THE SHAWNEE QUARTERLY 

 The Shawnee National Forest Schedule of Projects

Issue No. 38 May, 2002

The purpose of this report is to alert you to upcoming projects. The report is updated and published four

times a year: February, May, August, and November. New projects will be listed with the ***NEW***

identifier prior to the title of the project. All project dates are estimated unless otherwise stated. 

You can become part of the decision making process. Comment on all projects that interest you. Projects

are listed as originating in the Supervisor's Office, or at the Elizabethtown, Vienna, Jonesboro or 

Murphysboro District Offices. A contact name is provided at the end of each project description. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the 

basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion. age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or 

marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require

alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should

contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, 

write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider and employer. 

FOREST SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE Telephone: 800-699-6637 or 618-253-7114

50 Hwy 145 South, Harrisburg, IL 62946 Fax: 618-253-1060 TTY: 618-253-1070

Scoping and Decisions

Forest Plan Revision - The Shawnee National Forest issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to revise the 

1992 Amended Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) on March 20, 2002, and 

issued a Supplement to the NOI on April 3, 2002. The Notice of Intent proposes changes to the

Forest Plan. A copy of the Need for Change document which explains the proposed changes, and 

contains a copy of the Notice of Intent, is available on the Shawnee National Forest website at 

"www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee". Meeting dates and locations are also listed on the Shawnee National 

Forest website. The Shawnee National Forest is accepting comments on the proposed changes 

until June 3, 2002. Comments should focus on: (1) the proposal for revising the Forest Plan; (2) 

possible alternatives for addressing issues associated with the proposal; (3) identify any possible 

impacts associated with the proposal based on an individual's civil rights. If you would like to be 

involved in the planning process, send us your name and address, and we will put you on our 

mailing list for forest planning. Contact Steve Hupe or Becky Banker at the Supervisor's Office. 

Page 1, May 2002 Issue of the Shawnee National Forest Quarterly
The Natural Area Trails Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) The comment period for 

the Natural Area Trails DEIS closed March 2002. The Forest has received approximately 2,000 

comments. Issues raised during the scoping process will be addressed in the final EIS. For more

information, contact Dick Johnson, Vienna Ranger District. 

Volunteer Trail Days: Would you like to enjoy the great outdoors? How about learning trail 

maintenance and meeting fun people? Consider participating in the Shawnee National Forest’s 

Volunteer Trail Days held the last Saturday of very month. You’ll be making an important 

contribution by improving the condition of our public lands. Beside, when you are out on the trails 

– you can’t imagine being anywhere else. Come join us! Contact Pat York at Jonesboro for more 

information. 

Volunteer Trail Workday Schedules 

Shawnee National Forest 

Date/time Where Who

May 18, 2002/ 9am-3pm Lusk Creek (RRTrail): Tread 

stabilization with gravel. Meet 

on Co. Rd. 100 across from

Circle B Campground 

Ken Peterein: 618-687-1731 

June 29, 2002/9 am-3pm Ripple Hollow Trail: Brushing, 

maintenance. Meet on FR 664,

west of Mill Creek, at Jct. with 

FR 235 

Kelly Pearson 618-833-8576 

July 27, 2002/9 am-3pm Dutchman Lake (RR Trail): 

Brushing, maintenance. Meet on 

FR 400 and CR 96 (Dutchman 

Lake Rd) 

Kay Bushno 618-687-1731

August 31, 2002/9 am-3pm Panther Den (RR Trail): 

Brushing, maintenance. Meet 

on FR 725 and CR 45. 

Kay Bushno 618-687-1731

September 28, 2002/9 am3pm 

Cedar Lake (RR Trail): 

Brushing, maintenance. Meet on 

FR 360 and off CR 17. 

 

Kay Bushno 618-687-1731

Bring lunch, water, gloves, and backpack. Wear boots and dress according to weather. 

Page 2, May 2002 Issue of the Shawnee National Forest Quarterly
River to River Relay and Little Creek Archery Decision Memos – Issued in March 2002, these 

decisions were categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement 

or environmental assessment according to Forest Service Handbook 1090.15. Copies of the 

memos are posted on the Shawnee web site or are available at the Supervisor’s Office. 

