Living Land, Lasting Impact

The marshy wetland on Mihall’s property is a fen—one of the rarest and most delicate habitats in Iowa. Working with The Nature Conservancy, Mihall put 77 acres in a conservation easement, a voluntary legal agreement designed to protect natural areas and help prevent development or land conversion. Often, TNC plays a critical role in bridging the gap by transferring the land to organizations that can continue to properly care for and steward the land. Today, the land is managed by the Fayette County Conservation Board, and the fen that Mihall and her parents cared for so much is now part of the Gray Hart Fen Memorial Preserve.

Mihall’s story is just one example of how TNC works across Iowa. Over the years, Iowa’s landscape has changed dramatically, leading to a steep decline in biodiversity and increasingly disconnected landscapes.

TNC works in places where conservation can have the greatest impact, collaborating with landowners and local organizations to ensure lasting protection. Sometimes that means acquiring land to manage as a nature preserve. Other times, it involves holding conservation easements or transferring land to trusted partners for long-term stewardship, as in Mihall’s case. Each approach ensures that Iowa’s habitats remain protected for generations to come.

A Living Laboratory for Conservation and Discovery

Nestled in the heart of eastern Iowa, TNC’s Land of the Swamp White Oak Preserve has been a conservation cornerstone for more than four decades. Within this unique landscape, TNC has protected over 5,000 acres of floodplain forests, wetlands, prairies and oak savannas—creating a mosaic of habitats that support both biodiversity and scientific research.

The preserve functions as a living laboratory, offering researchers a rare opportunity to study an unaltered floodplain ecosystem. Its untouched soils and natural hydrology reveal the intricate relationships between rivers, plants, wildlife and the land itself. 

Keith Schilling of the Iowa Geological Survey has been monitoring water quality at the preserve for two decades. By tracking groundwater levels through a network of wells, Schilling helps uncover how native vegetation and soils respond to flooding. His research shows that floodplains like this one naturally filter water, reducing excess nutrients before they reach downstream ecosystems.

Meanwhile, retired University of Iowa biology professor Jeff Klahn spends his days sweeping the preserve’s riverside vegetation with a sampling net along the Cedar River. The insects he collects are added to the university’s Museum of Natural History, contributing to a growing record of species diversity. Klahn’s work underscores the importance of protected areas like Land of the Swamp White Oak Preserve, especially in a state dominated by industrial agriculture. These refuges, he notes, are essential for sustaining insect populations and allowing species to move and thrive across connected habitats. 

Protecting Land for Generations to Come

That’s why TNC is working to protect broad swaths of land across Iowa—creating long, connected corridors that support wildlife movement, ecological resilience and scientific discovery.

Back at Gray Hart Fen Memorial Preserve, Mihall is proud to be part of these efforts. When asked why she wanted her land to become a preserve, she shares that it was about honoring her parents’ wishes—and passing on a legacy.

“I learned from my dad and taught my daughters,” Mihall says. “We knew it was a special kind of land, and my dad never wanted to touch it. So, we left it alone and enjoyed what was there.”

She hopes future generations will bring their children to the preserve, so they too can experience the quiet wonder of the land just as she did growing up.