Your Invitation to the Annual FOS DInner Jan 10, 2015

Message from Forester John Byrd Nov. 5, 2014 / Completion of Horse Shelter #3

Message from Shimek Forester John Byrd:

Thank you for everyone’s help in completing the stalls in the new horse shelter in the Upper Campground...the last one!  It is a relief to get that project done and we can move on to another project.  I would never have completed getting the horse shelters done without a lot of help from volunteers.  Now we have three good quality horse shelters that should last a long time. 

As I look to the future for improvements to Shimek facilities, my goal is to look hard at the trail side of things.  Campgrounds are still not perfect, but the reason people come to Shimek is to ride trails.  It is unfortunate that I was unable to do much trail work this year due to wet conditions most of the time.  There are some ambitious plans for the future but time is the limiting factor, especially with 9,500 acres to manage.  I will be looking to volunteers to remain vigilant in our fight to protect the resource and maintain a safe and healthy trail system.

In closing, I would like to thank all volunteers in 2014, whether you helped 1 hour or 200 hours, every hour counts.  Thank you and we will look to a successful 2015.

John Byrd, Area Forester

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Shimek State Forest, 33653 Rte J56, Farmington, IA 52626

Phone: 319-878-3811 e-mail: john.byrd@dnr.iowa.gov

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Completion of Horse Shelter #3 -Upper Campground

The last of the dilapidated, roofless horse shelters has been replaced with a new, metal roofed structure with 10 stalls. The stalls are made from rough cut oak lumber taken from Shimek Forest. Construction of the new ten horse stall shelter was made possible by a grant from the Lee County Charitable Fund, funds raised by Friends of Shimek, Friends of Shimek volunteer labor and both DNR funds and staff labor. The Lee County Charitable Fund supports only projects in Lee County in the fields of arts and culture, community betterment, education, health and human services. The grant to Friends of Shimek was used to improve the equestrian campground facilities at Shimek's Lick Creek Unit in Lee County. The grant of $4,200 was combined with $2,000 raised by Friends of Shimek and lumber, hardware and gates provided by DNR to construct the new horse shelter. Use of the horse shelters is free to equestrians. Forester John Byrd and crew cut trees and sawed the heavy, rough-cut 2 x8” boards that were used for stall construction. Once the roofed structure was completed, 15 Friends of Shimek volunteers assisted by Forester John Byrd and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen installed the stall walls and gates –this was a hard but enjoyable day of hauling very heavy boards, cutting them to length, countersinking holes, placing boards, drilling holes, inserting carriage bolts and adding a washer and nut, tightening the nuts, then cutting off the bolts, followed by smoothing any jagged edges where the bolt was cut---for 234 bolts! Ten gates with chains were hung also. Volunteers were: Doug Moothart ( FOS Construction Coordinator), Bonnie Moothart, Marsha and Bob Achenbach, Ray Conrad, Ann Bennett, Bob Bender, Art Duke, Ringo Covert, Pam Larson, Al Brown, Pat Pollpeter, Dennis Hunter and Pam Ball. Both Forester John Byrd and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen also worked on the stall construction with the volunteers. The work was completed by mid-afternoon. A total of 110.5 volunteer hours were donated toward stall construction. Volunteers enjoyed snacks provided by Bonnie Moothart and Lora Conrad and lunch provided by Ann Bennett.

From: This unsafe old set of pens ----

To:

A proud group of FOS Volunteers and Forester John Byrd celebrate the completion of Horse Shelter 3!

More photos below (by Lora Conrad)  of the construction of the stalls:

Photos by Bonnie Moothart from the FOS Potluck and Raffle

This is a sample of the many photos made by Bonnie Moothart at the Potluck.
 Thank you, Bonnie.

Gathered Round the Campfire

A serious FOS Board meeting ---only Lora missing--
she was in the hospital so might be excused.

Ann Bennett holds the raffle tickets while Dennis Hunter draws names

Excitement! Art just won the campfire tools donated by Dennis.

Chow Time!

 
 

 

A relaxing evening by the fire.

