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Eastern IA River Valleys Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Eastern IA River Valleys

550–1,100 ft · IA🚗 Directions

S

Eastern Iowa along the Mississippi and tributaries. Steep wooded bluffs with white oak, hickory, and elm. Yellow River SF, Effigy Mounds NM, and Maquoketa Caves area. Bottomland cottonwood and ash produce early morels.

Trees:White Oak Hickory American Elm

Updated Jul 13, 4:09 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**Eastern IA River Valleys – S Tier | 13 July 2026** You're in a sweet spot: sustained soil warmth (74°F) paired with locked-in soil moisture averaging 0.21 VWC over 7 days has triggered fruiting across the full spectrum—saprophytes, wood decayers, mycorrhizals, and even the weirdos all firing. The 1.66" over 14 days gave you the moisture foundation; the 0.25" last week kept it stable enough to hold the trigger. No drought stress, no freeze threat at this elevation. The only restraint here is **desiccation risk**—moderate, meaning you're not in danger zone yet, but a dry spell would collapse this window fast. Watch the 7-day forecast; if you see 4+ days without rain and temps holding in the low 70s+, the window compresses. Chicken, Wine Cap, and the bolete families (Frost's, Aspen, Two-Colored) are your immediate money targets; the soft gelatinous species (Jelly Ear, Wood Ear, Witch's Butter) are peak-window indicators and will fade first. The real advantage right now is the *breadth*—you have edible and medicinal species across every ecological niche simultaneously. Use it. **Hot tip:** The stinkhorns (Elegant, Ravenel's, Common) are all high-viable right now and are typically mid-to-late July phenology; hit your favorite river-bottom woodlots today or tomorrow before heat-stress aborts them.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(2)

Massillon Campground

developed

~7.1 mi from centerFee required/night

10 sites

toilet

Walnut Grove Park

developed

~9.3 mi from centerFee required/night

17 sites

toiletelectric hookup

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying Angel

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chaga

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Bolete

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blusher

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded Puffball

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Patches

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cordyceps

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening Russula

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Grisette

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash Cup

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested Coral

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite Bolete

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted Collybia

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The Deceiver

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Common Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dune Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 74°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.21 — moisture sustained)

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.