Upper Iowa River: INHF's role

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Upper Iowa River:
INHF's role

Click for larger version of this map. INHF photo

INHF's role

While the Upper Iowa River's natural features are some of the most significant in Iowa, they are also under some of the most intensive development pressure. Homes, roads, and developments can quickly destroy natural areas.

That's why INHF is working to partnering with local landowners, local government agencies and state conservationists to protect this region's important natural heritage and to maintain the mystique of the Upper Iowa River experience. INHF started protecting sites here in the early 1980s (shortly after we were founded) and remain active there. As of May 2010, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has protected 36 sites, totaling more than 4,000 acres, along or near the Upper Iowa River.

Some INHF project sites, like the Canoe Creek Access in Winneshiek County and Upper Iowa River Access in Allamakee County are now owned by public conservation agencies and open to the public. Others sites, though not open to the public, are equally important to protect the area's wildlife, water quality and other natural values.

Here are a few highlights of our work:

Providing river access
INHF completed its first project along the Upper Iowa River in 1980, our first year as an organization. The Upper Iowa River Access (323 acres) lies along three-quarters of a mile of the Upper Iowa River in western Allamakee County. This rich natural area contains outstanding scenic, recreational, fisheries, wildlife, geological and archaeological features. INHF negotiated a purchase from the willing landowners, creating the opportunity for public access to the river. The site is now owned and managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. INHF often acts as a facilitator between voluntary private sellers and public buyers, like the state or county, to establish new public lands across Iowa.

Protecting palisades
Later in the 1980s, INHF worked with two private landowners who donated a conservation easement on the half-mile stretch of river that holds Chimney Rock, an outstanding limestone stack formation. The approximately 22-acre area also contains wooded hillsides and remnant prairies.

At about the same time, INHF negotiated another private conservation easement on the rugged, limestone palisades on the Upper Iowa River-another well-known segment. This easement also protected 23 acres of beautiful blufflands, some rare, endangered and unusual plant and animal species. A couple of years later the property was purchased by the Winneshiek County Conservation Board.

Saving trout streams
Meanwhile, INHF had a cold water stream protection program that was primarily directed at this Winneshiek and Allamakee County region. It includes protection along Pine Creek, Cold Water Creek, and other significant tributaries.

Working with neighborhood
In 2000-2001, the 128-acre River Bend acquisition to prevent a 44-house subdivision has pushed INHF's efforts along the Upper Iowa River to new heights. INHF staff made 60 individual landowner contacts within several months and gave presentations to local county boards and commissions, plus local organizations. Working closely with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and 12 local families who voluntarily donated conservation easements to make the deal work, the River Bend project eventually resulted in 144 acres protected for public use and nearly 900 acres protected under private conservation easements.

Then in 2004, INHF transferred 140 acres, including the inside bend of the Chimney Rock palisades, to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. An INHF board member, shocked by a landowner who was plowing right into the river, had purchased thin buffer strips of land along the river and donated them to INHF in 1990. Nearly 15 years later, INHF was finally able to purchase the adjoining parcels. The Department of Natural Resources is restoring woodland and reconstructing prairie on the land, which is now open for public use. A few months later, INHF helped the Iowa DNR acquire an adjoining 27-acre parcel, adding the last puzzle piece to this key river bend across from Chimney Rocks.

Heritage Valley
In 2007, INHF acquired 1,224 acres from the estate of Forrest and Gladys Ryan. Now called Heritage Valley, this diverse and beautiful property is located along the Upper Iowa River in western Allamakee County. It contains wooded bluffs, hillside prairies and more than 3 miles of the Upper Iowa River. The property is still in INHF ownership and typically not open to public use. However, INHF opened it for several public BioBlitz events - where participants identified more than 1,000 plant and wildlife species on the site. INHF continues to invest many hours of intern and staff time on restoration and management.

Looking forward
INHF continues to help willing landowners along the Upper Iowa River to explore private or public protection options. But this work takes many hands. Please support our efforts to portect the Upper Iowa River!