Native Land Management Program

One of the Alliance's two primary goals is 'to enhance, restore or acquire land for conservation projects within the watersheds of Iowa and Illinois along Pools 18 and 19 of the Mississippi River.'

To honor Leopold's background here, we help private landowners with land health concepts and habitat restoration in the bi-state-region.  The Burlington area could become a center, along with those in Wisconsin and the Southwest, for the celebration of Leopold's ideas -- connecting working landscapes and wild land recovery.

2019 Native Land Management Program

Work continued on the Malchow Mounds project, the Fausel Oak-Savannah project, and the Aldo Leopold Middle School Prairie Outdoor Classroom.

 

July  2019   Youth Conservation Corp. 

In Iowa's summer heat, the Youth Conservation Corp from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge was here to work with us in our Native Land Management Program. 

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Here is the YCC crew from left: Ryan, Emily, Jean-Baptist, Lexus, and Alex. Many thanks, again! The YCC group are high school students from the region. Not pictured is their crew leader, Andrew Dropik from Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

 

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In the morning they cut weed trees and cleared brush from the Starker-Leopold House steep bluff and did some weeding in the wildflower garden at the Leopold House. And yes, the bluff is that steep!  Photo shows Andrew and Jean-Baptist working on the steep bluff, removing tree of heaven.

 

 

 

68382135_483995669055411_75.jpgWith temps in the 90’s, they were ready for lunch in the cool Leopold House. Thanks to Lois & Jerry Rigdon for providing the sub sandwiches.

Then after learning a bit about Aldo, the crew moved to the Leopold Middle School Prairie for afternoon work. Orientation here put Aldo in context with prairie restoration and the need for wild places near our schools and homes. They helped to transplant out extra prairie plants—especially the compass plant that has done too well! With volunteers from LLA, including Dr. Pat Coen, BCSD Superintendent, we had a total crew of 14. Thanks so much to the enthusiastic students and their FWS supervisor, Andrew Dropik! We really appreciate your efforts!  Photo: The crew at the Leopold School Prairie. From left: Dr. Pat Coen, School Superintendent, Andrew, team leader and Steve, discussing the value of wild places.

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2018 Native Landscape Management 

The Alliance has assisted with conservation planning, cost share programs, invasive brush removal with our volunteers, and pathway planning.  Big progress this year as we added a new private landowner partner with a 150-acre oak-savannah.  

At the Fausel Oak-Savannah there are over 65 bur and white oaks with diameters over 30”—some measure 5 feet! 

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The property is an old horse farm where much of the prairie/savannah was converted to pasture.  However, many old oaks, believed to be pre-=settlement, were saved within the pastures and around the edges.  Here invasives were removed to relieve the pressure on the native trees and open the area for prairie growth.  Also, paths were prepared for prescribed burns.  

 

At the Property Bordering Malchow Mounds there is a valley that was filled with jewelweed in August.  As we approached, we were surprised at the loud whir of hundreds of pairs of wings.  The field was filled with male ruby throated hummingbirds taking a rest from their fall migration! Amazing sights and sounds!Later in September, the valley was filled again with the females and juveniles.  We will monitor the location next year in hopes that this was not a one time occurrence.

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Biologist David Griffin is assisting LLA to monitor wildlife near Malchow Mounds State Preserve north of Burlington. David is an excellent birder by ear, working to ID warblers and sparrows. He discovered a wide diversity and species and made some special finds.  LLA is helping private land owners along the oak bluffs to ID special qualities in their woodlands. 


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This vulture's threat display is because we discovered her nest during a bird survey. She was defiant, but ladylike, meaning no projectile vomiting!  We moved out of the area quickly when we realized there was a nest. But she did call in about 10 buddies to soar over us very low, creating some big shadows.  Later we confirmed the presents of eggs in the hollow of a large hackberry tree.


At the Aldo Leopold Middle School Prairie we had several busy days staffed by our volunteers. Special thanks to the Burlington Community School District Maintenance Staff, who took care of the pre-season mowing.  Work also continued at Homestead 1839 with new prairie and habitat plantings established along Agency Street, and also planning for a new wetland.

 

 

2017 Native Landscape Management

The Native Landscape Management program – This partnership continues to grow with a big boost from IA DOT on the Highway 34 Project with Great River Christian School students, and other land management volunteers:  Drew Delang, Lisa Louck, and Caleb Waters.    Other work focused on BCSD activities on rocky glen areas, and new work on clearing invasive species at the Hazell Mounds.

 


2016  Native Landscape Management

Just in its beginnings this year is the Native Landscape Management Program.  LLA is coordinating various local land agency staff and volunteer friends to help restore habitat, beginning with invasive species removal and replanting.  In some cases, this work is on public grounds and in other cases, on private grounds with land owners contributing to LLA for the service.  Initial activities took place this year on the Highway 34 Gateway Project for Earth Day, the Leopold Middle School Prairie, Stoney Lonesome at Bracewell Stadium (includes the hillsides and rock outcrops surrounding the BCSD's Stadium), and the Hazell Mounds (private lands) surrounding Malchow Mounds, a state preserve containing over 100 Middle Woodland mounds.