Brushy Creek State Preserve

Brushy Creek State Preserve is located in Brushy Creek Recreation Area, a 6,500-acre public area in Webster County located twenty miles southeast of Fort Dodge. During environmental studies conducted as part of a controversial proposal to construct a 1,000-acre recreational lake, a portion of the area was discovered to contain sig­nifi­cant geological exposures, archaeological sites, and habitat for the woodland vole, a state-threatened species. In 1988, a 260-acre portion of the recreation area was dedicated as a geological, archaeological, and biological state preserve. A 700-acre lake was later completed upstream from the preserve. 

About the Land

Geologically, the scenic Brushy Creek valley, located within the Des Moines Lobe landform region, contains a remarkable record of 11,000 years of history in its alluvial terraces, benches, and apronlike fan deposits. These features display the effects of glacial melting from the Des Moines Lobe as well as the rapid deepening of the nearby Des Moines River valley. 

In addition, erosion by Brushy Creek has revealed stratigraphic deposits of a pre–Des Moines Lobe landscape. This geologic record, seen nowhere else in northern Iowa, provides important insights into the evolution of the Iowan Erosion Surface. Fossil wood and plant materials found here are dated at 37,000 years and indicate the presence of a spruce forest similar to the Canadian boreal forest of today. 

Directions

1. From the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 169 southwest of Fort Dodge, take Highway 20 east 9 miles to County Road P73 (Union Avenue) (watch for sign to Brushy Creek Recreation Area on Highway 20). 
2. Turn south (right) on P70 and go 3.5 miles to 270th Street. 
3. Turn east (left) onto 270th Street and drive 0.5 mile to the official entrance of Brushy Creek Recreation Area. 
4. Continue on this curving park road nearly 2.5 miles (past the turnoffs for the campground and picnic area and across the dam forming Brushy Creek Lake) to the intersection of Brushy Creek Road and 280th Street, which is by the park office. 
5. Turn west (right) into the parking lot for the lake overlook. 
6. From the parking lot, walk downhill to the west and south for 0.1 mile to the Sedge Meadow Mitigation Area, then follow the horse trail along the forest edge for an additional 0.5 mile to the preserve boundary (sign: Brushy Creek State Preserve). This trail continues through the preserve.

Vegetation & Wildflowers

Natural vegetation found in the preserve includes forest and prairie communities. An old field once used to grow crops is also found here. A small, deep, forested ravine is home to the rare woodland vole. Most of the forested areas on steep slopes are dominated by red oak and basswood, joined by black maple in the deep moist ravines. Bur oak and shagbark hickory dominate the flat uplands. 

Woodland sedge is common in the understory. The Brushy Creek floodplain is mainly cottonwood, American elm, and black walnut. Former crop fields in the eastern portion of the preserve have been planted with prairie grasses. 

Pasqueflower is the first to appear in the small prairie opening in April, with snow trillium, hepatica, bloodroot, and hairy blue violet in the woodlands. By May and June, wild rose, yellow flax, and wild leek are blooming. The fall wildflowers begin in July with several goldenrod species and are followed by round-headed bush clover and Short’s blue aster in August. The rich woodland flowers are mixed with several fern species, while the open woodlands are mixed with grasses. 

Mammals & Birds

Twenty-five mammal species are found within the Brushy Creek Recreation Area, including bats, squirrels, mice, vole and shrew species, cottontail rabbit, weasel, badger, skunk, and white-tailed deer. 

At least 100 species of birds have been recorded from the recreation area, including many neotropical migrants: yellow-billed cuckoo, Tennessee warbler, blackthroated green warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, Lincoln’s sparrow, northern rough-winged swallow, Swainson’s thrush, and grasshopper sparrow. Several neotropical migrant species that need large tracts of unbroken forest for breeding may be found here including American redstart, Louisiana. water­thrush, ovenbird, and yellow-throated vireo. 

A trail open for equestrian use runs through the preserve. Hunting is permitted. Other natural areas in the vicinity include Dolliver State Park and Woodman Hollow State Preserve.