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Stephens State Forest

Stephens State Forest Brochure (pdf)

Map of Lucas,Whitebreast and Woodburn Units
Map of Whitebreast Unit Equestrian Trails
Map of Cedar Creek, Chariton and 1,000 Acre Unit
Map of Unionville Unit

Topographic maps of Stephens State Forest by unit:.
Cedar Creek
Chariton
Lucas
Thousand Acre
Whitebreast Mid
Whitebreast NE
Whitebreast SE
Whitebreast SW
Unionville South

Topographic maps of Stephens State Forest can be obtained by contacting Publications/Map Sales at 319/335-1575. Map titles covering the forest are: Kellogg (Reichelt Unit), Olmitz (Cedar Creek and Chariton Units), Weller (Chariton and 1,000 Acres Units), Lucas, Derby, Woodburn, and LeRoy (Lucas, Whitebreast, and Woodburn Units), Unionville, Paris, Blakesburg, and Blakesburg NE (Unionville Unit).

Stephens State Forest by Subject

Administration, History, Geology, Climate, Flora, Fauna, Origin of Forest Names, Management and Rules.

Stephens State Forest was named for Dr. T. C. Stephens. He was a prominent educator and Sioux City native. The forest is located in south-central Iowa and is divided into seven separate units totaling 14,112 acres.

Lucas, Whitebreast, and Woodburn Units

These units are located south and west of the town of Lucas and south of the town of Woodburn. Most of the recreational development on Stephens Forest has taken place on the Lucas and Whitebreast Units, which are contiguous. The Lucas and Whitebreast Units each have two ponds, four to five acres in size, stocked with bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish.

Recreation activities include fishing, picnicking, camping, hunting, hiking, riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The Whitebreast Unit has equestrian areas where people can camp with their horses and trails where they can ride. The Woodburn Unit has backpacking trails and camp sites. The Woodburn Unit backpack trails are currently undergoing reconstruction. “Hiking and backpacking in the Woodburn Unit is allowed, but be aware that the trails and signage will not be complete until the Spring of 2009.”

Camping fees are $9.00 per night during the summer and $6.00 per night the rest of the year. An additional $3.00 per night is charged for equestrian campgrounds. Starting February 13, 2006 advance campsite reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are still available for self registration on a first come first-serve basis. See maps for campground and trail locations.

The Lucas Unit, 1,192 acres, is southwest of and within one mile of the town of Lucas. It is just southwest of the intersections of US Highways 65 and 34. The Lucas Unit contains two small lakes, 2 campgrounds and one equestrian campground. The unit is served by an all weather road.

The Whitebreast Unit, 3,207 acres, is located 2 miles south of and 2 miles west of the town of Lucas. It has two small lakes, two campgrounds and one equestrian campground. The unit is served by an all weather road.

The Woodburn Unit, 2,011 acres, is located 3 miles south of Woodburn. It has an all weather road along its west side and through its middle and can be accessed from its east end by a long, graveled lane. This unit is set aside for backpack trails and campsites.

Cedar Creek, Chariton, and 1,000 Acres Units

These units do not have any developed recreation facilities such as picnic areas, campgrounds and designated trails. They are less well served by all weather roads. However, there are many dirt roads and trails. These units are well suited to hunting and hiking.

The Cedar Creek Unit, 1,888 acres, is four miles east and one mile south of the town of Williamson. The unit is bisected by an all weather road.

The Chariton Unit, 1,513 acres, is six miles east of the town of Williamson. An all-weather road runs along its east side.

The 1000 Acre Unit, 1,616 acres, is northeast of and contiguous with the Chariton Unit in the northeast corner of Lucas County and the northwest corner of Monroe County. The all-weather county-line road serves as boundary between the 1000 Acre and Chariton Units and the east side is bounded by good roads.

Unionville Unit

The Unionville Unit, 2,245 acres, is comprised of nine separate tracts in northeast Appanoose County and northwest Davis County. There are no developed recreation facilities such as picnic areas, campgrounds and trails. Several tracts are served by all weather roads. The unit provides good hunting and hiking.

Administration

Stephens State Forest is administered by the Forestry Bureau. Area Forester Jessica Flatt is responsible for administration and management of the area. The forest headquarters is located at North 8th and Mitchell, near the north edge of Chariton, 1 block west of Highway 14. The mailing address is 1111 North 8th Street, Chariton, Iowa 50049. Phone 641/774-4559. Jessica Flatt can be e-mailed at jessica.flatt@dnr.iowa.gov

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History

The forest's original and most important function is to serve as an example of forest management for Iowa's citizens. It was a base of operations for the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) demonstration plantings of hardwoods and conifers. Over the years, plantations have continued to be established. Since 1972, commercial sales of sawtimber and other products have been made. Ongoing cultural practices improve the forest for production of forest products, wildlife habitat, erosion control and watershed protection. People from a wide area use the forest as a place to hunt, fish, camp, picnic, study nature and enjoy the out-of-doors.

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Geology

The geology of most of Stephens Forest was influenced by the Nebraskan and Kansan glaciers which left deposits of glacial till over the area, covering the sedimentary deposits which had been formed under a vast inland sea. Sometime after these glaciers had deposited their loads of till over this part of Iowa, the Wisconsin glacier was melting in northern Iowa. Water produced by this melting ice found its way into the Missouri River drainage, causing large mud flats to be formed on the floodplain. Prevailing westerly winds picked up soil from these floodplains and carried them across what is now southern Iowa.

