Priest River Experimental Forest marks 100 years
The
100th anniversary of the U.S. Forest Service’s
Priest River Experimental Forest (PREF) will
take place October 6-8, 2011.PREF, located in northern Idaho near the town of Priest River, was established following the devastating wildfires of 1910 to conduct research on forest health, fire, weather and more. Today, it remains a premier center of scientific studies for managing Rocky Mountain forests. Research results help land managers throughout the Rockies and beyond make wise resource decisions.
This celebration of a “Century of Science” has a variety of interesting and educational activities and is open to anyone who would like to attend. Attendees must register online at www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/pref-anniversary no later than September 16. The program includes:
• Thursday, October 6 - opening ceremonies, bus tours of research sites, and a no-host social hour followed by a catered dinner with entertainment that evening. Registration materials may be picked up at the headquarters starting at noon.
• Friday, October 7, and Saturday morning, October 8 - reviews of research that has been conducted at PREF and a number of demonstrations. Topics include watershed research, genetics and insects, forest management and soil studies, weather, and fire in the forest landscape. Each of these themes will be accompanied by walking tours of relevant sites with the headquarters area. Saturday afternoon, October 8, is open to all with tours of the headquarters and the historic buildings and does not require registration.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided for those who requested the meals when registering online. For more information, including the program, lodging, and activities in and around Priest River, visit the website: www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/experimental-forests/priest-river-century-of-science.