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You’ve probably heard of the Great Plains, prairies, and Loess Hills, but how are they defined and what makes them different? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, organizes North America into multiple levels of ecoregions, from the broad, continental scale (such as the Great Plains) to a much more localized, county-level scale like the Loess Hills. “A Roman numeral hierarchical scheme has been adopted for different levels of ecological regions. Level I is the coarsest level, dividing North America into 15 broad ecological regions. These highlight major ecological areas and provide the broad backdrop to the ecological mosaic of the continent, putting it in context at global or intercontinental scales.” (Source: Commission for Environmental Cooperation). Click the image below to open a larger pdf map.  All of western Iowa is included in Region 9: the Great Plains, although other definitions of the Great Plains do not include Iowa. The Great Plains covers a large portion of the central part of North American, from Canada through Mexico. According to CEC: “This ecological region is distinguished particularly by the following characteristics: relatively little topographic relief; grasslands and a paucity of forests; and subhumid to semiarid climate… The soils are commonly deep and throughout most of the region were originally highly fertile…The climate is dry and continental, characterized in the north by short, hot summers and long, cold winters. High winds are an important climatic factor in this ecological region. It is also subject to periodic, intense droughts and frosts… Rainfall increases from west to east, defining different types of native prairies. Short-grass prairie occurs in the west, in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, with mixed-grass prairie in the central Great Plains and tall-grass prairie in the wetter eastern region… Because of the suitability of the Great Plains for agricultural production, many native prairie vegetation types have been radically transformed. The short-, mixed- and tall-grass prairies now correspond to the western rangelands, the wheat belt and the corn/soybean regions, respectively, to the central and eastern Great Plains.” Within Region 1 Ecoregions are 50 Level II ecological regions “delineated to provide a more detailed description of the large ecological areas nested within the level I regions. Level II ecological regions are useful for national and subcontinental overviews of ecological patterns.” (Source: CEC). ' All of Western Iowa is included in 9.2: Temperate Prairies.  According to bplant.org: “The Temperate Prairies are a Level II ecoregion representing the northeasternmost portion of the Great Plains. Entering them from the east, they represent the first region in which forests are not the dominant cover, and instead grasslands dominate. This region stretches over a long, but somewhat narrow expanse from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada, south through the eastern Dakotas and western/southern Minnesota, and south to northeastern Oklahoma. Iowa is the only state mostly contained within this region, which cuts through narrow bands of many states and provinces. This region is mostly flat, although it does have gently-rolling hills. The climate is continental, and moisture levels range from subhumid to semiarid in the north, to humid in the south. To the south, higher evapotranspiration associated with warmer temperatures and greater sunlight demand more water to sustain similar vegetation cover. The weather is unpredictable and can be extreme, with large temperature swings being common at all times of year, as well as prolonged periods of drought. The natural cover in this region is mostly grasslands, with only scattered trees, mostly along streams and other bodies of water. However, this region has been heavily utilized for agriculture, and cropland is now the dominant cover, with significant pastureland as well. This region is not as heavily populated as areas to the east, but it does contain major metro areas including Kansas City, part of the Twin Cities metro area, and Calgary and Edmonton, AB.” Within the 50 Level II ecoregions are another 182 Level III ecoregions. “The level III ecological region map depicts revisions and subdivisions of earlier level I, II, and III ecological regions (CEC 1997, McMahon et al., 2001, Omernik 1987, USEPA 2006; Wiken 1986, Wiken et al., 1996). These smaller divisions enhance regional environmental monitoring, assessment and reporting, as well as decision-making. Because level III regions are smaller, they allow locally defining characteristics to be identified, and more specifically oriented management strategies to be formulated.” (Source: CEC) click the map for a larger pdf  Nearly all of Iowa, excepting the northeast and southeast corners, is included within Level III Ecoregion 9.2.3: the Western Corn Belt Plains. Per EPA, “Once covered with tallgrass prairie, over 75 percent of the Western Corn Belt Plains is now used for cropland agriculture and much of the remainder is in forage for livestock. A combination of nearly level to gently rolling glaciated till plains and hilly loess plains, an average annual precipitation of 63-89 cm, which occurs mainly in the growing season, and fertile, warm, moist soils make this on of the most productive areas of corn and soybeans in the world. Major environmental concerns in the region include surface and groundwater contamination from fertilizer and pesticide applications as well as impacts from concentrated livestock production.” Within Level III are the most localized landforms, Level IV. This is where the Loess Hills are delineated. Also called the “Western Loess Hills”, and identified as 47m on the Level IV map: click the map for a larger pdf.  