Partnership to Restore the Woodlands at Siloam Springs State Park

In 2013 a partnership was formed between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) regarding eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) habitat management at Siloam Springs State Park. A 3,300-acre park located in Adams and Brown counties, Siloam Springs is primarily composed of rolling oak/hickory timber with smaller, open areas found throughout, thus lending itself to some ideal wild turkey habitat and management options.

The goals of the partnership are to maximize the life-cycle requirements of the wild turkey by prioritizing oaks and controlling forest exotics. This whole concept fits perfectly with the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan’s Forest and Woodland Campaign strategies to enhance birds and mammals in the forest matrix of Illinois.

NWTF provided money from their Super Fund Program to begin timber thinning and exotics control. Such work had been taking place for several years on a 125-acre area of the park, with the addition of both timber and prairie prescribed fires conducted on a two- to three-year rotation. Additionally, McKee Creek Barrens Natural Area, and other sites within the park, had been similarly managed, bringing the total project area to nearly 500 acres. Thinning would be accomplished in phases, and State Wildlife Grant (SWG) money would be used to create a permanent fire break around the entire area, enhancing the efficiency of the prescribed fire process.

An area encompassing 160 acres was chosen as Phase I. The goal was to thin the timber favoring all oak species and shagbark hickory. Other favorable species, such as persimmon, walnut (in the bottoms) and various dogwood species, were left to increase diversity and provide both wildlife food (hard and soft mast) and habitat (hollow or dead trees). The goal for the entire stand was to reduce the basal area to 50 to 60 square feet per acre. On ridge tops and south/southwest facing slopes, 50 square feet per acre generally equated to an average of 50 to 100 trees per acre remaining. In other areas, an average of 75 to 150 trees per acre were left standing. Phase I thinning was completed in early spring 2014, with controlled burns carried out in the springs of 2015 and 2107.

Phase II consisted of thinning 154 acres in late summer 2017. The area was burned in the springs of 2015 and 2017.

Nature’s Response

The effects of increasing sunlight to the forest floor (thinning) and removing leaf litter and “thatch” (burning) were evident with the responses of both plants and animals.

The flora in the project area responded almost immediately, with grasses and sedges showing up in areas that had been devoid of any forest floor plants. Blackberry thickets sprouted, and seedling oaks carpeted the forest floor in small, patchy areas. The overall increase in plant diversity was glaringly obvious by looking from one side of the fire break to the other. In addition to the favorable plant response, morel mushrooms were more abundant than ever. The diversity of ground layer vegetation is attractive to insects, which provide a critical source of protein for a diversity of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

The fauna’s response mirrored that of the flora. Deer use increased as they fed on new plants and fallen tree tops. They also began utilizing newly opened south or southwest slopes for bedding.

Increased plant composition increases the amount and diversity of wildlife foods (seeds, fruits and forage) and cover. The clumpy nature of native vegetation also enhances nesting habitat for many species, including wild turkey, and the patchy growth form makes it easier for animals, including turkey poults, to move throughout the forest. Anecdotal evidence shows that turkeys nested successfully in the project area, and use of the site for roosting and strutting has increased. Definitive evidence will be obtained under an Illinois Natural History Survey study under way examining how hen turkeys use managed timber.

Human Response

In some regards, thinning the dense timber at Siloam Springs gave the appearance that a category EF 5 tornado had gone through the area. To quell the public’s reaction, a descriptive sign was erected at the head of a trail through the project area. Numerous calls were received from both hunters and hikers, however, with the passage of time the area has become a “go to” spot for deer hunting, and hikers now report a beautiful woodland hike.

The Conclusion?

Yes, project objectives have been met, but there is no time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of everyone’s labor. A project such as this never really ends. Nature is fluid, always changing, never static. The timber has been thinned and burned, and exotics, such as autumn olive and multiflora rose, have been cut and sprayed.

Maintaining an open woodland and plant diversity is an on-going process that requires never-ending effort, but is a worthwhile effort to maximize the woodland for wildlife and recreation.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will continue to work in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation to improve wildlife habitat for the wild turkey and other native wildlife.

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Dean Corgiat began his career with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in 1994 as a Natural Heritage intern. Two years later he was hired by the IDNR Division of Natural Heritage, joining the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources in 2013.