2015 Annual Report

INHF seemed like the logical choice to ensure that the work we have done to preserve natural areas is continued.

Roslea Johnson

Our goal is to help build an even stronger community of people who appreciate and enjoy nature.

Bob Johnson

Celebrating

2015

The Johnsons are the kind of people who make the engine turn at Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. In this Annual Report, you’ll read about all the projects on which INHF worked in 2015. The land, water and wildlife protection that drives our mission. But none of these are possible without the people — members, donors, volunteers, partners, board and staff — that contribute their time, resources and knowledge to conservation in Iowa. So let’s celebrate a few of the people that helped us to reach milestones in 2015.

Milestones

Gov. Terry Branstand, left, and Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp, right, honored Bob and Roslea Johnson for their donation at Gift to Iowa’s Future Recognition Day.

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150,000 acres protected When Bob and Roslea Johnson donated part of their Madison County farm to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, they had no idea that their generosity would help INHF reach a major milestone: 150,000 acres protected statewide.

Since 1979, INHF has worked to protect Iowa’s landscape through the expansion of publicly-owned lands, the placement of conservation easements on privately-owned property and the piecing together of miles-long trail projects. It is the foresight and dedication of many private landowners like the Johnsons that helps to make the work possible.

Photos: INHF staff

New stewardship crew formed INHF worked with the Conservation Corps of Iowa (CCI) to create a new six-person crew focused on restoring the ecological health of the Loess Hills. The Loess Hills CCI crew received financial or organization support from INHF, CCI, the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Iowa DNR Wildlife Diversity Program, the Iowa Prairie Network and the Loess Hills Alliance. In addition, many organizations and landowners contracted with the fledgling crew as they devoted more than 8,000 person-hours toward improving the health of the land in 2015. The initiative was so successful that the Loess Hills CCI crew is now a permanent, self-supported part of CCI, which has a reputation for accomplishing high quality, hands-on environmental stewardship work, while providing service-learning opportunities for young adults.

Sand retires having created legacy of conservation In 1981, just two years after Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation was formed, Duane Sand offered to create a soil and water program for INHF — and said he’d find the funding to support it. So he began seeking grant support for great ideas and creating a model of working for the next three decades: matching fresh concepts with foundations that believed in the need, the ideas and in Duane’s capability. He’d be the first to say he didn’t do any of these alone — but if you follow the threads, you’ll find Duane at the heart of these conservation actions with his ideas, strategies or funding sources: on-farm demonstrations of reduced tillage, fertilizer or pesticide use; Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program; helping landowners close agricultural drainage wells; passage of the Iowa Conservation Contribution Tax Credit for donations of land for conservation and much, much more. Duane recently retired from full-time work with INHF after 34 years, but he created a legacy of invaluable conservation programs and inspiring strategic thinking.

The Loess Hills CCI crew worked with INHF stewardship interns and staff at several western Iowa sites.

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Iowa land PROTECTED in 2015 Your membership and gifts to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation truly do expand land, water and wildlife conservation in Iowa.

INHF worked with landowners, members and partners to permanently protect more than 5,000 acres at 49 locations across the state in 2015.

A majority of our 2015 land projects are — or will eventually be — lands open to the public where everyone can explore and enjoy their natural features.

Those projects are or will be owned and managed by the following: 27 by the Iowa DNR; 13 by county conservation boards; two by cities; and one by a national wildlife refuge.

Five projects in 2015 were conservation easements — agreements between landowners and INHF that permanently protect land and its special features — preserving landowner use and ownership. These voluntary agreements are permanent, with INHF visiting the sites annually to ensure compliance with current and future landowners.

One couple donated their land to INHF, entrusting us with its long-term care. Sites like this may be shared with the public through work days, tours and other events.

5,300 Acres Protected. 49 Land Projects.

Conservation Features Legend Woodlands

Prairies/Grassland

Wetlands

Conservation Easements Dubuque County 105-acre conservation easement protects wildlife habitat along the North Fork of the Maquoketa River corridor. The easement protects a mixture of prairie reconstruction on former agricultural fields, mature oak-hickory woodland and west-facing slopes above the river. Small caves, steep bluffs and rock outcroppings line the protected riverbank.

Donated by Dave and Rita Dudley.

Guthrie County 120-acre conservation easement protects the prairie, woodland, wildflowers and wildlife habitat on this restored natural area in rural Guthrie County. Donated by Eugene and Marva DeBoer.

Jones County 92-acre conservation easement protects wildlife habitat and improve the water quality of the impaired Maquoketa River. The parcel is close to other conservation projects, including Eby’s Mill Wildlife Area and Indian Bluffs and Pictured Rocks Wildlife Management Area.

