Jerry and Jacquelyn Brown sold their 83 acres west of the Mount Ayr Wildlife Management Area to the Iowa DNR at below market value price. The wooded property with a deep creek and oxbow wetlands will provide public access to hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities. There are 58 acres of established grasslands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through September 30, 2027.
The Congregation of the Humility of Mary, an order of sisters based in Davenport, donated a conservation easement on 83 acres along the Wapsipinicon River in Clinton County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property, part of the Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat run by the sisters, offers people of all faiths a place to reflect, meditate and appreciate the surrounding beauty.
Aaron and Alysia Countryman donated a conservation easement on 126 acres of woodland, wetland and grassland near Fairfield to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to permanently protect this important habitat. The property, previously owned by Clarence and Ruth Tracht, was donated to Pathfinders Resource, Conservation and Development (Pathfinders RC&D) in 1991. Pathfinders RC&D constructed ponds, wetlands and planted thousands of trees.
John Decker donated a conservation easement on 94 acres of woodland-dominated land in Dubuque County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to protect the property he visits often. Most of the land has been in the Decker family for four generations. Easily seen from the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, the Mississippi River Trail and a mere 1.5 miles from the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, permanent protection ensures habitat, open space and scenic beauty will endure.
Frank Doden and Lori Askeland sold their 160 acres of native prairie and wetlands northeast of Buffalo Center to the Iowa DNR at below market value price. The property, including of 150 acres enrolled in the permanent Wetlands Reserve Program, will provide public access to hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
Sherri Richardson Duey and Bill Duey, retired Army Corps of Engineers project operations managers, donated a 164-acre conservation easement on a portion of their farm in Monroe County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Eleven Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including bald eagles, bobcats, bobolink and American woodcock have been observed on the property’s woodlands, grasslands, prairie, working lands on previously cropped ridgetops and an unnamed tributary of Coal Creek. Permanent protection preserves critical wildlife habitat, open space and the agricultural character of the land.
Five years ago, Paul Durrenberger and Suzan Erem bought land just north of Iowa City to help a young farmer begin a GMO-free, chemical-free agroforestry farm. As a result of that experience, Suzan, Paul and 23 other Iowans founded the statewide Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, which specializes in permanently protecting land to grow healthy food. This 63-acre donation became the sixth farm protected by the young farmland trust.
Jennifer Garst and Elizabeth Garst donated more than 250 acres of crop and natural lands to Whiterock Conservancy. Whiterock Conservancy will continue to maintain and improve the restored prairie and timber land. Crops fields will help demonstrate sustainable land management practices. A log house on the property will provide visitors another opportunity to enjoy and study the diverse landscape. The Spinney Top Barn and land next to the Star Field Campground and Little Dipper Trail will expand recreational opportunities with a bike skills course and provide better emergency vehicle access to the trail.
Richard and Joyce Harms sold their 54-acre inholding within Sweet Marsh WMA to the Iowa DNR at below market value price. The wooded property, next to the Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County, will provide public access to hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities. A hard-surface recreational bike trail borders the property.
The Henning Family donated agricultural easements on 133 acres in Greene County and 160 acres in Calhoun County to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust. The farms, owned by the Henning and DeLong families for more than 100 years, produce certified organic crops and use longer crop rotations, cover crops and conservation acres to protect the rich agricultural soil and water quality in the Raccoon River watershed. The easements make it affordable for the next generation of agriculturalists to produce healthy, locally-grown food and feed crops.
Lon Horbach and Ted Halls donated a portion of the value of 704 acres of mixed habitat in southwest Warren County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property, significant for both its size and proximity just 45 minutes from the Des Moines metro, will eventually transfer to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Once restored, the land will provide high quality wildlife habitat and outstanding opportunities for the public to get outdoors.
Gary and Deborah Howell donated 70 acres near Mason City with a reserved life estate to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property includes working lands, woodland and grassed waterways with tremendous potential for prairie and wetland restoration. The Howells would eventually like the property to provide expanded wildlife habitat and opportunities for others to get outdoors during educational and volunteer events.
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation conveyed 10 properties totaling 1,612 acres of land to the State of Iowa at below market value prices. These land projects were located in 9 counties and valued over $400,000 of donated land value.
Linda M Lee, M.D. and Thomas J Gross, M.D. donated 104 acres of riverfront floodplain in Washington County to Bur Oak Land Trust to conserve the land in perpetuity for current and future generations to enjoy.
Lawrence “Larry” McTaggart donated a portion of the value of 22 acres of his family farm along the banks of the Volga River in Clayton County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Permanent protection of the property, next to the Volga River Wildlife Management Area, will expand the complex of protected land in the area and increase wildlife habitat for a variety of game and non-game species. The land has been transferred to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Darrell and Middie Morf donated a conservation easement on 14 acres of reconstructed prairie on part of their property in Linn County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The prairie lies on a paha (a prominent hilltop formed by glaciers), offering spectacular views of Cedar Rapids and Palisades-Kepler State Park. Over the past 20 years, the Morfs have spent countless hours caring for the prairie, resulting in a diverse, high quality reconstruction that provides critical habitat for pollinators, grassland birds and other wildlife.
