Friday, March 29, 2024

Trails are open 3-28-24

 Trail Status

3-28-24




 Shimek Forester John Byrd: "All trails are OPEN. This time of year trails can open and close often so please check before you ride. Thank you!" Closure status messages are posted on the FOS facebook page as well as on the Iowa DNR Trail Closure page. A recorded message is left on the DNR Shimek office phone at 319-8778-3811.

Have a wonderful week!

Kathy

Secretary/Editor



Update from Patrick Thomas 3-25-24

 Notes from Patrick 

Update 3-25-24


This past Thursday, 3/21, volunteers Lisa and Dave McDowell, Bill Mathias and Ike Meek worked with me to remove old fire rings and install new ones in better locations and even relocated a hitching rail! My appreciation to the volunteers who put in a total of 15 hours of work to help get this done. We are almost finished with this Lee County Charitable Fund project. Volunteer Bill Mathias plans to join me this coming Thursday to install the last ring that we have purchased. So no additional help will be needed this Thursday in the campground. Did snap a photo (l to r) of Bill Mathias, Ike Meek and Dave McDowell working on a fire ring.




It is great to see the progress that has been made.  I don't know about you, but I am getting anxious for the camping/riding season to get underway.

As always, stay safe

Kathy

Secretary/Editor


Saturday, March 9, 2024

Notes from Patrick Thomas on the campground fire ring progress.

 Progress is being made!


Notes from Patrick -3/8/24
Progress on installing Firepits! Yesterday two volunteers helped me with the installation of 3 fire rings and 2 culverts in the Lick Creek Lower Campground. In addition we three finished the work on one campsite pad and got most of another finished in four hours of work. That's a lot of progress. I very much appreciate the great help provided as well as the interesting conversations with Isaiah "Ike" Meek and Bill Mathias. These photos show Ike and BIll hard at work on one of the firepits. Thank You, Ike! Thank You, Bill. I plan on continuing to work on this on Thursday March 21 and March 28 about 9:00AM. If you can join us, we would much appreciate the help in making our campsites safer and more comfortable. Call if you have any questions.



Bill Mathias (left) and Ike Meek begin installing a firepit. Ike is getting a workout there with that bag of Quickrete!




Making the final adjustments to the new Firepit.


Until next time,
Get out and enjoy the great outdoors!
Patrick Thomas
Natural Resources Technician
cell 319-931-7805






Volunteer help needed on Thursdays

 Do you have time to volunteer your time?

Do you like to camp and ride your horses or mules at Shimek Forest? Then will you help with the camping site improvement project in the Lower Campground in the Lick Creek Unit?? Three Thursdays in March beginning at 9:00AM, Patrick Thomas, DNR Technician, will be working on the Campsite Improvement project to upgrade sites for your convenience and safety. The current work is to replace the old fire rings with new ones. The fire rings are provided under a grant from the Lee County Charitable Fund to Friends of Shimek. To install them, volunteers are needed who can help remove the old ones, level the new space for a fire ring, install a new one and spread some gravel around it. No previous experience needed but gloves and a shovel would be handy! So if you can contribute a few hours beginning about 9AM on these Thursdays in March--- March (7, 21, and 28 --or until all are finished!) --your help would be appreciated. 




Here is a photo of FOS Board Member Teresa Murray and Dave Forsythe, DNR Summer Staff helping Patrick with installation of some of the new fire rings last fall.

 If you have any questions, contact Patrick at cell phone 319-931-7805. 


Follow the updates each week on the Friends of Shimek Facebook page or on the Friends of Shimek blog page.



As always, be kind and smile because it looks good on you!


Kathy

Secretary/Editor

Dirt Trails are Closed

 

The dirt trails have been closed for the time being.

Forester John Byrd just announced that due to over an inch of rain this week that has made the trails wet and predictions of more today, the Dirt Trails in the Lick Creek Unit are closed to riding.

Wet Weather Trails are OPEN.


We will post on Facebook and this blog page when there is a trail status update.


As always, stay safe!


Kathy

Sec/Editor




Sunday, March 3, 2024

Trails are open -Camping Rates increased

 All Trails Are Open

Forester John Byrd advised us that all the Lick Creek trails have been 95% cleared of down trees. Plus the dirt trails are dry enough to ride--so ALL OPEN for riding. Thanks much to the DNR Shimek Crew for clearing the trails.



Camping Rate Increase for 2024

You need to know about a change in the camping rates at Shimek Forest campgrounds. The Iowa DNR has set the camping fee for equestrian campgrounds in the Lick Creek Unit, both Upper Campground and Lower Campground, at $14/ night. The fee for the non-equestrian campgrounds at Bitternut and White Oak has been set at $10/ night. These rates will be year round and go into effect February 16, 2024.


If you need further information regarding camping, please contact:

Patrick Thomas
Natural Resources Technician
cell 319-931-7805
Or go to the Iowa DNR page
iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com

Kathy
Sec/Editor





Gray Fox


Gray Foxes






We're asking for your help in reporting sightings of Iowa's secretive gray fox!

Gray foxes are different than the more common red fox (check the ID guide below). Gray fox were listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Iowa in 2015 based on a decline in the gray fox population observed over the past 25 years. Similar trends have been noted in several other Midwestern states. We want to learn more about their habitat and research possible causes into their population decline.
If you spot a live gray fox or have trail cam footage, contact our biologists with location info: Dave Hoffman (david.hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov) or Vince Evelsizer (vince.evelsizer@dnr.iowa.gov).
If you see a dead gray fox (roadkilled, etc), please send location info to: Rachel Ruden (Rachel.ruden@dnr.iowa.gov) or Vince Evelsizer (vince.evelsizer@dnr.iowa.gov).