According to the EPA: “The Western Loess Hills ecoregion extends south from Iowa and covers only a small area in northwestern Missouri. The deep loess-dominated hills have greater relief and a higher drainage density than the Steeply Rolling Loess Prairies (47e) to the east. The more irregular topography and erosive, silty soils contribute to a mixed land use with less cropland and more pasture and woodland than neighboring regions. The flora of this region is mixed, with shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie and rare xeric species on south and west-facing slopes, and bur-oak woodland and tallgrass prairie on cooler, moister slopes.” Other Level IV ecoregions in western Iowa include 47e -- Steeply Rolling Loess Prairies immediately east of the Loess Hills, and 47d -- Missouri Alluvial Plain along the Missouri River to the west of the Loess Hills.  Each ecoregion has distinct geological features and characteristics, which often result in different land-use, economic, and even social & cultural impacts.The Loess Hills and Missouri Alluvial Plain, for example, are very different and easy to distinguish from one another visually–steep bluffs overlooking a wide, flat river valley and floodplain. Their native floral communities are different, and modern farming practices vary between the hills and the plain. Between the Western Loess Hills and Steeply Rolling Loess Prairies, however, the difference is much more subtle, as the depth of loess slowly decreases from west to east. The rolling hills covered in loess continue eastward across much of Iowa, with less and less loess as you move east. Take a look at the landscape as your travel across western Iowa and see if you can tell when you cross into a new ecoregion!
View the map and read descriptions for other Level IV ecoregions here.
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2025 was a busy, successful year for Golden Hills! Check out our latest annual report to learn about our work collaboratively developing and leading community, conservation, & cultural initiatives to improve quality of life in rural western Iowa:  Water quality is a salient topic across Iowa today. While significant discussion focuses (rightly so) on things like pesticide and fertilizer runoff, one lesser-acknowledged cause of impaired waters is soil erosion, particularly streambanks and stream beds. Soil erosion from fields, including sheet, rill, and gully erosion, also brings sediment into waterways. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two main nutrients applied to crop fields and lawns. While crucial for plant growth, too much can impair our waterways and drinking water sources. Generally, nitrogen readily washes off from topsoil with rain and snowmelt, while phosphorous adheres to soil particles and can stay embedded for many years. When a streambank erodes into a waterway, it brings phosphorous with it. Streambank erosion is a leading cause of phosphorous pollution in Iowa’s rivers. Golden Hills is working with NRCS to stabilize streambanks as part of our Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Erosion is a natural process of rivers often resulting in meandering where the channel moves back and forth laterally across its floodplain. However, human activities, such as channelization and urbanization, can greatly exacerbate erosion, potentially throwing the entire system out of balance. Most of western Iowa’s streams meandered across the prairies, replete with wetlands and oxbows in the floodplains, until they were channelized (straightened) in the 20th Century. Channelization reduced flooding and improved drainage for agricultural development, but caused downcutting and widening of our streams & rivers. Most of the photos and information below is from “Stream Restoration Overview” PowerPoint and “HCA-Geomorph History PowerPoint” from John Thomas, Hungry Canyons Alliance.  Waterways are constantly attempting to reach an energy equilibrium where sediment erosion and deposition are balanced. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, it must move throughout the river system.     As a stream picks up more sediment, whether from surrounding uplands or streambanks, friction increases, which reduces the amount of energy expended. In addition to sediment, the channel itself creates friction with the flowing water. Heavier bits of sediment are dropped to the bottom, which further increases energy. The total amount of energy in a waterway also depends on the depth and volume.  When a meandering stream is straightened, its total length decreases over the same amount of elevation change; in other words, the channel becomes steeper, causing it to flow faster. To try and reduce the amount of excess energy, the stream incises (cuts downward) into its streambed. In western Iowa, the highly-erodible deep loess soils were relatively easy to downcut into, resulting in deeply-incised streams and gullies. Channels then widen because the vertical silt banks are easily undercut by flowing water. Streambed degradation can also release legacy nitrates into the water.   