Prairie preserved as living museum

The northeast corner of Franklin County holds a window into the 19th Century. It’s not so much a man-made museum as it is a sanctuary, undisturbed by decades of human development. This little piece of history is now protected forever.

Kothenbeutel Heritage Prairie is a 40-acre prairie with 32 acres of native, never-plowed prairie. On this land, the trails of a historical stagecoach route can still be seen after prairie burns. Visitors can get lost in the same landscape of tall prairie grasses and wildflowers that greeted the first white settlers here.

Because 98% of Iowa’s land has drastically changed through farming and development since the pioneer days, finding a native prairie is particularly special. This prairie, with over 250 different species, however, is a true gem.

“What’s amazing about this site is the size and quality of the remnant prairie,” said Brain Fankhauser, the Foundation's land stewardship specialist. “To have such a large prairie in north central Iowa is rare, and its high level of plant diversity is rarer still.”

The land formerly belonged to Daryl Kothenbeutel, prairie enthusiast and owner and operator of the Iowa Prairie Seed Company, which carries over 100 varieties of prairie wildflower and grass seeds.

Slowed by a recent heart attack, Kothenbeutel decided to sell this remnant to someone who would continue his work, so he made a bargain sale to the Foundation. The Foundation’s land stewardship staff and interns will continue the prairie’s maintenance.

“This summer, interns started clearing invasive trees and removing sweet clover and wild parsnip, both of which rapidly invade the prairie and reduce its vigor and health,” said Fankhauser. “In addition, staff will use prescribed fire to help control the invasive species and maintain the health of the fire-dependent prairie system.”

This site is not open to the public; however guided group tours can be arranged for the public to learn about and enjoy Iowa’s natural prairie heritage.  Public workdays will also be offered for those interested in helping preserve the site, attain practical knowledge of what it takes to manage a prairie, and experience the landscape of their ancestors.

Both the state and Central Region of the nonprofit Iowa Prairie Network donated funds to help the Foundation purchase the land.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its inception in 1979, the Foundation has worked with partners to protect more than 85,000 acres, including Mayne’s Grove, the Iowa River Greenbelt, and several area trails.