Addition secured for Hitchcock Nature Center

---

A beautiful prairie and woodland area in the Loess Hills has been secured as a future addition to the Hitchcock Nature Center.

Donna and Clifford Rahel own property adjoining the Hitchcock Nature Center, a popular preserve and Loess Hills interpretive center located in the heart of the Loess Hill about 15-miles northwest of Council Bluffs.

After nearly 14 years of discussion and consideration, the Rahels have deeded 178 acres of their property using a reserved life estate to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF). The reserved life estate allowed the Rahels to sell their land at a reduced rate. In return, they can use their land until the end of their lifetimes. At that time, INHF will transfer the acreage to the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board (PCCB), which owns and operates the Hitchcock Nature Center. Until that time, however, the property is not open to the public as the Rahels retain control.

INHF, a private non-profit conservation organization, received funding for the purchase from the Iowa West Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. PCCB received a state Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) grant for a portion of the purchase. A maintenance fund was established to help the county with prairie management, reconstruction and other maintenance expenses.

"The PCCB staff knows how to manage the land and how to do controlled prairie burns. They've studied preservation and stewardship of the land, and they're very good at it," said Cliff Rahel, who formerly volunteered for the Pottawattamie County Conservation Foundation.

Once the Rahel land is added, the Hitchcock Nature Center, located five miles northwest of Crescent, will be over 1000 acres. Currently, Hitchcock offers hiking, a new modern campground, camping cabins, backpack camping sites and a playground.

"The Rahel property will be a worthwhile addition to the already remarkable Hitchcock Area; that's why we spent many years dedicated to this project," said Mark Ackelson, INHF president. "We always feel good about protecting areas in the Loess Hills because it is such a distinctive and valuable place for Iowa."

The Loess Hills are a unique geological formation created by wind and water deposits. The hills contain some of the most diverse native prairie remnants remaining in Iowa.

Most of the Rahel land is a balance of prairie and woodland with 60 acres of cropland. The prairie is a mix of native and restored prairie. Once under the PCCB's control, the cropland will be reconstructed as prairie using local eco-type seed. Later, its seed can be used for restoring other sites.

"The property is valuable to the PCCB because of the presence of high quality prairie, excellent stands of hardwood timber, and this acquisition is contiguous to the Hitchcock Nature Center," said Mark Shoemaker, director for the PCCB.

Hitchcock is known for its wildlife viewing and the addition increases the habitat potential. It is home for numerous rare or threatened birds, including Broad-winged Hawks, Peregrine Falcons and Swainson's Hawks.

"The migrating birds need this expanse of untouched land. It's especially important for the small songbirds whose population is down considerably. The larger expanse of habitat that's available, the more flora and fauna you'll see at Hitchcock," said Donna Rahel.

In the 1980's, the surrounding community and INHF became intensely interested in protecting the Hitchcock Nature Center when a private landowner attempted to create a landfill on the property. By 1991, INHF was able to help purchase the initial 508 acres to be used for the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board's premier Loess Hills preserve. Since then, the area has expanded through several additions, including land additions/donations from the Rahels.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.