Waterways are constantly attempting to reach an energy equilibrium where sediment erosion and deposition are balanced. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, it must move throughout the river system. Streams regulate the energy at their disposal by carrying different sizes and amounts of sediment, the slope of the streambed, and channel form (or the shape and pattern of the channel). For example, as a stream picks up or carries more sediment, whether from surrounding uplands, streambanks, or the channel bed, friction increases which reduces the amount of energy available; like putting the brakes on in a car.  In general, the upper reach of a watershed is erosion-dominant; the middle part of the watershed is transport-dominant, and the lower portion is deposition-dominant. Meanders gradually move down-valley as outer banks erode and inner banks deposit. Large rivers in western Iowa, like the Missouri, Nishnabotna, and Nodaway Rivers, are transport-dominant. Localized instability (i.e., eroding streambanks) are not always a symptom of system instability. While planting riparian buffers of prairie grasses and trees provide water quality benefits and may help slow the rate of erosion, buffers in western Iowa do not typically stop streambank erosion because the channel bed and banks are adjusting faster than vegetation can take hold and often at a depth deeper than the vegetations roots. Meanders gradually move down-valley as outer banks erode and inner banks deposit. Large rivers in western Iowa, like the Missouri, Nishnabotna, and Nodaway Rivers, are transport-dominant. Localized instability (i.e., eroding streambanks) are not always a symptom of system instability. The definition of stability depends on perspective and time. Looking at the West Nishnabotna as an example, upstream areas like Shelby County are generally experiencing more streambank erosion than downstream areas like Fremont County, where the Nish has many feet of sedimentation in the bed, which contributes to flooding issues in the Riverton and Hamburg areas. While planting riparian buffers of prairie grasses and trees provide water quality benefits and may help slow the rate of erosion, these buffers typically will not actually stop streambank erosion, as it is a geological process deeper than vegetative roots.  Streambank stabilization has been used successfully on many of western Iowa’s rivers. Increased use of the practice has the potential to significantly improve our water quality. Benefits of streambank stabilization include: •Protecting infrastructure on or near floodplain •Protecting land on or near floodplain •Reducing flooding •Improving water quality •Creating and reconnecting aquatic and riparian habitats •Enhancing nutrient processing •Improving aesthetics and recreational opportunities •Increased economic development opportunities. If you have riverbank property in the West Nish watershed that could use bank stabilization, visit our RCPP webpage to see if you are eligible for cost-share: goldenhillsrcd.org/rcpp  example of a streambank stabilization in progress on the West Nish. photo provided by JEO  Example of a completed streambank stabilization on the West Nish as part of our RCPP. photo provided by JEO In December 2025, Golden Hills hosted a streambank stabilization webinar led by John Thomas. Additional Resources
Explore the links below to learn more about streambank stabilization and river restoration:
From April 9 through 12, the 2026 LoHi Trek traversed portions of Monona and Woodbury counties in the northern Loess Hills. The LoHi Trek, short for Lo(ess) Hi(lls), is an annual four-day hiking & camping event in this unique and special landform. The Trek was the brainchild of Monona County resident Kelly Madigan, inspired by her 2020 walk through the length of Iowa’s Loess Hills. Since 2021, Kelly has partnered with Golden Hills to host the event, which moves locations each year. The Trek is more than a hike, though--it's an immersive, place-based, community-building experience that brings people together to enjoy, learn about, and deepen their appreciation of western Iowa's unique Loess Hills. Golden Hills provides Trekkers with all meals and snacks, 4 nights of facilitated camping and daily educational activities, and 4 days of supported hiking with expert guides. Group size is intentionally limited to help build a sense of community and shared purpose in the group. We keep the registration fee affordable and offer financial assistance options to keep the event accessible. Registration for the 2026 Trek filled within minutes of being open and has a long waiting list.  basecamp in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois The 2026 event began Wednesday evening, April 8, when Trekkers arrived at base camp to set up. On the way in, several participants stopped at nearby Tuuli Farm for a tour. They stayed at the same site on private land each night through Sunday morning. Wednesday dinner included soups prepared by Juggs BBQ.  basecamp. photo by Lance Brisbois Each morning, coffee was provided by Graceful Grind Coffeehouse of Mapleton. Breakfasts also included yogurt, fruit, eggs, and overnight oats. Thursday’s hike (Day 1) was around 11 miles, mostly on public lands managed by Woodbury County Conservation Board, starting at Oak Ridge Conservation Area. The group was given access to hike through and have lunch on private property Thursday near Oto.  