Sanctuary at Springbrook

Springbrook State Park in Guthrie County is known for its rolling hills and beautiful established woodlands. The timeless 1930’s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) stone and wood structures bring classic park vibes. Visitors can camp at tent sites, RV-pads, or at the modern, multi-family cabin. And the 17-acre, CCC-created Springbrook Lake provides ample opportunity for crappie and bluegill fishing. Catfish, bass and walleye fishing is also popular at the Middle Raccoon River access. 

The Middle Raccoon River winds its way through Guthrie County, marking the boundary between two of Iowa’s landform regions — the Des Moines Lobe, characterized by recently-glaciated land to the northeast, and the steeply rolling wooded slopes of the Southern Iowa Drift Plain to the southwest. About 14,000 years ago, according to the Iowa Geological Survey, the Middle Raccoon River excavated a narrow, steep-sided valley as it carried vast amounts of glacial meltwater. This deposited large boulders from Canada and Minnesota still visible along the exposed sandstone of the Springbrook Creek tributary. 

Surrounding the state park is the Springbrook Wildlife Management Area, a quiet oasis with prairie areas and woodlands perfect for deer, red and gray fox, coyote, raccoon, beaver, muskrat and wild turkey. Almost every kind of bird that visits Iowa can be found here. 

This fall, the Springbrook complex grew from 930 acres to over a thousand with the addition of a 117-acre property. 

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ contacted Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) to see if there was interest in acquiring a portion of the land that was part of the Guthrie Grove Retreat Center. The Center was founded in 1957 as a space for reunions, youth camps and retreats. 

“After considerable effort in searching for the right location, the members found a site of 180 wooded acres… about eight miles north of Guthrie Center, Iowa. The middle Raccoon River bisects the grounds forming a beautiful camping area.” The Register, November 1957 

The Church was hoping to find a buyer that would protect the woodland along the river that had long been a place for visitors to enjoy nature. While the retreat facilities continue to be under authority of Lamoni Heartland Mission Center and Prairie Bluffs Mission Center of Community of Christ, the surrounding woodlands will now be stewarded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

Being less than a mile from the existing state-owned Springbrook Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and Springbrook State Park, the IDNR was the partner of choice. IDNR stewardship will fill a gap in a string of public lands, building a protected corridor for wildlife that use woodland, riparian, aquatic and grassland areas. 

“We see this acquisition as an important piece of the puzzle of protecting a vulnerable yet essential waterway,” said Dean Nelson, Wildlife Biologist for IDNR. “This is a unique opportunity to build onto an established Wildlife Management Area in a particularly critical habitat area and vulnerable river corridor.” 

This property, now referred to as the Springbrook WMA Addition, is mostly forested upland filled with white, bur, and red oak, shagbark hickory, basswood, walnut and hackberry overlooking the Middle Raccoon River. It provides habitat for species identified as of Greatest Conservation Need like bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks, and northern long-eared bats. It is also one of three key locations within the Raccoon River Savanna Bird Conservation Area (BCA) where conservation measures target birds like the barn owl, wood thrush and black-and-white warbler. 

The Addition is bounded on the north by over half a mile of Middle Raccoon River frontage. This is significant, as the Middle Raccoon joins up with the South Raccoon River — the drinking water source for the Des Moines Water Works’ treatment plant, serving over 600,000 Iowans. 

American Rivers ranked the Raccoon River ninth on their Most Endangered Rivers list, citing the impact of agricultural runoff. While the Middle Raccoon does carry a nutrient load, it generally scores better on water quality and clarity than the larger Raccoon River due in part to the amount of land within the Middle Raccoon watershed that still remains natural. Protecting the Addition is part of ongoing — and urgent — land and water conservation efforts throughout the watershed. 

Today’s Iowans aren’t the first to recognize the value of this landscape. Excavation six miles upstream, at Whiterock Conservancy, has revealed cultural artifacts dating back at least 2,400 years. The Office of the State Archaeologist notes that upland spaces along rivers typically have long histories of use and settlement by people. Preserving the Addition protects any undiscovered archaeological artifacts on site in a culturally rich region. 

Partners from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Whitetails Unlimited and the Prairie Woodland Conservation Foundation stepped in to help with the protection of the Addition. Their support, plus that from a donor fund established at INHF, provided the match needed to secure additional funding from the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Private/Public cost-share grant program. 

“These are high-quality woods along the Middle Raccoon,” said Ross Baxter, Senior Land Protection Director and Counsel for INHF. “Limited entry provides a rugged experience for those who want to recreate and makes it a great place for wildlife and the preservation of water quality benefits to the metro area.” 

Today, as the newest part of the Springbrook Wildlife Management Area, this landscape continues to be valued for the birds, animals and plant communities we love; the water we rely on; the history we respect; and the enjoyment of nature we crave.