This fine, silty material is called loess and is found on ridge tops overlaying glacial till. On the sides of hills, erosion has exposed glacial deposited materials. The relatively narrow valleys are covered by alluvial material carried from the hills by water. In some instances, erosion has proceeded far enough in the valley to expose glacial till or underlying sedimentary material. The terrain then, is characterized by narrow, flat ridges separated by deeply cut drainages.

The area streams are intermittent or seep fed, slow running and dry up completely at times. Many dew ponds, small water holes for fire protection and wildlife, were built by the C.C.C.

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Climate

Weather has an affect on the activities that can take place on the forest. There are many days throughout the year when it is impractical to work out-of-doors. On other days, weather conditions may affect soil conditions so that planned work must be delayed.

The average annual temperature in Lucas County is 50.2 degrees. The average annual precipitation in Lucas County is 31.71 inches. The average length of the frost free season is 161 days from April 29th to October 7th. Killing frosts have occurred as late as May 25th and as early as September 14th. The months of March, April and May have the highest sustained wind readings of the year. These winds can be a hazard to early spring plantings.

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Flora

The flora of the region consists of the tallgrass prairie association and the oak-hickory and bottomland hardwood timber types and their transition zones. Since the forest area is located mainly on soils which have been formed under forest vegetation, the plants of the prairie are not as common. However, big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Indian grass, prairie cordgrass and various prairie forbs such as purple coneflower, round-headed bush clover, lead plant and other prairie plants do occur on the area.

On the better upland sites, white oak, red oak and hickory are common. The oak-hickory timber type, usually found on the less fertile upland sites consists mostly of black oak, bur oak, shingle oak and hickory. The bottomland timber type on the forest includes red and white elm, cottonwood, hackberry, green ash, silver maple and black walnut.

Many areas have been planted to coniferous trees and some broad-leaved trees which are not native to the area. These include a variety of pines as well as Douglas fir, spruce, black locust, Osage orange and tulip poplar.

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Fauna

The forest is the home of the white tailed deer, which is abundant on the area and the largest of the fauna. Here also are fox and gray squirrels, raccoon, cottontail rabbits, woodchuck, muskrat, skunk, red and gray fox, coyote, beaver, opossum and other small animals.

Nonpoisonous snakes are common but the two poisonous species, the rattlesnake and copperhead are very rare.

There is a variety of birds native to the woodland and its borders. Numerous species of songbirds utilize the extremely varied habitat. Game birds include pheasant, numerous quail and wild turkey. The woodcock is a seasonal visitor to the area. The wild turkey stocking program, begun in 1968, was so successful that the first hunting season in modern times was held in 1974.

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Origin of Forest Names

The forest is named for Dr. T. C. Stephens, a native of Sioux City and a prominent educator. The area was dedicated and named in 1951. It is said that his ashes were distributed in the vicinity of the dedication sign at the north entrance of the Lucas Unit.

Prior to 1951, the area was referred to as the Lucas-Monroe Forest Area. It is referred to as such in a document entitled, "Work Plan, Lucas-Monroe Forest Area, March 7, 1949", by Louis A. Strohman, Area Forester. Prior to that, during the CCC days, the units were referred to loosely as "state forest lands", although as early as 1939 the units were called by their respective names. The CCC Camp doing management work and tree planting was Camp S 104. R. B. Campbell was camp supervisor.

The source of the names of units can be assumed. The Lucas Unit no doubt takes its name for the nearby town.

The Whitebreast Unit, referred to in the past as the Grand River State Forest Preserve, possibly after the Grand River Purchase Unit of the proposed National Forest of which it would have been a part, probably takes its name from Whitebreast Creek which flows near its north boundaries.

The Cedar Creek Unit is located near a stream by that name, but as late as 1946 was called the Olmitz Unit as there was a coal mine by that name in the vicinity and a town called Olmitz was located nearby.

There is no indication of how the Chariton Unit came to be called that. As recently as 1951 it was called the Brown-Herrick Unit after the people who owned the land prior to purchase by the state. The name was changed about 1952. Probably the Olmitz Unit was changed to Cedar Creek at the same time.

Strohman, in his work plan, previously cited, stated that the 1000 Acres Unit was always known by that designation locally.

Tracts in Appanoose and Davis Counties have been grouped as an administrative unit and have come to be known as the Unionville Unit from the town of Unionville in the vicinity.

The Riechelt Unit is named for its donor.

The Woodburn Unit is named for the town of Woodburn, located to the north. This unit was named in 1997. Previously part of the Whitebreast Unit, it became large enough through land acquisition, to merit its own name.

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Management

Stephens State Forest is managed in accordance with the IDNR Forest Ecosystem Management Guide for several benefits including production of wood products, wildlife, quality water, recreation, and protection of plant and animal communities. Forested land is divided into areas that will be regenerated using even-aged silvicultural systems, areas that will be regenerated using uneven-aged silvicultural systems and areas that will receive limited management. Unique areas, such as prairies, are also maintained.

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Rules

1. Be careful with fire. Do not leave a fire unattended. Fires are permitted only where fire rings are provided. Only dead and down wood may be collected for firewood.

2. Motor vehicle operation is permitted only on public roads. ATVs are not permitted anywhere on the forest, trails, or roads. Snowmobiles are allowed only on designated routes.

3. Horse riding is allowed only on designated trails, roads, and campgrounds. Mountain bikes are allowed on designated horse trails.

4. There are no designated swimming locations.

5. Camping is allowed only in designated areas.

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For more information call 641/774-4559 or write Jessica Flatt Stephens State Forest, 1111 North 8th Street, Chariton, IA 50049. E-mail Jessica at Jessica.Flatt@dnr.iowa.gov

 

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