The 600 acre Barber Creek Wildlife Area has received a 357 acre addition to its Western border. This public
wildlife area lies 4 miles southwest of DeWitt, Iowa along the North bank of the Wapsipinicon river
(Wapsi). A
visitor to Barber Creek will find a combination of backwater chutes and forested floodplain mixed
with occasional meadow openings and native grass stands. The Wapsi has created unequalled wildlife habitat diversity in the
region and natural resource managers have long recognized the value of these
lands. The original 600 acre tract,
purchased in 1977, has provided opportunities for many deer, turkey, squirrel,
waterfowl and pheasant hunters for the last 25 years. The Wapsi river
floodplain contains many of the finest backwater wetlands in Eastern Iowa so
the Iowa DNR looked into ways to enlarge the Barber Creek wildlife area.
Although many more acres of high quality wildlife habitat exist on surrounding private lands, the IDNR
Wildlife Bureau did not have the finances to protect more land and offer
additional recreational opportunities for
eastern Iowa residents.
When the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the start of
the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) in 1985 the stars began to line up for
additional land conservation along the Wapsi. The advent of WRP allowed
USDA to enter into partnerships with private landowners by paying for a
permanent farming restriction on high quality wetlands. The Wetland
Reserve Program is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial
assistance to eligible landowners to restore, enhance, and protect wetlands.
Landowners have the option of enrolling eligible lands through permanent
easements, 30-year easements, or restoration cost-share agreements. The
program is offered on a continuous sign-up basis and is available Nationwide.
This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish, at minimal cost,
long-term conservation and wildlife habitat enhancement practices and
protection.
WRP offered an opportunity for Iowans to band together and work towards
protecting their natural resources. In 1999, in an effort to help Wapsi
river landowners recognize the importance of their forest and marshlands, the local NRCS office, the Clinton and Scott County
Conservation Boards, the IDNR Wildlife Bureau, Clinton County Pheasants Forever
(PF),
The Bi-State Resource Conservation and Development office, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service formed the Wapsi River Alliance.
Mr. Charles Gregoire owned a series of superior backwater
lakes and wetlands immediately west of Barber Creek. “One day, I sat down with
Mr. Gregoire, who had asked questions about ways to conserve natural resources
for future generations,” said DNR biologist Bob Sheets. Sheets asked Mr. Gregoire if he would be interested in allowing the government to purchase a
wetland reserve easement on the lowlands along the Wapsi. When Bob Sheets
explained how the WRP program worked, Mr. Gregoire thought that this might
be something in which he would like to participate.
After several planning meetings and many questions, the Gregoires entered into the
WRP easement program. With critical financial assistance from conservation
partners, the IDNR Wildlife Bureau purchased the remaining land
value and took fee title ownership of the 357 acres in 2002 after the WRP easement was
put in place. The Iowa chapter of the
National Wild Turkey Federation recognized this property as a premiere turkey
area and immediately pledged $35,000 to the acquisition. The Clinton County
Pheasants Forever chapter provided funding and also applied for additional state
PF funds to help finance the project. In addition, they helped seed the idled cropland and developed the native grassland
in memory of a former chapter director Mr. Dick Bruckman who passed away nine
years ago and never had the chance to see this improvement in his favorite part
of Clinton County. Hence if you visit you will see a sign in honor of Mr.
Bruckman near the new north entrance of Barber Creek.
The addition was opened to the public in early fall
2002. Twenty acres of backwater lakes
and chutes, 120 acres of native grassland and 217 acres of forestland of the Gregoire property combined with the existing 600 acre Barber Creek WMA to make
up this public wilderness. A new
parking lot has been developed, native grasslands seeded and visitor
information maps created. All
boundaries have been marked with green public hunting signs. The
Gregoire family and all others associated with this addition to the Barber Creek
Wildlife Area should be thanked for their contributions which have improved the
quality of life for each person that visits to Barber Creek. This is a beautiful
area. But, remember it is a
wildlife management area
and not a park. If you visit, there will be no comfort stations. Waste cans, benches or trails.
It is one of Iowa’s best efforts to let you
experience a small wilderness area close to home. It may not be Minnesota’s boundary waters canoe territory but
these 957 acres are premiere Iowa wilderness offering you a chance for new
adventure every day!
For more information about the USDA-NRCS Wetland Reserve Program
interested landowners can contact their local NRCS office directly or IDNR staff
can assist you in making the proper contacts.
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Bob Sheets is the Iowa DNR Wildlife
Biologist from Maquoketa
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