Couple dedicates retirement to land protection

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This article was written and posted on INHF's website in January 2007.

An Iowa couple is devoting their golden years to a golden place.

Bill and Marlys Brown spend countless hours restoring natural resources on their Jackson County land. The diverse, 119-acre site includes a half-mile of river frontage on the north fork of the Maquoketa River, steep limestone bluffs and their associated caves, prairie, pasture and ungrazed woodland.

“This might not be the way that a lot of people want to spend their retirement, but it just seems like this is where we’re supposed to be,” Marlys said. “It’s such a beautiful place.”

Because the Browns are concerned about the land’s protection beyond their lifetimes, they have donated a conservation easement to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF).

The voluntary protection agreement the Browns signed with INHF will permanently protect the land from clear cutting, developing, mining and other activities that would diminish the site’s natural resources and scenic values.

INHF is a nonprofit conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 90,000 acres of Iowa’s wild places and holds 58 easements, including five in Jackson County. Baldwin Marsh in Jackson County is another INHF project.

While the Browns retain ownership of the land, INHF is permanently responsible for ensuring that present and future owners follow the easement terms.

“The Browns wanted to make sure the land would be protected no matter what happened,” said Brian Fankhauser, land stewardship specialist at INHF. “An easement was the best fit for their needs.”

Among other work, the Browns have focused on restoring a native “goat” prairie, a dry bluff prairie that grows on steep southwestern slopes.

As they expand their stewardship, the Browns will continue to clear invasive trees in the prairie and rock outcrop areas, implement prescribed fires and concentrate on soil conservation and river site management.

Thanks to the previous restoration work, the site harbors a diverse range of wildlife. Its woodlands shelter scarlet tanagers and pileated woodpeckers, Iowa’s largest woodpecker species. Its well-maintained pasture provides nesting sites for grassland birds such as the bobolink.

Although there is no public access to the property, there are still public benefits to protecting it. With its location on the heavily canoed north fork of the Maquoketa River, the site offers many scenic values. The work will benefit wildlife and river quality, as well. 

The site also offers educational opportunities to various groups. The Browns regularly invite organizations such as the Iowa Native Plant Society to study the natural resources, the Iowa Grotto Club to explore the property’s 15 caves and the Prairie State Mushroom Club to study the fungi.

“We learn something from every group that comes,” Marlys said.

Boy Scout groups make use of the site and the small private camping area on the property, as well.

“The Browns are really generous people,” Fankhauser said. “They like to share what they have.”

INHF staff members first met with the Browns in June 2005 to discuss their long-term goals of the land.

“The Browns have the dream and drive needed for this project, and that’s what’s important,” Fankhauser said. “We’re just here to help them attain their goals.”

The Browns have owned the land since 1991 when they bought it from Bill’s sister. They plan to someday pass the land on to their three children, who all support the easement.

“Our children grew up there, now our grandchildren are growing up there and hopefully their children will grow up there,” Marlys said. “It’s just a wonderful place to be.”

“It’s exciting to work with people who have conservation in their hearts,” Fankhauser said. “They’re doing this easement for all the right reasons.”

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