A MASSIVE TREE CLEARING PROJECT IS PLANNED FOR THE LEWIS AND CLARK STATE PARK IN MONONA COUNTY NEAR ONAWA.
SHERRY ARNTZEN OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SAYS THEY CLOSED THE PARK ON SEPTEMBER 8TH OVER SAFETY CONCERNS AFTER NOTICING SEVERAL DEAD TREES.
REMOVE1 OC……STANDING DEAD” :12
ARNTZEN SAYS THE TREES RANGE IN DIAMETER FROM 18 TO 48 INCHES WIDE.
REMOVE2 OC…….AS HAZARD” :11
THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION APPROVED A ONE-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR CUTTING DOWN AND REMOVING THE TREES.
ARNTZEN SAYS THEY PLAN TO REMOVE THE TREES IN TWO PHASES TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE PARK.
REMOVE3 OC…….POINT FIVE ACRES” :17
THE FIRST PHASE AROUND THE CAMPGROUND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY JULY, AND THERE’S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT:
REMOVE4 OC……..LAST FALL” :14
GETTING RID OF THE WOOD FROM THE FELLED TREES IS PART OF THE CONTRACT.
ARNTZEN SAYS THEY HAVE ALREADY PLANTED A FEW TREES AND THE WORK IN THE AREAS THAT ARE NOT HIGH USE COULD EXTEND INTO MARCH OF 2028.
Photo from Iowa DNR