Openland Management – This project would involve burning, mowing, disking and seeding, or 

reforestation of a number of large nonforested areas on the Shawnee National Forest and 

maintenance and management of existing wildlife openings. Many of these areas are abandoned 

farm fields, which have been recently obtained by the Forest Service and range in size from 40 to 

800 acres. The planned management of these areas is consistent with the goals and objectives for 

openland management as identified in the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Our long 

term goal will be to convert these fescue dominated pasturelands and old farm fields to native 

warm season grasses for the purpose of improving habitat for both game and non-game species 

such as bob-white quail and Henslow’s sparrow, whose populations have declined as much as 

80% since 1966, or to reforest these areas to native tree species. These areas are located 

throughout the Shawnee National Forest. 

A partnership project with the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory at Southern Illinois 

University to utilize their geographic information system to map the distribution of openland habitat 

has recently been undertaken. The results of this project will be used to evaluate the 

environmental effects of maintaining these sites. Contact Mike Spanel in the Supervisor’s Office or

Steve Widowski at Vienna. 

Special-Use Authorization Reissuance – Public scoping was conducted during 2001 for a project 

to reissue 19 existing special-use authorizations. We expect to complete the analysis during the 

summer of 2002. Contact Diane Neal at the Vienna Ranger Station for more information. 

Special-Use Authorization Issuance - A scoping letter proposing the issuance of seven new 

special-use authorizations for access and construction, operation and maintenance of utility lines 

and facilities on National Forest System lands across the Forest was signed in 2001. We expect to

complete an analysis during the summer of 2002. Contact Diane Neal at the Vienna Ranger 

District. 

ELIZABETHTOWN RANGER DISTRICT Telephone: 618-287-2201

R.R. 2, Box 4, Elizabethtown, IL 62931 Fax or TTY: 618-287-8872 

Scoping, Analysis and Decisions

Proposed Relocation of River to River Trail – This project proposes to relocate, designate and 

construct the River to River Trail on a new alignment beginning from Elizabethtown north to a 

junction with the existing River to River Trail near Russell Cemetery (14 miles). Due to budget

constraints, this project is currently on hold. Contact Ken Peterein at Murphysboro. 

Ecological Restoration at Keeling Hill, Russell Cemetery Natural Areas, the Eagle Mountain

Complex including Cave Hill, Stoneface, and Dennison Hollow Research Natural Areas

(RNA’s), and RNA and Natural areas at Whoopie Cat - We are reviewing the management 

prescriptions for these natural areas and RNA’s. Restoration activities may include controlled

burning and selective tree and shrub removal. Analysis of this project will likely resume this fall. 

No date is set for decisions on these projects. Contact Beth Shimp at the Supervisor’s Office. 

Page 3, May 2002 Issue of the Shawnee National Forest Quarterly
Reconstruction proposals for River to River Trail – This project proposes to reconstruct

multiple segments of the existing River to River Trail included Cadiz (from Rock Creek to 

McPherson Cemetery, 8 miles, T11S, R7&8E) and One Horse Gap (from Hart Creek to Concord 

Cemetery, 5 miles, T11S, R7E). Work was also being planned on other districts, including Cedar 

Lake (from Makanda to Alto Pass, 6 miles, T10S, R1&2W); and Petticoat Junction (from Eddyville

to Bay Creek, 7 miles, T12S, R5&6E). The environmental analysis for the Cadiz/Rock Creek 

section is underway. Contact Ken Peterein at Murphysboro. 

Implementation

River-to-River Trail Reconstruction – Trail reconstruction work will continue by hand on the

River-to-River Trail in Hardin County along the west and east side of Garden of the Gods 

Wilderness, about 1 km (.06 mi). Contact Ken Peterein at Murphysboro. 

One Horse Gap Trail Reconstruction – The planned work on trails #106, 106A, 156, 137, 139 

around the One Horse Gap Lake area in Pope County is about 80% completed. Contact Ken

Peterein at Murphysboro. 