Oak Ridge Conservation Area in Woodbury County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Oak Ridge Conservation Area. photo by Micayla Miller Lunch was donated and served by volunteers from the Northwest Iowa Group Sierra Club. During lunch, Brodie Skinner with Woodbury County Conservation Board discussed the organization’s work with protecting and restoring thousands of acres of Loess Hills prairies & woodlands.  Lunch talk by Brodie Skinner with Woodbury County Conservation Board. photo by Lance Brisbois After lunch, the group hiked some scenic Level B dirt roads, and ended at Southwood Conservation Area.  Curious cattle watching the Trekkers pass by. photo by Jana Lanhorst  Southwood Conservation Area in Woodbury County .photo by Lance Brisbois  Southwood Conservation Area in Woodbury County. photo by Lance Brisbois Rain mostly held off for the hike, with only some scattered light showers throughout the day. More rain hit after the group was at base camp, but hikers were spared severe weather and heavy downpours. Back at basecamp, Thursday’s Asian-inspired dinner was catered by Livengoodies. Day 2 (Friday) covered 11 miles with a mix of prairie ridges (full of blooming pasque flowers), wooded valleys (with a bit of bushwhacking), and a short stretch of gravel roads. Numerous local volunteers showed up to provide transportation from base camp to Utterback Pond on Friday morning. The hike began with a few miles through Loess Hills Wildlife Area.  Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Melanie Vote  Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Melanie Vote  Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Sharon Carson The route then went through Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. Loess Hills Wildlife Area and Sylvan Runkel State Preserve are public lands owned and managed by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Ryan Pelster  Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Lance Brisbois  Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Lance Brisbois  Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Lance Brisbois  Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Lance Brisbois  Sylvan Runkel State Preserve. photo by Lance Brisbois From Sylvan Runkel, hikers walked some gravel roads, and had lunch (sandwiches prepared that morning by the trekkers) before returning into the southern portion of Loess Hills Wildlife Area.  Day 2 lunch spot. photo by Lance Brisbois  pasque flower blooming on the route. photo by Amy Brown  Loess Hills Wildlife Area. photo by Lance Brisbois Local resident Janet Wakehouse hosted a much-appreciated rest-stop with refreshments on the way. Friday included embedded experts on the hike, including Iowa DNR District Forester Sarah Bell and Private Lands Biologist Megann Schmidt. Trekkers ended day two by hiking back to basecamp.  Neighborhood rest stop. photo by Lance Brisbois  Loess Hills Wildlife Area, overlooking basecamp. photo by Lance Brisbois Friday dinner, provided by local resident & volunteer Jane Daniel, included a Greek meal featuring locally-sourced lamb from Tuuli Farm. Massive lemon bars from Ada J’s Steakhouse in Ute were a popular dessert. After dinner, trekker Wendell Bronson gave an educational talk about the geology, history, and ecology of the Loess Hills.  Friday dinner. photo by Lance Brisbois  Wendell Bronson discussing the Loess Hills. photo by Lance Brisbois Day 3 (Saturday) included a few miles of hiking through privately owned land with special permission in Monona County. Special thank you Kody Wohlers with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for leading the group on Saturday!  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Melanie Vote  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Kody Wohlers  View from private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Melanie Vote  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois   Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Kody Wohlers The historic Mann One-Room Country School House was the lunch site, prepared by Loess Hills Country Corner in Pisgah.  Lunch at Mann School. photo by Lance Brisbois After lunch, the group hiked through more private land. Earlier this year, a group of trekkers and partners volunteered to clear eastern red cedars that have encroached on the prairie ridges. This made Saturday’s hike much easier, with a cleared tunnel through the cedar thickets.  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekker on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers resting on the route. photo provided by Melanie Vote  Trekkers on private property in Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois The day ended with a loop at the iconic Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit of Loess Hills State Forest. DNR technician Mark Vos also provided expertise and navigation support on Saturday and Sunday.  