Author Archives: Emma Landenberger

A Very Memorable Side Quest to the Willamette National Forest

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What would you do if the ecologist in your forest comes and offers your crew the opportunity to go on a hitch in another forest? Well for me, I agreed to go immediately. We were helping the Northwest Oregon Ecologists collect data on tree plots within the Torrey-Charlton Natural Research Area. This area has been part of a long term study on post-fire growth and yield of Mountain Hemlock. These plots first burned in 1996 in the Torrey-Charlton fire, and were chosen based on severity of the burn. These same plots were burned again in 2022 in the Cedar Creek fire. This gave the unique opportunity for researchers to look at the effects of stands being burned twice and also the amount of carbon released during the 2022 fire. 

One of our twice burned plots with views of smoke plumes from the Red Fire in The Diamond Peak Wilderness area.

The team hit the ground running. We had 4 days to collect data from 8 plots. It was an intense couple of days but I quickly learned protocols for fuel load transects, vegetation plots, and course wood measurements. A metric tape quickly became my best friend. 

Bridget collecting course wood Data. We often partnered up with one doing the measuring and the other recording on the data sheet.

The plots themselves felt like hell on earth. All but one of our plots were burned in both fires. There was no shade and the ground was completely covered with ash. We quickly become covered in dirt each day and I think I drank more water in that week than I have in my entire life. But with my sun shirt and sunglasses I survived the beating sun, but my lips did not. Definitely buying some SPF chapstick to use for the rest of this field season. Luckily camp was based at Waldo lake, making for some chilly but needed swimming at the end of each day. During any hitch a good dip makes you feel clean and refreshed, or at least as clean as you can get in lake water.

After work swims at Waldo Lake.

This hitch was unique in that I got to work with people from across Oregon. We had four ecologists from both the Northwest Oregon Ecology program and Oregon State University. It was so intriguing to be able to talk to them about their current projects, future goals, and how they got to where they are today. They each had such different paths, some went to grad school while others were research techs abroad. As someone so early in their career, it was so comforting to hear that everyone’s path is unique. It honestly makes me excited to see where life takes me.

My coworker Bridget and I after working on the plots all day.

A field trip to a USFS Nursery

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One really unique thing about internships is that you are often given the opportunity to work with different departments or visit another office in order to learn more about the organization as a whole. A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the USFS J. Herbert Stone Nursery in Medford, OR. What started as a quick trip to pick up a seed mix for post fire recovery turned into a full facility tour.

Stacks of tree seedling plugs in styrofoam planters waiting to be transplanted to the outdoor fields.

The nursery is technically within the Roque-River Siskiyou National Forest, but it serves public lands across Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. It provides seed storage and propagation for USFS, BLM, DOD, and more. We were able to walk through the storage rooms where they had large garage doors that opened with a pull of a string from the ceiling (very cartoony of them). The freezers were massive and very cold. To our left were row after row of boxed seed waiting to be pulled out and sown. I even spotted seed from my home forest, the Umpqua National Forest!

Tree seedling packing machinery.

We then made it out to the fields. This 300 plus acre facility takes the source-identified wild seed collections and grows them out to increase overall yield. Since it was so late in the season, not much was growing in the field. We did get to see some Penstemon species that requires two years to flower, but otherwise, we just took in the size of the plots.

Boxes of stored seed in the nursery freezers.

Finally, we made it out to the greenhouses. The greenhouses are used mostly for tree seedlings, an important thing to have on hand for national forests with increasing wildfire activity. It contained rows-and-rows of Douglas firs, incense cedars, mountain hemlocks, and white bark pine. We learned how different places want different qualities in their seedlings. Some want really big and tall seedlings and others shorter but with thick stems. These desires lead to different propagation methods. Some lots grow for two whole years in the greenhouses, while others spend those two years completely outside in the field, and then others spend time in both conditions.

Greenhouse full of tree seedlings. Some are in their first year while others are in their second year of growth.

One final unique thing we got to see was a collection of gum trees that had been to space. In 2022, NASA sent a collection of trees including Douglas Firs from right here in Oregon, Giant Sequoia, Sweetgum trees, and American Sycamore. As seeds, they rode along the Artemis 1 mission to circle the moon. Since coming back to Earth, the seeds were germinated to test if there were any effects from being in space. As a participant in this project J. Herbert Stone nursery may have sent up Douglas Fir seeds but was given Sweetgum seeds in return. Now a couple years old, these trees are doing fantastic. They are a couple feet tall with many large leaves. It was hard to fathom that these trees were once in space!

Emma Landenberger

Umpqua National Forest

Crew Culture!!

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Working 10 hour days doing repetitive tasks can seem boring and hard to some, and some days it is not the most fun, but what really makes it enjoyable is the people you work with. Crew culture can make or break your season. It is the people you smile with while it rains on you, the people you sing in the car with, and the people you rely on when the going gets tough. 

Crew taking in a waterfall while treating weeds on a local trail.

