Happening at or to
Shimek State Forest
State Level Organizational
changes...... Summary: Forestry has been disbanded –Shimek now
under SE IA District Parks
In the last few weeks, there have
been
major changes to the DNR organizational structure that affect
Shimek
State Forest as well as Forester John Byrd and his crew. Many of
you
have already read that over the July 4th holiday weekend, the
Iowa
DNR Director Gipp disbanded the Forestry Bureau and retired or
reassigned its leadership. Anticipated budget cuts to DNR were
cited
as the reason. The segments of
Forestry have been disbursed in various other DNR Bureaus. The
individual forests have been assigned to various Parks and
Preserves
Bureau offices. Shimek State Forest is assigned to Southeast
Iowa
District Parks under Tom Basten, who was already responsible
for the
campgrounds, in cooperation with the Shimek Forester. For the
time
being, there are no individual Forest staffing changes, no
changes in
responsibilities and certainly no increases in budgets for the
State
Forests. We all need to support both Forester John Byrd
and
Parks Supervisor Tom Basten as they work together to keep Shimek
Forest improved and protected for future generations while still
offering wonderful, accessible trails and excellent primitive
campgrounds --- as it is today.
State Budgets......Summary: Major
DNR cuts already and more looming. Speak to your legislators.
State lawmakers cut the DNR budget
once
again this year—cutting it $1.2 million earlier this year. The
Governor now says she may call a special session later to act on
“looming budget problems.”
In the opinion of your editor, the
long
term concern for both Parks and all the forests is whether there
will
be still further budget cuts to DNR. Watch your news for this.
You
may want to communicate your feelings on such matters in the
future
to the new Representative for District 82 ( which includes Van
Buren and therefor the headquarters and a large part of Shimek
Forest), Dr.
Phil Miller and Representative Jerry Kearns of southern Lee County
District 83 where the Lick Creek Unit is located as well as your
own
state representative if you live in another district. Our
positive
support of Shimek Forest could be very important.
Back on the ground in Shimek
Forest.....
Summary: Trails and campgrounds
in great shape thanks to
DNR Crew
This spring, for the first
time
in 9 years –yes—that is for the first time in nine years---
Shimek State Forest was provided equipment money for one new
piece of
equipment for the entire forest. This was especially critical as
the
one little skid steer the forest had was (and is) inoperable
(wearing out---needing several thousand dollars worth of
repairs). So-- Forester Byrd selected and purchased as the
Forest “Work
Horse” a new heavier-duty skid steer, a John Deere 323E, that
includes a front end serious- mow- everything Rotary Cutter. It
is a much needed asset for management of the 9,000 acres of
forest
and and for the maintenance and support of the equestrian trails
in
the Lick Creek Unit . Shimek staff—especially Ben Hassman---have
been putting it to good use. Part of that use has included
mowing
many of the equestrian trails (though some are too narrow or
rough to
use it). As a result, most trails that can be mowed have been
mowed
at this point, and since the drought has slowed the undergrowth,
they
are staying mowed for longer than usual. Downed trees have been
removed promptly after Forester Byrd is notified since Shimek
now has
a functioning piece of equipment to do this with.
Shimek has also had exceptional
Summer
Staff in Ross O'Day and Susan Meinhardt who now work part-time,
hopefully through the end of October. Those super clean toilet
facilities, trimmed and swept up campgrounds are thanks to their
hard
work—the painted Bridge at Martin Pond, the rest of the tables
painted that FOS did not get finished on the last work
day—Thanks
to Susan and Ross!
Forester Byrd and crew have also
done
some extra things this summer for us equestrians that have
included
more new hitching posts to replace some of the old ones,
corrections
to poor water crossings on the trails, and addition of water
diversions along the trails to handle hoped-for future rains.
Despite the unsettled circumstances
and
frequent threats of less funding, Forester Byrd and Staff have
stayed
focused on doing the best possible job—and you can see it every
time you go there. See photos below of the new tie rails in the
upper campground and of the repaired crossing where there was a
very narrow deep ditch previously.
.
What we—the riders
and Friends of Shimek can do or are doing.....
