Recreation News. Welcome. Chris Jackson. In this Issue: O S U C o l l e ge F o r e s t s

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1 Recreation News O S U C o l l e ge F o r e s t s In this Issue: Welcome New tree identification posts... New Arboretum Trails New Interpretive Signs Ridge Trail Seasonal Closures Leave No Trace reminder V o l u m e 4, I s s u e Welcome What a summer! F a l l With the help of incredible volunteers and student workers we have made some big changes this summer. Along with the general trail and recreation site work we made some significant changes in Peavy Arboretum. If you have not visited the arboretum in a while, it is well worth a visit. Find out more about these projects inside this newsletter. We will be looking to seek funding to continue these improvements and development over the next year. If you can help us out please contact me. All the best! Chris Jackson Recreation Manager Northwest Youth Corps Thanks to the hard work of the NYC Crew this year we were able to open up a new trail at the Lewisburg Saddle. The crew worked for a week cleaning drainage ditches and building up the tread on an old research trail. They also helped install many of the new tree posts at the arboretum. Financial Donations: Can t come out and volunteer? Help by making a tax deductible, financial donation to the OSU Foundation for the Research Forest Recreation Fund. Seasonal Closures: Some trails are more susceptible to damage during the wet months from bike and horse use. These trails are open to HIKERS ONLY from Nov. 1st to Apr. 14th. These seasonal trails are: Extendo, Calloway Creek, and Intensive Management. All trail heads are marked with brown carsonite posts designating any restrictions. Trail maps found at kiosks also list restrictions. Thank you for your cooperation.

2 Volume 4, Issue Page 2 Tree Identification Posts installed at Peavy Arboretum! Anyone visiting Peavy Arboretum in the last few weeks of summer would have undoubtedly noticed some major improvements. Over 200 species identifying tree posts were installed throughout the arboretum. Peavy Arboretum contains over 180 different species of trees from Oregon, the U.S., and around the world. Identifying many of these trees helps enhance the educational opportunities available to the university and community. The posts are marked with the trees common and scientific names as well as native ranges. This project took months of tree identification and careful planning to create. We welcome everyone to come out and enjoy this new aspect of Peavy Arboretum and learn a little more about the many trees in the arboretum s collection. New Interpretive Signs at Peavy Arboretum New educational interpretive signs have been installed throughout the arboretum along the new arboretum trails. These signs highlight interesting facts about trees you encounter on the trails or ways to identify certain tree species. Keep an eye out for these new interpretive signs next time you hike the new arboretum Trails!

3 Volume 4, Issue New Multi-Use Trail...Ridge Trail! This past August, an existing research trail was opened up for year-long recreational multiuse near the 600 rd gate at the Lewisburg saddle with trailheads at the 600 rd and the 600/620 rd junction (see updated brochure map). Ridge trail crosses a ridge with great views of old-growth trees and younger stands. This trail is ideal for mountain bikers and horseback riders and is best traveled by starting on the upper end on the 600/620 rd junction. Ridge trail is moderately steep with crossings that allow bikers to travel down the steep portions while other recreationists can use the more moderately paced switchbacks to avoid conflicts. Further modifications and signage will be added in the future months as weather conditions permit. Page

4 V o l u m e 4, I s s u e P a g e 4 New Arboretum Trails at Peavy Arboretum The installation of tree posts opened up the opportunity to create new trails and connect existing ones throughout the arboretum that help to highlight areas of interest and ecozones. These new educational trails open up many new areas for forest users to explore. The arboretum trails feature speciesidentifying tree posts and educational interpretive signs. A separate brochure and map is in the works that will display all of these new trails and it will also feature suggested walks that go through areas of interest. Future plans include expanding the number of arboretum trails, planting new species, installing more signage, and adding benches along certain areas. If you would like to make a donation to help fund the improvement of the arboretum please contact the Recreation Manager. Reminder: Leave No Trace Just a friendly reminder that we have partnered with Leave No Trace to help maintain the character and integrity of the forest. Please make sure to pick up after dogs and not leave bags behind. The recreation program does not have the staffing to remove dog bags from trails. Signs have been placed at kiosks and trailheads through-out the forest as a friendly reminder to trail users about the partnership. More information about Leave No Trace can be found at

5 V o l u m e 4, I s s u e P a g e 5 Did you know...dawn redwoods There are two dawn redwoods in front of the Lodge at Peavy Arboretum that are among the first of their species to be introduced to the United States in The dawn redwood is native to China and was thought to be long extinct until the 1940 s when living specimens were discovered in Central China. During the time of the dinosaurs, dawn redwoods existed throughout the northern hemisphere. Come check out these living fossils at Peavy Arboretum! For questions regarding volunteer days, or any other McDonald-Dunn Forest recreation-related topic, please contact Recreation Manager, Chris Jackson at: christopher.jackson@oregonstate.edu For other information, please contact our main office at: OSU College Forests 8692 Peavy Arboretum Road Corvallis, OR 970 Phone: Fax: