Private land purchase
to help Clear Lake watershed

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This article was written and posted on INHF's website in October 2002. 

Four local families have purchased the Miller Marsh area in hopes of protecting both the land and the Clear Lake watershed.

The Cutler family, Frampton family, Schell family and Salmon family, all of whom own homes along Dodge's Point Beach, recently purchased the 110-acre site from Jean Miller and family. The property lies just off the south shore of Clear Lake, near Dodge's Point and along the south side of South Shore Drive.

According to buyer Chuck Cutler, "Our main purpose for purchasing this property was to prevent development and see that the land is put into conservation programs and managed in a way that will improve the lake's watershed." The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), a nonprofit conservation organization, has been helping the buyers develop conservation strategies for the property.

Like other wetlands, Miller Marsh helps filter sediment and farm chemicals from water entering the lake. The new owners intend to not only protect the existing marsh but to significantly increase its size and restore native plants for even more water quality benefits. INHF has been helping the new owners work with several existing conservation programs to assist with those efforts.

"I think this is really one of the more significant acquisitions in the Clear Lake Area, with its double impact of scenic beauty and direct impact on water quality," said buyer George Frampton.

David Knoll, CLEAR Project coordinator, agrees. "The CLEAR Project has been hoping to develop wetlands around the watershed, and this one was a priority-both as an existing wetland and one that could be enhanced. If this wetland had been filled in or developed, we'd have lost the current benefit it's providing-along with the enhanced protection planned by these conservation buyers. It's exciting that these local residents are interested in the restoration of Clear Lake and are willing to make contributions toward that goal."
The buyers note that others helped them through the process.

"The INHF staff was extremely patient and helpful in assisting us through the conservation angles of this process," noted Cutler. "Their knowledge, insight and encouragement helped to keep me on track and contributed to our getting this project completed."

INHF is a nonprofit, conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowa's land, water and wildlife. Other INHF projects in this area include Woodford-Ashland Lone Tree Nature Area, Blue Wing Marsh, Wild Goose Marsh and others.

"We knew that the Miller family was ready to sell the property and was hoping to preserve its conservation values," said Mark Ackelson, INHF President. "We talked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about a public purchase," Ackelson continued, "and they were willing to commit funds to the effort. We wanted to encourage private conservation as much as possible, however. IDNR was supportive of this action as well. The residents of Clear Lake and Iowa are so fortunate that Iowa has conservation buyers like these four families who are willing to make a private commitment to protecting their watershed. In addition, we are pleased there are public agency partners such as the IDNR, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Soil and Water Conservation District to work with."

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

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