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News

Celebrate Loess Hills & Heritage Week, Sept. 21-29

9/17/2019

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Celebrate the Loess Hills during Loess Hills & Heritage Week, September 21-29, at a variety of events throughout western Iowa’s Loess Hills counties. During this week, individuals can escape from the hustle and bustle of work life and enjoy western Iowa’s Loess Hills. This week will showcase the unique geological, topographical, archeological, and other distinct aspects of the Loess hills, including their special plants, animals, and history.

Events span to several western counties in Iowa: Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie, Mills, and Fremont. Some events during the week include the Southwest Iowa Art Tour, prairie seed harvest activities, Woodbine Applefest, Loess Hills Music Festival, and many more. A complete listing of events can be found at http://www.visitloesshills.org/LHHW.   

The Loess Hills (pronounced “Luss”), meaning loose or crumbly, is one of Iowa’s important natural resources, ranging 640,000 Acres, across Western Iowa. According to the Nonprofit Scenic America, these hills have unique plant and animal species and native Iowa prairie, making the Loess Hills one of the 10 ten most scenic byways in the United States. Loess Hills & Heritage Week is coordinated by Golden Hills RC&D, with support from Bill Blackburn and many other local partners.

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Wabash Trace Forage Walk

9/13/2019

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Last night (September 12), Jamie Smidt Fowler led a plant identification walk near Imogene. This program was part of our Fremont County Outdoor Adventures. funded by Fremont County Tourism. The walk focused on edible and medicinal uses of plants, as well as discussion of which plants are native or invasive. Below is a sampling of some of the plants we saw!
(Please note that not all of these plants are edible. Foraging should only be done when you can properly identify species and know how to adequately prepare them for consumption).

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Wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)
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American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
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Tall blue lettuce (lactuca biennis)
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Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
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White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
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White mulberry (Morus alba)
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Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
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Ground cherry
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Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana)
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Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
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Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
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Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)
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Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
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Tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum)
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Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)
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Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
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Basswood/American linden (Tilia americana)
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Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
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Wild plum (Prunus americana)
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Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
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Burdock (Arctium lappa)
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Blue violet (Viola sororia)
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Big bluestem/turkeyfoot (Andropogon gerardii)
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Common soapwort/Wild Sweet William/Bouncing Bett (Saponaria officinalis)
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Climbing false buckwheat vine (Fallopia scandens)
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Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)
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Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
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Wild grape (Vitis riparia)
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Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
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Participants learn about plants along the trail from Jamie.
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Participants learn about plants along the trail from Jamie.
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Second Loess Hills Bicycle Tour completed last week

9/12/2019

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The second annual Loess Hills Parks & Peaks Bicycle Tour was held September 4-8 in western Iowa's scenic Loess Hills region. The ride began at Lewis & Clark State Park near Onawa. Riders were treated to a keelboat ride and program about Lewis & Clark's expedition on Wednesday evening and camped at the park. 
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Boat ride on Blue Lake at Lewis & Clark State Park. photo by Pat Schoening
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Solon Olson steers the keelboat on Blue Lake. photo by Pat Schoening
Thursday morning, riders passed through Onawa on their way to the R.T. Reese Homestead cabin, where Monona County Conservation Board naturalist Andrea Porter led a program about Loess Hills flora & fauna. From there, the route went through Turin, Moorhead, and on to the Loess Hills State Forest Brent S. Olson Memorial Visitor Center in Pisgah. Several riders rode to Preparation Canyon State Park and the surrounding State Forest.
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Riders pass through rural Monona County. photo by Lance Brisbois
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Andrea Porter with Monona County Conservation Board discusses Loess Hills wildlife at Reese Cabin. photo by Pat Schoening
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Backroads in Loess Hills State Forest near Moorhead. photo by Pat Schoening
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Nutmeg Ave. in rural Monona County. photo by Pat Schoening
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Cliff swallow holes and cedar trees on a loess roadcut. photo by Pat Schoening
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Overlook trail at Loess Hills State Forest. photo by Pat Schoening
From Pisgah, riders were routed west to Murray Hill, through Little Sioux, River Sioux, and Mondamin, Missouri Valley, and Honey Creek, ending at Hitchcock Nature Center for the evening. Natural Resource Specialist Chad Graeve led a hike and discussed conservation and stewardship in the Loess Hills.
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Murray Hill Scenic Overlook. photo by Pat Schoening
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Murray Hill Scenic Overlook. photo by Pat Schoening
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Two riders coming down Easton Trail from Murray Hill. photo by Lance Brisbois
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Terry Castle rides past the Mondamin Unit of the Loess Hills State Forest in Harrison County. photo by Lance Brisbois
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Loess Hills State Forest bluffs near Mondamin. photo by Lance Brisbois
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Dirt road cut through the Loess Hills. photo by Pat Schoening
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Learning about Hitchcock Nature Center's prairies with Chad Graeve. photo by Lance Brisbois
On Saturday, participants took backroads through Crescent and Council Bluffs, where they joined up with the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. The trail took riders through Mineola, Silver City, and Malvern. the final overnight stop.
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Riders exploring Council Bluffs. photo by Pat Schoening
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Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs. photo by Pat Schoening
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Riders crossing a bridge on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. photo by Pat Schoening
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Riders on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. photo by Pat Schoening
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Public art in downtown Malvern. photo by Lance Brisbois
Sunday, the final day, passed through Tabor and Thurman before ending at Waubonsie State Park.
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Riders on Bluff Road in Fremont County. photo by Pat Schoening
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Riders on Bluff Road in Fremont County. photo by Pat Schoening
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Rider Pat Schoening's bike at the entrance to Waubonsie State Park, the ride's ending point. photo by Pat Schoening
​The riders had great weather and got to experience many of the most scenic parks and roads in the Loess Hills region while learning what the Loess Hills are and why they matter. Golden Hills is expecting to host the ride for the third time in 2020, coinciding with the Iowa State Parks Centennial.
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Golden Hills would like to thank all the riders and everyone who made the ride a success! Special shoutout to the following sponsors and supporters:
The Nature Conservancy; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; Monona County Conservation Board; Loess Hills Bed & Breakfast; Pottawattamie County Conservation Board; Iowa Bicycle Coalition; SRAM; Malvern Liberty Memorial Board; Dave's Old Home; Moreau's Backerei & Pizzeria; and more! This project was made possible in part by a funding award from the National Park Service and Outdoor Foundation.
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712 South Highway Street 
P.O. Box 189
​Oakland, IA 51560

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Phone: 712-482-3029
General inquiries: info@goldenhillsrcd.org
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Job Openings
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do >
      • Community Partnerships
      • Arts and Culture
      • Water Resources
      • Local Foods
      • Outdoor Recreation & Tourism
      • Land Stewardship
    • Where We Work
  • Events
    • Grant Writing 101
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