To Sierrans:

Below are the minutes from the LOESS HILLS PUBLIC FORUM of 9/25/98. I do
not add any commentary.

Lyle Krewson

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LOESS HILLS PUBLIC FORUM

September 25, 1998

Background. The Legislative Council endorsed a one-day Loess Hills area
conference to study, analyze, and develop proposals for the identification
and protection of loess soil areas and authorized appointment of two
members of the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives to
provide leadership for the conference. Members in attendance included
Senators Steve Hansen, Nancy Boettger, and Michael Gronstal, Steve King,
and Representatives Donna Barry and Brent Siegrist.

Land Management Issues. