Microsoft PowerPoint - Entire Trail Book

Coldwater

River Nature

Trail System

America’s public lands provide important

opportunities for citizens to enjoy the

outdoors and learn about their natural

surroundings. Although most citizens

appreciate and wisely use their public

lands, too many resources have been

littered, vandalized, looted, burned, or

misused.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is

actively seeking your assistance by

reporting abuse of public lands and

resources.

If you have observed such abuse, you

may contact a ranger or call Arkabutla

Lake Field Office, 562-6261, Monday -

Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Coldwater

Nature Trail

System

Welcome to Arkabutla Lake and

the Coldwater Nature trail

System

Big Oak Nature Trail

This is a very special place, a river bottom area

leading into a quiet bottomland forest. Many animals

make this area their home, but they are easily

frightened, so take your time, make many stops, look

around, listen carefully, and your chances of seeing

animals will increase. Keep your eyes peeled and

record all animals and birds seen in the back of this

book.

Nature Trail

To explore the nature trail, use this booklet to guide

you along the first loop which is 1/3 mile long and

marked with a Green Diamond. To test your

knowledge of the type of trees and vegetation that

grow along the trail, stop at the numbered posts and

attempt to identify the trees closest to the post. For

the answer, Match the Numbers in the Booklet to

those on the Post.

Our aim at Arkabutla Lake is to keep this area as

pristine as possible for you and generations to come.

You can help us in this very important task by

bringing all litter you take into the area back out with

you. Trash receptacles are placed at the end of the

trail for your convenience. Remember this is your

land, if we take care of it, future generations will be

able to enjoy what you have helped protect today.

At the 2.5 mile trail marker, you will arrive at the site of

the original construction headquarters building. This

building was constructed in early 1940 and was the

focal point for all construction activities during the

building of Arkabutla Dam. The building was torn down

shortly after the dam was completed in 1943. A new

brick building was constructed at the South Abutment

Area, which would act as both home and office for the

newly appointed lake manager. At the present time,

this building houses the lake field office. The safe from

the old headquarters building, because of its size and

weight, was left in place and is located within a few feet

of its original position within the building. The safe was

used to secure the payroll for the workers constructing

the dam. The lab section is also in its original position,

and was used to do soil and other material testing. This

raised concrete structure is located forty feet southwest

of the safe. A Wildlife Observation Platform has been

constructed on the raised concrete portion of the old lab

site. From this covered platform you can rest and enjoy

the sights and sounds of the forest.

We ask that you leave the area undisturbed, so those

that follow will be able to enjoy this important site also.

Points of interest on the trail network are located at the

following trail distance markers:

.40 Rest area and fish/wildlife observation site

.85 Rest area and beaver observation island

1.2 120 year old cypress tree

2.5 Original Construction headquarters bldg.

Site and wildlife observation platform

3.0 Wildlife food plot

4.0 Beaver pond and rest area

Fox Squirrels

Size: Head and

body, 17 7/8-271/2”

(4504-69.8 cm); tail,

7 7/8-13” (20-33

cm); weight, 17 5/8-

37 1/8 oz. (504-

1,062 g)

Habitat: hardwood

forests, borders of

cypress swamps,

thickets, and urban

areas. Prefers large

trees.

Riverbottom Forest

Riverbottom forests cover much of the southern

United States, generally in the low lying areas

with moderate to good soil drainage. They are

composed chiefly of various oaks, hickories,

beech, sweet gum, and birch, which prefer to

grow just beside the water. Most of these

species make excellent growth in this type of

environment and are used for lumber

throughout the U.S. The forest in this area will

not be cut but will continue to house and feed

the many wild animals and birds which live

here. Some of the more common ones you

may see on your walk are raccoons, grey

squirrels, deer, woodpeckers, and fox squirrels.

Look carefully as you walk and you may see a

deer track or two.

River Birch

The thin, papery, scaly bark on the trunk of this tree

immediately identifies it as a Birch. This species grows

much farther south than any of its northern relatives,

along slow moving, silt-laden rivers and streams. The

seeds ripen in May and June when water levels are high

and fall into the water to ride the current to some muddy

shore where they will germinate. Can you think of any

other plants whose seeds are spread by water? How are

the seeds adapted for their journey?

Slippery Elm

19 3

Slippery Elm was well known to the early pioneer

woodsmen for its slippery inner bark. They chewed this

bark to quench their thirst and steeped it in water to

produce a common remedy for sore throats and fever.

Even today, Slippery Elm is still used for this purpose.

The powered bark was recommended for poultices. The

upper surface of the leaves of this tree feels like

sandpaper. Slippery Elm is susceptible to the Dutch Elm

disease, which is rapidly killing the beautiful American

Elms in many cities and towns.

Http:..www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr.com

Http://www.treelink.org/whattree/index.htm

Sycamore

A tree often seen along river and lakes is the

sycamore. The early settlers often sought out the land

with these trees growing on it because they indicated a

place of rich soil. The wood is very difficult to split

and, as a result, is found even today in butcher shops

as chopping blocks. As you look up into the tree you

can see the flaky, dark bark peeling off to expose

newer, creamy white bark. This and the strange,

brown, ball-shaped fruit make it an easy tree to

identify. The seed balls are shed irregularly

throughout the fall, winter, and early spring. Although

very few animals eat this fruit, the tree itself is used as

a nest or dens of owls, hawks, birds, and squirrels.

Shellbark Hickory

This tree would be hard to mistake for any other. Do

you see why it is called the shellbark hickory? The

hickory family includes the pecan trees, which are

planted for their fine, tasty nuts. The nuts of the

“true” hickories are equally tasty but much more

difficult to extract from their shells.

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/comm

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/com

Before Arkabutla Dam was built, the Coldwater River

flooded the area you are now on, every year. This

area was part of the river’s flood plain. When a river

overflows its banks onto its floodplain, the native

floodplain forest is seldom damaged because its

species are adapted to periodic flooding. When man,

however, moves his homes, factories, and farms onto

the floodplain, a flooding river can cause a great deal

of damage. This was the case before Arkabutla Dam

was built. This area no longer floods.

Arkabutla Dam is an earth filled dam, 482 feet wide at

the base, 67 feet high and 11,500 feet long (that’s

over 2 miles). It stores 5,100 acres of water (one

acre - foot equals one acre of water one foot deep) at

conservation pool and when filled, stores 31,500

acres of water, and has 255 miles of shoreline.

Mockernut Hickory

The compound leaves of this hickory are fragrant when

crushed. The kernel is sweet and not hard to extract

from the tough nut. The various species of hickory

have always found many uses. Their wood and nuts

were used by both Indians and early settlers. The

Indians crushed the nuts and made “hickory milk”,

which they used in cooking. The pioneers used the

wood for smoking hams, making boxes, furniture, and

even gun ramrods. President Andrew Jackson earned

the title “OLD HICKORY” from his men for being “as

tough as hickory wood”.

Coldwater River

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/com

Honeylocust

The large, forked thorns on the trunk of the

honey-locust trees are an excellent identification

feature. This tree owes its name to the sweet,

edible pulp in its strap-shaped pods. This pulp

furnishes food for cattle, deer, rabbits, foxes,

squirrels, and other animals. During America’s

early days, frontier children eagerly gathered

them for their own taste treats. A thornless

variety of the honeylocust is widely planted as

an ornamental tree.

American Beech

The American Beech is one of our most

beautiful and distinctive trees. Its smooth light

gray bark makes the tree stand out even at a

distance. The tree was named by the early

settlers after the European Beech which has a

long history of use. The wood has been used

for various tools and other purposes and the

nuts are used for fattening hogs, and as a

source of vegetable oil. The name “beech” has

a very ancient origin. The early writings of the

Germanic people were inscribed on tablets of

beech. As the word for beech became

incorporated into old English, our word “book”

evolved from it.

14 9

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/comm

Swamp Chestnut Oak

This tree is commonly called “cow oak” because

cows like its acorns. Sometimes it is also called

“basket oak”. The quality of the wood is second

only to that of the best White Oaks and for this

reason, the tree has suffered excessive cutting

in many areas. Oak trees are among our most

important wildlife food species. Their acorns

furnish staple food for many animals and deer.

Many small animals nest in old oak trees.

Southern Red Oak

The oaks are generally divided into two large

groups, the red oak and the white oak groups.

The red group, of which this tree is a member,

has tiny bristles on the tips of the leaf lobes and

the white group has leaves that are smooth.

Look around you as you walk the trail. Can you

tell from which group the leaves come?

12 10

Http://www.treelink.org/whattree/index.htm

Http://www.hammocd.ifas.ufl.edu/image/fr/fr004f7.gif

Index

1-Welcome to Arkabutla Lake

2-Big Oak Nature Trail Map

3-22-Plant and Animal Information

23-Hiking Trail

24-Points of Interest on Trail Network

25-5 Mile Trail

26-Coldwater River Nature Trail System Map

27-Other Recreational Opportunities

Other Recreational

Opportunities

The Corps of Engineers has developed many other

modern facilities.

Concrete Boat Launching Ramps

Eight (8) Launching ramps that allow easy access

to the lake for boating, skiing, or fishing. They

are located at: Outlet Channel, Dub Patton

Recreational Area, Bayou Point, Kelly’s Crossing,

Pleasant Hill, Highway 51, Hernando Point and

Coldwater Point.

Swimming and Sunbathing

Three (3) spacious, developed beaches are for use

at South Abutment, Pleasant Hill, and Hernando

Point.

