Effigy Mounds program, workday scheduled for October 30 at Yellow River State Forest ...

Friends of Yellow River State Forest will be holding an educational program and workday at the mounds in the Paint Rock Unit of Yellow River State Forest at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 30. Sheila Oberreuter, museum technician at Effigy Mounds National Monument, will lead the mound program, which will include the linear and conical mounds near Paint Rock Lookout (pictured above) and the bear mounds at the north end of that unit. The program will discuss mound building in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, landscape characteristics present when mounds were being built and the changes that have occurred to the landscape since that time.

Yellow River State Forest Forestry Technician Alex Galema will lead the workday, as well as share information about the restoration of oak savannas and prairie plantings in the areas of the mounds. After the educational program, volunteers will be asked to help clear downed woody debris from around the bear effigy mounds, which will help with prescribed burns used to manage the areas.

Those interested are asked to assemble at the Paint Rock Unit parking lot located four-tenths of a mile from Hwy. 364 on Paint Rock Road, Harpers Ferry, between 8:45 and 9 a.m. Although these are normally hiking-only trails, for this day only event organizers will be taking selected vehicles up the old logging road to the two areas where the mounds are located. Participants who ride up with the group will have to do some light hiking in the woods from the parking area to the mounds.

Interested participants should RSVP on the Friends of Yellow River Facebook page or by emailing friendsofyrsf@gmail.com. An RSVP is not required but will help event organizers better plan. Attendees are reminded to dress for the weather, and long pants are recommended along with work/hiking boots and work gloves. In the event of rain, the event will be postponed to the same time the following day, Sunday, October 31. Attendees should also bring water and any snacks they may require. There are no restrooms on-site. Submitted photo.