Volume 11 Number 2 April 2002

2002 Winter Meeting and Silent Auction Recap

The winter meeting on January 19^th was held at the wonderful new lodge in Jester Park. It was a great day, with over 95 people attending. The speakers covered a wide variety of subjects, including information about the new Iowa Wetlands Mitigation Bank (Rick Robinson), the collaboration of the DNR Wildlife Division with Pheasants Forever and some members of the Iowa State Penal system (Bill Johnson), the Hallett’s Quarry project in Ames (Erv Klaas), what is a RC&D (Jim Cooper), an update on Engeldinger Marsh (Loren Lown), and how to prepare plant specimens for preservation (Deb Lewis).

Three awards were made during the meeting; Cindy Hildebrand received the Olaf Smedel Conservation award, Lloyd Crim was honored for leading CIPN evening prairie walks at Doolittle Prairie for 11 years (and still counting), and Al and Mary Razor were recognized for donating their 24 acre native Hominy Ridge Prairie to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to ensure its protection.

The Silent Auction spearheaded by the M&M (Marlene & Molly & Friends) Auction service was an overwhelming success.

Back Country Sports, Des Moines	Ace Hendricks	Jonathan Yentis
Backyard Birds Family Seed Store, Ankeny	Amy Yoakum	Joyce Hornstein
Brekke’s Town and Country Store, Ames	Brant Schmell	Larry Stone
Four Mounds Foundation, Dubuque	Bruce & Marlene Ehresman	Lisa Burke
Holub’s Greenhouse, Ames	Carl & Linda Kurtz	Mark Loeschke
Hykes Furniture Services, Ankeny	Carol Pearson	MJ Hatfield
IDNR Forests and Prairies Division	Casey Kohrt	Molly and Joe McGovern
IDNR Wildlife Diversity Program	David & Lin Zahrt	Paul Readhead
Inner Dimensions, DM Skywalk store	Deb Lewis	Rich Pope
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation	Don Wishart	Roger Hill
Ivy Photo, Des Moines	Doug Harr	Roslea Johnson/Riverview Farms
John Pearson & IDNR Parks and Preserves Div.	Garry Brandenburg	Tom & Carmen Rosburg
Jon Judson & Kay Neumann, Diversity Farms	Inger Lamb	Tre Wilson
Prairie Land Herbs, Woodward	Jean Eells	Ty Smedes
The Nature Conservancy Iowa Chapter	Jim Nedtwig	Anonymous donors
Wild Birds Unlimited, Ames	Jo Myers Walker

A big thank you goes also to all the individuals who helped put on this great meeting, to everyone who purchased auction items and to the PCCB for letting us use their wonderful lodge!

Summer Land Management Intern Hired with Help of CIPN

by Cathy Engstrom, INHF

Thanks to funds raised at the CIPN silent auction in January, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has hired Jeanne Spaur Ballanger to work as a summer land management intern. Jeanne grew up on a southern Iowa farm and is now majoring in Wildlife Biology at ISU. Her previous conservation experience includes working as a DNR seasonal naturalist at Honey Creek State Park, an NRCS summer field technician near Albia, and a summer intern with the Soil Conservation Service in Kirksville, MO. She also volunteers at Pioneer Ridge Conservation Center in Wapello County. Jeanne and her kids will be living in Ames this summer.

Jeanne will be supervised by INHF's Land Stewardship Program Director, Joe McGovern. She will work two days per week with the other INHF interns, doing land management on various Foundation sites. Using CIPN funds, she'll work an additional three days per week at non-INHF prairie remnants around central Iowa. Joe will use the other CIPN funds by setting up occasional group workdays--where he will work with the four land

management interns on non-INHF sites.

Like other INHF interns, Jeanne will earn $7.50/hour, a small travel stipend, and mileage for longer trips. INHF will provide her with safety equipment and a cell phone. Because INHF believes that what an intern takes away from the experience is as important as what they accomplish DURING the internship, Jeanne will get the same general training opportunities available to other INHF interns: attending a staff meeting, attending a board meeting, meeting with key INHF staff to learn about "the big picture," occasional presentations by outside speakers, the opportunity to attend the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, field trips and more. We hope that Jeanne and our other interns carry an understanding and love of Iowa's natural heritage into their future vocations and avocations.

INHF is grateful to CIPN and IPN for making this opportunity available to an Iowa student and to Iowa's prairies. Without the auction proceeds, this internship position would not exist. Thank you.

