PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 99 



CLEAR LAKE. 

 By Mrs. C. H. McNider. 



Mrs. Carrie P. Sondrol who represents our interests at Clear Lake 

 will send you something of the situation there. Mrs. Sondrol has worked 

 faithfully for several years trying to arouse the business men and others 

 to the importance of providing for the future by setting aside certain 

 tracts of woodland bordering on the lake. This has been too long 

 neglected, but there <are still available a few desirable tracts of good 

 size to choose from and also a number of attractive small spots which 

 I think should be considered even though they are not on the market, 

 but they are especially suitable for resting and picnic places for motor- 

 ists and to provide ipassersby with a glimpse of the lake. 



The greater part of the shore is bound to be used for cottages within 

 a few years and if any of its beauty is to be saved for the enjoyment and 

 use of the public, it must be reserved soon, and the kind of recreation 

 which these pleasant shaded places would provide is greatly needed for 

 the comfort of the crowds of visitors who are attracted by the lake. 



CLEAR LAKE. 

 By Mrs. Carrie P. Sondrol. 



One of the favorite sites for a lake park lies just south of the town 

 of Clear Lake. This tract covers about fifteen acres and is virtually as 

 nature left it. One of its most attractive features is the outlet of the 

 lake which diviides it along the north end, here especially may be found 

 native wild flowers in abundance. Among these may be mentioned tim- 

 ber violets (Viola cucullata), blood root (Sanguinaris canadensis), bell- 

 wort (Uvularia perfoliata), wild spikenard (Simlacina racemosa), Solo- 

 mon's seal (Polygontum biflorum), wood anemone (Anemone quinque- 

 folia), wild strawberry (Rose rubiginosa), spotted touch-me-not (Impa- 

 tiens biflora), many asters, daisies and golden rod. Along the edges 

 of the outlet may be found the broad leaved arrow head (Sagittaria lati- 

 folia), blue iris, or Fleur : de-lis (Iris versicolor), and later the cattail 

 and burr-reed. The land is well sodded to native grass. The trees are 

 all native and include basswoods, elms, burr oaks, jack oak, ash, hickory, 

 willow and a few butternut, wild crab and thorn apple. Many of these 

 are large, splendid specimens which add greatly to the land value, from 

 the conservation standpoint. Another important factor in favor of this 

 strip of ground is that it is comparatively long for its acreage, giving 

 a greater lake frontage where the beach is sandy and slopes gently out to 

 the deeper water. 



Further to the south of the lake is another strip of native timber 

 varying from 100 to 500 feet in width with about one mile of 

 shore line. The soil here varies from stretches of almost pure sand 

 to bluffs of clay rising from 40 to 50 feet above the level of the 

 lake. With the variation in soil we find a greater number of natural 



