Looking ahead

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This article first appeared in INHF's 2006 Annual Report.

If you think our 2006 accomplishments are exciting, take a look at what’s on deck for 2007! If this abbreviated list seems daunting, just remember that when a bunch of people with a passion for Iowa’s natural resources work together, we accomplish miracles.

Upper Iowa River

It’s big—really big! The Foundation has purchased 1,224 acres of undeveloped land along the Upper Iowa River, including more than two miles of the river itself. The diverse site contains bluffs, dry prairies, oak savanna, woodlands and lots of wildlife habitat. Our board made a big commitment in purchasing the $4.3 million property. We hope it will someday be publicly owned and open for public use. In the meantime, we’re raising funds and beginning restoration on the site’s natural communities.

Loess Hills

Big-scale projects

A few years ago, INHF rarely had a million dollar project. Now we’re juggling several at once—Anglers Bay, Mississippi River bluffs, Upper Iowa River, Central Iowa Trail Network and others. This “passion for Iowa’s future” thing can be expensive!

Managing and funding such large-scale projects is a challenge—but it's necessary. We can't risk losing these stupendous conservation opportunities forever.

Private land protection

Thanks to new federal tax legislation, landowners have until year-end to qualify to greatly expanded tax incentives for donated conservation easements. Since each easement takes several months to process, we have several in the pipeline with more to come. We’ve already dubbed 2007 “the year of the conservation easements.”

Letter from the Board Chair

2006 highlights

2006 land projects

INHF financially speaking

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