 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Agren Projects
|
Loess Hills GrassbankThe Challenge:The invasion of woody vegetation into native plant communities is a growing problem on many of the nation's rangelands and pastures, including the Loess Hills region in western Iowa. Native prairie now comprises less than three percent of the Loess Hills, whereas historically, native prairie was the dominant plant community. In 2003, the Loess Hills Alliance Stewardship Committee explored options to reverse this trend. Creating a grassbank rated the highest among the alternatives considered by the committee.Agren's Solution:We secured funding to create a Loess Hills grassbank through an Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant and the Loess Hills Alliance Stewardship Committee. A grassbank system provides a means for livestock producers to rent idle grasslands (either privately owned or government lands) while they complete restoration activities on their own pasturelands.Our staff began the three-year project by convening a steering committee to help create a business plan, operating guidelines, and an application system. Next we worked with individual landowners and government agencies to secure pastureland that was appropriate for use as a grassbank. Fencing and water systems were installed or updated as necessary. We created a promotional brochure and developed press releases to introduce the idea of a grassbank to local residents, and recruit potential grassbank users. It was also promoted through radio interviews and advertising as well as personal speaking engagements. Applications submitted by Loess Hills cattle producers were rated and applicants were selected based on the conservation achievements they agreed to make. Biological monitoring, including bird surveys, and key plant species and communities, was conducted regularly on the grassbank sites. Pasture walks are held each year of the three-year project to further promote the grassbank concept and illustrate its effectiveness. Finally, evaluation information will be compiled in a summary report on the appropriateness of the grassbank system for restoring and preserving native prairie in Iowa's Loess Hills. More Information: |
