Press Releases

Contact Info

June 24, 2009: The Conservancy’s Work in the Lower Cedar Valley Gets a Boost: The Alliant Energy Foundation Donates
The Nature Conservancy announced today that it will receive $100,000 from the Alliant Energy Foundation for its work within the Lower Cedar Valley in southeast Iowa. The gift will advance the Conservancy's efforts to restore land within the region's floodplain.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

May 11, 2009: The Nature Conservancy in Iowa Partners with Family to Conserve 210 Acres
The Nature Conservancy announced today that it has teamed up with a family to conserve 210 acres of prairie and oak woodland adjacent to the Turin Loess Hills State Preserve in Monona County.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

April 21, 2009: Newly-Established Bison Herd Expands
The bison herd at The Nature Conservancy’s Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve in the globally rare Loess Hills in Western Iowa is a little larger today thanks to the arrival of its first calf. This is the first time that a bison has been born on native prairie in Iowa in more than a century and a half within a herd established exclusively for conservation.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

March 25, 2009: The Nature Conservancy’s Bison Herd Expands onto New Prairie and Soon with New Calves
The historically and genetically valuable bison at The Nature Conservancy’s Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve will graze another 275 acres as one more gate is opened for the new herd on Iowa’s largest contiguous native prairie.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

January 28, 2009: The Nature Conservancy Launches Floodplain Restoration Project in Lower Cedar Valley
The Nature Conservancy in Iowa is launching an 80-acre floodplain restoration project at the Conservancy’s Swamp White Oak savanna, a globally threatened and biologically diverse woodland community.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

December 08, 2008: New Initiative Focuses on Water Quality Improvement in the Mississippi River Basin & Gulf of Mexico
Monsanto Company launched a new effort to help reduce nutrients and sediments in agricultural runoff by partnering with The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Soybean Association, Delta Wildlife and The National Audubon Society on conservation projects in the Mississippi River Basin.

The Nature Conservancy
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747

Monsanto Company
Lee Quarles
tel: (314) 694-2330

October 23, 2008: Bison Return to the Native Prairie at Broken Kettle Grasslands
The Nature Conservancy in Iowa announces that 28 bison have arrived at Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve in the globally rare Loess Hills in western Iowa late Monday afternoon. Of the 28 bison, seven are calves, five are bulls and 16 are cows. Broken Kettle Grasslands is the largest contiguous native prairie in the state.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

October 17, 2008: The Nature Conservancy Celebrates at Broken Kettle Grasslands
The Nature Conservancy in Iowa will welcome a small herd of 30 bison to Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve in the globally rare Loess Hills early next week. This is the largest contiguous native prairie in the state.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

August 27, 2008: The Nature Conservancy Protects More Native Grassland With Easements
Long-time Plymouth County residents Barry and Carolyn Knapp recently donated an easement protecting 430 acres adjacent to Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve, Iowa’s largest contiguous native prairie.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

July 31, 2008: Conservation Reserve Program is About Our Future in Iowa
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced Tuesday, July 29, that no penalty-free opt-outs for acres currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program will be allowed this year. This was published as a letter to the editor in the Des Moines Register on July 24. Good news for conservation efforts on land enrolled in the conservation reserve program.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

May 05, 2008: New State Director Hired In Iowa
The Nature Conservancy recently hired Sean McMahon as the state director in Iowa.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

March 05, 2008: Prairie Chicken Numbers Critical: Missouri Dept of Conservation Begins Bird Study on TNC Preserve
The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Department of Conservation are teaming up to resuscitate a declining and now critical prairie chicken population.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

January 25, 2008: Lakeshore Property on Clear Lake Donated to The Nature Conservancy
Max Clausen of Clear Lake recently donated 240 acres of undeveloped shoreline property to The Nature Conservancy to be owned and managed for its natural resources and conservation values. The property was valued at $5.4 million and has approximately 2,700 feet of shoreline.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

January 25, 2008: The Nature Conservancy Announces $18 Million Raised For Conservation
The Nature Conservancy announced that they have raised more than $18.1 million dollars for conservation in the Saving the Last Great Places in Iowa- The Campaign for Conservation publically launched in June 2006.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

January 17, 2008: The Nature Conservancy Accepting Anna Beal Scholarship Applications for 2008
he Nature Conservancy in Iowa is currently accepting applications for the annual $3,500 scholarship and internship awarded by the Anna Beal Trust.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

January 09, 2008: Rare Woodland Conserved Through Easement in Decatur County
Sibylla and Bill Brown recently donated a conservation easement on their 200 acres of woodland in Decatur County to The Nature Conservancy.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

October 29, 2007: DuPont Pledges $250,000 to Nature Conservancy for Water Quality Initiative
DuPont recently announced a pledge of $250,000 to The Nature Conservancy in an effort to improve water quality in vital Midwestern watersheds and to further reduce excess nutrient runoff from agricultural fields.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

September 05, 2007: New Director of Conservation Science Hired in Iowa
The Nature Conservancy recently hired Jennifer Filipiak as the director of conservation science in Iowa. Filipiak will supervise Conservancy staff and lead planning, research and monitoring activities for Iowa with a focus on freshwater and grasslands conservation and restoration.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

