Wetlands complex near Forest City expands

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This article was released in November 2007.

Whooping cranes might become yearly visitors to Thorpe Park.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently purchased 160 acres of land that adjoins a growing, diverse wetlands complex in Winnebago and Hancock Counties. The complex includes Thorpe Park, Eight Mile Pits Wildlife Management Area, Lake Edwards, the Thorpe Recreation Area and the Russ Wildlife Area.

“It’s a very nice addition to the wetland complex we have around Thorpe Park and Lake Edwards,” said Greg Hanson, wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR.

A flock of federally endangered Whooping Cranes stopped at the wetlands last fall.

“We hope they will come back sometime soon,” Hanson said.

Restoration of the land will begin this winter. Iowa DNR officials will plant native prairie grasses and forbs on the property. Several wetland basins will be restored, providing a perfect habitat for grassland birds, waterfowl, muskrats, mink, amphibians and reptiles.

Hanson estimated the land would be open to the public by March 1, after the crops currently on the property are harvested.  The land will be ideal for hunting, fishing, bird watching, photography, environmental education and more. The addition adjoins the east side of Thorpe Park.

The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation bought the 160-acre tract of land from a private landowner in 2004. INHF enrolled the land in the federal Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). In July 2007, the Iowa DNR purchased the property from INHF with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA).

“Thorpe Park was a previous INHF project, and we’re thrilled to help expand this unique natural area,” said Bruce Mountain, INHF land projects director.

INHF is a nonprofit, conservation group that works with private landowners and other partners to protect Iowa’s land, water and wildlife. Since its founding in 1979, INHF has helped protect more than 95,000 acres of Iowa’s wild places.

Past INHF projects in Winnebago County include the Good Neighbors Marsh Addition, Ambroson Recreational Area, Addition, Quam Wetland and the Nieman Wildlife Area.


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