Private sale protects resources

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This article first appeared in INHF's Spring 2006 magazine.

Illustrating that there are multiple ways to protect natural resources, INHF recently sold a property to a private conservation buyer with restrictions to protect its special features.

In early 2005 INHF purchased this northeast Iowa site containing a trout stream and woodlands. It was not adjacent to any other public lands, and neither the county conservation board nor the Department of Natural Resources thought it was necessary for public use. However, because the property is at the confluence of Hickory Creek and the Yellow River, we felt it was appropriate that it be protected and managed to protect water quality and habitat in the area. 

The site had previously been subdivided into 11 lots. We eliminated 10 of the lots and limited development. We advertised the site through a local realtor and our website, found a private buyer willing to accept conservation restrictions and sold the site with a permanent conservation easement to protect its most significant features.

This is not the first time INHF has used this additional protection tool—purchase and resale with conservation restrictions—and we are confident it will have other applications in the future as well. This method keeps the land privately managed and on the tax rolls while protecting its natural resources.

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