Donated by Kyle Tobiason.

Linn County 80-acre conservation easement protects the wildlife habitat, scenic beauty and open space character of the property. The easement is adjacent to another easement the Burkes completed in 2010. Both easements act as buffers to the Matsell Bridge Natural Area and protection of perennial habitat has a positive impact on the Wapsipinicon River watershed.

Donated by Cindy and Kevin Burke.

Madison County 150-acre conservation easement protects wildlife habitat, preserve prairie and conserve open space characteristics of the rolling hills in the Southern Iowa Drift Plain. The property includes remnant and reconstructed prairie, a pond, wooded creek valleys and open space, which provides valuable habitat for pollinators and grassland species. Donated by Ben and Loline Johnson.

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Park

Streams/Rivers

Land Donations to INHF Madison County Bob and Roslea Johnson donated 60 acres of their Madison County farm to INHF. The Johnsons’ donation ensures protection for unusual plants and provides a refuge for the abundant wildlife including deer, turkeys, bobcats, dragonflies and butterflies. The Johnsons worked to restore the former quarry site for cattle grazing, but along the way, they discovered prairie remnants. The couple has put in years of work to steward, protect and connect the remnant pieces.

Land Projects Sedan Bottoms Addition​ 116-acre addition to Sedan Bottoms, part of a Bird Conservation Area in Appanoose County.

The land is being restored to habitat for deer, turkey, neotropical migratory birds and other non‐game species.

West Fork Forest Access Addition​ 56 acres of floodplain woodland along the West Fork of the Cedar Riverin Butler County.

Protection ensures continuation of the land’s water quality benefits, such as filtration and flood control.

Big Marsh WMA* Addition​ 224-acre area restored to wetland and prairie with a diverse array of forbs and grasses. The land provides excellent habitat for upland and wetland bird species.

Big Marsh WMA Addition 38-acre addition to Big Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Butler County being restored to wetlands and prairie.

Big Marsh WMA Addition 20 acre-addition to the Big Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Butler County. The land is being restored back to wetlands and native grasses, benefiting water quality and wildlife habitat.

Big Marsh WMA Addition​ 172-acre area intertwined with one mile of the West Fork of the Cedar River — one of several rivers listed on Iowa’s Impaired Waters list.

The land protects water quality, and also lies adjacent to Big Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

Clear Lake WMA​ 59-acres adjacent to Clear Lake State Park in Cerro Gordo County lies in Clear Lake’s watershed and will be restored to prairie and wetland.

Hewitt-Ensign Hollow WMA Addition​ 74-acre area with cold water trout stream adjacent to the Hewitt-Ensign Hollow Wildlife Management Area in Clayton County.

Ringneck Marsh Wildlife Area Addition​ 80 acres of timber, grassland and floodplain of the Wapsipinicon River — a state-designated Protected Water Area. The land lies adjacent to the 264-acre Ringneck Marsh Wildlife Area in Clinton County.

Garlock Slough Addition​ 44-acre wetland and remnant prairie addition to the Garlock Slough Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County, which protects and improves the water quality in West Okoboji Lake.

Dugout Creek Addition​ 80-acre addition to the Dugout Creek complex in Dickinson County. The land lies within the Yager Slough/Dugout Creek Prairie Pothole Joint Venture Priority Area and contains remnant prairie.

Big Marsh WMA Addition 67 acres of riparian timber along the West Fork of the Cedar River, and an addition to Big Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Butler County.

Twelve Mile Lake Addition​ 53-acre addition to 12 Mile Lake in Emmet County that serves as an upland buffer and provides public access to the lake.

*WMA = Wildlife Managment Area

Fayette County​ 94 acres of quality remnant prairie, reconstructed prairie, wetlands and a stream.

White Horse WMA Addition​ Hallett Materials transferred a 303-acre property to INHF in a bargain sale. The parcel lies along a stretch of the North Raccoon River that is listed on Iowa’s Impaired Waters List.

The area provides significant public hunting and fishing opportunities.

White Horse WMA Addition 30 acres along the North Raccoon River. The land features native grassland seedings and wetland improvements.

Gray Ghost Prairie​ Lorna Sellberg transferred her 49-acre property, a mix of pasture and remnant prairie, to INHF in a bargain sale. The property is intersected by the West Indian Creek, and permanent protection will directly benefit the creek’s watershed. Sellberg improved the native prairie, and looks forward to the day the land is in public ownership.

Photo: Nathan Houck

West Indian Creek winds through Gray Ghost Prairie in Story County.

