Concerned Citizens for Sockum Ridge is holding a vegetarian buffet at Old
Brick in Iowa City, Thurs. Oct. 10, to raise funds to cover legal costs
incurred in efforts to stop the Washington County Conservation Board from
proceeding with their plan to log Sockum Ridge County Park.  The management
issues at Sockum Ridge are representative of those faced on forested public
lands throughout the state (see details below).  All proceeds will be
donated to the legal fund.


BUFFET
VEGETARIAN

Thurs., Oct. 10   5:30 - 7:30
OLD BRICK   26 E. Market St.

$6.00 students;  $8.00 others

Help Stop Logging of
Sockum Ridge Park
40 mi. south of Iowa City

Music by Tom Nothnagle

Home Cooked  Food
& Food
Donated by Great Restaurants
(Red Avocado, Lou Henri, and others)


Sockum Ridge County Park is located south of Washington in Washington
County.  It is comprised of over 200 acres of rolling terrain dissected by
steep ravines, and the vegetation is dominated by large white oaks estimated
to be over 100 years old.  Large red oaks are found in the ravines, and
there is a relatively dense undergrowth of saplings of various species
throughout.  Some more open  areas on south-facing slopes have
prairie/savanna elements, including Culver's Root (Veronicastrum
virginicum), Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis), Hairy Mountain Mint
(Pycnanthemum pilosum), Ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides), and Indian
Plantain (Cacalia atriplicifolia).

In 1997, a number of the trees were damaged - some with the crowns snapped
off, some with limbs blown out - by hurricane-force winds, and in November
of 2002, the Washington County Conservation Board (WCCB) voted to conduct a
salvage harvest of the damaged trees.  In addition, they approved a 5 acre
clear-cut, the purpose of which was to "diversify the age composition within
the forest through removal of all harvestable trees".  It was estimated that
an average of 5 trees per acre would be removed in the salvage operation, a
total of 700-1,000 trees, 90% of which are over 12" DBH.  In the clear-cut,
at least 300 trees over 12", nearly all white oaks, would be removed.

The proposed salvage harvest has been opposed on the grounds that dead trees
are an important component of the ecosystem, providing habitat for many
organisms and enriching the soil with organic matter.  Concerns also have
been expressed about the disturbance that will result from the logging
operation, particularly on the steep and unstable ravine banks.  The
clear-cut has been opposed because the trees are healthy and relatively
young, and such drastic management activities sound more appropriate for a
tree farm than a remnant natural woodland on public land.  Also, it is
likely that red oaks will replace the white oaks, fundamentally changing the
composition of the woodland in the clear-cut area.  Opening up the forest
might favour some of the prairie elements, but the way to do it is by
removal of the shrubby growth of saplings, not the large oaks.  This would
maintain the existing character of the woodland.

        In January 2001, attorney Wally Taylor, on behalf of concerned local
residents, filed for an injunction to prevent the logging of Sockum Ridge.
In August of 2001, a local judge dismissed the lawsuit without explaining
his reasons for doing so.  Subsequently, an appeal was submitted to the Iowa
Supreme Court and a temporary injunction to stop removal of any trees was
granted.  Recently, on October 3, 2002, the Iowa Supreme Court heard oral
arguments in the case and a ruling is expected within two to three months.
If the appeal is successful, the case will be returned to Washington County
District Court for trial.

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