Allure in Albion

By Erica Place on January 17, 2025 in Blog


Aerial view of Mann Wetlands

The open space and quiet water along Highway 330 south of Albion are undoubtedly noticeable to passersby. With the town still close in the rearview mirror and the road starting to curve off to the west as it dips down into the Iowa River valley, the view opens to a picturesque horizon.

“I can honestly say it’s the most beautiful part of my commute,” says Emily Herring, Director of Marshall County Conservation (MCC).

Herring, who started at MCC as a naturalist, had driven by the property every day for years with a suspicion it would hold wonders for summer campers searching for aquatic insects. Birders, scanning for the lanky frames of Sandhill Cranes as they rounded the bend in the highway, longed for a chance to explore what else might be hiding in the soggy depressions. And hunters, pursuing game across the road at Timmons Grove, wondered what quarry was concealed in the grasses and woodlands just downstream along the Iowa River.

The allure the property held for onlookers was a cherished reality for the Mann family, who had owned the 144 acres since 1972. Its mixed habitat, river frontage and remnant wetlands were a playground for Clarence and Sharon Mann’s three sons; Lawrence, Merle and Arlis.

“For many years we had a wood burning furnace, so we spent a lot of time in the timber gathering firewood,” remembers Lawrence. “It was fun doing that because the timber was so peaceful. And there was usually at least one wet spot [in the field]; I definitely remember muskrats and how they would build houses.”

While the property held natural wonders, it was also an important part of the Mann family’s livelihood. The ground was cropped and grazed by cattle, but it wasn’t always easy to support the family with land that was routinely wet. More than 85% of the property falls within the two-year floodplain.

“I remember planting, harvesting and having cows and calves in the field where it was too wet for crops,” says Lawrence.

Some parts of the property, like the north section that contains a large wetland basin, were so impossibly wet that attempts to drain it were unsuccessful.


Mann Family

Clarence and Sharon Mann’s land was a playground for their family growning up and will now be a place of play and discovery for all Iowan’s to enjoy. The family gathered at a dedication for the property this summer. Photos provided by Lawrenece Mann and Robert Maharry, Times Republican


“There are fewer than 20 wetlands left in Marshall County, including those that have been reconstructed,” explains Herring. “That makes every single wetland incredibly precious, especially remnant ones like on the Mann property.”

The conservation and recreation value of his family’s land was not lost on Lawrence. He, his dad and brothers wondered the best future for the property. Following their father’s passing in 2019, the brothers continued their pursuit to make the land available to the public so that more people could enjoy outdoor experiences and build their own memories. It would be a meaningful way to honor their parents’ legacy.

“I want future generations to have a place to enjoy the outdoors,” says Lawrence. “I’m excited to take my own grandchildren there and tell them that is where I grew up.”

MCC knew this area would help meet the growing outdoor recreation demands of Marshall County residents and visitors as well as a critical opportunity to protect sensitive natural resources. The property even offered the chance for a future trailhead and shelter for users of the in-progress Iowa River’s Edge Trail, which follows the discontinued railroad corridor that passes through the northeast corner of the Mann property. Everyone agreed that the area ticked all the boxes for making a great county park. But in a county with limited funding for protecting or enhancing natural areas, it was uncertain how the land purchase would be possible. MCC sought the help of INHF, who was able to purchase the property in 2021 and hold it while MCC searched for funding.

While Herring and others worked to garner support, the owners of the neighboring 71-acre CRP field to the west learned of the Mann family’s decision. They were also willing to sell, extending this new county park all the way to the highway. In addition to opening the doors for even more outdoor recreation and holistic habitat restoration, the two properties together would make a more compelling case for certain funding sources.

“We went from a medium-size fundraising project to a very large one!” Emily laughs. “We’re grateful that INHF’s involvement meant we had some time.”