Biscuitroot Ridge​ Rosie Hall protected a piece of the Loess Hills with a bargain sale of her 159-acre property in Fremont County. The land contains State Endangered Species biscuitroot and two other plants listed as state Special Concern species.

North Raccoon River WMA Addition 144 acres of riparian woodland, cropland and swamp white oak timber along the North Raccoon River in Greene County.

Ruth Hanson Wildlife Area Addition​ 160 acres of riparian habitat along the North Raccoon River makes up the Ruth Hanson Wildlife area Addition in Greene County. The land offers valuable woodland habitat to game species.

Springbrook State Park Addition​ 48-acres adjacent to Springbrook State Park in Guthrie County. The land is sloping oakhickory woodland, but is being restored to rare Oak Savanna habitat.

Raccoon River Valley Trail Extension​ Shippers Consortium, Inc. donated approximately 7.3 miles of the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad line in Guthrie County. The land will go toward creating a spur on the Raccoon River Valley Trail from Herndon to Coon Rapids, thus connecting central Iowa’s trail system to the mountain bike trails and other outdoor opportunities at Whiterock Conservancy.

Bays Branch WMA Addition​ 94 acres of rolling pasture adjacent to the Bays Branch Wildlife Management Area in Guthrie County.

Hamilton County​ 128 acres being restored to wetland and prairie. The land is improving the Boone River watershed and is situated near the 266-acre Bauer Slough Complex.

Hardin County​ 237-acre wetland basin located within the Prairie Pothole region. The sites wetland and upland areas are being restored, creating critical wildlife nesting habitat.

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Addition​ 47-acre addition to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County is being restored to native tallgrass prairie​which will provide upland habitat for migratory birds, mammals and reptiles.

Pechman Creek Delta​ 380-acre area along the Iowa River in Johnson County has enough habitat to be a wildlife mecca. The land also benefits migrating water fowl and water quality.

Wapello Bottoms WMA Addition​ 73-acre area surrounded on all sides by public land in Louisa County. The land is being restored with native species, and protection is greatly improving water quality.

Winford WMA Addition 283-acre area restored to prairie and wetlands along the South Skunk River in Mahaska County that provides habitat for nesting birds and other wildlife.

Mahaska County​ 202 acres of reconstructed priaire, row crop and riparian timber lie adjacent to the South Skunk River. Protection of the land ensures water quality benefits are permanent.

Pony Creek Addition​ 30-acre addition of Loess Hills to Pony Creek Park in Mills County, home to the Mills County Conservation Board headquarters and nature center.

Monona County​ 222 acres being restored to wetlands and prairie uplands, which will further benefit migrating birds.

Loess Hills State Forest Addition​ 68-acre addition of prairie and bur oak woodland to the Loess Hills State Forest in Monona County.

Watson Heritage Area Addition​ 40-acre addition to Watson Heritge Area in Palo Alto County. The land has a kettle hole, a geologic feature that is formed when a block of ice separates from a glacier and is subsequently buried.

Wapello County​ 81-acre area with second generation oak/ hickory timber and meadow. The remaining woodland area is good wildlife habitat for woodland species, like Red headed woodpeckers, grey squirrel, wild turkey and bobcat.

Winnebago County​ 130-acre area comprised mostly of wetlands is being restored to wetland and prairie uplands to provide excellent habitat for migratory birds.

Winnebago River Greenbelt: Tenold Tract​ 55 acres of grassland along the Winnebago River—which falls along a designated State Water Trail. The land expands the protected complex along the Winnebago River in Winnebago County.

Wood Duck Marsh WMA Addition​ 32-acres wetland addition to Wood Duck Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Winnebago County.

North Bear Complex Addition​ 113-acre blend of woodland, cropland and high-quality cold water trout stream along North Bear Creek in Winneshiek County.

Curtin Timber Addition​ 120 acres of woodland adjacent to the Little Sioux River floodplain in Woodbury County that contains abundant wildflowers and wildlife.

Rice Lake Addition​ 21 acres, the majority of which is quality bur oak woodland. The land lies within a Prairie Pothole Joint Venture area and provides a quality buffer to Rice Lake in Worth County.

Big Wall Lake Addition​ 130-acre addition to Big Wall Lake in Wright County being restored to wetlands and uplands. In addition to closing an agricultural drainage well, the land protects Big Wall Lake’s water quality and provides additional upland habitat for wildlife.

Belmond Trail Link​ 3/4 of a mile link to connect the developing Prairieland Trail in Wright County to the existing Franklin Grove Heritage Trail in Belmond.

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Your dollars at work

in

2015

94 percent: projects and services

Efficiency

At least 94 percent directly supports Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation projects and services. INHF is one of the most efficient and missionfocused nonprofits you’ll find anywhere!

