, Deception Creek is one of 84 USDA Forest Service experimental forests and ranges. Spanning from Alaska to Arkansas, experimental forests and ranges are designated areas for scientific research and make up the largest and longest-lived ecological research network in the nation. A new video (above) features Deception Creek Experimental Forest as a living laboratory for forest-related science.

Research conducted on experimental forests provides insight into how landscapes respond to management practices, changes in climate and other disturbances. This research can shed light on how forest management actions—or lack of action—today impact the health, productivity and resilience of forests in the future.

“The coolest part about experimental forests, in particular Deception Creek Experimental Forest, is that this is where we did most of the management research,” said Dr. Terrie Jain, who until last year was the scientist in change of Deception Creek and is now an emeritus scientist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station. “The large-scale, manipulative research that has occurred here provides so many opportunities for future silviculturists to really understand and learn about our forests.”

In addition to research opportunities, experimental forests provide a common ground for scientists, land managers and Forest Service partners to build connections and explore solutions to current forest management issues. These science-management partnerships help managers apply the most recent research to their work and allow scientists to develop studies and tools to address forest management challenges. For example, data collected at Deception Creek was integral in developing the forest vegetation simulator, a modeling tool that can be used to predict vegetation growth and mortality under different management actions and natural disturbances, such as timber harvest, thinning, prescribed fire, wildfire, insect infestations and drought.

“What makes [experimental forests] truly unique is the ability for people to come here and to learn, and to have a safe place to learn,” said Jain. “Research is making a difference in not telling people what to do, but enlightening people on opportunities to manage the land given the situation that they're in.”

After Jain’s retirement in the fall of 2022, research forester Dr. Jason Reinhardt took over as scientist in charge of Deception Creek. Reinhardt is also the scientist in charge of Priest River Experimental Forest, located about 80 miles north of Deception Creek.

“It’s a big set of shoes to fill,” Reinhardt said about his new role. “I want to continue the legacy of not being afraid to try new things, and also, recognizing when a problem is an opportunity to tackle the issues that land managers are facing.”

More information on experimental forests and ranges lands can be found on the experimental forest web page, including specific information on Deception Creek Experimental Forest and Priest River Experimental Forest.