July 24, 2007: Conservancy Dedicates Gregg and Lola Prairie in the Loess Hills
The nature conservancy just dedicated 160 acres of prairie in the Loess Hills in honor of two people who recently donated $450,000 to purchase and manage the land.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

April 30, 2007: The Nature Conservancy Receives $500,000 Challenge Grant
In Iowa, The Nature Conservancy’s Campaign for Conservation is working to save some of Iowa’s last remaining large, native landscapes for future generations. To assist in the acquisition of prairie tracts located in Iowa’s three prairie landscapes – the Loess Hills, Little Sioux Valley and Grand River Grasslands – The Kresge Foundation has provided a $500,000 challenge grant to Iowa’s Campaign for Conservation.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

April 02, 2007: Iowan Selected to Lend Fire Expertise in Ethiopian Grasslands
Scott Moats, prescribed fire expert for The Nature Conservancy and northwest Iowa preserves manager located in the Broken Kettle Grasslands near Sioux City, recently taught tribesman (pastoralists) in southern Ethiopia how to safely burn their pastures and rangeland to eliminate thorny invasive species, brush and trees to return the land to better grazing for livestock, protecting villages and people.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

October 24, 2006: Researchers Reveal Original Landscape Along Cedar and Iowa River Basin
Until recently, the areas in the Iowa and Cedar River Valleys’ were considered to be deep forests right to the river’s edge. However, descriptions from surveyor notes and historical records suggest this area in the late 1830s was actually open parklands with scattered trees and vast expanses of prairie grasses underneath, called lowland savannas.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

June 21, 2006: Nature Conservancy Receives $35,000 Grant from Loess Hills Alliance
The Nature Conservancy recently received a $35,000 grant from the Loess Hills Alliance (LHA) for the acquisition of a 23-acre tract in Plymouth County in the Loess Hills to reduce habitat fragmentation for priority grasslands birds at Iowa’s largest remaining prairie at Broken Kettle Grasslands preserve.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

June 13, 2006: The Nature Conservancy in Iowa Announces $9.5 Million Campaign for Conservation
The Nature Conservancy in Iowa kicks off their $9.5 million Campaign for Conservation — Saving the Last Great Places in Iowa, the first in its 43-year history in Iowa, in six areas across Iowa this summer.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

March 30, 2006: Nature Conservancy Expands Loess Hills Special Landscape Area with Recent Donation
With the recent donation of 45 acres by Neal and Izen Ratzlaff, the Nature Conservancy is able to once again expand the protected land in the Loess Hills area.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

March 30, 2006: Nature Conservancy Acquires and Protects Additional 124 Acres in the Grand River Grasslands
Property considered one of the highest quality prairie in the area

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

March 10, 2006: Nature Conservancy Hires Aquatic Ecologist
To enhance conservation work in Iowa streams and rivers, the Nature Conservancy recently hired George Cunningham as an aquatic ecologist. Cunningham’s first responsibility will be to complete an ecological assessment document on the Boone River watershed to determine the current ecological condition of the watershed.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

February 24, 2006: Conservancy Expands Loess Hills Special Landscape Area with Recent Donation
With the recent donation of 45 acres The Nature Conservancy is able to once again expand the protected land in the Loess Hills area. This property is located in the Loveland Special Landscape Area located in the Loess Hills in northern Pottawattamie County.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

January 31, 2006: Iowa Birders Visit the Home of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
Nature Conservancy shares conservation success with area birders

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

July 22, 2005: Brown Family of Iowa Gives Back to Prairie
The Nature Conservancy in Iowa will dedicate the Browns Prairie, 188 acres of native prairie located in the Glacial Hills area, north of Storm Lake and southwest of Spencer near the Little Sioux River Valley.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

June 28, 2005: Nature Conservancy Protects Native Grassland by Expanding Prairie with Easements
Two completed conservation easements will protect an additional 240 acres at the Broken Kettle Grasslands, Iowa’s largest contiguous native prairie, The Nature Conservancy announced today.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

May 25, 2005: Nature Conservancy Protects Native Grasslands, Prairie Rattlesnake Population
A 15-acre addition to the Broken Kettle Grasslands, Iowa’s largest contiguous native prairie, safeguards critical hibernacula for the state’s only known population of prairie rattlesnakes. The addition to Broken Kettle, located just north of Sioux City in Plymouth County, pushes the protected acreage to nearly 3,050 acres.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744

September 30, 2004: Nature Conservancy Releases Preliminary Study on Critical Actions needed in the Upper Mississippi
The Nature Conservancy, with the contribution of partners representing 22 organizations, undertook a large-scale study to identify actions critical to protecting the large network of freshwater diversity in the UMR basin. The preliminary results, summarized in the plan “Restoring the Upper Mississippi River and its Networks of Tributaries,” are being shared with others throughout the basin.

Iowa Media Contact
Chris Anderson
tel: (612) 331-0747
mobile: (612) 845-2744