Thanks in part to support from the Central Iowa Prairie Network in 2001, The Nature Conservancy was able to exercise its option and acquire 14.5 acres of fen and crop ground from Marty Mihall. The entire fen now has long-term protection and the Conservancy acquisition will provide limited public access to the site. This project required the generosity of a number of partners. The total purchase price for the land was $17,755. Marty Mihall donated $5,000 of the price through a bargain sale in honor of her parents. Karl DeLong of Grinnell provided an additional $7,343 through a very generous gift of stock and the Central Iowa Prairie Network donated $2,200 from their 2001 silent auction. Funds from bequests received this past winter were used to pay the remaining land debt on the preserve. TNC is currently developing a cooperative management agreement for the preserve with the Fayette County Conservation Board. This summer The Fayette County Conservation Board, TNC land steward and our summer intern crew plan to seed down the existing driveway, set up a gateway and remove brush from the prairie areas. We want to send a special thanks to John Steege at Fayette County for offering to help us care for this one of a kind preserve.

Help rescue a prairie in honor of Earth Day! As in 2001, a coalition of conservation organizations is sponsoring a statewide rescue of native prairie sites around the state. Various public and private organizations (DNR, county conservation boards, AmeriCorps, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon and INHF) will sponsor prairies that need "rescuing" from invading trees and other woody species. Once controlled naturally by fire and large grazers (bison, elk), invasive species can take over and destroy native prairies if not removed. Volunteers are invited to visit the prairie nearest them and help remove these invaders with hand saws, loppers and other tools. Kids and adults, individuals and groups are welcome.

Please show your support for Iowa Prairies by attending one of the Rescue work events!

See IDNR website: http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/volunteer/prairie.html for full details on all sites or call 515/281-5918

Western Iowa Locations: Gitchie Manitou State Preserve, Stone State Park, Sylvan Runkel State Preserve, Turin Loess Hills State Preserve, Preparation Canyon State Park, Loess Hills State Forest Overlook, Waubonsie State Park, Nestor Stiles Prairie State Preserve, Folsom Point Preserve and Vincent Bluffs Preserve

Central Iowa Locations: Brushy Creek State Park, Springbrook State Park, Big Creek State Park, Rock Creek State Park, Stephens State Forest, Reichelt Unit, Rolling Thunder Prairie State Preserve, Elk Rock State Park, Bobwhite State Park, McRae Park, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge and Willowbrook Elementary School Prairie

Eastern Iowa Locations: Hayden Prairie State Preserve, Volga River State Recreation Area, Mines of Spain State Park, Lake Darling, Lake Sugema State Fish and Game Area, Eddyville Dunes, F.W. Kent Park, Breen Prairie Farm and Greiner Family Nature Preserve

Location: Big Creek State Park is about 2 north on Hwy 415 from the Polk City square. From there you will take a right into the park and travel 3mi. till you come to the beach area. Meet at beach area (east side of lake, 3mi. N. of south entrance) at 9:00 a.m. - Kim Olofson, the park manager, will be there directing people to projects. If you want to go straight to the prairie –from the park entrance go 0.8 miles and turn left at a sign indicating Hampton Shelter, a softball field etc., drive past a small parking area and take the first right, go around the curve and park in the lot on the right -walk across the remote control model airplane field and down a short path to the prairie.

Site Information: Scott Rolfes, Loren Lown & Inger Lamb will be organizing the attack on the army of invasive species that are taking over a very nice prairie remnant. There is literally a couple acres of black locust that needs to be cut and piled for a future bonfire, along with lots of gray dogwood. The locust can be depended on to fight back- wear tough clothes and gloves, those thorns are real attention-getters. Please come help if you can, this is a nice and remnant that has some great species in it.

Elsewhere in the park other clean-up type activities will be going on so if you have family members that might help with other projects please bring them along! We are hoping to accomplish a major "spring cleaning" by the end of the day.

There are picnic tables near the parking lot and we will be celebrating a victory for the remnant at 1PM, bring a sack lunch and join us if you can!

Volunteer Information: Bring hand saws, loppers, and gloves to cut trees and shrubs. Sunscreen is recommended. Come dressed for the weather.

Contact: Kim Olofson – Iowa DNR Park Manager, (515) 984-6473 (O), (515) 965-0151(H);

e-mail - bigcreekmanager@yahoo.com;

Inger Lamb at ingerlamb3@mchsi.com

Location: One mile south of downtown Des Moines, 1/3 mile southeast of Grays Lake. The entrance to the park is the first right off of the Southwest 9th Street entrance road. From Fleur Drive: Take Bell Avenue East. The name changes to Thomas Beck Road – keep going straight. Turn south (right) at the Southwest 9th entrance. From the west on I-235: Take the 7th Street exit south. After passing over the Raccoon River, turn right at the T intersection. Turn south (left) at the SW 9th entrance.

Contact: Tre Wilson, (515) 288-7107

Volunteer Information: Most of the work will probably involve cutting buckthorn. The city will provide hand tools. We might also install some transplants. Bring your own work gloves. Kneeling pads are optional. There are restrooms on site, but bring your own water.

