OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- The reforestation of Horseshoe Lake refuge will be discussed during a special meeting at the Community Building in Olive Branch tonight between 7 and 9.

The flood of 1993 inundated large areas of Horseshoe Lake for extensive periods of time, killing and damaging a number of trees.

"This killed a number of oak and hickory trees," said Gary Stratton, a regional forester at Benton, Ill.

Stratton said about 70 percent of the big oak and hickory trees in the Horseshoe Lake area -- especially in the area of the public hunting grounds, had been killed out.

"This left large holes in the canopy," he said, adding: "It has allowed the sunshine in, and thousands of black willow and cottonwood sprouted in the area.

The Illinois Department of Conservation is proposing to harvest the dead trees, and with the money from the sales of this timber, it will restore the area with oak and hickory trees.

Stratton said unless something is done, the Horseshoe Lake bottomland will be changed from oak and hickory to black willow and cottonwood, which is "much less desirable from a wildlife habitat standpoint."

Some 10 foresters will attend tonight's meeting.

"It will be conducted as a forum," Stratton said. People can stop by between 7 and 9 and receive information about the proposal.

Horseshoe Lake forum

- Forum will be held from 7-9 tonight at the Olive Branch, Ill., Community Building.

- The topic of discussion will be removal and replacement of oak and hickory trees killed or damaged during the 1993 flood.

- Questions or comments can be directed to Gary Stratton, forester with the Illinois Department of Conservation, Route 4, Benton, Ill., 62812, telephone, (618) 438-6781.