Report on the End of Season Friends of Shimek Potluck and Raffle

Report on the 2014 End of Season Friends of Shimek Potluck and Raffle

from FOS President Ann Bennett with input from Debbie Miller

Art Duke of Brighton won the campfire iron grill donated by Dennis Hunter.- Dennis did the raffle drawing for us. The campfire ring was donated by Bill White and won by Debbie's boss at work - Mike Culbertson of Fort Madison. Treasurer Debbie Miller reported that the raffle raised a total of $960. In addition $100 was donated by Diana Thrift as she has been unable to volunteer and work the last couple years but hopes to be able to do so this coming year. Another $50 was donated by Michael & Barbara Leete. Total revenue raised over the weekend: $1,100 which gives us a good start on

funding improvement projects for the campground and trails.

The weather was stunning - sunshine and 70's, Sat night clear and stars. The Upper and Lower campground was over flowing, trailers parked in day riding and skirting every available spot. The potluck was outstanding with walking tacos, chili, fried chicken, bacon wrapped little smokies, pumpkin pie dessert, dutch oven cobbler, sweet potatoes, cabbage/sausage casserole, and other great food I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment.

 

  Everyone was enjoying the beautiful fall weather and out riding. Camp was peaceful and quiet at night - all enjoying a campfire but settling down shortly after 9pm - thanks to all the courteous campers. I saw lots of folks cleaning their tie rails and stalls, so hopefully camp was left clean for the following weekend visitors. Bonnie is donating a quilt to the raffle next year so looks like Friends of Shimek will be making the October potluck an annual event.

We estimated 50 people there for riding and/or potluck. There was no sign-in for attendees, so we'll list as many trail riders and potluck attendees as we can remember: Art and Judy Duke, Mary Doyle, Diana Thrift, Becky Hassman, Pat Pollpeter, Linda and Bill Fiordelise, Martina Poggenpohl, Jewel McDonald, Denise Schieffer, Doug and Bonnie Moothart, Laura Paulsen, Ringo and Brenda Covert, Craig and Kristine Sink, Bob Bender, Debbie Miller, Marsha and Bob Achenbach, Dennis and Melinda Hunter and their daughter Michelle Hunter, Pam and Bob Noe, Nancy Grams, Ann Bennett, Pam Larson and Al Brown, Pam, Alan, Adam and Jackie Ball, Dean and Cathy Weber, Neal Hartman, Lala O'Hara, John Steenhoek, Dick and Sharon Wyett, and Tom and Jeanie Schacklett. Thanks to Bonnie Moothart, Judy Duke, Martina Poggenpohl, and Ringo Covert for making photographs.

Strings of rental horses stopped at camp to use the bathroom and take a break. The camp was so crowded that they were blocking the trail entrance at the south end of camp. Someone suggested some tie rails and a picnic table near the pit toilets so they would have somewhere to hang out. It is a good idea as one of the campers said the dude horses were trying to drink out of their water buckets and were in their camp site. And riders out on the dude string horses probably don't have any idea how to stay away from the other horses' food and water.

I camped in site #34 and sadly someone had recently tied a horse to a tree at that campsite and badly damaged it. There were fresh chew marks, the damage is only apparent from the back side so you can't see it from the road. Whoever had the campsite last left a big mess all around that camp, but not at the hitch rail.....almost like it was someone camping next to whoever rented the site. The bad damage to the tree will likely result in its death later---clearly campers must obey the Do Not Tie to Trees rule or our  lovely trees in the campground could all easily be destroyed.

Report on the FOS Work Day September 20, 2014

 

Saturday dawned as a perfect day for working on the trails and around the campgrounds at Shimek---cloudy and mild. A total of 14 FOS Volunteers---Ann Bennett, Marsha Achenbach, Lora Conrad, Ringo Covert, Neal Hartman, Bob Bender, Art and Judy Duke, Doug and Bonnie Moothart, Bill and Linda Fiordelise, Nancy Grams, and Mary Doyle---came to work, with tools and equipment in their vehicles. In addition, Shimek Forester John Byrd and DNR Technician Cody Brothersen arrived to help, giving up a day at home to help us out. John brought a DNR truck very loaded with rock and his small truck and trailer for moving the DR's way out on the trails as well as paint and a very heavy duty weed eater with blade. John gave us our assignments for the day and everyone got busy.

