Woodlands

Forests covered large portions of the Rathbun Project area prior to 1850. Agriculture significantly reduced these forests during the following 100 years. With Rathbun Lake's creation in the mid 1960's, the Corps of Engineers reduced agriculture on public lands to an interim use and began reforestation.

Approximately 800 acres have been reforested since Rathbun Project's creation. The first plantings were established by Iowa Conservation Commission was to develop and implement a revegetation plan for the public use areas (parks). This initial plan was completed by the mid 1970's. The Corps continued the reforestation work into the mid 1980's.

Reforestation has always been a goal of the Corps of Engineer’s Natural Resource Management Program. The objective is to re-establish and preserve native plant communities which are typical of Rathbun Lake area’s native ecosystems. Native plants are being used to reforest the Rathbun public lands. Once established, native plants reproduce without assistance; withstand natural events such as fire & drought; and provide food & shelter to native wildlife.

Native plants used in Rathbun reforestation include: bur, red & white oak; shagbark & bitternut hickory; black walnut; green & white ash; eastern red cedar; serviceberry; wild plum; and gray dogwood.

Native trees will reforest land with a little assistance. Their greatest enemies are livestock grazing, tall cool season grasses (tall fescue and smooth brome), and frequent fires. The public land being reforested is closed to livestock grazing, and protected from frequent fires.

The native reforestation of Corps managed lands has had the assistance of both volunteer efforts and grant monies provided by Trees Forever.