Karen Nelson donated a conservation easement on 60 acres in Cherokee County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Karen and her late husband, Thomas, cared for and enjoyed the land for many years. After placing a conversation easement on the property, which lies along the Little Sioux River across from the Silver Sioux Recreation Area and next to the Pearse Access and Harold Clark Areas, Karen donated it to the Cherokee County Conservation Board to provide low-impact recreational opportunities for the public.
Suzanne and Michael O’Brien and Jay and Barbara Muckle donated a portion of the value of 55 acres along the South Skunk River to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property just outside of Story City city limits has oxbows, woodland and riparian habitat. About 28 acres of flood-prone cropland will be restored to native prairie, reducing soil loss, improving water quality and expanding wildlife habitat. The property will eventually transfer to Story County Conservation.
Eric and Peggy Peterson donated 31 acres of woodland along Little Beaver Creek in Dallas County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The Petersons have spent countless hours in the woodland, improving the timber stand and enjoying the woodland flowers and wildlife. The woodland is home to an impressive variety of spring ephemerals, including trout lily and Dutchman’s breeches, and migratory birds such as wood ducks.
Pheasants Forever, Inc. sold 45 acres southwest of Ryan to the Iowa DNR at below market value price to provide permanent water quality protection for Buffalo Creek. The Buffalo Creek floodplain will now be managed as one contiguous ecosystem, focusing on pollinator species and nesting bird species. The property will provide public access to hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities in the Cedar Rapids metro area.
Pheasants Forever, Inc. sold 217 acres of wetlands and native grasses to the Iowa DNR at below market value price. The property, northwest of Britt, is enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program. It will provide public access to hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
Pleasant Grove Land Preservation, Inc., composed of 20 shareholders with a shared vision for land protection and stewardship, donated 479 acres near the North Skunk River in Mahaska County with a reserve life estate to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property includes woodland, prairie and grassland. Pleasant Grove Land Preservation, Inc. donated a conservation easement on the property in 2010.
Shannon Ramsay donated a conservation easement to Bur Oak Land Trust on 45 acres along the scenic Wapsipinicon River in Jones County, locally known as Slide Rock. The property has 60 feet limestone bluffs and woodlands, a sand prairie, meadows and bluff prairies. A camp site used by settlers and indigenous peoples and a wing damn in the river is registered and dated between 2,000 to 4,000 years old. Shannon, the founder of Trees Forever, has shared this property for field days with Bur Oak Land Trust, Iowa Woodland Owners Association, State Archaeology, Trees Forever groups and Jones County Conservation Board and Prairiewoods. She has worked to maintain the special nature of the property by managing for wildflowers, wildlife and removing invasive species. Fourteen acres of the property are in high quality pollinator habitat and enrolled with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The Raymond Muller family donated a 560-acre conservation easement to the Nature Conservancy of Iowa to protect native Loess Hills prairie. Raymond and Maryann worked with their ranch manager to restore prairie and manage the woody vegetation. This project received funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Agricultural Lands Easement (ALE) program, the Loess Hills Alliance and the Gilchrist Foundation.
Mike and Linda Rickert donated a conservation easement on 20 acres of land along the Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF). The Rickerts donated a conversation easement on 240 acres of adjacent land in 2007, and 72 acres of land in Hardin County in 2011 to INHF. Long-time INHF members and supporters, Linda and Mike are committed to protecting the wildlife habitat, woodland, native prairie and water quality of the Upper Iowa River. Protection of this parcel, which include native goat prairie and oak-hickory woodland, creates a 260-acre contiguous complex of protected land along the river.
Daniel Jr. and Martha Schipfer donated 40 acres of floodplain forest and floodplain/seasonal wetland vegetation to the Iowa DNR. The South Skunk River runs through a most of the property (about 1,900 feet) in southern Keokuk County. This donation will provide public access to hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities and enhance habitat to numerous wildlife species that use this river corridor.
Dick Schwab and Katherine Buford donated a portion of the value of 133 acres of woodland in Johnson County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for future transfer to the Johnson County Conservation Board. The property includes a community supported agriculture project, ponds, an ephemeral creek, trails and hand-built wooden double-round and stone barns. The property is next to several other protected properties in the area, creating a 500-acre complex of protected habitat.
VanKirk Storage Company, LLC donated 10 acres of land in Dallas County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to connect the popular High Trestle and Raccoon River Valley trails between Woodward and Perry. The donation includes about 1 mile of trail corridor, and has been transferred to the Dallas County Conservation Board.
Fred and Emily Weitz donated a conservation easement on 28 acres of woodland along the Raccoon River just south of the Des Moines metro to expand the complex of protected land in the area. The land, which has been in the family for two generations, lies next to Raccoon River Park, Walnut Woods State Park and Brown’s Woods State Park. It includes a high quality oak, hickory and walnut woodland that boasts a stunning assortment of spring ephemerals.