Forty-eight donors have permanently protected almost 5,500 acres of Iowa land in 32 counties, and they will all be honored at a special reception on Monday, March 5 in the first-floor rotunda of the State Capitol in Des Moines from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg are expected to be in attendance. Local donors to be recognized include: Availa Bank, who has donated two acres in Council Bluffs to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; Joff Gorsuch, who is active with the Greene County Pheasants Forever, has donated a portion of the value of 48 acres to the foundation with a future transfer to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Beth Henning and her late husband Jim of Coon Rapids have gifted to the Heritage Foundation an 87-acre conservation easement that abuts Whiterock Conservancy; and Jon Judson and Kay Neumann of Guthrie County are donating two properties, 21 acres of Judson Prairie and 39 acres of the Tuel Prairie. . More information about these local philanthropists can be found included here.
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Jeff Gorsuch has been active in the Greene County Pheasants Forever chapter since its founding. This love for Iowa’s outdoors motivated the Gorsuchs to donate a portion of the value of 48 acres in Greene County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation with future transfer to the Iowa DNR. The primarily upland woodland property provides quality habitat for deer, turkeys and migratory birds. It will also help create a 655-acre nature complex along an eight-mile stretch of the North Raccoon River.
Availa Bank donated 2 acres in Council Bluffs along the Valley View Trail to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The Valley View Trail connects with the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, a 63-mile rail trail stretching from Council Bluffs to Blanchard. The property offers multiple restoration opportunities that will increase habitat and enhance the experience for trail users.
Beth Henning and her late husband, Jim, have spent countless hours restoring the remnant prairies, oak savannas and reconstructed prairies on their property near Coon Rapids. The land buffers the 5,500-acre Whiterock Conservancy, an Iowa land trust. The property provides pristine wildlife habitat, scenic beauty and water quality benefits to the nearby Middle Raccoon River. Beth’s 87-acre conservation easement donation to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation ensures this place will remain wild forever.
Jon Judson and Kay Neumann donated conservation easements to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on two properties in Guthrie County, Judson Prairie (21 acres) and Tuel Prairie (39 acres). Judson Prairie is a largely remnant prairie with a wooded stream corridor. Tuel Prairie includes high quality remnant and reconstructed prairie. Both provide quality wildlife habitat supporting many pollinators, insects, birds and mammals, and are excellent native prairie seed sources.
