March 30 Shimek Trails Update from Forester John Byrd.......

Shimek Trails Update from Forester John Byrd as of March 30.......

It is that time of year again when the phone starts ringing off the hook about camping and riding trails.  This also means that the mushroom hunters will be calling as well.  Spring is a great time to visit Shimek and get back in touch with nature after a long winter.  Woodland plants start to emerge and show their lovely colors which make for a good distraction from all the other activities people have this time of year. 

As of now the equestrian trails are still wet and muddy, but as things start to “green up” the trails dry out faster and recover from spring rains faster.  Something new this year to lock into the memory banks is the status of the trails at Shimek.  There have been hundreds of hours devoted to trying to provide good trail management by DNR staff and FOS Volunteers and there will be hundreds more this year.  With a grant to FOS from the William M and Donna J Hoaglin Foundation for the purchase of gravel this year, we are set to put in another 2.2 mile loop of wet weather trail (WWT) (if the weather is drier this year.) 

The map below shows the current WWT in red and the planned additon to the WWT in blue.

Another point involving the WWT is that it will be closed more this year.  This is not due to the fact that it isn’t holding up or we can’t maintain it.  It is due to the nature of the rules.  One of the most important rules is staying off the other riding trails when they are closed and the WWT is open.  After visually inspecting the trails during closures there were multiple areas that still had significant riding pressure.  I have had multiple people tell me that their horse doesn’t mind riding through the mud and wet trails.  This is not the point of closing trails.  The primary point of closing the trails is to protect the natural resource. In some cases (particularly rough terrain) this also protects the safety of horses and riders.  If the natural resource can’t be protected during these wet times then the future of horse riding at Shimek could be compromised and no one wants that scenario.  With all of that being said, I do plan to try to open the WWT when the other trails are closed in the future and see if riders can follow the rules.  My hope is that everyone can follow the rules so the riders that follow rules aren’t punished by the riders who don’t.

As always, thank you for everyone’s support and I look forward to a great riding and trail work season.

 John Byrd, Shimek Area Forester

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Phone 319-878-3811

john.byrd@dnr.iowa.gov

 

 

Why not ride when the trails are wet?

 

 

This is what happens when we ride the trails when they are wet – a muddy loblolly that lasts for months is created that then begins to ditch and wash and erode the trails, destroying them forever. Follow the riding rules and stay off the trails when they are closed. Its easy to know where the Wet Weather Trails is---it is the graveled trail. Print off the map above or on the FOS blogspot. The Closed, WWT only or Open riding designations are not an option---if we want to ride at Shimek---we must protect the trails and follow the riding rules. People violating the rules might get tickets---but we could all lose our riding privileges in the forest. Yes—riding there is a privilege—not a right. Lets all cooperate to be sure we can continue to enjoy the riding trails.

Friends of Shimek

FOS 3rd Annual Forest Education Day with John Byrd

On Saturday March 21st, the lovely second day of spring, a dozen attendees and Shimek Forester John Byrd met at the Shimek Forest Headquarters to begin a  morning of learning about trees.  The first topic was pruning.  Most trees in this area should be pruned between January and March

 

 

 

Forester Byrd explains how NOT to trim a tree---never cur a branch off totally flush with the trunk.

Forester Byrd uses a small, folding pruning blade to demonstrate the three cut approach to cutting limbs from trees.  This method should be used  to avoid tearing of the bark and splitting of the wood that would cause permanent damage to a tree.

Always trim a limb off a tree just in front of the branch collar.  The branch collar is the area that will create the regrowth that seals over a cut limb. The collar is a slight thickening of the branch a short distance from the trunk.

Forester Byrd demonstrates the use of a power pruning saw on a pole to trim a larger limb.  Here he is making a final cut just in front of the branch collar.

