Shawnee National Forest open-house event to discuss current conditions and future management and habitat restoration work in the Oakwood Bottoms project area.
Join Shawnee National Forest staff for an open-house to discuss current conditions and future management of Oakwood Bottoms in Jackson County. The 4,000 acre Oakwood Bottoms greentree reservoir system is primarily managed to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl.
The Shawnee National Forest is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, to conduct the Oakwood Bottoms Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project feasibility study. This study will look at ways to increase the efficiency of managing the Oakwood Bottoms greentree reservoir system, including the ability to flood and drain more quickly. At this meeting, they will discuss the scope of the study and will solicit feedback from potentially affected parties to ensure that all issues and concerns, and potential solutions are considered in the study.
Forest Service staff will also provide an overview of the bottomland forest conditions, the current and future flooding plans, and current habitat restoration and enhancement work. The Forest Service would also like feedback regarding the refuge and other management activities within the project area.
Oakwood Bottoms Project Open-house: October 18 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Grand Tower Civic Center at 610 Front Street, Grand Tower, IL.
Oakwood Bottoms Field Trip: October 27. Meet at the Oakwood Bottoms interpretive site at 9 am for a tour of sites within the greentree reservoir system with US Forest Service staff.
Updated information about these events can be found on the Shawnee National Forest Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/shawneenatlforest.
