Barclay Timber Wildlife Area
This 45-acre area is located in the northeast part of Poweshiek County, just one mile east of Holiday Lake. This area was acquired in 1985. This woodland is a high-quality upland timber stand, which is predominantly white oak. Other significant timber species include red and black oak, hickory, elm, hard maple, and white ash. The terrain is moderate to steeply sloping, providing excellent conditions for a diversity of shrubs and wildflowers. A small creek bisects a portion of this area near the west boundary. Because of the numerous mature white oak trees, this area is especially attractive to the eastern wild turkey and the whitetail deer.
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Bryan Woods
Cecil Rivers Timber Wildlife Area
This 43-acre timber area is a narrow corridor that follows the north fork of the English River for approximately three-fourths of one mile. The river forms the north boundary of this wildlife area. Mature red oak trees predominate in the western and eastern parts of this area; while the central part is an upland area covered by oak-hickory timber. It is located 5 miles south and 4 miles east of Grinnell. A 60-foot hiking bridge allows the visitor to cross the English River from the north to access this wildlife area.
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Deep River Timber Wildlife Area
This 210-acre tract of land lies 2 miles east and one mile north of Deep River. The parking lot is located on the east side of Highway 21. This wildlife area is one of the few remaining large tracts of timber in this part of the county. Deep River Creek flows through this area. This native oak-hickory timber provides excellent habitat for many species of wildlife. The Iowa DNR released fourteen eastern wild turkeys in 1988 after they were cannon netted and transported from Lacey Keosauqua State Park.
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Diamond Lake Wildlife Area
Fleming Woods State Preserve
Fleming Woods is a 38-acre state preserve containing an upland oak woods. It is located three miles southwest of Montezuma, in southern Poweshiek County. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Fleming of Montezuma donated this woodland to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in 1982, which in turn donated the land to the Poweshiek County Conservation Board. It was dedicated as a state preserve in 1983.
The preserve has several forested ravines that are typical of the rolling landscape of Southern Iowa Drift Plain landform region. This upland forest is dominated by white oak, red oak, and shag-bark hickory, with basswood and maple appearing in the lower valley of the creek. Wildflowers are abundant in the understory, especially in the spring. Yellow violets begin blooming in April, later joined by wild geranium, blue phlox, may-apple, and Solomon’s seal. Yellow pimpernel, Jacob’s ladder, and false Solomon’s seal bloom throughout May and June. By July they are joined by tumbleweed, purple Joe-pye-weed and zigzag goldenrod, which bloom among the maidenhair fern and rattlesnake fern.
A complete list of plants inventoried by Diana Horton
[button url=http://bio.cgrer.uiowa.edu/herbarium/CheckLists/FlemingCom.htm]Plants List[/button]
Many activities are prohibited in a preserve, such as hunting, trapping, picnicking, camping, and collecting. Visitors are welcome to walk through the area and observe the wildlife or wildflowers.
Fox Forest Wildlife Area
This 531-acre wildlife area is one of the largest natural resource areas in Poweshiek County. It is located just south of Diamond Lake. This very diverse area contains oak-hickory timber, native and reconstructed prairies, wetlands, and several miles of hiking trails. Eastern wild turkeys were stocked in 1985 and have reproduced successfully over the last 20 years. The Conservation Board used funds from a Wildlife Habitat Stamp Grant to acquire this truly wild area.
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Lincoln Wildlife Area
This 36-acre area is located 2 miles south of Guernsey on the west side of Highway 21. It contains 20 acres of oak-hickory timber, 10 acres of reconstructed prairie, a 3-acre shelterbelt, and a 3-acre food plot. This was the first of many land acquisition and development projects to be funded by the Poweshiek County Pheasants Forever Chapter.
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Millgrove Access Wildlife Area
Located 4 miles northwest of New Sharon, this 620-acre tract of diverse habitat contains one of the few remaining segments of the North Skunk River that is unchannelized. Oxbows, marshy floodplain, and lowland timber are only part of this natural area. The southern portion of this area contains upland timber, predominately oak and hickory. Several acres of native prairie grass have been established, as well as, a five-acre shelter-belt. This area was frequented by Indian tribes and later became the site of the first mill in Poweshiek County.
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Robertson’s Access
Located on the Poweshiek and Mahaska County line, this area can be found on the east side of Highway 146. The North Skunk River flows through this 8 acre area. This access area is mainly river bottom timber which adjoins 35 acres owned by the Mahaska County Conservation Board. Mahaska CCB has developed part of the 35 acres into a primitive campground, and it also provides a canoe access to the North Skunk River.
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