College of Science and Technology

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	Veit's Woods
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	Labs and Equipment

CMU's Veit's Woods is a 28-acre natural preserve along the Chippewa River and within walking distance of campus.

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Veit's Woods

CMU's Veit's Woods is a 28-acre natural preserve along the Chippewa River and within walking distance of campus. It was purchased in 1971 using CMU funds and a monetary gift from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.

The property is located on the southwestern side of Mount Pleasant, bounded on the east by Watson Street and on the north by High Street. Subdivision development is adjacent to the east, south, and southwest portions, and Chippewa Park borders on the west. Portions of the property are fenced on the south and west boundaries with chain-link fencing.

The preserve was recently extended through the generous donation of 3.25 acres of riverfront property. The land was donated through the River Project, Michigan Partnership, by the Fisher family of Mount Pleasant, and will be kept in its natural state along with the rest of the woodland river preserve.

Each year more than 3,500 CMU students take field courses using the woods. Local plant communities found in Veit's Woods include hardwood forest, old fields, lowland deciduous forest, the Chippewa River, a small wetland, and a series of vernal ponds.

A series of trails are located on the property, however trails are not marked with signs and no trail guides exist. There are several entry access points from the neighborhood along the eastern boundary of the woods.

	Academic use
	Future development for educational and research use
	Exotic species found in Veit's Woods

Academic use

Veit's Woods is used for courses offered in the Department of Biology and the Department of Geology typically as an outdoor lab facility. The close proximity of the property (within walking distance of campus) provides easy access during lab times.

Approximately three to six biology and four geology courses use the property during the academic year and summer semesters. These courses use Veit's Woods as an important learning environment for various lab exercises that cannot be completed at an indoor facility.

During the winter of 2003, undergraduate students began research in Veit's Woods and the surrounding property to estimate the population size and movements of white-tailed deer. Additionally, the CMU student chapter of The Wildlife Society has been active with several projects to assess the local fauna on the property. The Department of Geology maintains and monitors approximately five test wells located throughout the woods for sampling groundwater.

Future development for educational and research use

Due in part to the close proximity of Veit's Woods to the CMU campus, this property offers excellent opportunities for additional academic and research use.

Veit's Woods will continue to be an integral part of the curriculum within the Department of Biology. Additional use of the property is anticipated for courses such as Mammalogy, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Biology and Management, and Dendrology.

The Department of Geology will continue to use the property for courses and research.

Additional research opportunities exist for students in biology, geology, and parks and recreation. For example, there could be an opportunity for students to examine control methods for managing Amur honeysuckle and autumn olive shrubs on the property.

Exotic species found in Veit's Woods

Two non-native exotic shrubs, Amur honeysuckle and autumn olive, are found on the property with Amur honeysuckle being the more prominent species. Both of these species are very invasive plants that can expand into open and wooded habitats, especially after a long disturbance (i.e., windthrown tree, fire, etc.).

Please view the following links for more information on these plants, including images to help you identify them.

	Click here to view information and photos of Amur honeysuckle.
	Click here to view information and photos of autumn olive.

Veit's Woods is currently governed within the College of Science and Technology under the direction of the Department of Biology. No formal director or administrator is appointed to oversee use of the property.

Department of Biology
Central Michigan University
217 Brooks Hall
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

Phone: (989) 774-3227

Fax: (989) 774-3462

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