Camping

Three (3) Class A campgrounds are in operation

with hot showers, electricity, paved pads, and

dump stations. They are located at: Dub Patton

Recreational Area, South Abutment, and Hernando

Point. Primitive camping is allowed in many of the

remaining recreational areas.

Team Up

to Clean Up!

Coldwater River Hiking Trail

The 5 mile trail system will take you back into the past as you travel

along streams that wanders through hardwood trees that are, in some

instances, over 125 years old and stand like guardians over the forest

floor sheltering a multitude of animal life. Whitetail deer browse and

doe deer deliver their young here in early spring. If you encounter a

young fawn, please do not disturb or try to handle it in any way. The

baby is not abandoned. The mother is close by even though you may

not be able to see her.

Bobcat, fox, squirrel, turkey, and an occasional armadillo call this their

home. Raccoon forage along the stream shoreline for small crawfish

and frogs. Crawfish are the favorite food of this masked, mischievous

animal. The stream is also home to many fish, such as bluegill,

sunfish, gar, and bass. On a sunny day, these fish can be seen

swimming just under the surface. Logs that have fallen across the

stream are a favorite perch for turtles and frogs to bask in sunlight.

Woodducks can be seen near nesting boxes located at ponds which

have been formed by nature’s best engineers, the beaver. A quiet

approach could result in observing one or more of these busy animals

at work. Many species of birds inhabit the hardwood forest canopy.

Stop and quietly listen to a beautiful serenade by nature’s feathered

songsters.

The trail will also take you into an area of the present. As you cross

Pratt Road you will enter into a predominately pine forest. Rowcrops

and pasture land covered most of this area in the 1930s. After the

dam was completed in 1942, the area was planted in loblolly pine

trees.

Pine stands, like other crops, must be managed. As you look out

across the forest floor in this area, you will see stumps, tree tops, tree

limbs, and skid marks. This residue was left by the loggers who

performed a process called thinning. During this process, inferior

trees and stands which have trees too close together are removed

and sold for pulp, (paper products). The remaining trees will grow

and reach maturity in a shorter period of time.

Hackberry

The warty, gray bark of the Hackberry is an excellent

identification feature. The fruit of this tree is eaten by

many birds, and in the process many of the seeds are

scattered far from the tree. Have you ever tasted a

Hackberry fruit? Hackberries often become infected with

a virus, which causes them to sprout clusters of small

twigs along their branches. These “witch brooms”, as

they are called, are another way in which you can

recognize a Hackberry.

Coldwater River Hiking Trail

Hiking Trail

If you decide on a longer walk, turn right on the trail

between stops 2 and 3.

The entire 5 MILE TRAIL can be hiked on foot or toured

on off road bicycles. The trail has THREE LOOPS, which

measure TWO, THREE and FIVE miles respectively. The

trail system has two marked entrances. The FIRST is

located in the north Outlet Channel Area at the east side

of the foot bridge which spans Elbow Creek. The SECOND

entrance is located in the Dub Patton Day Use Area 75 yd.

northwest of the water treatment plant. Both entrances

have parking and trail maps.

The trail is constructed so anyone entering the trail

network at the North Outlet entrance, may return to the

starting point at the ONE-AND-A-HALF-MILE point. The

trail should appeal to all levels of hiking and biking

expertise. Hikers are reminded that this trail system is

located in a lowland forest area. During the fall and

winter seasons there will be wet and muddy spots along

the trail. A good pair of hiking boots is recommended.

The TWO-MILE loop, which is marked with a WHITE

diamond on the trail markers, is mostly level with only

small inclines.

The THREE-MILE loop, marked with a YELLOW diamond

and the remainder of the FIVE-MILE trail, marked with an

ORANGE diamond has more bumps, longer inclines with

varying levels of steepness, sharp turns and downhills,

making this part of the trail a fun ride for the more

advanced cyclist.

Trail distance is indicated with a BROWN diamond. The

mileage is marked in white numbers.

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/omm

Water Oak

This species of oak is a favorite ornamental in

many southern cities due to its fast growth and

sturdiness. If you can find any of the small

acorns, they will be almost black. They are

usually hard to find because squirrels, bluejays,

and other birds carry them away as soon as

they become ripe.

The White-tailed deer is the most popular big game animal in

the United States. The average weight of a mature buck

ranges from 100-200 lbs., depending on local food conditions.

A mature doe usually weighs between 90-100 lbs. Browse,

which is deer food, consists of tender twigs, new leaves, and

buds. However, they also forage seasonally on nuts, fruits,

grasses, and aquatic plants. They can jump an 8-foot fence

and cover a horizontal distance of 30 feet in one leap. They

can run at speeds of up to 45 mph. Contrary to popular belief,

the size and number of points on a buck’s antlers depends on

the quality of food the animals eat and does not indicate age.

