Timber sale will help grow new trees in Wentlands Woods

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

The cycle of life eventually runs its course, even for trees.

Red oak, walnut, ash and elm will be some of the tree varieties that will be soon be marked and cut down at the Wentlands Woods Wildlife area, a 102-acre forested area located just outside of Floyd.

The project is part of a forestry plan and timber harvest that will be conducted by Floyd County Conservation and District 2 Forester Greg Heidebrink.

“Unfortunately, trees don’t live forever. Lots of the trees at Wentlands Woods are very big and very old and really starting to fall down,” said Heidebrink. “It’s a renewable resource, but we kind of have to help manage it and move it along.”

A public meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Monday at the Zastrow Room in the Charles City Public Library to provide information about the forestry management plan and timber sale.

Heidebrink said it is hard to give an exact number of trees that will need to be cleared until the project is bid out to a prospective logging operation. The last time Wentlands Woods was clear-cut was in 1993. Ten years prior to that, in 1983, a forestry management plan was devised for the property, which had been purchased in June 1967.  

“My goal is to look at the next generation of trees,” Heidebrink said, “so in 100 years we’ll have big trees there again.”

Trees will be marked and will then be calculated as to how many board feet each will produce. The money from the sale of the timber will help with the purchase of hundreds of new trees that will be planted. There will also be improvements on trails within the wildlife area as well as upgrades to signs in the park.

Wentlands Woods has many trees that are dying off each year and falling onto the forest floor, creating problems navigating the park’s trails.

Wind is the biggest enemy to the trees.

“Wind storms, tornadoes — that’s where we get into trouble with old age. That’s why these trees are falling down, they’re just so old,” Heidebrink said.

Heidebrink has broken down the acreage into separate stands of trees.

Stand 1, for example, is just over 31 acres and includes maple, basswood, red oak, white oak, ash, bur oak and elm. The area will need to be weeded, as the invasive plant buckthorn is present among the trees.

Heidebrink said some stands may be clear cut or selectively harvested.

“We’ve done some clear cuts there before. The previous staff has used fire or tried to use fire. It’s really difficult,” said Heidebrink.

Heidebrink said some underplanting will be done before the harvest, where seedlings are buried in the brush so it’s hard for deer to get to. Heidebrink said volunteers could help with the planting, but the company that is awarded the contract to cut down the trees will do all the heavy work.

“It’s kind of above the volunteer level. You don’t want eight people out there running a chainsaw. That gets a little dangerous,” said Heidebrink.

Heidebrink will break down some of the science behind what his team will be doing and also take questions from the audience at the meeting Monday.

“I just want the public to know what’s going on and why we’re doing what we’re hoping to do,” he said. “Basically what I’ll do is cover forest management and succession and explain how the forest is always changing.”

How long do trees live?

“That’s a tough question, because that depends on if you’re talking about economic maturity or if you’re talking the lifespan of a tree,” said Heidebrink. “If you wanted to grow hard maple to make money, you would sell that tree at 18-22 inches in diameter. But a white oak will grow 400 years.”

The lifespan of a tree depends on the species, soil and other growing conditions, he said.

“Normally we’re looking at an 80-year rotation. So 80 years to grow a mature tree,” Heidebrink said.

The sale of the timber will make money, but that revenue will be put back into Wentlands Woods to improve and sustain the area.

“This isn’t a money-maker,” he said. “It’s for us to harness the money. We will make some money, but the goal is to then invest that money back into the property to make sure long term forestry management is being done.”

The informational meeting is a chance for people of all ages to learn about forestry and what steps are being taken to help beautify, preserve and maintain an area in Floyd County. Wentlands Woods is a prime spot for hiking, bird watching, hunting, trapping and other activities for nature enthusiasts.

“I would just encourage people if they have questions or interest to come out. It’s for them. The reason we’re doing this is so they know what’s going on,” Heidebrink said.