Forestry Field Tour Set for Hoosier National Forest on October 21

Local Sources- An Ecosystem Restoration/Forestry Field Tour for landowners has been scheduled for Saturday, October 21 from 8:30 AM to Noon, CDT.  

The tour will be in the Indian-Celina Lake Recreation Area in the Hoosier National Forest, located two miles south of I64, off of Indiana 37.  Registration begins in the Indian Lake Parking Lot at 8:30 AM, with the tour beginning at 9:00.  Let the Sun Shine In-Indiana and Hoosier National Forest are the sponsors for the field tour.

Travis Swaim, Forest Service Silviculturist, and Chris Thornton, Forest Service District Ranger, will showcase how the Forest Service is regenerating and maintaining oak-hickory ecosystems, restoring native hardwoods in former pine plantations, and improving forest health using forest management practices.  Some of the forestry practices discussed will be management practices that private forest landowners can utilize on their own properties.

Tour stops include

• Importance of Tree Species and Wildlife Diversity in our Forests 

• Efficacy of Midstory and Shelterwood Treatments Utilized 

• Compare Management, with and without Post-Harvest Prescribed Fire 

• One mile walk down Forest Demonstration Trail to view eight year old pine clear-cut, and single tree and group selection harvest areas. 

• History of site, Invasive Species Management, and Discussion about our vanishing songbirds 

The Ecosystem Restoration Tour, which begins in the Indian Lake parking area, will be a driving tour.  Participants will follow the USDA Forest Service vehicles along the paved recreation area road.  The tour stops include short walks along the road and into the forest to view and learn about the management practices.  The last stop of the tour will be at the Forest Demonstration trail, where participants will walk on the hilly, one mile trail for management discussions.

On-site check in begins at 8:30 AM CDT, with the tour to begin at 9:00.  Coffee, water, and snacks will be available at check-in.  The tour will conclude at Noon.  Note that the Indian-Celina Lake Recreation Area entrance gate will be staffed on October 21st.  Participants should tell the gate attendant they are present for the tour to gain free admission. 

Contact Judi Brown, Let the Sun Shine In-Indiana Coordinator at 812-631-4904 or [email protected] with questions, or if special accommodations are requested.

Sponsors for the Forestry Field Day are Let the Sun Shine In-Indiana and the Hoosier National Forest.  Let the Sun Shine In-Indiana is a collaboration of Indiana organizations, focused on recovering and maintaining Indiana’s oak-hickory ecosystems for the benefit of the wildlife and the people of Indiana.