Bluffland Alliance
celebrates 10 years of progress

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Note: This article was written by INHF Buckmaster intern Kelly Rohder and was first published in the Summer 2004 edition of INHF's quarterly magazine.

It features natural coldwater springs, caves, sinkholes, trout streams, remnant prairie ridges, scenic bluffs, the highest density of archeological sites in North America and an endangered species unique to the last ice age.

This unusual geologic site-the Upper Mississippi blufflands-graces northeast Iowa and parts of three other states. Located where Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois meet along the Mississippi River, it includes 400 river miles in 23 counties.

Ten years ago, INHF was a leader in forming a multi-state partnership to protect this special region. The result is the Mississippi Blufflands Alliance, a collaboration of land trusts whose goal is to conserve the region's natural, scenic, cultural, and agricultural land and water resources.

Primary partners include the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Illinois Natural Land Institute, Minnesota Land Trust, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation and the West Wisconsin Land Trust. INHF continues to spearhead many of the group's joint fundraising efforts.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Bluffland Alliance's continued success is evident with nearly 15,000 acres and more than 100 sites protected through the four states. In February 1997, the Alliance's work was recognized nationally with a Renew America National Award for Environmental Sustainability.

The Alliance's first major donor, the McKnight Foundation, still provides support today. Other major funding comes from both the private and public domain, including the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust of Muscatine, Strye Foundation, Otto Bremer Foundation, Sweasy Family Foundation, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, State of Wisconsin Stewardship Program, Alliant Energy Foundation and many others.

Rick Gauger, executive director of the West Wisconsin Land Trust (WWLT), said that membership in the Alliance improves his organization's effectiveness.

"The encouragement of the partners in the Alliance over the years has helped the WWLT to focus our efforts on the Blufflands more than ever," said Gauger. "We wouldn't have been able to accomplish nearly as much without it."

Sites protected by Blufflands Alliance partners include the Heritage Addition to Effigy Mounds (IA), Maiden Rock Bluff (WI), LaCrosse Blufflands (WI), Hanover Bluff (IL) and Apple Blossom Drive (MN) and many others.

"The Alliance succeeds because it helps each partner recognize issues across the entire ecosystem-and then carry the big vision home to work with the land and people we know best," said Mark Ackelson, INHF president and an Alliance founder. "The blufflands region still faces significant threats-but I'm proud of the Alliance's many achievements over the past 10 years, and I believe we're poised to accomplish even more in the decade to come."

Kelly Rohder is a University of Iowa student and Svare intern for INHF.

This map shows priority areas that Blufflands Alliance partners like the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation are currently working to protect. In the past 10 years, this partnership has protected nearly 15,000 acres at more than 100 sites in four states.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, INHF Communications Director, or call (515) 288-1846.