Forest History Association of Wisconsin

Abstract

The Enterprise Radiation Forest (ERF) study was initially introduced as a topic of discussion at the Institute of Forest Genetics, USDA, USFS, in the late 1960s. During that period, a program was endorsed for investigating the impacts of radiation on the forest ecosystem. The rationale for this was to facilitate the prediction of potential outcomes in the occurrence of a nuclear disaster. The research location was situated within the forested lands in Enterprise of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The radiation source in question was a 10,000 curie source of Cesium-137, characterized by a halflife of 33 years. Furthermore, a study concerning lichens was also carried out, the data, photographs, and micrographs were meticulously gathered to illustrate the pre-irradiation activity of the species. This subject holds significant value for dissemination among peers in the scientific community, particularly considering the resilience exhibited by natural ecosystems in response to varying levels of radiation. The information is reviewed with the objective of the entire program to ascertain the potential consequences for a northern forest ecosystem in the event of a nuclear disaster, in addition to the two publications from the Atomic Energy Commission.