The Wind River Forest Dynamics Plot (WFDP) is a research and educational project affiliated with Utah State University and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (McIntire Stennis project 1015992). The WFDP is located in the Thornton T. Munger Research Natural Area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. It lies in old-growth, Douglas-fir - western hemlock forest. The plot area is 27.2 ha (340 m × 800 m). Together with the companion research plot in Yosemite, the WFDP is the largest permanent research plot in western North America and one of about 40 similarly sized plots around the world. At the time of the plot establishment, there were 31,301 live woody stems ≥ 1 cm dbh, representing 26 species, all of which are taggest and mapped.
For WFDP publications, please visit the color-coded "Publications" tab at http://jamesalutz.com
The WFDP has been established surrounding the 12 ha plot surveyed in 1999 and the 4 ha plot surrounding the flux tower, which was established in 1994. Our research objectives for the WFDP are: