Western Iowa
Prairie Rescue Locations

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 Loess Hills Prairie Rescue
Saturday, April 12, 2003
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Southwest Plymouth County, near Sioux City

Location: Mt. Talbot State Preserve is located on the north side of Stone State Park, along Talbot Road. From the intersection of I-29 and Highway 12 (exit 151), drive north 5 miles on Hwy. 12, past Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center and Stone State Park. About 0.75 mile past the entrance to the park turn east (right) on Talbot Road. Go 0.75 mile to the preserve on the south side of the road. Park along the roadside and walk uphill to the preserve sign.

Site Information: Mt. Talbot State Preserve is a 90-acre natural area that is being invaded by brush and small trees.

Volunteer Information: Volunteers will help clear brush and small trees. Bring drinking water, leather gloves, and brush cutting tools. We'll also search for Pasque Flowers during our frequent breaks.

Contact: Kevin Pape, Park Ranger, Stone State Park,
(712) 255-4698; stone@dnr.state.ia.us

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Preparation Canyon State Park
Saturday, April 26, 2003
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
South central Monona County

Location: Preparation Canyon State Park is located approximately 5 miles southwest of Moorhead, Iowa and approximately 5 miles north of Pisgah, Iowa. Onawa, Iowa is approximately 20 miles northeast of the park. The address is 32257 Pecan Ave. Meet in the east parking lot.

Site Information: Removal of trees and brush from various areas. Will focus on cutting Locus and treating the stumps.

Volunteer Information: Bring hand saws, loppers, and gloves to cut trees and shrubs. Sunscreen is recommended. Come dressed for the weather. Volunteers will meet at the park office and leave as a group to the site.

Contact: Russell Field, Iowa DNR, (712) 423-2829; Russell.Field@dnr.state.ia.us

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Loess Hills Prairie Rescue
Saturday, April 12, 2003
Loess Hills State Forest Overlook; south Monona County

Location: From Hwy 183 just south of Moorhead, turn west on 314th Street (a paved road). Follow to the end of the pavement, turn right onto gravel, and continue a couple of miles on the gravel ridge road (still 314th Street) to the parking area by a large viewing platform. Follow the brown signs to the Loess Hills Forest Overlook.

Site Information: Red cedar trees are the major problem at this site, shading out and threatening to destroy the prairie in many areas.

Volunteer Information: Volunteers will meet at the park office. Bring hand saws, loppers, and gloves to cut trees and shrubs. Sunscreen is recommended. Come dressed for the weather.

Contact: Brent Olson, IDNR Division of Forests and Prairies, (712) 456-2924; brent.olson@dnr.state.ia.us

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 Waubonsie State Park
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Southwest Fremont County

Location: From interstate 29, take exit 10 or Hwy 2 east. Waubonsie is located south off of Hwy 2 on Hwy 239. From the east, go six miles south of Sidney or nine miles north of Hamburg on Hwy 275, then west on Hwy 2. Follow the brown state park signs to the park office parking lot.

Site Information: Waubonsie was purchased by the state in 1926. While the park's prairie remnants have been provided public land protection since then, they have received minimal ecosystem management through fire or clearing of invading species of shrubs and trees, especially cedar. Popular overlooks are in need of help.

Volunteer Information: Volunteers will meet at the Overlook Parking lot. Bring hand saws, loppers, and gloves to cut trees and shrubs. Sunscreen is recommended. Come dressed for the weather.

Contact: Kevin Thorne, Iowa DNR, 712-382-2786; Kevin.Thorne@dnr.state.ia.us

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Nestor Stiles Prairie State Preserve
Saturday April 26, 2003
Southeast Cherokee County

Location: From Iowa 7 and County C43 just west of Aurelia, IA, take County C43 south about 0.75 miles. Continue south for 0.5 miles to the preserve west of the road and just south of a cemetery.

Site Information: Important area needing controlled burn, removal of brush and encroaching woody species.

Volunteer Information: Volunteers will meet near the entrance to the prairie. Bring hand saws, loppers, and gloves to cut trees and shrubs. Sunscreen is recommended. Come dressed for the weather.

Contact: Howard Paul, Cherokee County Conservation Board, (712) 225-6709

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Folsom Point Preserve,
Saturday, April 12, 2003
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Pottawattamie County

Location: Directions to the site - take I-29 south of Council Bluffs to Exit 42 (approx. 6 miles south of Council Bluffs). Turn left onto Bunge Ave (Hwy 370) and go east for 1 mile. Turn right on Alcorn Ave and then left on Brohard Ave to 50365 Brohard Ave. Red gates mark the entrance to the preserve.

Site Information: We will be continuing to restore a Loess Hills prairie ridge at this southern Loess Hills preserve. The preserve is home to the rare Great Plains skink, a prairie lizard.

Volunteer Information: Volunteers should bring gloves and wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and sturdy work shoes.

Contact: Susanne Hickey, Project Director, The Nature Conservancy, (402) 558-8099

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Vincent Bluffs Preserve,
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Pottawattamie County

Location: The 31-acre Vincent Bluff Preserve is located on top of a loess hill near the intersection of Woodbury Avenue and Harry Langdon Blvd., on the southern edge of Council Bluffs. It is one of the few undeveloped blufftops remaining within city limits.

Directions: From Mall of the Bluffs take Woodbury Ave south to Thallas. Go north on Thallas to the dead end and park on the street side. Look for people directing you to the Vincent Prairie. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.

Site Information: This 31-acre urban prairie is located on the bluff overlooking the Missouri River valley. We will focus on cutting small cedars from the prairie.

Volunteer Information: All ages should be able to help with this project. Volunteers should bring loppers or tool to cut small trees and should wear gloves, hat, good hiking boots, and bring water and a snack.

Contact: Glenn Pollock, Loess Hills Preservation Society, (402) 571-6230

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Sheeder Prairie,
Saturday, April 26, 2003
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Guthrie County

Site Information: Sheeder Prairie is a 25-acre preserve located 4 miles west of Guthrie Center on Highway 44 and north one mile on a gravel road (Indigo Ave.)

Volunteer Information: Volunteers will help clear brush and small trees. Bring drinking water, leather gloves, and brush cutting tools.

Contact: Bill Johnson, Susan Clark, Chris Vandello, Wildlife Refuge Research Station, (515) 423-2823


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