I have been lucky to have a large crew on the Umpqua Nat’l Forest. I get to work with 3 USFS employees, 2 interns through the Scientists Conservation Association, 2 interns through the local community college, and of course my fellow CBG intern, Hannah. Having such a large team allows me to work with different people everyday, sharing stories, and making memories. Another plus is that everyone is from all over the United States. We cover the Southwest, Midwest, East Coast, and the Pacific Northwest. With that I have gotten to experience the cultural differences from across the U.S. It has been so interesting to hear about crab boils from Maryland or meeting people from Arizona who have never seen snow (that is crazy as a midwesterner). 

Me and my co-worker Bridget, taking a funny selfie to capture pre-work vibes

In the field it is really great to have such a large group to pull from. We each bring a different set of skills and knowledge. I have been able to learn just as much from my crew lead as I have from my co-workers. The local interns have such an impressive knowledge of the native species. They have helped me learn how to identify our collection species more quickly than I would have by myself.  One of my assistant crew leads, Bridget, comes from the Midwest with a background in invasive species management. She has really helped us be more efficient when dealing with weeds and even helps us estimate how long a treatment area may take. 

A bunch of the crew taking our ”album cover” photo

At the end of the day this crew has become a second family. We regularly hangout outside of work, and are able to be true selves with each other. When you take a field position your crew can make or break your season. So show up with a smile, open heart, and be ready to make some of the closest friends you will ever have. It makes the beauty of your surroundings shine even brighter.

Group Photo to celebrate one of our co-interns leaving for the season. Taken in front of the National forest sign

Umpqua National Forest

Emma Landenberger

Adapting to a Life with Fire

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Wildfires are part of life out west. As a midwesterner this has definitely been a culture shock. The smoke that hangs in the valleys brings this ominous feeling I can’t quite shake. Meanwhile the locals do not seem fazed. As time passes I too have gotten more comfortable living surrounded by fires. Maybe it’s the constant reassurance from my crew lead or the other USFS employees sharing their experiences from years past, but slowly it’s becoming more normal. 

Smoke from nearby wildfires turns the sky red in the early evening.

In all honesty, the biggest adjustment has been working while large portions of the forest are closed. Many of our historic seed collection spots are out of reach or even burned. Initially it felt like the rug was ripped from under my feet. Time to start over. Going back out and looking for our target species, but this time without any historic data to rely on. 

My co-intern, Hannah, walks a ridge road while we were collecting Blue Wild-rye (Elymus glaucus).

Long days of driving down new roads were upon me and my co-intern. Some days were busts. We seemed to find more invasives than natives. Not the best feeling, to be honest. Soon our luck would change. We would come upon patches of meadows, they key to our success. Quickly we found forest scurf pea, western columbine, and blue wild rye. It felt like such a victory! 

The start of our seed collection filling the botany office.

As time has passed waivers to enter the closure have been approved. Finally we can hit some of those historic sites! The sheer difference in population size was astounding. I could see why the forest relies on these sites so much. Now as July comes to a close, paper bags of seeds cover the floor and the fridge is full of berries. Despite it all the work is really starting up. Hoping as summer moves along more of the forest opens up, and more seed can be safely collected. 

Emma Landenberger 

Umpqua National Forest, Oregon

The Best Type of Office

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After taking this position I knew it would be hard on both my brain and my body. During the weeks leading up to my first day, I was only thinking about learning complex scientific names or the labor of pulling out invasives. I never thought to stop and think about the opportunity I was given, that nature would become my office. The hot sunny days and bug swarms leave me unbothered as I think about my break room being a riverbed, my cubicle a mountaintop, and my commute a forest lined trail. Do not be fooled, everyday is hard work (lots of sweat) but its rewarding and beautiful. I hope I can give some of my favorite spots the justice they deserve so you can enjoy them too!

Slide creek Falls:

Water falls into a blue pool with people sitting on a log
Slide creek falls viewed by other Umpqua National Forest Botany Interns

Just a short drive in, off of OR-138 you come upon this beautiful horsetail falls. It spills into a small blue pool. The spray gives life to the moss, ferns, and other little flowers you find there. You perch yourself on the ridge as your friends work their way to a log. You break out a snack and sit in silence. Now you’re trying your hardest to take in every moment, to be able to remember every detail, to be able see it even after you leave.

Twin Lakes:

Picture of a lake with trees growing around its edges
View of one of the Twin Lakes

A few miles into the forest you reach a trailhead. It seems particularly normal, so you go down the 1.25 mile trail to the pair of lakes on your map. It only takes a few minutes of climbing before you reach a plateau. You look out to your right and see Mt. Bailey with her snow capped peak off in the distance. You pause, instantly feeling small. You stand there thinking it’s time for a water break, maybe more for the view than the actual need for rest. As you move on you spot a blooming trillium and a little lady bug (you have to take the time to count her spots!!). You realize how big and impactful your presence is. Further down a lean-to hints that you have reached your destination. Soon you see the lake’s crystal clear water. It only takes a few seconds before you spot your first fish. The gentle wind feels cool on your skin and all you can do is be present and smile. 

In just a couple of weeks you have visited numerous awe-inspiring places. As I continue to work and explore this national forest I try to see the beauty around every corner. Time is truly fleeting but my memories of the Umpqua will stay with me forever.

Emma Landenberger

Umpqua National Forest, OR