Featured Destination: Iowa River Greenbelt
Who's Protecting the Greenbelt?

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Pine Lake State Park, photo by Ed Siems

In 1919, famed Iowa State University botanist L.H. Pammel first recommended that the region where the Iowa River runs through Hardin County be protected. Then, in the 1950s, the Hardin County Conservation Board named the area the Iowa River Greenbelt and began protecting it.



In 1987, the Iowa River Greenbelt Resource Trust (IRGRT) was formed under the umbrella of INHF. This group involved the county, communities and citizens in developing a master plan that outlined conservation needs along with environmental education, recreation and tourism opportunities for the area. The plan, developed by Crose Gardner & Associates, proposed four segments to balance conservation and habitat protection with recreation and tourism development along the Greenbelt.


View the four segments of the Iowa River Greenbelt


For 20 years, INHF has worked to protect the Iowa River Greenbelt's precious areas. In that time, INHF has played a role in completing more than ten projects in the Greenbelt, from providing funding for projects to acting as interim landowner to serving as easement monitor.

This work has come on both public and private lands. One example of INHF's work in protecting private land is a conservation easement donated to INHF by Bob and Joell de Neui. This easement helped create a 700-acre complex of protected land in what is considered the "heart of the Greenbelt." Read an Iowa Natural Heritage magazine article about the de Neui easement here.

INHF has also been involved in many public land projects along the Greenbelt such as Sand Springs Wildlife Area, Sandstone Palisades (now Fallen Rock Wildlife Area), a Wildcat Cave addition, and an addition to Pine Lake State Park.

View a map of INHF's Greenbelt projects


It took decades of public and private cooperation to get to this point in the protection of the Iowa River Greenbelt and the work continues. Contact one of these partner organizations if you're interested in helping.

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Hardin County Conservation Board
Iowa River Greenbelt Resource Trust

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