Loess Hills Alliance supports
Vincent Bluff Preserve
and Murray Hill Addition

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The Loess Hills Alliance approved its first grants for land protection in the Loess Hills on September 15. A total of $30,000 will be split between two projects: a 160-acre addition to the Murray Hill Scenic Overlook in Harrison County and a 30-acre scenic prairie bluff within Council Bluffs to be known as Vincent Bluff Preserve. The portion of the grant devoted to each project will be decided later by another Alliance committee.

The grant represents 4% of the total costs of the two projects combined. Iowa West Foundation has provided a total of $75,000 to the two projects. Other major funds have been received from individuals, companies, private foundations, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Loess Hills Preservation Society, and competitive grants through the State of Iowa. Approximately $352,000 in additional funds is needed to complete the projects.

The two projects met all the criteria the Alliance set forth to measure a worthy project. No other land protection projects were submitted or funded. The review committee recommended both projects to the Alliance Board for grant support. The Board determined the funding level after much discussion, with a final vote of nine aye and eight nay. (Eleven board members were not present.) The $30,000 grants represent less than 5% of the total funds currently available to the Loess Hills Alliance.

"Although we are very disappointed that the Loess Hills Alliance chose not to grant more of its land protection budget (there was also confusion as to whether there was $135,000 or $200,000 available in this year's protection fund), it's not a fatal blow to these two projects," said Mark Ackelson, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. "The project opportunities are here today thanks to partnership efforts of the landowners involved, the parks/conservation departments who are willing to manage these lands for public benefit and resource protection, and the private leadership to get them done. Together we will continue to seek a variety of donors and participants to bring these projects to successful conclusion. Alliance funds are appreciated-as are the gifts and involvement of many other Iowans to protect these natural lands. "

This is the first time land protection funds have been approved by the Loess Hill Alliance, which was created eighteen months ago by the Iowa Legislature to balance development and conservation of the unique land form (Iowa Code 161§D.6). Legislators mandated the board's 28 members to include 21 members appointed by county supervisors in each of the seven Loess Hills counties (3 residents from each county, with one of the three being a county supervisor). Seven additional Western Iowa residents are appointed by the Loess Hills Development & Conservation Authority.

At the board meeting, it was reported that a few legislators do not want a "significant amount of Alliance funds" spent on acquiring public land for conservation or recreation. It remains unclear as to how the full legislature feels about this issue, however. The legislation clearly supports acquisition of fee title and, to a limited extent, conservation easements.

A September 18 release by the Loess Hills Alliance stated, "While the Alliance does not wish to purchase and own land within the hills, it does recognize through its mission, which includes protection, that it should support other groups and organizations with projects that might include the purchase of land by another entity."

Ackelson serves as co-chair of the Land Protection Committee of the Alliance, along with Tim Sproul of the Harrison County Conservation Board. The committee is considering other ways to protect important natural, cultural, recreational and scenic resource lands.

"One method-conservation easements-would let willing landowners place long-term protections on the hills, prairies and woodlands they own and still retain ownership of the land," noted Ackelson. "But right now the Alliance's hands are tied somewhat. It may use funds as an incentive for conservation easements-but state law limits the Alliance funding to annual payments spread over the term of the easement rather than one up-front payment. The landowners we've spoken with would not consider signing a long-term agreement when future funding is uncertain. And conservation groups don't want to expend much energy on contracts that may last as little as a year. We need to invest our limited resources into long-term protection."

Ackelson said, "Despite the difficulty in dealing with the Alliance's severe protection program limitations, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and our partners will continue to work toward creative protection strategies with willing landowners in the Loess Hills."

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