(Spirit Lake)– A wetland complex in Dickinson county is getting larger.
Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation say a 155-acre tract of land is being added to the Dugout Creek Wetland Complex, connecting it with the adjacent Yager Slough Waterfowl Production Area.
Officials say the additional area includes eight wetland basins in addition to uplands that will be restored to natural prairie in the next few years. Officals say a rare species can also be found on the site–the endangered Northern Harrier. The area also has several fen plant species and prairie butterflies.
Officials say the restored wetlands will also improve water quality. A 90-acre marsh that previously acted as Dugout Creek’s eastern border will also be enhanced, increasing its value as waterfowl habitat while providing more nesting areas for migratory birds.
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased the land from Synco, Incorporated in December, 2009 and managed it until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was able to acquire it this past October. The site will be managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Prairie Pothole Joint Venture Program and the Iowa Water Quality Loan Fund helped provide funding for the area.
