Grassland restoration in western and southern Iowa
There is a new opportunity for landowners in 40 counties in western and southern Iowa interested in restoring grassland on their property.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa will work collaboratively with participating landowners to restore 10,000 acres of grassland as part of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
This grassland restoration project is designed to assist landowners at no cost to them with implementing scientifically proven land management practices to restore and recover vital grasslands, benefitting native habitat, water quality and forage production.
Who is eligible?
- Landowners in a 40-county area that have grassland or land that can be restored to grassland and are willing to maintain improvements for 10 years
- There is priority placed on properties in the Loess Hills, in bird conservation areas or those that contain remnant prairie or threatened and endangered species, but anyone can apply
What type of restoration work will be done?
Contracted work may include:
- cutting encroaching brush and trees
- applying prescribed fire
- planting of grassland/prairie
How does it work?
- Interested landowners will meet with Iowa DNR staff with technical expertise, talk about their goals for the property and the value to grassland habitat. Together, they will come up with a plan for land management improvements and work on the application.
- If selected, the landowner will work with the Iowa DNR and INHF on a final land management plan, and INHF works with contractors to solicit a bid and manage the work.
- Landowners will be asked to maintain improvements for at least 10 years.
How do I learn more?
Contact your local Iowa DNR private land's biologist. Find their contact information on this map here.
This effort is in collaboration with:
