Unique Clayton County land protected

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This article was written and posted on INHF's website in August 2005.

After three years, a 120-acre Clayton County site with rare natural features including an ice cave and trout stream is now under the protection of two conservation-minded owners. 

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) purchased the site from Robert Sampson in October 2002 to preserve its exceptional natural resources. It contains more than 10 sinkholes that support rare algific (cold-producing) slopes in the adjacent Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge.

INHF sold 50 acres of the property to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) earlier this year. These acres contain the most sensitive natural features and will be permanently preserved as a buffer to the wildlife refuge.

Many of the rare species in the refuge, including federally threatened northern monkshood, can survive only in the cool environment provided by algific slopes. As air flows into the ground through sinkholes in the springtime, it passes over ice and cools. The resulting cold air is released through vents in the ground, cooling the surface throughout the summer. The process is reversed in the winter, drawing cold air into the ground and replenishing the underground ice.

“A major threat to algific slopes is filling in sinkholes,” said Cathy Henry, refuge operations specialist. “The number of sinkholes on this property made it an important site to protect.”

Because the sinkholes and other features on the 50-acre parcel are vital to sustaining the unique habitat provided by the algific slopes in the refuge, the Iowa DNR acquired the land utilizing funds provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through Section 6 of the federal Endangered Species Act.

In June 2004 INHF sold the other 70 acres to the Klaus Boy Scout Camp, which they used to expand recreation and education opportunities. The camp and INHF entered into a permanent land protection agreement, also known as a conservation easement, as a condition of the sale to protect the land from future development and cattle grazing.

“I’m pleased that this spectacular site is going to remain protected, not only for educational use by an established scouting program but also for habitat on adjacent refuge land,” said Darrell Mills, INHF Blufflands Conservation Coordinator. “This project blends two crucial conservation priorities.” 

The entire 120-acre site is also home to a variety of species like golden saxifrage and glacial relic snails that are associated with algific environments. The water quality of Brownfield Creek, a cold-water trout stream, is also protected.

Because the land lies in the midst of a 640-acre tract of land with no roads, wildlife thrives there.  Its wooded bluffs provide important habitat for neotropical migratory birds, who travel along the Mississippi River between points as far north as Canada and as far south as Argentina.

The non-profit INHF works with public and private entities to protect Iowa’s natural places for future generations. The organization has protected more than 80,000 acres statewide, but places special emphasis on the Mississippi River blufflands region.

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