Iowa River Wildlife Area Background
This information was updated August 2008.
Fundraising goals have been met for the new Iowa River Wildlife Area in Marshall County. With that good news, it opens to the public Sept. 1, 2008, with a dedication, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. Located about 1.5 miles northwest of Marshalltown, the 485-acre IRWA includes forest, prairie and wetland habitats and more than a mile of shoreline along the Iowa River. The mature woodland will be known as the Lowenberg Memorial Forest. The area was previously known as the Hollingsworth Project. Details One of the most pristine forested areas in Marshall County, it has few invasive species and is known to have Turk's cap lily and green dragon plants. The mature woodlands, riparian areas and open space support deer, wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers and many other species. It is known to contain a great blue heron rookerty, a wintering area for bald eagles and a nesting site for red-shouldered hawks, a state-endangered species. The original 330-acre property was purchased by INHF from Carl Hollingsworth. An additional 155 adjacent acres of restored wetland habitat were added to the project area when the Iowa Department of Transportation’s transferred the land as a wetland mitigation area to compensate for wetlands destroyed due to road construction. Transfer of the land made sense for long-term management by one agency, according to Marshall County Conservation Board Director Mike Stegmann, who said the areas complement each other to maximize the potential for wildlife production. Land management is underway at the site. Plans and work have started on the parking lot, public access and boundary markings. Degraded buildings and internal fences have been removed. County Conservation personnel will also conduct burns to nurture and assess any remaining native prairie. The area is designated as a game management area, and management will focus on natural lands reclamation and preservation. Most of the area will be open to public hunting, along with many other compatible activities such as hiking, bird watching, outdoor photography, and nature study. No designated trails will be managed on the area. Support About half the project's funding came from two state programs: the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) and Wildlife Habitat Stamp programs, both competitive grants. Private funding included $100,000 from an anonymous couple. Other key supporters include the Martha-Ellen Tye foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Marshall County Ducks Unlimited, tributes to John S. Lowenberg and many local families and companies. INHF provided grant-writing, fundraising assistance and interim ownership. INHF has prvided similar services for many other Marshall County Conservation sites, including Sand Lake and Marietta Sand Prairie. Directions To drive to the site: Go North on North Center Street out of Marshalltown to Sand Road. Turn West (left) on Sand Road. Proceed west approximately three-quarters of a mile to the parking area on the south side of Sand Road. See map.
For questions, contact Ann Robinson, INHF Outreach Coordinator, at 515-288-1846, or Mike Stegmann, Marshall County Conservation Board Director, 641-752-5490.
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