The field season of 2018 has come to an end sadly! The Large Wood Ladies visited 10 different stream reaches across the state of Iowa. Stream reaches ranged from 200m-370m and took an average of three days to complete. Field work consisted of surveying the long profile of the reach with an auto-level, surveying cross-sections at several locations on the streams, tallying and measuring all large wood within the reach, and conducting forestry measurements adjacent to the reach.
Sally was assisted by Quyn Westfall and Ellen Justis; both undergraduates at Iowa State University. Field work was long and hard, but always fun! Many memories were made including almost getting hit by a tornado and getting stuck in a few bad storms. That's Iowa! Our favorite site was in north east Iowa on Paint Creek in the Yellow River State Forest. Paint Creek is on the Paleozoic Plateau (also known as the Driftless Area) and is quite different than flat ol' Ames (on the Des Moines Lobe).
We would like to thank all landowners, county officials, and DNR offices who allowed us access to their properties and provided us with valuable information/aid.
