26DG11094200034

THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND PROTECTS ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT FOREST LANDS THAT ARE THREATENED BY CONVERSION TO NON FOREST USES. THE STATE OF IOWA WILL PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO PROTECT MULTIPLE TRACTS OF FORESTED LAND WITHIN THE DRIFTLESS REGION FOREST LEGACY AREA. THIS FOREST LEGACY AREA WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AS HAVING SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC VALUE OF BOTH NATIONAL AND STATE SIGNIFICANCE. SPECIFICALLY, THE PUBLIC VALUES BEING PROTECTED BY THIS PROJECT ARE DEER HUNTING, RIVER RECREATION, SCENIC VISTAS, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES, AND THE HIGHEST QUALITY FORESTS IN THE STATE. A MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT AREA LIES WITHIN THE AUTHORIZED BOUNDARY OF THE DRIFTLESS AREA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. WHEN COMBINED WITH ADJACENT HERITAGE VALLEY TRACTS AND NEARBY STATE OWNED LANDS, THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE A COMPLEX OF OVER 6,000 ACRES OF CONSERVATION LAND ALONG THE STATE PROTECTED UPPER IOWA RIVER, AN IMPORTANT TRIBUTARY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND THE ONLY RIVER IN IOWA ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVER.

Iowa Department Of Natural Resources

NOT APPLICABLE

10.676 - Forest Legacy Program

USFS Region 9: Eastern Region (R9) [USDA - USFS]

Iowa United States

State-Wide

NOT APPLICABLE