THE WILLIAM M. AND DONNA J. HOAGLIN FOUNDATION, INC. (Foundation)

  

                                        Shimek State Forest Wet Weather Trails                                     

This Project was begun after the completion in 2019 of a separate project funded by the Lee County Charitable Fund, and FOS to repair several areas with major weather damage on the Wet Weather Trails at Shimek. The complete re-rocking of over six miles of trails to prolong the life of the trails was begun in fall 2019 and concluded by the end of November 2020. Forester Byrd planned and scheduled the project to perform the work at the best possible time for protecting the trail surfaces. He selected a smaller grind lime-chip size rock for the flatter trails which will be easier on the horses feet and used road rock on the more sloping, vulnerable areas. All work has been completed as documented in the photo page attached.

 All Wet Weather Trails are entering the 2020-21 winter in excellent condition. Never has this been more valuable for the Forest and for the equestrian community in southeast Iowa. Due to the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, the usage of the trails has rocketed as people turned to more outdoor activities for recreation. Forester Byrd estimates that the usage on the trails has at least quadrupled as compared to last year. (There are no precise numbers as so many riders are day-riders.) FOS Board members and Forester Byrd express their appreciation to the Foundation for the support to provide area citizens a high quality, safer trail system for riding in wetter weather.

Documentation and pictures

by Lora Conrad

Editor

Kathy