A total of 83.5 hours of work was contributed by the volunteers. Work accomplished included painting the rusty bottoms of all tables not in use at the lower campground, cleaning out all firepits and around tie rails at both campgrounds, filling potholes with rock on the road (hard work!), mowing down the multi-flora and autumn olives etc. along the side of the two trails down to the Croton blacktop off the main trail and one other loop down from trail marker 14 to 13, mowing out from the south end of the lower campground, using the recently donated Troy-Bilt mower, and cut a downed tree off a trail west of the upper campground as well as cut briars and weeds along that trail with a weed-eater. Thanks to DNR crew member Heath, the several trees down on the Wet Weather Trail were removed last week.

In preparation for the building of the new horse shelter at the upper campground, volunteers took down the gates on the old horse pens so they can be reused on the new horse shelter and took down the wire between the two rows of stalls. The DNR crew plans to deconstruct the rest of the old stall this week and the contractor will build the new horse shelter during the last week of the month as now planned.

The few good boards on it will be saved for reuse.

There is still painting needed and more trails that need to be mowed ---maintenance is never finished---but we made some headway and the hard work of all the volunteers is much appreciated. We celebrated with a Southern picnic lunch, packed up and headed off to ride (or rest, in my case.)

Bonnie Moothart documented our activities in the photos shown below.

 Those of you who did not make one of the scheduled group work days this year, we hope you'll put them on your calendar and come help next year or help out every time you are down there---pick up any cans that have been tossed out, clean out a firepit or two and encourage all your friends that use Shimek State Forest to take care of our precious forest and facilities so we can all continue to enjoy them.

Update From Shimek Forester John Byrd.... September 2014

 

What a difference a year makes!  Last year the trails were dry and the Shimek DNR crew got tons of work done.  This year it has been spotty when we could get on the trails and not make more damage than we have fixed.  I guess it is good that we are not in a drought anymore.  

 A few things to look forward to this fall --- besides the horseflies dying.  First of all, Horse Shelter 3 –the one at the Upper Campground--- has been bid.  The winning bid was submitted by Klesner Construction.  They expect to build the new shelter during the last week of September, weather permitting.  This shelter has been designed to be five double stalls instead of the four double stalls of the other two.  The extra set should present better opportunities for campers to get a stall. Building this shelter is a cooperative effort of Friends of Shimek, a grant from the Lee County Charitable Fund, the Shimek DNR Crew and DNR Parks funds.

Another positive note; DNR at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park hired a technician to help with day-to-day activities.  One of these activities includes helping out at Shimek with the FOS, answering camping and other questions, and patrolling the area to ensure everyone’s safety.  His name is Cody Brothersen and he is excited to meet everyone in the community.  You might have seen him already if you have camped or ridden in the last few weeks. His bio and photo are included below—so look for him when you are at Lacey or riding in Shimek and introduce yourself to him. Cody and I look forward to working with Friends of Shimek Volunteers on the September 20^th work day

Lastly, this is the time of year when leaves start changing, cool weather starts peeking in, hunting seasons start, and the Shimek DNR crew starts getting back into the forest.  As you ride you might see red* or blue** marks scattered around the forest.  I am a big advocate of managing the forest resource so the next generation can enjoy the forest like we do now.  With that being said, the longest running annual forestry field day in Iowa is coming up October 7^th and will be in the upper campground this year.  The agenda and details on the Southeast Iowa Forestry Field Day will be posted by Iowa State at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/publications/new_programs.html (check back if not there yet.)


Enjoy Shimek!

JOHN BYRD, Area Forester

*Trees marked with red paint are to be girdled or felled and left in the timber as part of forest stand improvement.

**Trees marked with blue paint are marked to be harvested and removed.

DNR Technician Profile: Cody Brothersen

 Cody’s hometown is New London, Iowa --- we have riders on the trails at Shimek from New London on occasion. After high school he attended Kirkwood Community College where he received an AAS degree in Parks & Natural Resources.  Cody then went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers at Coralville Lake.  His duties included patrolling campgrounds and keeping people safe.  He worked for the Corps for three years before working as a seasonal park ranger for Lake Ahquabi State Park south of Indianola, Iowa this summer.  Cody has just moved to Lacey-Keosauqua State Park to assist the park manager there and help look after the campgrounds in Shimek State Forest.  Cody is currently attending the University of Iowa, pursuing a degree in criminal justice.  Cody will be living in Lacey-Keosauqua Park housing with his significant other and 2 month old son.  He is very enthusiastic and dedicated to protecting our natural resources for future generations. 

