(Spirit Lake)– 658 acres adjoining the Elinor Bedell State Park on East Lake Okoboji has been secured by parties hoping to restore it to a natural prairie.
Keith Helland of Ducks Unlimited announced an interim group is holding the land until private properties can raise the cash to donate it to the state of Iowa.
Helland says nearly 4,000 acres drain in East Lake Okoboji through the wetlands.
Helland hopes the Iowa Department of Natural Resources can complete the wetland restoration within four years.
The tract will be one of three in Iowa designated “The Larry Wilson Wildlife Area” to honor the former Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director.
Iowa Ducks Unlimited has raised about a quarter of a million dollars for the three projects; 50-thousand was donated by John and Susanne Synhorst of Okoboji.
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation received the deed to the land in July.