MCC applied for a REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) grant, knowing the funding program’s limited and diminishing resources has steep competition. Many of the same applications are submitted year after year, trapped in a cycle of worthy projects exceeding available public dollars. In recent years, the Iowa legislature has appropriated only 60% of the statutorily authorized REAP funding level, resulting in only $893,000 available for the county grants program in 2022. Twelve projects were submitted by counties around the state that year — $4.9 million in unmet needs.

“We were hopeful,” remembers Herring. “But we knew it wasn’t a guarantee.”

When the surprising news came in that this top-ranked project would receive the entire available REAP balance, MCC was over the moon. The grant put them well within reach of their once lofty goal.

“This just would not have been possible without REAP,” Herring says. “Period.”

The remaining balance was handled by a long list of private donors, including the Marshall-Tama County Pheasants Forever Chapter. Steve Armstrong, who has been a member of PF for more than 30 years, felt that supporting this project was a ‘no brainer’ for the chapter.

“Every land acquisition project MCC has come to the Marshall-Tama County PF Chapter with, we’ve always helped,” Armstrong explains. “Marshall County doesn’t have a lot [of public land], and private ground is hard to get onto. The public needs more places to get outside.”

While Armstrong is certain there are pheasants calling this place home, he says the chapter is motivated by much more than that.

“People assume PF chapters are focused on hunting, hunting, hunting. That’s just not true. We’re in the business of public access. These places benefit more than just hunters; we buy ground for everybody.”

The Marshall-Tama County PF Chapter gave $20,000 to the project and, under Armstrong's urging, another $20,000 was raised by other county chapters for a total of $40,000. Coupled with donations from other individuals and organizations, MCC was able to meet the more than $1.1 million purchase price without using any of the county’s general fund. INHF transferred the 216-acre property, now known as Mann Wetlands, to MCC at the end of 2022.

With the seemingly impossible fundraising effort behind them and Mann Wetlands finally under MCC’s management, attention turned to restoration.

“This property flooded 21 times in the last 14 years,” Herring recalls. “Its best use is clearly in a natural state. It wants to be a wetland.”

There were other indicators that this land should return to a wetland complex. Surveys revealed the presence of hydrophytic (water loving) vegetation and hydric soils, a special type of soil consistent with a history of saturation and flooding. Decades of aerial imagery showing a pattern of standing water was further confirmation that excavating the historic wetlands would be a successful and sustainable future for the property. Using monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation grant funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, crop fields adjacent to the wetlands could be seeded back to native prairie.

Herring enlisted the help of Drew DiAllesandro, Iowa Private Lands Coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to provide expertise and cost sharing through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program he administers. Guided by references like aerial imagery, soil samples and the existing wetland on the northeast part of the property, DiAllesandro determined the location and depth of the new basins.

“Post-restoration aerial photos show the site was holding water at a time when it should be,” says DiAllesandro. “A common misconception is that wetlands need to have standing water all the time. This is not true. Wetlands, including the wetlands at this site, go through cycles of being saturated with water and then drying out. That process helps facilitate wetland plant diversity and increases the diversity of wildlife habitat.”


Restoration progress at Mann Wetlands

Aerial photos of Mann Wetlands show the progress of restoring a wetland. In the photo on the far left before restoration, depressions in the field are apparent. After restoration, water pools in some of those historic wetlands. Photos by INHF staff


Though the restored wetlands and prairie are in their infancy, Highway 330 travelers (and future IRET trail users) already have an even more fantastic view to enjoy. The wetland basins are holding water and wildlife, and the prairie has already offered its blooms to hungry pollinators and eager eyes. Herring’s summer camp visions and the hopes of birders, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts are now possible.

“When my dad moved to assisted living and we were trying to figure out what to do with the land, I approached him with the idea of creating a county park out of his property near the river,” remembers Lawrence. “He was excited about the possibility but, unfortunately passed away before he could see it come to fruition. He would be so excited to see this with his name on it. And mom would be super pleased; she loved being out in nature. I’m thrilled we could create a legacy for them. We all need to do our part to save everything we can for future generations.”

See more of Mann Wetlands below.