Bur Oak WA Addition, Emmet County

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This article first appeared in INHF's Fall 2008 magazine.

Emmet County gains wetlands
A new INHF addition to the Bur Oak Lake Wildlife Area in Emmet County nearly doubles the size of this prime spot for habitat and recreation. The 384-acre property is located 10 miles southeast of Estherville and contains crop ground, pasture, timber and more than a mile along the West Fork of the Des Moines River. The land has flooded often in the past and is now enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program. The Iowa DNR, which now owns and manages the site, will restore portions of farmland to wetlands and prairie, benefiting water quality.

The addition, which expands the wildlife area to nearly 800 acres, will be managed as wildlife habitat. It recently opened to the public and signs will be posted soon. The river frontage, uplands and woodlands provide diverse recreational opportunities, from hiking and nature viewing to hunting and fishing.

INHF acquired the property and provided interim ownership. The Iowa DNR then repurchased it with federal funding from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and private match dollars. Emmet County Pheasants Forever and the local Izaak Walton League provided further assistance.

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