Loess Hills State Forest - Scenic Overlook. photo by Lance Brisbois  Loess Hills State Forest - Scenic Overlook. photo by Lance Brisbois  Loess Hills State Forest - Scenic Overlook trail. photo by Lance Brisbois Saturday dinner back at basecamp featured a taco bar, with beef donated by Nebraska Beef, greens from Long Walk Farm and Cleo’s Homestead.  Saturday dinner. photo by Lance Brisbois After dinner, everyone shared reflections of the event around the campfire and received shirts designed by trekker Melanie Vote.  Participants opening their 2026 LoHi Trek shirts. photo by Lance Brisbois Participants collectively created a fabric arts loom project (designed and facilitated by Anna Stoysich and Natalie Jackson) at basecamp, and took a group photo wearing our shirts with the loom.  group photo with LoHi Trek shirts in front of the loom. Sunday, the final day of the 2026 LoHi Trek, was the shortest of the four days. Trekkers hiked about six miles through the Little Sioux Scout Ranch, which is now part of the Preparation Canyon Unit of Loess Hills State Forest. The route included abundant woodlands, as well as high-quality remnant prairie ridges. Saturday included a silent stretch, where trekkers were encouraged to walk in silence and reflect on their experiences.  Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Trekkers at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois  Ending point of the 2026 LoHi Trek at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. photo by Lance Brisbois Trekkers headed home on Sunday. They came from across Iowa, Nebraska, and as far as Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, and New York. The LoHi Trek is an incredibly collaborative and supportive event that couldn’t exist without countless partners, supporters, volunteers, and all of the trekkers stepping up to support one another. Each day, participants have options to shorten their hike. Hikers assist each other with reading maps and overcoming obstacles throughout the Trek. Participants also assist with cooking and cleaning. Hiker Nancy Markow led yoga classes, and Marianne Zarzana taught Hoopyogini. Several previous trekkers shared stories of reflection and connection about how the LoHi has impacted them. A few trekkers with medical backgrounds agreed to serve as designated first aid volunteers. A theme of natural resource conservation is integrated into the Trek. We strive to reduce our environmental footprint by using cloth napkins, serving our meals on real dishes, and encouraging recycling whenever possible. While phones are often used for navigation, photos, and communication during the event, Trekkers are encouraged to reduce screen time and be fully present as much as possible throughout the event. This is easier, of course, in areas without cell reception! This contributes to building a sense of community that is often lacking in today’s overstimulating world. This community is one of the most-cited reasons that Trekkers come back each year. Dates and location for the next LoHi Trek have not been set yet, but stay tuned with Golden Hills! Thank you to our 2026 LoHi Trek sponsors, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy in Iowa! Local Businesses Supported by this year’s Trek include:
Additional donors, partners, & supporters include:
 Kelly Madigan & Lance Brisbois pose with the completed group loom project. Watch this interview with trekker Kyle Ranney about his experience, recorded during the Trek. Kyle also interviewed with Lance Brisbois of Golden Hills: By Tucker Lutter, Iowa Conservation Manager, Audubon Upper Mississippi When the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through western Iowa in 1804, Captain William Clark described what we now call the Loess Hills as “bald-pated” (sic), noting their wide-open, treeless prairies. Driving through the hills today, it can be hard to imagine such a scene. Tree encroachment, row crop production, and urban development have dramatically changed the landscape. As grasslands disappear, so do the birds that depend on them. Historically, Iowa was covered by millions of acres of prairie—today, just 1 in every 1,000 acres remains. According to the 2025 State of the Birds report, habitat loss has contributed to a 43% decline in grassland bird populations across North America—the steepest decline of any bird group. Every remaining acre of prairie in Iowa plays a critical role in supporting species like Northern Bobwhite, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern and Western Meadowlark, and Bobolink. This year, Audubon Conservation Ranching launched in Iowa with a goal: to reverse grassland bird declines by partnering with cattle and bison producers across the state. We’re eager to find farmers and ranchers to join our mission. As long as there has been grass on the landscape, there have been animals eating the grass. In the past, bison and elk roamed the landscape in vast herds and birds were reliant on their grazing to find suitable habitat to nest. Some birds, like the familiar (if ever-incessant) Killdeer, need heavily grazed areas to nest, whereas Henslow’s Sparrows need thick vegetation to thrive. All along the spectrum, birds found their niche to survive, provided by the grazing patterns of large mammals. Today, cattle have largely taken over this role. Grazing, if done with conservation in mind, can help grassland birds to thrive. If producers enroll in the conservation ranching program, Audubon