JONESBORO RANGER DISTRICT Telephone: 618-833-8576

521 N. Main St., Jonesboro, IL 62952 Fax or TTY: 618-833-3693

Scoping, Analysis and Decisions

Honey School Bridge Replacement-The environmental analysis to replace Honey School Bridge 

(T15S, R2W, Section 18) crossing Wolf Creek in Alexander County, IL on Forest Service Road 

#656 is in progress. Contact Anita Arends at the Supervisor’s Office, 

MURPHYSBORO RANGER DISTRICT Telephone: 618-687-1731 

2221 Walnut, Box 787, Murphysboro, IL 62966 Fax or TTY: 618-687-1726

Scoping, Analysis and Decisions

Rattlesnake Ferry 1 and 2, and Kinkaid Lake Low Water Crossings (LWC) Replacements – 

The environmental analysis on the projects to replace Rattlesnake Ferry LWC and Rattlesnake 

Ferry LWCII (T10S, R3W, Section 27) and Kinkaid Lake LWC (T7S, R4W, Section 34) are 

ongoing. Contact Anita Arends at the Supervisor’s Office. 

Implementation

Kinkaid Lake Shoreline Protection – A decision memo was signed on December 19, 2001 for a

shoreline stabilization project on an island in Kinkaid Lake off the shoreline from Buttermilk Hill.

Implementation of the project will occur when funding allows. The island is located in southeast 

1/4 of Section 28, T8S, R3W on the Murphysboro Ranger District in Jackson County. The island is 

approximately 4 acres in size. Wave action erosion has resulted in loss of shoreline, degraded 

habitats, reduced storage and exposed unstable vertical banks ranging from 3-5 feet. The 

Page 4, May 2002 Issue of the Shawnee National Forest Quarterly
proposed treatment is placement of rip-rap along the shoreline using a barge, with no ground 

disturbance. This project is proposed as a result of the watershed planning effort of the Kinkaid 

Area Watershed Project and the Kinkaid-Beaucoup Creek Ecosystem Partnership. For more

information contact Bryan Fitch at Vienna. 

Trail Reconstruction – The Bald Knob/Clear Springs trail reconstruction work in Union County is 

approximately 50% completed as a result of a participating agreement with the St. Louis Partners 

Americorps. The Panther Den trail work has been accomplished. Contact Ken Peterein at

Murphysboro. 

VIENNA RANGER DISTRICT Telephone: 618-658-2111

Box 37, Vienna, IL 62995 Fax: 618-658-2071 TTY 618 658-2114

Scoping, Analysis, and Decisions

Vienna Office Building – The public comment period on the proposed construction of a new office 

building at the Vienna Ranger Station ended March 28, 2002. Comments are currently being 

analyzed. The new office would be constructed on the same tract of land as the existing building. 

The new office would comply with accessibility standards and would provide adequate space for 

visitors and employees. Contact Dick Johnson at Vienna. 

Kudzu Eradication- The Shawnee National Forest is proposing to eradication kudzu from six 

known sites on the Forest. Project acreage totals approximately 90 acres. The environmental

analysis is being conducted and a draft environmental impact statement is expected in 2002. 

Contact Tom Neal at Vienna for more information. 

9-Day Trail Ride Environmental Assessment – The Associated Saddle Clubs of Southern Illinois 

has requested a special use permit for camping and corralling of horses on federal land (Pope 

County) and the utilization of Forest Service trails during the event known as the Nine-Day Trail 

Ride during the summer of 2002. The Shawnee National Forest analyzed various alternatives in 

an environmental assessment (EA) published in April 2002. The comment period on the EA closed 

May 9, 2002, but copies of the EA are still available upon request or can be accessed on the 

Internet at "www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee” Contact Anita Arends at the Supervisor’s Office.

Implementation 

River-to-River Trail – Planned maintenance on the River-to-River Trail will include applying spot

gravel to a 3-mile segment in the Lusk Creek Wilderness Area. Pack animals will be used to haul 

the gravel. A contractor recently completed handwork on a two-mile segment in the East Fork

portion of Lusk Creek. Contact Ken Peterein at Murphysboro. 

East Fork of Lusk Creek Wilderness: Bethesda Church Trail Reconstruction – The 

reconstruction work on the Bethesda Church Trail, #430, will include erosion control work with

hand tools and applying spot gravel to problem spots. Pack animals will be used to haul the

gravel; however, equipment may be utilized on trail segments located outside of wilderness areas.

The project is located in Pope County. Contact Ken Peterein at Murphysboro. 

Page 5, May 2002 Issue of the Shawnee National Forest Quarterly
Page 6, May 2002 Issue of the Shawnee National Forest Quarterly 

Forest Supervisor

Shawnee National Forest

50 Hwy 145 South

Harrisburg, IL 62946

mailing label goes here