Please welcome Cody if you see him around at Shimek or Lacey or at one of the FOS work days.

Soggy August 20th!

Ten stalwart volunteers met at 8:00 AM on August 20th despite the unexpected light but continuing rain.  The rain meant no painting, no 4-wheelers, and too wet to work in many areas as there was no way to get the walk behind mowers to the trails.  But there were trail entrances needing cleared and mowing to do on the trails leading out of the campgrounds and an urgent need for clearing of the entrances on the Croton side of the trails.  So off we went to work on those items for the morning.  By 11 am, the lightening had gotten bad enough to drive most of us back to camp and the last three returned from Croton by 11:30.  Much of the multi-flora has escaped until another day due to the weather.  We'd like to have a special mowing date, but between the extra high heat and more rain anticipated, that's not been scheduled.

 Next scheduled group work day is September 20th---see the Activities page for full details.   

Taking refuge from the rain in Marsha's trailer--yep-- that was the only roof in the upper campground.  Pictured (L-R): Marsha, Craig, Carolyn, Linda, Sherri, Bill, Ann, Bob A. and Bob B.
 Photo by Lora
 

 

Craig and Bob loading up tools to head over to the Croton     

           entrance area for some serious weed/rose whacking. 

Carolyn and her Mom Sherri rented a Billy Goat
 walk behind mower for the day,

FOS Update Aug. 8, 2014 Grant from LCCF for Horse Shelter #3

 
Along the Trails.....

If you've been riding during the few dry days at Shimek, you may have noticed all the work that Shimek Forster John Byrd has done. He has added many additional water diversions along the WWT—which we are trying to be sure stays a Wet Weather Trail and does not become a ditch. In addition he has rerouted one short trail section between 12 and “Potter's Rest” and has added water diversions and done some mowing along several less traveled trails. We appreciate his work on behalf of trail riders in trying to reduce the number of boggy spots along the trails and help keep ditches from forming.

Thanks to Bonnie and Doug Moothart who painted “Please Clean Your Stall” on the back board of each stall in the two new shelters. Now all---PLEASE Clean your stalls!  Promptly cleaned stalls are quite a help with biosecurity, often giving the sun and air a chance to dry out and destroy organisms and helping reduce breeding of insects.

 

 

Grant from LCCF for Horse Shelter #3!!!

Many thanks to the Lee County Charitable Fund—they have awarded Friends of Shimek a grant for $4,200 and FOS has pledged $2000 toward the cost of constructing a replacement horse shelter for the old run down stalls in the upper campground. Forster John Byrd has committed DNR Campground resources to help expand that planned shelter to a ten stall shelter and to have the DNR crew to take down the old shelter. The construction bids must be taken but the anticipated timeline is to have the third and final shelter replaced by the end of October. FOS accepts donations from riders and users of the stalls to help build the structure—those donations are how FOS will meet it match requirement for the grant as FOS has no membership fees. Donations can be sent to Lee County Bank, c/o Debbie Miller, FOS Treasurer, 2501 Ave. L, Ft. Madison, IA 52627.

 
   

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FOS July 12, 2014 Group Work Day

Saturday July 12th dawned hot and muggy and went up from there but a dozen intrepid FOS volunteers were getting organized by 8am for a morning of painting, mowing, trimming  and camp cleanup.

FOS Volunteers are shown with the new Yo-Ho loppers and rakes provided by a grant from Yo-Ho for our use in maintaining the campground and trails at Shimek.



 Bob and Howard and the new Yo-Ho loppers make
short work of low hanging limbs.



Bob and Marsha take two DR walk-behind mowers along a trail
 where the briars and weeds were closing in.  Along these rough areas and
at 89 degrees these are more struggle-behind-mowers than walk-behind.

