An Iowa couple has protected 177 acres of land in Buchanan County along the Wapsipinicon River, through a voluntary protection agreement.
Guy and Shirley Grover recently donated a conservation easement to protect two pieces of land to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), a non-profit conservation group.
The Grover’s protected property, which remains in their private ownership, is approximately two miles west of Quasqueton, and borders the Wapsipincon River for nearly one mile. This stretch of river is one of five sites in Iowa listed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a Protected Water Area. The property lies within one and a half miles of large public areas owned by the Buchanan County Conservation Board and the Iowa DNR. The property is also near Cedar Rock, the Frank Lloyd Wright home owned by the DNR.
The Grover’s land contains natural woodlands and native tree plantings. The west parcel has a small, inactive sand quarry and a remnant sand prairie; both parcels have oxbow wetlands. The property’s rolling topography leads to diverse woodlands, including native bur oak and shagbark hickory. The heavily-wooded portion of the river provides excellent habitat for resident and neotropical migratory birds, as well as woodland game species.
Though the couple retains private ownership and use, the easement permanently protects the land from mining, developing, clear cutting, over-grazing, and other activities that could diminish the area’s natural resources and scenery. The easement restrictions apply to the Grovers and all future owners. The specific purpose of this easement is to protect the wildlife habitat, water quality and scenic values of the Wapsipinicon River Corridor.
Guy Grover said he’s tied to the property after living, planting and hunting on it for more than 20 years. He felt a conservation easement would ensure that future generations would enjoy the land as much as he has.
Grover can recall listening to the howls of coyotes from his treestand, searching for deer and bobcat tracks by the property’s sand quarry and catching largemouth bass on the property. Since he’s no longer able to do these things, he hopes the easement will help future generations to “appreciate the land, the way it is.”
INHF has helped protect more than 95,000 acres of Iowa’s natural resources throughout the state, including the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Ham Marsh and several other sites in Buchanan County. For more information, visit inhf.org.
See related magazine article