August 2016 Update From Forester John Byrd Re: WWT Extension

Update from Forester John Byrd:  Status of WWT Extension

As you may have noticed when riding, we had a very big pile of road rock waiting all summer to be put on the trail. 
     

 This rock was provided last year through a grant from the William M. And Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation. The purpose of the rock was to extend the Wet Weather Trail (WWT) system another 2 miles to offer more areas to ride when the dirt trails are too wet. About half of the WWT trail addition was smoothed and rocked last year. But a huge rock pile sat there all winter because it was too wet near the end of last year to complete the project. This summer we have been short-staffed and had numerous days where it was again too wet in this part of the trail system to work with heavy machinery on the trail modifications without causing much damage. To convert the trail, my crew and I had to widen, smooth, fill in ditches, prepare drainage diversion cuts and otherwise prepare the trail being converted to WWT to be rocked and sustainable. 

 

 
 I am pleased to report that my crew and I have been very busy on this project and have now prepared the entire trail for rocking and put out all the rock we had on the trail.  (See photo of dump truck being used to rock the trail.)  The rock pile is gone! However, the rock covered only 1.6 miles of trail—more was needed than we first estimated. Friends of Shimek is providing the additional rock needed to complete the two sections not yet rocked (about .4 miles). We also have two areas that require culverts which DNR will provide to prevent problems in always-boggy areas. In the mean time, the rock and disturbed earth under it needs to settle and get packed down before this trail section can be used in wet weather conditions.

The newly rocked area will be open only when the dirt trails are open for the rest of this season. It looks good as you can see in the trail photo--but it is ready only for riding when dry.         

Next year, when the trail is packed from riding on it in dry conditions and the dirt has firmed up underneath, it will be added to the WWT system. This means that for the rest of this year, the only WWT is the original WWT marked on the map under activities.  The new addition we are working on, even though mostly gravel at this point, is not yet part of the WWT system. It is very important for the future of this section of our trails that all riders follow the guidelines and NOT ride this section when conditions are wet, even though it is graveled. So when riding, look at the posted WWT map with red lines marking the original WWT trail. That is currently the only WWT and the only trails to ride when the trail status is WWT-Only. We will let you know when the trails we are working on are ready for wet conditions. Enjoy riding on all the trails WHEN THEY ARE DRY.

JOHN BYRD, Area Forester

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

P 319-878-3811 john.byrd@dnr.iowa.gov
Shimek State Forest | 33653 RTE J56 | Farmington, Iowa 52626