Neal uses the Yo-Ho loppers with extending handles to trim
 low hanging limbs in the lower campground.  Nice!

 

Work day coordinator Ann Bennett and crew prepare to paint.

Pam and Bill check that this walk-behind string trimmer is ready to go --
and off down the trails they went with it to trim back weeds and briars.

Linda wins the endurance award for the day -- she painted the inside of the men's facility at the lower campground.  Both lower camp restrooms were fully painted inside and out as they had last been painted in 2011..  The upper facilities were painted as needed, including the doors and any areas where paint was wearing thin.
 

 Neal installed little reminder posters on the posts of shelters 1 and 2 to ask campers to help us keep the stalls clean.  Bonnie will soon stencil "Please Clean Your Stall" on the back wall of each stall.  Keeping the stalls clean helps reduce the likelihood of transmission of diseases and parasites from horses to horse---plus makes the campground cleaner and healthier for all of us---no breeding of flies and other insects in the stalls if they are kept cleaned by users.

Debbie sorts out cans and bottles collected around camp, especially out of firepits.  Please--fellow campers---firepits are not trash containers nor recycle bins--only wood and paper should be burned in the firepits.   There are can recycle bins at each campground and trash receptacles for plastics and other trash.

 Happy horses in clean stalls in shelter 1 during the work day.  Enjoy!  FOS

HORSE SHELTER 2 Lower Campground READY TO GO!!!

  

The DNR Parks Department managed to budget the funds for the DNR Shimek crew
 to purchase the materials for this new horse shelter.  After Forester John Byrd and the DNR crew finished the building shell as documented on the FOS Blog, FOS Volunteers  planned a work day for Tuesday June 24.  DNR provided a trailer load of new rough cut oak for stall walls and eight new gates for the stalls.  DNR also provided the 180 bolts, 180 washers, and 180 nuts to install the boards.  All of us at FOS really appreciate the commitment by DNR and of Forester John Byrd to enhancing the campground at Shimek this year by adding a this new horse shelter.
 
By 8am, Doug and Bonnie Moothart, Ann Bennett, Bob and Marsha Achenbach, Ray and Lora Conrad were starting the work on the stalls and were joined shortly by Brian and Jewel McDonald, and Art Duke  and joined by David Featherstun later in the morning.  ( Neal Hartman stopped by for a visit--he is improving and will be back at work soon. )

 Generators humming, saws buzzing, drills, well, drilling and hammers whacking, everyone worked steadily  as the temperatures rose and the boards got heavier --but by 1:30 the stalls were finished.  Boards had been  measured, trimmed  and placed and  all 180 holes had been drilled, counter bored, bolts installed, with nuts  and washers, tightened and the ends sawed off.

 Then, that afternoon Doug Moothart and David Featherstun completed hanging the gates--all eight of them.

 Bonnie Moothart photographed the action
 --a few shots are included here,   and an
 entire set of photos are at
 http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9AZuWLhs0csMM
 where you can also order prints directly from Shutterfly.  Thanks, Bonnie!
 .                                                                                                                                              
  
Just for good measure, gutters on horse shelter 1 were cleaned of maple sprouts.  The recycle cans were collected and sorted.

Some stalls that an inconsiderate   %^&*  camper left dirty were cleaned out.  Yesterday, DNR crew members mowed the campground--so it is ready for the 4th of July campers!! 

What can you do you ask, I'm sure.......
First of all---------
       .

Secondly---thank DNR staff and

John (left) got there for some of the action too. 

 Forester John Byrd when you can for the
commitment of both money and time
to the shelter.



Thirdly--help FOS by donating money or coming to work with FOS later or both---we are raising funds to replace the third horse shelter--the one at the upper campground which is now just pens.  Donations can be sent to Lee County Bank,  Attn: Debbie Miller, FOS Treasurer, 2501 Ave. L, Ft. Madison, IA 52627.


Since I put out the call for help and tools on Tuesday, on behalf of FOS  ----
 From me to the crew that brought their tools and worked so hard---
THANK YOU Thank You--
you worked very, very hard, got it all done.
 Be sure to check out the photos of you by Bonnie.
 Enjoy the stalls when you go camping at Shimek State Forest.

Lora