Two Franklin County land donations are part of a statewide conservation effort that permanently protected more than 3,200 acres of Iowa land.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the land, valued at more than $11 million, was preserved through 26 donations in 22 counties. The donors will be recognized during a ceremony March 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the first-floor rotunda at the State Capitol in Des Moines.
Locally, James and Miriam Sawtelle donated a portion of the value of 287 acres along the Iowa River next to the Whitetail Flats Wildlife Management Area in Franklin County to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
The property includes riparian woodland and oxbow areas that provide habitat for amphibians and reptiles. Protecting the floodplain will help maintain perennial vegetation, improve water quality and reduce downstream flooding impacts.
In a separate donation, Jane, Thomas and Ann Dohrmann donated 23 acres of mixed habitat near Sheffield to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
The land includes perennial vegetation and a small stream that supports fish populations. DNR officials say protecting and restoring the site will benefit water quality while expanding wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Additional information about the donations is available on the Iowa DNR website.