To learn more about tree pruning, see  http://www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/care_maintenance/pruning.html

Coppicing is re-sprouting of a tree from the stump or root system after a tree is cut.
To learn more about coppicing, see  http://publications.iowa.gov/3415/1/F-327.pdf
 

Shimek Forester John Byrd discusses coppicing experiments he is doing near the Upper Campground in the Lick Creek Unit.  He has demonstrated dramatic, fast regrowth by using coppicing, which can be a much faster way to obtain a new tree trunk than by replanting an entire tree. 

Follow-Up on Spring Spruce Up/Fix-Up Day Held March 12.

Message re Campground Work from Cody Brothersen, DNR Technician

Thanks to the help of DNR staff and Friends of Shimek Volunteers, we now have most of the vandalism damage to the Shimek Forest Campgrounds restored, though the trail barricades have not yet been replaced.  The Lick Creek Unit camping sites are all ready to use as soon as the trails are dry enough to ride.  I personally really appreciate all the help from the FOS Volunteers in this really tough time.  Everyone put in a hard and busy day.  Extra thanks are due to Bob Achenbach who returned the next day and helped me with more 6 x 6 posts.  I finished the last of the new reservation sign posts the following day.  My thanks also for a donation of some heavy telephone poles to use as boundary marker posts as well.  We have a great partnership between Friends of Shimek and DNR staff.   I look forward to working with the FOS Volunteers this year in campground maintenance and to replace the damaged and deteriorated kiosks in the campgrounds.   

CODY BROTHERSEN,  Park Technician

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

P 319-293-3502 | C 319-931-9566 | cody.brothersen@dnr.iowa.gov

Report on the Spring Fix-Up Day  from Lora Conrad
Such a lovely spring day to be working in the forest, though a lot drier underfoot would have been really nice.
DNR Technician Cody Brothersen lead the campground activities for the day and he was assisted by  DNR Shimek Forest staff, Barry and Ben, for part of the day.  Forester John Byrd checked in and showed us he could still swing around 6 x6 posts and operate saws.  Volunteers for the day were: Bob Bender, Bob Achenbach, Marsha Achenbach, Doug Moothart, Bonnie Moothart, Ann Bennett, Lora Conrad, Linda Fiordelise, Bill Fiordelise, Jo Watson, Wayne Long and Dennis Hunter.  Volunteers came from as far away as north of Cedar Rapids to work for the day.  The top priority was to recover the campgrounds as much as possible from the vandalism damage.   Many new posts were installed and painted.  Heavy 6 x6 posts, several at each location, were installed to protect the water faucets and the fee collection stations, new signage was installed, and lots of painting was done.  Several dead or dying trees were removed along with the brush created.  Work was done in both the Upper and Lower campgrounds, but it could not all be done in one day.  On Friday, Bob Achenbach returned and worked with Cody again all day.

A few photos are below. Photos of all the action, made by Bonnie Moothart and Lora Conrad , are on-line at: 
 https://plus.google.com/photos/109715468761500706650/albums/6126654080204521233?authkey=CI2MydeyqbnyfA

Bonnie was celebrating her March 12th birthday by working in the forest and by sharing delicious homemade cupcakes with everyone. FOS rewarded her dedication with a  strawberry cake with chocolate birthday decorations during the lunch break.

 

                                Bob and Doug unloading 6 x 6 posts.

Doug cutting trees marked for removal

Bonnie shares cupcakes with Bob and Ann.  Ann preparing fee collection station for painting.



John sawing cross bar for new tie rail needed in Lower Campground with help of Bob Achenbach, Bob Bender and Dennis Hunter.

Bob, Dennis, Jo and Ann help Cody install posts for new campground sign

 

Spring Campgrounds Spruce-Up Day

 

The Spring Spruce Up Day is now more of a Fix-Up Day.  We'll be at the Lick Creek Campgrounds at Shimek State Forest on Thursday March 12^th , meeting at 8:00 AM at the Upper Campground. I talked with Cody this evening (3/9) and confirmed that we will be working. He was working in the White Oak campground today. Cody will bring all the paint, brushes, posts, supplies, signs and post hole digging equipment to work on the campgrounds. But he needs help to get it all done. Cody is working in the campgrounds most of this week—he needs help to get as much done as possible. Due to the vandalism, we will be making a few changes in the work list. Whatever does not get finished, will be added to our scheduled FOS Work Day task lists for the later work days.

