County adds habitat to popular refuge
A popular natural area in Mahaska County has more than doubled in size and added valuable wildlife habitat. The recent addition to the Quercus Wilderness Area, located between Eddyville and Oskaloosa, brings some special recreational opportunities for area outdoor enthusiasts.
The 39-acre addition expands the site to 105 acres. The addition also boosts the quality and diversity of the preserve, which boasts a mature oak woodland, a hard-surface path and ideal habitat for a wide range of Iowa plants and animals.
The Quercus Wilderness Area and its new addition are owned and managed by the Mahaska County Conservation Board. Mike Gipple, director of MCCB, said he is excited about the addition and its potential to enhance public enjoyment.
“The short, hard-surfaced trail through the area is very well used. It allows people of all ages and abilities the chance to witness and discover the many animals, birds and plants that call a forest a home,” Gipple said.
Seniors and even some wheelchair-bound citizens have used the trail, which allows much less restricted access to the area’s natural beauty.
Quercus Wilderness Area’s draw is not just its trail. The preserve provides excellent wildlife habitat for a variety of game and non-game species. It is open to hunting. Located along a sand ridge, it has unique potential for harboring rare or even endangered species of both plants and animals. The new section also adds a swath of mature hardwood forest, which is no longer common in Iowa.
Gipple said the forest will be a special attraction for Mahaska County residents.
“Quercus Wilderness Area provides individuals with the opportunity to discover a true gem in Iowa, a mature oak-hickory woodland,” he said.
A portion of the wilderness area will eventually be converted to short grass prairie, facilitating a growth of biodiversity in the preserve.
The addition took some time to purchase and fund so that it could be opened for public use, according to Gipple. The Mahaska CCB approached the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation about helping the county purchase the land in 2003. INHF is a nonprofit conservation group that works with private landowners and others to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. INHF was able to help, and Mahaska County completed the deal to take ownership of the expanded area earlier this year. To secure the property, the county received funding support from the Mahaska County Pheasants Forever and Mahaska Fan Club (a chapter of the Wild Turkey Federation).
“If you get a great opportunity, INHF is always there to help,” Gipple said.
For more details or a map to the site, visit the county’s Web site at http://www.mahaskaconservation.com/.
Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 100,000 acres of Iowa’s wild places. Previous INHF projects in Mahaska County include Cedar Bluffs Natural Area, Maskunky Marsh, the development of the Conservation Center and Peter’s Park Wildlife Area. For more information about INHF and its work, visit www.inhf.org or call 515-288-1846.