4 percent: organizational support Less than 2 percent: fundraising

Together, We Have Greater Impact

Together, we made a $22 million impact for Iowa conservation through INHF in 2015!

14 devoted Iowans donated legacy gifts totaling $3.3 million. Their vision and commitment will have a large and lasting impact.

Public conservation agencies provided more than $15 million toward partnership land protection projects.

Landowners generously donated land, conservation easements or land value totaling $1.5 million.

1,050 donors gave $1.3 million to specific land projects and programs they value most.

Membership gifts provided $1 million in unrestricted core support for our mission.

These essential funds make all of our services possible.

Volunteers and Voices

Many people are part of the INHF action in non-financial ways — donating professional skills, leading nature hikes, organizing partnership projects and speaking out on behalf of Iowa conservation when their voices are needed. Thank you!

The INHF balance sheet is available at www.inhf.org.

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Your Conservation Partners Staff Working every day on your behalf to protect and restore Iowa’s land, water and wildlife.

Joe McGovern President

Brian Fankhauser Blufflands Director

Jodi Baker

Finance Director

Cheri Grauer

Donor Relations Director

Ross Baxter

Land Projects Director

Diane Graves

Administrative Assistant/Receptionist

Andrea Boulton Trails Coordinator

Erin Griffin

Development and Events Specialist

Jered Bourquin

Blufflands Assistant

Lisa Hein

Board of Directors Our dedicated board members provide invaluable strategic leadership, approving our projects and ensuring our strong fiscal management.

David Mackaman, Des Moines, Chair Susan Shullaw, Iowa City, 1st Vice Chair Garth Adams, Clive, 2nd Vice Chair Don Beneke, Pocahontas, Secretary Wendy Wiedner, Granger, Treasurer Peg Armstrong-Gustafson, Waukee Stan Askren, Muscatine Woody Brenton, Des Moines David Brown, Des Moines Cindy Burke, Central City Michael Daugherty, Dunkerton Michael DeCook, Lovilia Paul Easter, Des Moines Vern Fish, Waterloo

John Fisher, Des Moines John Gray, Sioux City Greg Grupp, Sioux City Rob Hall, Harlan Neil Hamilton, Waukee Kirsten Heine, Decorah Thomas Hoff, Iowa City Bob Jester, West Des Moines Chris Lindell, Marion Katherine Linder, Manson Jan Lovell, Clear Lake Liz Neumann, Des Moines Scott Raecker, Urbandale Richard Ramsay, Spirit Lake Carole Reichardt, Clive Susan Salterberg, Iowa City Travis Young, Waterloo Joe McGovern, Elkhart, President

Senior Director For Conservation Programs

Interns College student interns work alongside staff, lending their energy, ideas and talents to help bring about real conservation progress.

Office Interns Joe Jayjack

Communications Director

Andrea Piekarczyk Grants Coordinator

Ryan Schmidt

Land Stewardship Director

Heather Jobst

Senior Land Conservation Director

Marian E. Riggs

Public Policy Director

Kerri Sorrell

Communications Specialist

Melanie Louis

Land Stewardship Associate

Mary Runkel Volunteer Coordinator

Tim Sproul

Loess Hills Land Conservation Consultant

Stacy Nelson

Donor Services Manager

Tylar Samuels

Conservation Easezment Specialist

Erin Van Waus

Conservation Easement Director

Anita O’Gara Vice President

Duane Sand

Special Projects Consultant

Katie Bandurski, Milwaukee, WI – Communications Kristen Daily, Orange City, IA – Grant writing Phong Duong, Clinton, IA – Design Rachel Dupree, Wyoming, MN – Communications Taylor Eisenhauer, Herrin, IL – Communications Kelsea Graham, Kansas City, MO – Design Chris Holmquist, Brookings, SD – Landscape architecture Samantha Olson, Des Moines, IA – Floodplain outreach Lexi Ruskell, Burnsville, MN – Design Allison Walk, Greenfield, IA – Trails

Blufflands Land Stewardship Interns Lauren Mordini, Wheaton, IL Tori Hartman, Decorah, IA Sarah Klein, Henry, IL Eddie Conrad, Sigourney, IA

Statewide Land Stewardship Interns Amy Andrews, Shellsburg, IA Zach Burhenn, Ames, IA Megan Dietrich, Williamsburg, IA Jacob Hill, Newton, IA Sarah Leichty, Rochester, IA Matthew Monahan, Woodbine, IA Dustin Oaks, Ankeny, IA Olivia Rauen, Epworth, IA Lauren White, Maxwell, IA

Kari Walker

Administration Director

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