The YMCA/Reactor Woods in Ames is a jewel. It has been an ISU-managed public property since it was bought from the YMCA in 2012. The woods are home to hundreds of species of wild flowers, grasses and sedges; miles of hiking trails with benches and overlooks of Onion Creek. It provides habitat for many forms of wildlife.

The woods are threatened by all of the things that threaten other wild places in Iowa. Garlic mustard and honeysuckle are just two of the invasive species with a foothold, but perhaps because they don’t know the woods or don’t care, its existence is also threatened by Iowa State itself.

Last week an ISU administrator notified neighbors of the woods that 200 ROTC people would be spending four hours running through the woods practicing maneuvers later in the week. Now, that many people off path can do immeasurable harm to woodlands and the timing couldn’t be worse. Spring ephemeral wild flowers are emerging and covering the woodland floor. Besides killing large populations of precious plants, the off-path disturbance will leave the woods vulnerable to more erosion.

An ROTC spokesperson said the woods were not ideal for their exercises, that a more open area would be better (perhaps the cross-country course, the ISU Arboretum or Veenker Memorial Golf Course?) He also said last week’s exercises were cancelled for this year because of a forecast of rain. Good news for now, but what happens next year or anytime someone else wants to “use” the woods? Will Iowa State let the public know of its plans?

I think in the past the woods were used by Iowa State’s outdoor research program. For example, I’ve run across classes studying fungi. Amazing mushrooms grow in the ravines. This seems to be a more suitable/sustainable use for the area.

Iowa State has an obligation to care for this somewhat rare and beautiful public land. Iowa State does not have the right to allow it to be damaged or destroyed through negligence. Iowans have a say in what should happen in Reactor Woods. It is irreplaceable and if not protected, Iowa will have lost another valuable wild place.