Summary: Help Out
at
the Next Scheduled Work Day
The
August Group Work Day has been canceled. Join
us on
September 28th at 8:00 AM for
the next
FOS Group Work Day. More information will be sent later and be
posted on FB and on the FOS blogspot..
Summary: Help Raise Funds for New
Day Parking. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
FOS, working
with
Forester Byrd, has obtained a grant from the Lee County
Charitable
Fund for $5,000 to apply toward the cost of constructing two
new day parking areas—one at each campground. The actual cost
will
be closer to $9,000 so we have a challenge to raise the $4,000
to
assure the construction of these new parking areas on time.
Needless to say, there will be no DNR money to apply toward this
but
Forester Byrd and his crew will provide much of the labor.
Riders
have been asking for these for several years---so now is the
time to
help us make it possible. The project will not begin until
October 1
when the currently wooded area can be cleared. FOS is holding a
Benefit Meal and Auction this November 4th. You can
donate items to the auction and/or purchase items at the auction
to
help out.
Summary:
Benefit Dinner and Auction Saturday, November 4, 2017
At River Valley Lodge 29080 Hawk Drive – Farmington, IA
Admission: $10.00
Hot Meal -smoked pulled pork with all the trimmings... with homemade desserts 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Silent Auction 5:00- 8:00 p.m.
Live Auction 6:30 p.m.
(western items, tack, art work, quilts, gift certificates, services, equine care products, other) All auctioned items will be either new or clean and repaired used items. Nothing dirty or broken will be auctioned.
All proceeds will be used by Friends of Shimek
to support improvements in the Lick Creek equine campgrounds and trails.
Questions, Donations or Help: Contact Bonniemoothart@me.com or 319 653 5323 or FOShimek@gmail.com. Need donated items by October 1, 2017. Facebook: Benefit Meal and Auctions for Friends of Shimek
At River Valley Lodge 29080 Hawk Drive – Farmington, IA
Admission: $10.00
Hot Meal -smoked pulled pork with all the trimmings... with homemade desserts 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Silent Auction 5:00- 8:00 p.m.
Live Auction 6:30 p.m.
(western items, tack, art work, quilts, gift certificates, services, equine care products, other) All auctioned items will be either new or clean and repaired used items. Nothing dirty or broken will be auctioned.
All proceeds will be used by Friends of Shimek
to support improvements in the Lick Creek equine campgrounds and trails.
Questions, Donations or Help: Contact Bonniemoothart@me.com or 319 653 5323 or FOShimek@gmail.com. Need donated items by October 1, 2017. Facebook: Benefit Meal and Auctions for Friends of Shimek
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Summary: Simple - Clean-up After
Ourselves And Our Animals
Most riders are
very good about civil behavior. We really appreciate their
cooperation in cleaning up after themselves and not damaging our
precious resources. ---but we have a few $%^$$%^
So we'll spell
it
out--
On the
trails---When you are riding—be sure to carry out all the cans
and
trash you carry in with you. If you can do so—help remove some
of the cans and trash that some have left behind. These are
scattered about through the forest and if you can carry a bag on
the
horse to hold cans and remove a few each time, we could get rid
of
those with no one having to work at it too hard. Also there is
nothing attractive or considerate about hanging women's
underwear
about in the trees –yep-- a few people are doing that. What
the??????????
In camp, none
of this cans, bottles and plastic in the firepits or
thrown down into the toilets to cause other people trouble. As
my
Grandma would have said to such people: “ Were you raised in a
pig
sty?
Appreciate a
clean
campsite and/or stable? Then please leave it clean when you go
home.
Summary: Protect This Precious
Place
for Future Citizens to Enjoy.....
Consider the
impact of what you are doing---riding on wet trails causes
damage
that is difficult to repair as does making your own trails or
riding
off -trail up and down a lovely bluebell hill that now will be
ugly
and ditched for many years. So treat these trails and this
beautiful
forest like you plan to bring your grandchildren here. If we all
help keep it and protect it, then it will be here for them to
enjoy.
Summing it
all
up: Shimek Forest --- If we do not help protect it, we could
lose
access to it.
