The MAB Program United States of America
Biosphere Reserve Information - General Description
Cascade Head
General Description
The Cascade Head Biosphere
Reserve and Experimental Forest is situated 136 km south-west of Portland on the
Pacific Coast. The Experimental Forest was established in 1934 for scientific
studies of typical coastal Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and western hemlock (Tsuga
heterophllya) forests found along the Oregon Coast. Since then, the forest
stands have been used for long-term studies, experimentation, and ecosystem
research.
Ecosystems represented in the biosphere reserve are very diverse. Two major
prairie headlands jut out into the Pacific Ocean. The recently restored Salmon
River estuary provides a critical juncture between fresh and salt water and
maintains staging areas for upstream spawning migrations of anadromous fish and
rearing areas for juveniles and smolts. The forested ecosystems include very
productive young and mature (150 year-old) stands of Sitka spruce-western
hemlock and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests with riparian areas and
stream banks dominated by red alder. Spotted owl, marbled murrelet, coho salmon
and Oregon silver spot butterfly are four federally listed endangered species
that occur in the biosphere reserve.
Approximately 30 percent of the Experimental Forest has been subject to logging
and 60 km of road has been constructed as part of research and experimentation
on silvicultural practices. The Scenic Research Area has been subject to varying
degrees of human modification from little to substantial (e.g. residences,
diking of marshlands, clearing for agriculture).
Last updated: 06/27/2005