By Brandt Mannchen
In May of 2026, the Houston Sierra Club (Sierra Club) visited Compartment 65 in Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF). The Club looked at the Lone Star Hiking Trail’s (LSHT) condition along the Phelps Section. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) has planned a thinning (logging) project in Compartment 65 and the Sierra Club wanted to see the present condition of the forest.
The LSHT is in fair condition for most of its length (about 2.3 miles) in this part of the Phelps Section. There are 6 stream crossings on the LSHT and at these crossings erosion was found to be more extensive.
Water bars are needed for the LSHT to prevent soil erosion. More extensive erosion control is needed where the LSHT crosses a stream. In the Phelps Section there is a primitive campsite. It was well signed, but several portable chairs were left at this campsite that should be removed.
The Sierra Club saw or heard Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, and other birds. Bird song was almost continuous along the LSHT. The Sierra Club saw a Texas Coral Snake, a Three-toed Box Turtle, and heard a tree frog.
After starting at Evelyn Lane, near a large Powerline ROW, and traveling west, the LSHT climbs and crosses a road, then crests at over 400 feet, and slopes to a large ephemeral stream.
This riparian inclusion, which is in Stand 7, has been brought to the attention of the FS several times because of the large number of mature and old growth Southern Red Oak, White Oak, Black Hickory, Loblolly Pine, and Shortleaf Pine trees.
This may be the best representation of an Upland Hardwood – Pine forest type in SHNF. The closest description that the Sierra Club has found for this area is in the Ecological Classification System (ECS), which the FS uses to inform project planning and preparation.
In this riparian inclusion and toward the western end the LSHT on this part of the Phelps Section, there are patches of May-apples. These May-apples generally are found where soil compaction and disturbance is at a minimum. Many Elephant’s-foot plants, greenbriar colonies, and scattered Canadian Black Snakeroot are also found along the LSHT.
The riparian inclusion part of Stand 7 shouldn’t be thinned and prescribed fire should be used infrequent (10-20 years) to moderately frequent (5-10 years).
The Sierra Club noted that the forest along the LSHT had a variety of hardwoods in varying sizes that included Post Oak, Water Oak, White Ash, Black Hickory, Black Gum, White Oak, Red Mulberry, Winged Elm, and Southern Magnolia. In the understory were many native privets whose presence indicate less disturbed forest sites.
The Sierra Club found several non-native invasive Nandina plants (with berries or flowers) along the LSHT. These Nandina plants should be treated by the FS so they don’t spread to the understory and shade out native plants.