staff will provide them with technical assistance in identifying grazing techniques to improve habitat for birds and can also provide financial assistance for tree and brush removal, fencing (for rotational grazing), prairie restoration, and even prescribed fire. Another perk of the program is that producers who enroll have the option to use the Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land certification seal on their meat product packaging and in promotion of their brand, telling consumers their purchases are supporting birds and biodiversity. Becoming certified opens doors to new marketing and storytelling opportunities and benefits birds and ranchers alike. While this program is new to Iowa, it has a proven track record of success. Since its launch in Missouri in 2017, over 150 ranches across the Great Plains, Upper Midwest, and the West are certified through the program, spanning an incredible 4.5 million acres of bird-friendly management. And yes, it’s working for birds! Audubon’s Science Team developed a Bird-Friendliness Index to measure the abundance, diversity, and resilience of grassland and aridland bird communities on Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Lands. The results are striking: bird-friendly ranches have shown an 8.4% annual increase in the Bird-Friendliness Index and a 76% overall increase from 2016 to 2023. While western Iowa has changed a lot since the early 1800s and the hills are not as “bald” as Captain William Clark described them, the sound of birds remains a constant thread connecting us to the past. With proper stewardship of our natural resources, future generations will continue to enjoy the distinctive trill of Field Sparrows and the scratchy rambling calls of Bell’s Vireos well into the future. If you would like to learn more about Audubon Conservation Ranching and to explore certification opportunities in Iowa, please contact me at [email protected]. I’d welcome the opportunity to visit your operation, answer questions, and explore whether Audubon Conservation Ranching could be a fit for your farm or ranch.   Dickcissel, one of the priority bird species for Audubon's Conservation Ranching program. Photo provided by Tucker Lutter.  Tucker J. Lutter, Iowa Conservation Manager, Audubon Upper Mississippi River Devney Acres is a veteran-owned small farm with located near Beebeetown in Harrison County. Brennen, Lia, their son Aiden, and daughter Blakely grow apples, cherries, peaches, and make wine using grapes from their vineyard. Devney Acres also raises horses, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, pigs, guinea fowl, rabbits and a highland cow. They sell eggs, fruit, and small gifts, along with products made from their sheep’s wool.      Devney Acres first opened to the public in 2025. Their new wedding & event venues, The Rustic Shed and The Hen House, are opening in 2026 and accepting reservations. They are also looking to collaborate with local businesses and organizations to host on-farm events.  They offer farm tours to interact with the animals and learn about their farming activities. You can even pay to camp (tent or RV) on the farm! Visit their website to learn more, or follow Devney Acres on Facebook and Instagram.  photo provided by Devney Acres Golden Hills Project Coordinator Shaun Ahern recently finished the test plot portions of the Midwest Cover Crop Council’s Cover Crops Essentials course. The test plots consisted of two different cover crop mixes he created that each had two 3 feet x 3 feet test plots. The first mix consisted of red clover, sorghum sudangrass, and buckwheat. The second mix included crimson clover, oats, and mustard. He chose these mixes to see how the combination of different functional groups led to the mixes’ performance. For the first plot of each, all three species were broadcast seeded at a 100% seeding rate. For the second plot of each, the two colver species were broadcast seeded at a 100% seeding rate while all others were seeded at a 50% seeding rate. He finished up by taking biomass samples and measuring other ecosystem services indicators. The graphics below include a table of the measurements for 7 ecosystem service indicators and a spider plot of their axis scores to visualize how each mixture performed among those indicators.    Photos below include the test plots before samples were removed, including each of the species present, and the amount of each sample after they were removed. The total biomass collected of each species is as follows:
 oats  buckwheat  sorghum sudangrass  crimson clover  red clover  all four test plots  collected samples of all species that emerged These test plots allowed Shaun to get hands-on experience with cover crop research. Overall, the Cover Crops Essentials course allowed him to gain a better understanding of all the various factors to consider and that come into play with designing cover crop mixtures, planting, establishing, managing, and terminating cover crops. This should be helpful to Golden Hills staff with future projects that involve cover crops. Cover crops are an important in-field conservation and soil health practice that can provide a multitude of benefits, including the ecosystem service indicators in the graphics above and other benefits such as nitrogen scavenging, pest predation, and possible forage for livestock.