Site Information: There are two shelter buildings on the south end of the park. Ignore the one that is in the southwest corner at the top of the hill. We will gather at the other one, which is a stone's throw from the creek. McRae Park is an oak savanna remnant. The plant composition is related to both prairie and oak forest communities.

Location: Directions to the Prairie Learning Center: Coming from the EAST on Interstate 80, take the Colfax exit and go south on Iowa HWY 117, about 7 miles to Prairie City. The paved entry road is located at the southwest corner of Prairie City at the Highway 163-Prairie City Interchange.

Coming from the WEST at the junction of Interstate 35 and 80, go east on Interstate 80 about 3 miles to the HWY 65 exit. Take HWY 65 south to Iowa HWY 163. At HWY 163 turn east and go about 15 miles to Prairie City. The paved entry road is located at the southwest corner of Prairie City at the Highway 163-Prairie City Interchange.

Site Information: Volunteers will be working on cutting and clearing invasive, woody plant species from various savannas and prairies within the refuge. If weather does not permit, activities will include transplanting flowers in the greenhouse

Volunteer Information: Participants will meet at the Prairie Learning Center. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing, bring gloves and bow saws if possible.

Contact: John Below, (515) 994-3400,

e-mail john_below@fws.gov

Thursday Evening Walks

at Doolittle Prairie Preserve

Evening prairie walks at Doolittle Prairie will be on the following Thursdays starting at 7:00 pm.; May 23, June 20, July 18, and August 22. No registration is needed.

The walks are sponsored by the CIPN and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information call Lloyd Crim at 515/432-5026 or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

Long pants, sturdy shoes and bug spray are recommended.

Directions: from I-35 go west at the Roland exit on E- 18 for about ½ mile; turn south on 560^th Ave. (a gravel road) for about 1 ½ miles; the preserve is on the west side of the road – follow the lane back to the parking lot

Tuesday Evening Walks at Pohl

Memorial Preserve at Ames High Prairie

Evening prairie walks at Pohl Preserve will be the 2nd Tuesday of the month, June-Sept at 6:30 pm.; June 11, July 9, August 13 and Sept 10. No registration is needed. Poison ivy is found at this site – long pants, sturdy shoes and bug spray are recommended.

The walks are sponsored by the CIPN, The Iowa Nature Conservancy and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information contact Trish Patrick at 515/382-2802, TNC at 515/244-5044, or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

Directions: from I-35 take the Ames 13^th Street exit west to Grand Ave.; turn right (north) and go to 20^th St.; turn left (west) and go to Ridgewood; the prairie is on the west side of the high school – follow the drive around the north end of the school to a small parking lot on the west side.

Monday, April 22^nd at 7 pm

Earth Day Prairie Burn at McFarland Park

Join the Story County Conservation Board staff for an evening prairie burn at McFarland Park north east of Ames at 56461 180^th St. (go north on Dayton Ave. to 180^th St or on I-35 go west at the E-29 exit – follow the signs)

For information call the SCCB at 515/232-2516, e-mail conservation@storycounty.com, or visit the website www.storycountyconservation.org

Saturday, April 27th at 10:00 am - Spring Walk at Turtlehead Fen with Loren Lown

We should be early enough to catch the bloom of the marsh marigolds as well as some violets and other early Ranunculaceae. Bebb's willow should be in bloom as well as many sedges. There will be several ferns growing and a great time to get out and celebrate spring. Scott Marler of the IA DOT will join us to explain how they are working to restore the fen and create wetlands on the adjacent land.

Bring waterproof footwear and a sense of humor!

Directions: we will meet in the Engeldinger Marsh parking lot 5 miles northeast of Bondurant on Highway 65 – the lot is on NE 120^th St - we’ll car pool from there as parking is limited at the fen site. For more information contact Loren at llown@co.polk.ia.us or phone 515/323-5364.

Wings & Wetlands Weekend May 11-12

The Iowa Nature Conservancy will sponsor field trips on Saturday, May 11, at 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Waterman Prairie Complex in O’Brien County, and on Sunday, May 12, at 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Freda Haffner Preserve, as part of the 8^th annual "Wings & Wetlands Weekend." This National Wetlands Month event involves six counties in northwest Iowa and includes a wide variety of activities.

For details, call Ann Robinson at the Conservancy’s state office, ph 515-244-5044, e-mail iowa@tnc.org

or the Lost Island Prairie Wetland Nature Center, 712/837-4866.

May 31-June 2

26^TH Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar

This is an annual outdoor educational event for the whole family sponsored by the Western Hills Education Agency and held at the Loess Hills Wildlife Area in Monona County. Over 40 facilitators present 2-3 hour field sessions on a wide variety of natural history topics for both adults and children. No registration or fee is required. If you want to purchase meal tickets or enroll