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Re: Oak barren?

In Iowa, there are at least two information sources that can aid a 
restorationist in finding out about pre-European-settlement vegetation, apart 
from looking at the land itself.   Missouri probably has the same or similar 
sources.  

One information source is county soil maps.  Each county map is available in 
the form of a large book full of detailed soil maps that show soil types down 
to partial acres.   (I don't know if that info is available online now.)  

The maps are available from county offices of the FSA and NRCS.   The maps 
have brief information telling whether the various soil types were formed 
under grassland or woodland.   Researchers here are figuring out how to 
refine some of that information.    For example, certain soil types are now 
thought to have been formed under oak savanna.

The other source is surveyor notes, written when Iowa was first surveyed in 
the 1840s.   These have been used by researchers to put together a detailed 
statewide map of  pre-European-settlement vegetation.   That map is being 
used by the Iowa DNR.   Of course the notes are so brief that they don't 
provide all the answers, but the map is still very useful.   

In addition, it's possible to get the actual surveyor notes for a given 
township from our state historical library, by copying them from microfilm 
records.   We did so, and although we wish the surveyor of our township had 
been much more verbose and a botanist besides, his notes were still very 
interesting.  

Hope this helps --   

Cindy Hildebrand
grantridge@aol.com
Ames, IA  50010


"...As far as I could see, the land billowed like a russet ocean, with 
scarcely a roof to fleck its lonely spread.   I cannot say that I liked or 
disliked it.   I merely marvelled at it... "   (Hamlin Garland)
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