TREES FOR SALE At the December 10, 1998 meeting of the Natural Resource Commission, item 12. is Timber Sales. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. in the fourth floor of the Wallace State Office Building in Des Moines. Public Participation is at 10:30 a.m. The State of Iowa offers trees for sale on a regular basis, and at this meeting the Commissioners will approve sales at Backbone State Park, Wanata State Park, Bellevue State Park, and Barkley State Forest. BACKBONE STATE PARK IN DELAWARE COUNTY This is the second sale since July at Backbone. The first sale contained 202,399 board feet and this one contains about 60,000 board feet (I don't have the specific information on the most recent one). The first sale, however, was described as "storm damaged", but included 79 walnut trees, much of which was "high quality veneer", and also "high quality red oak, white oak, and hard maple". The red oak accounted for 126,420 board feet. The trees were in the campground, the cabin area, and the north area. Some standing trees could be cut, and it was "the intention that all standing and downed timber within the damaged area be removed at the buyers discretion - if any standing, unmarked trees are found, DNR personnel were to be contacted to determine if they can be harvested or not". Mounds are located within these areas and no logging equipment was to be operated over the mounds, and trees were to be removed only under the direct observation of DNR personnel. WANATA STATE PARK IN CLAY COUNTY There are 63 black walnut trees containing 14,587 board beet. These trees range in diameter from 14 inches to 31 inches, with about half of the trees over 22 inches in diameter. BELLVUE STATE PARK IN JACKSON COUNTY There are 80 walnut trees and storm damaged timber. Red oak (21,040 board feet), white oak (4,380), walnut (15,690), hard maple (4,820), miscellaneous basswood, ash , red elm, hickory, black cherry, hackberry, aspen, and white pine, for a total of 55,510 board feet. All broken and downed trees within the damaged area may be removed at the buyer's discretion. Standing trees marked with blue paint may be cut. It is the intention that all standing and downed timber within the damaged area be removed at the buyer's discretion. BARKLEY STATE FOREST IN BOONE COUNTY There are 684 trees containing 92,320 board feet offered. Red oak (61,180), white oak (4,600), hard maple (3,040), walnut (1,240), basswood (11,500), bur oak (2,540),and miscellaneous ash, red elm, hickory, hackberry, and cottonwood. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send email to [log in to unmask] Make the message text (not the Subject): SIGNOFF IOWA-TOPICS