US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Abstract
One legacy of the Fort Valley Experimental Forest is the number and quality of long-term studies associated with it. One such study is the “Hill plots,” which began in 1912 and is still being actively studied. Livestock exclosures were built at five sites to examine vegetation recovery when protected from livestock grazing. Sites span a range of soil types and elevations. Materials associated with the Hill plots include historical data, plant specimens, and photographs. In this paper, we summarize the research that has occurred on the Hill plots, historical personnel who worked on them, threats they have experienced, ecological insights they have provided, and current research directions