Cody will bring all the supplies and tools needed except Doug Moothart is bringing his chain saw and trimmer on a pole.   Post holes will be drilled with the front end loader and post digging attachment by DNR staff. . Do wear heavy gloves, clothes for work in muddy conditions, and rubber boots. Safety gear will be provided for the chain saw operators to wear.

The work list is as follows:

*Cut of broken posts, install new posts, paint posts and put reservation holders on them.

*Trim/cut hazardous trees (see paragraph below)

*Paint cash vault

*Replace old posts and signs

*Add gravel to low areas

*Replace safety posts around cash vault/water hydrants

*Install new campground signs

*Add hitching post to site 49 at lower campground

*Delete any duplicated or unwanted signage

*Paint legs on picnic tables (FOS painted the legs on most of the ones in the lower campground last fall so only part of them need painting now.)

The Parks Department is also providing 10 additional tables for Shimek—while not new they are in excellent condition.

Cody will be coordinating the work. He can be reached on his cell phone 319-931-9566 or at e-mail cody.brothersen@dnr.iowa.gov if you have any questions.

Let Lora know at lpconrad@wildblue.net if you are planning to come work. Work as long as your schedule permits. Plan to brown bag your lunch if you can work all day. Cody plans to work until 4:30. If there is any last minute cancellation, Lora will send out a notice and post the cancellation on the blog, so check before coming that morning. She will also call anyone that has told her in advance that they plan to be there that day.

Fundraising Online for Friends of Shimek

Its been almost a week since the vandalism at Shimek State Forest. John Byrd and Cody Brothersen have been working with area law enforcement officers in investigating the vandalism and all are very actively pursuing the investigation. DNR staff have been cleaning up the damaged areas. In the mean time, there has been an outpouring of support and sympathy from equestrians and from people that never ride but care deeply about protecting our forest and state resources. We, the Board of Directors of Friends of Shimek (FOS), thank you all for your concern and suggestions.

At the urging of members of the Trail Sisters and other on-line friends from the Iowa Horse Council and the Eastern Iowa Trail Riders group, the Board of the FOS has set up an online fund raiser through GoFundMe. Funds raised will be used as needed to: a) to continue to improve the facilities and trails in Shimek State Forest, b) replace or repair necessary structures at all the campgrounds at Iowa's Shimek State Forest with better, more indestructible items including heavier posts, better kiosks, heavy duty trail guards, and if necessary, c) to offer a reward for the arrest and conviction  of vandals in extreme cases of damage.  The Department of Natural Resources will help provide funds and FOS will match grants from other sources with these raised funds to achieve its mission.   All funds will support the mission of Friends of Shimek which is to maintain and improve the campground facilities and riding trails at Shimek State Forest, consistent with good forestry management practices and the protection of the natural resources of the forest.

Anyone willing to assist the Friends of Shimek, which is a 501c(3) public charity, may donate in either of the following ways:

Go to:

 http://www.gofundme.com/FOShimek/  

There your donation will be immediately processed through GoFundMe using your credit card (information not provided to the FOS). You will receive an immediate tax receipt for your donation by e-mail. The fee applied by GoFundMe out of the donation is 8% of the total.

OR

donors may make a donation by mailing a check made out to Friends of Shimek to Lee County Bank, c/o Debbie Miller, Treasurer of Friends of Shimek, 2501 Ave L, Ft. Madison, IA 52627. You will be mailed a tax receipt directly by Friends of Shimek

The other way in which you may assist FOS is through participation as a Volunteer on our scheduled work days. The complete calendar is on the page above titled "Upcoming Activities at Shimek."    The next planned work day is March 12^th. With the ground not yet thawed, and possibly very soggy when it does thaw, we will advise you early next week if this work day can still to be held. Please check back on the Upcoming Activities page for that information if you do not receive an e-mail directly from FOS.