White

Tailed Deer

Size: length, to 6 ft. (1.8m);

shoulder height, to 3 3/4 ft.(1.1m);

male weight, 75-400lbs. (34-181.4

kg); female weight, 50-250lbs.

(22.7-113.4 kg)

Habitat: brushy,

low mixed

woodlands, and

forest edges.

Http://www.treelink.org/whattree/index.htm

Flowering Dogwood

Almost everyone can recognize the Dogwood tree

in the spring. Its white blossoms are one of the

first signs of spring. This is one of the most

widely planted ornamental trees. In the forest,

deer nibble on the tender leaves and twigs, while

squirrels and song birds eat the red berries in the

fall. Do you think you could recognize the

Dogwood in the winter by its bark? There is a

legend associated with the Dogwood tree….maybe

your local library will help with this.

Boxelder

From its leaves, you might think Boxelder is some sort of

ash tree, but a close look at its paired fruits in the spring

will prove it to be in the maple family. Sometimes called

the ash-leaved maple because of its resemblance to an

ash, the Boxelder is one of the few maples with compound

leaves.

Boxelder grows very quickly and has few insect enemies

or diseases, so if you have a spot you want to shade in a

hurry, this is a good choice. And should you develop a

yen for homemade syrup, you can always tap the tree in

the spring, just like a sugar maple.

6 17

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commtr/comm

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/comm

American Hornbeam

The American Hornbeam is a lovely little tree,

usually regarded as a “weed tree” because its

small size and poor form make it unprofitable to

harvest commercially. It is very tolerant to

shade and commonly occurs as a member of

the understory in hardwood forests. Its wood is

hard, tough, heavy, and difficult to dry. Its

most popular use is in making handles for

various tools such as hammers, hoes, etc. It is a

member of the Beech family and the blue-gray

bark on its muscular appearing trunk resembles

that of the Beech. The small nutlets are

sometimes eaten by birds and squirrels.

Red Maple

Red Maple is the most widespread of our

eastern maples. Its common name is very

appropriate, since there is something red about

it throughout the year. The leaf stalks are red

and in the fall the leaves turn beautiful shades

of scarlet and crimson, making this a popular

ornamental tree. The winter buds are red, and

in the spring they give way to a riot of small red

flowers and winged fruits. Our pioneer

ancestors made ink and dye from the bark of

this tree. Red maple wood is used for flooring

and small woodenware articles. It can be

tapped for sugar, too.

8 15

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/comm

Http://www.hammocd.ifas.edu/imahes/fr/fr004f7.gif

Touch

Not

There are many common names for this fragile

orange and yellow flower. This delicate

inhabitant of shaded stream banks and

riverbottoms earned its common name of touch-

me-not from its seed capsules which, when ripe,

explode at the slightest touch, hurling the seeds

in all directions. It is believed that rubbing with

the leaves will prevent and cure poison ivy.

These plants are in abundance around the

trail…can you find them?

Red Mulberry

Several species of Mulberry are cultivated in

different parts of the world for their delicious

fruit, and in the Orient, Mulberry leaves are

used to feed silkworms. The fruit of the Red

Mulberry is one of the best tasting of our wild

fruits. It is a favorite of many birds and they

will usually strip a tree clean before the

mulberries are completely ripe. The leaves of

the Mulberry tree come in three shapes…can

you spot them?

Http://www.dcnr.state.paus/forestry/commortr/comm

Http://www.hammocd.ifas.ufl.edu/images/fr/fr004f7.gif

Opossums spend their days curled up in a

hollow stump or log and awaken at night to

hunt for food. They will eat almost anything but

they are especially fond of persimmons and

stories often have opossum hunts ending at the

foot of one of these trees. When opossums are

born; they are not completely developed, blind

and so tiny that 20 of them will fit into a

teaspoon. Right after birth, they crawl into their

mother’s pouch where they remain until they

complete their development. When frightened,

opossums will bare their teeth or play dead.

Most species of the opossum family live in the

tropics where they feed on fruit.

Pawpaw

With its large drooping leaves, the small papaw

tree looks like an escapee from the tropical

jungle. Pawpaws once formed large thickets

throughout the Mississippi Valley and was one

of the food plants which helped sustain DeSoto’s

expedition in 1541. The pawpaw’s banana-

flavored fruit ripens in late fall and can be made

into bread, pudding, jelly or pies.

Opossums

Http://www.treelink.org/whattree/index.htm

Size: head

and body, 15-

20 in. (38.1-

50.8 cm);tail,

9-13 in. (22.9-

33 cm);weight,

6-12lbs. (2.7-

5.4 kg.)

Habitat:

open woods,

farming areas,

forest edges,

and brushy

wastelands.

Http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/images/uw/u026p1.ipg