Logging had been done in state parks before Vilsack's administration.  It is still being done in the state forests.

In a questionnaire that Vilsack responded to (probably in 1998 before he was elected,) he said "I believe that a review of our logging program wihin our state parks is also in order. I am not satisfied that the current program is in the best interest of the environment and of our state."

When he was elected, Vilsack appointed Paul Johnson as the DNR Director shortly after his administration began.  One of the first things Paul Johnson did was to reverse a decision to log a little known state land (I think it was called a preserve but I don't know if it had that title officially) in Boone County.  A person from Ames had taken on that issue and was probably most instrumental in calling it to Johnson's attention and getting newspaper and television coverage.  

According to a statement prepared by Tom Mathews on Vilsack's environmental record in September 2002, Tom wrote:  "Logging in state parks is not being done, but there has been no officially announced policy change on this issue that we know of."

A group of activists in the Des Moines area (Save the Trees) worked in opposition to logging in state parks and on state lands in general beginning in 1993.  DNR logged large numbers of huge walnut trees from Walnut Woods State Park and several species from Ledges State Park.  Several people from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa (all opposed to the logging) participated with the activists in a series of meetings with DNR forestry and parks.  Michael Carrier was head of the parks division at that time.  It was during that same time period that DNR signed away management of Margo Frankel Woods State Park to the local township, which started a downward spiral of that lovely park when the township allowed an 18-hole disc golf course to be built in the park. (This included spraying of the herbaceous level and weed-whipping, etc., plus cutting of some trees and eventual extreme erosion.)

Wally handled a lawsuit on the logging of state lands.

And Bill Witt introduced a bill to protect biodiversity in the state at some point of his career if I remember correctly.

Jane Clark
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pam Mackey-Taylor 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:52 AM
  Subject: Re: Vilsack chosen for US Ag Sec.


  During the Vilsack administration, was there logging being done in the Iowa state parks?

  thanks,
  pam

  In a message dated 12/17/2008 12:01:47 PM Central Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
    We have to look on the bright side... Compare this appointment with the last 8 years of White House Control or the 12 years of Republican Congressional control... Vilsack would be sooooo much better to work with than those in power for the last decade.. Thank your workers, thank your leaders for the Democratic control.. go recommend and work for  Assistant Secretaries of Ag who favor your view on all the issues you fault Vilsack on.. Progress is being made... think of how Vilsack will be different and worlds apart on the National Forest Service... 
    Vilsack's appointment is a great step forward in the evolution of Ag and Forest policy.. up from the bottom.

    Ken Larson 

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