The forest soil and water laboratory group quantifies how nutrient and hydrologic cycles control the chemistry of forest soils, drainage waters, and forest productivity. Our research focuses on the management of the soil resource in an effort to maximize forest growth and to maintain ecosystem quality. At the stand level this includes questions of fertilizer use efficiency, soil nutrient supplies, and long-term soil quality. At the landscape level this includes the effects of land management, land applications, and land use change on soil and stream water chemistry, and watershed integrity.

Projects

Longleaf pine establishment, management, and benefits: Effects of pine straw raking

This new USDA FSA project with Professors David Dickens, David Clabo, and Cristian Montes is evaluating the effects of pine straw raking on conservation values on Conservation Reserve Program lands.

Soil Site Productivity: An update of NRCS site index

This new USDA NRCS project started Sept 2020. Along with Professors David Dickens, David Clabo, and Cristian Montes we are working to update site index estimations by soil series or soil associations.

Soil Health in Managed Forests:

This new USDA NIFA project stated August 2020. We will make use of 1300 soil samples collected throughout the Southeast region during PINEMAP and will take the Consortium for Accelerated Pine Productivity Studies (CAPPS) into the second rotation.

Gopher Frogs

Along with Warnell herpetologist Dr. John Maerz, we have initiated investigations of functional attributes of restored wetlands, ideally as they assist recovery of gopher frog populations.

Publications

Google Scholar

The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study has provided continuous service since 1957 for the health of this nation’s wildlife resources, domestic livestock, and people.

Overview

The Georgia Master Naturalist program is a series of weekly programs with specific environmental topics. This program is a hands-on environmental education course that explores habitats and ecosystems in Georgia and human impacts on those environments. The sessions are customized to local habitats such as swamps, ponds, rivers, wetlands, mountains, forests, farms, urban landscapes and the issues affecting these habits. This program is a combination of lectures and outside hands-on learning through field studies and relevant resources. The program subject matter follows a standard format but is adjusted to meet local conditions and draw upon local expertise in the instructors. An informed person can help make changes in their lives as well as their community and safeguard the environment. After completing this fun and interactive program, Georgia Master Naturalists are encouraged to share their knowledge with their communities by volunteering in local schools or nature centers. This program is a fun and informative environmental education program. There is no certification attached to this program. The program requires a minimum of 48 hours of instruction.

PURPOSE 

The Georgia Master Naturalist program is an adult environmental education course developed by the UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources and UGA Cooperative Extension for people who wish to be more informed about habitats, natural resources and the natural environments of our state.

MISSION

The mission of the Georgia Master Naturalist program is to provide unbiased, scientifically accurate information about environmental issues for adults.

AREAS OF DISCOVERY

Topics may include:

• Geology
• Hydrology
• Ecological Principles
• Water Quality
• Native Plants
• Forestry
• Wildlife
• Birding
• Agriculture
• Urban Forestry
• Environmental Awareness

The Tree Health Care Outreach Laboratory synthesizes and integrates research information on tree biology, pest/tree dynamics, and soil/tree relations. New methods for assessing tree health are designed as well as prescriptions for treatments developed. Results are communicated through various media and means to professionals, agencies, and specific non-professional audiences.

Whitehall Forest covers approximately 840 acres in the piedmont region's Clarke and Oconee Counties, approximately 4 miles from downtown Athens, Ga. The forest is comprised of natural pine, planted pine, pine hardwood, hardwood pine, upland hardwood, and bottomland hardwood. The property is bordered on the north by Whitehall Road, on the east by the North Oconee River and the Norfolk Southern Railroad, on the south by the North Oconee and Middle Oconee Rivers, and on the west by the Middle Oconee River. The Georgia Rural Rehabilitation Corporation acquired the property on 1936 and subsequently deeded it to the University of Georgia Board of Regents on July 15, 1936.

An addition to Whitehall Forest was made on December 15, 1978 with the gift on the Nat D. Arnold Memorial Forest. The property was deeded to the University of Georgia Board of Regents by Nathaniel A. Hardin, Hazel M. Harden Wright, and Catherine J. Hardin Newton. This Memorial consists of 46 acres. Whitehall Forest is home to several research facilities including the L.L. Pete Phillips Wood Utilization Plant Sciences Building, the Whitehall Deer Research Facilities, the Aquatic Biotech Environmental Lab, and the Whitehall Fisheries Lab. There are also several Federal offices and labs located at Whitehall Forest including the USFS, USGS, and USDA APHIS. Located on the most southern part of Whitehall Forest, Flinchum's Phoenix is used by state and federal agencies and UGA departments for meetings, classes and related functions.

Directions from Warnell's buildings to Whitehall/Flinchum's Phoenix