Family protects land, honors friend

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This article was released in October 2007.

 

A local family has donated two voluntary protection agreements as a tribute to a life-long friend, cousin and avid conservationist.

After previous owner and friend Carl Nus died in 1998, his widow sold the Clayton County property to Vernon Shaw and daughters, Christie and Shelley. The Shaw family recently donated two conservation easements, one on this property and another in Fayette County, to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), a nonprofit conservation group.

“It’s always been a special place for us.” Vernon said. “Carl would be really happy to know it’s being left in its natural state. It’s what he intended.”

Though the family retains private ownership and use, the easements permanently protect 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 Shaw, his daughters and all future owners.

One easement covers the 120-acre Clayton County property. Its most prominent feature—and the prime reason for its protection—is a natural spring that’s the source of Ensign Creek. This coldwater creek supports the natural reproduction of native trout. The second easement, a 63-acre Fayette County property, owned by Vernon alone, adjoins Brush Creek Canyon State Park. In addition to buffering public land, it contains upland maple woodlands and a blue spring that’s one of the sources of Brush Creek.

“Through the conservation easement, Vernon formalized his existing conservation ethic for perpetuity,” said Darrel Mills, INHF’s Blufflands Coordinator.

INHF has helped protect more than 95,000 acres of Iowa’s natural resources throughout the state. Other INHF project sites in Clayton County include the Motor Mill Conservation Area, an addition to Osborne Conservation area, and many other public and private sites.

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