 

To be added to the FOS mailing list, just send an e-mail to FOShimek@gmail.com and ask to be added to the list. We send out e-mail updates on an as needed basis. We will also post information about work days on the new Friends of Shimek Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/FOShimek 

Thank you for your interest in and concern for protecting our state forest and helping assure the future enjoyment of its great riding trails. We'll hope to see you on the work days and on the trails later this year.

Posted by Lora Conrad on behalf of
Ann Bennett, Marsha Achenbach, Debbie Miller, Lora Conrad, Ringo Covert and Neal Hartman,  Board of Directors, and John Byrd, Board Advisor,

Friends of Shimek State Forest Equestrian Trails, Inc.

Vandalism in Shimek State Forest - ARREST MADE!!

Readers:
As updates on the investigation into the vandalism, the arrest and conviction of the guilty party are obtained, they will be posted here.

3/13/2015
See this link to the Keokuk Daily Gate paper regarding the arrest for criminal mischief at Shimek State Forest of  Stacy Schlicher who lives only a few minutes away from the  Forest .
http://www.dailygate.com/news/article_d6ebc51e-c99f-11e4-b82d-3b8ef9b3d578.html


3/12/2015  3:00 PM

DNR Technician Cody Brothersen and Shimek Forester John Byrd announced to Friends of Shimek volunteers this afternoon that a man has been arrested in the recent vandalism of Shimek State Forest Campgrounds. Look for further information to be publicly announced by the Lee County Sheriff's Department, maybe by tomorrow. Brothersen and FOS Volunteers had spent all day Thursday in Lick Creek and Brothersen and volunteers had worked on Monday at White Oak to help restore some of the damage and to better protect critical areas like water hydrants from such damage. Everyone was elated at the news that the a suspect has been arrested. We will provide further information when it is available.


3/4/15 8:00 AM
The investigation into the vandalism is being led by Cody Brothersen, DNR Technician for Lacey-Keosauqua Park and for Shimek State Forest campgrounds.
Cody reported this morning: " I met with the Lee County Sheriff's office yesterday.  There is an ongoing investigation.  I have contacted all the surrounding law enforcement offices to aid us in the apprehension of this person(s). I am sorry but this is all I can report at the moment.  If anyone would like to talk with me regarding the incident, please fell free to call me at 319-931-9566 or you can e-mail me at  cody.brothersen@dnr.iowa.gov."

3/2/15
This past weekend (Feb. 28-March 1), some person or persons driving a vehicle with a heavy bumper destroyed the hard work of many volunteers and cost all of us taxpayers several thousand dollars in materials and damaged trails and have made the campgrounds almost unusable. Friends of Shimek Secretary Lora Conrad announced this destruction to Friends of Shimek Volunteers with a heavy heart. She said: “We have all tried very hard to improve the facilities at Shimek with the help and extra funding from DNR, grants and donations of individuals. This mindless destruction is disgusting. Someone in the community is likely to know who committed these acts of destruction.” The White Oak campground had the kiosk knocked down and numerous posts broken off at the ground. The damage was found on Friday morning. But the worst damage was done Sunday afternoon after the snow quit when the vandals drove through the Shagbark Lake area and Lick Creek campgrounds and broke off 32 6-inch diameter site marker posts, broke through trail barriers, and drove on the trails with their vehicle. ATV tracks were also found. DNR staff estimate the materials cost alone at over $2,000 plus several thousand dollars in labor to take out the broken stumps of the posts and reinstall new posts, paint them and put signage on them. Anyone knowing who might have done this is urged to contact the Sheriff's office or contact the DNR Shimek office at 319-878-3811. Conrad added: “FOS Board members and volunteers are dismayed to realize we have vandals destroying what we are working to have for all community members who like to hike, or ride horses.”

Kiosk knocked down at White Oak

Posts broken off at Shagbark Lake

Posts marking and reserving campsites

 broken off at Lick Creek.