Cottonwood Hill Farms in McClelland, owned & operated by John & Gina Springhower, recently opened an on-farm store in McClelland. Customers must purchase a membership to shop at Cottonwood Hill Market. Memberships are $50 for one year, and annual renewals are only $25 every year thereafter. The market has a freezer stocked with their beef, pork and chicken, all raised with no antibiotics or vaccines. Their beef is 100% grass-fed and the chickens are free range, organic and soy-free. They also have soy-free eggs, rendered pork lard, and rendered beef tallow. Soaps, body washes and lotions made by a neighbor with natural ingredients are also available. Cottonwood Hill Market Hours: Mon: Closed Tues: 11am - 1pm Wed: 11am - 1pm Thurs: Closed Fri: 5pm - 7pm Sat: 11am - 1pm Sund: 11am - 1pm Learn more by visiting their website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.       photo from Cottonwood Hill Farms Facebook page. Golden Hills is excited to announce that Charlie Schilling has been hired as our new Trails Coordinator! Charlie will primarily be developing recreational trails in Pottawattamie County, in partnership with Pottawattamie County Trails Association and Pottawattamie Conservation. Charlie is energized to be the first-ever Trails Coordinator for Golden Hills. He has had past success bringing people, stakeholders and organizations together for a common cause and for the good of the overall community while leading some high-profile public projects. He also produces Tour de Nebraska, one of the premier bicycle tours in the Midwest. Charlie has fostered many industry, professional and personal relationships that have been established based on earned trust over three decades. This standard will continue while building relationships and trails throughout western Iowa. Join us in welcoming Charlie to the team!  Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year to go for a drive in western Iowa, but several factors can increase safety risk for drivers. Rowcrop harvest is underway, and many farm vehicles are large and slow-moving. Plan for extra time if you're driving on rural highways, and expect delays if you get caught behind a tractor, combine, or semi. Learn more in this post from Iowa State Extension.  photo from ISU Extension (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/drive-safely-iowa-roads-harvest-season) Most roads in Iowa follow the cardinal directions, and the sunrises and sunsets are almost directly east and west near the autumnal equinox. This can cause visibility issues, particularly on east-west roads around sunrise and sunset times  photo from Iowa Environmental Mesonet (https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/onsite/features/cat.php?day=2025-09-22) Earlier sunset times and later sunrises also coincide with morning and evening commuting rush hours during the fall, especially near metro areas. They also align with deer mating season when more deer are on the move and crossing roads at dawn and dusk. The end of Daylight Saving Time also causes an increase in traffic incidents, particularly vehicle-deer collisions. Other wildlife are also moving more with migration or to prepare for the winter season.  photo from Iowa Homeland Security Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/IowaHSEM/posts/pfbid02gCXDyyNFgT3mpQSgsWVWXMTjBnRoNbQbrGLL8dh5rhN2HEeso3My8caVNuYTH23gl) Other things to be aware of this time of year are people who are out for a slow, scenic drive to view the fall colors, especially along our beautiful scenic byways. Nice weather also means many people are out bicycling, walking, hiking, and running, which sometimes include on roadways or at least crossing roadways. Be extra cautious and plan for slower drive times this fall to keep yourself and others safe!   |
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