Teakettle Experimental Forest consists of 1300 ha of old-growth mixed-conifer and red fir (Abies magnifica) forest located 80 km east of Fresno in the north drainage of the Kings River.

Elevation ranges from 1980 m along the eastern boundary to 2590 m at the top of Patterson Mountain along the western boundary. Annual precipitation averages 110 cm at 2100 m and falls mostly as snow between November and April. Mean, maximum and minimum July temperatures are 17C, 30C, and 3C. Teakettle grades from a mix of white fir (Abies concolor), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) and red fir at the lower elevations to red fir, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and western white pine (Pinus monticola) at higher elevations. Soils are generally Xerumbrepts and Xeropsamments typical of the southwestern slopes of the Sierra Nevada.

To date, research at the Teakettle Experimental Forest consisted of a series of hydrologic studies in the 1950's and '60's which established five weirs. There is a cabin with kitchen, bathroom and solar power available for housing scientists and technicians. All entrances to Teakettle are gated and locked. Lab facilities are available at Pacific Southwest Research's Forestry Sciences Lab in Fresno.

Preliminary work during the summer of 1997 included the establishment of a Cartesian coordinate system throughout the Teakettle Experimental Forest. This coordinate system allows researchers to pinpoint the exact position of any location within Teakettle on both the horizontal and vertical planes. The resulting 100 meter by 100 meter grid system across the entire study area was used to establish 18 replicate plots within the mixed-conifer dominated areas of Teakettle. (Click here for topographic map showing plots and grid system or here for 3-D surface drape of the study area showing the locations of the replicate plots)

To download a Teakettle plotmap (MS PowerPoint file) right click here.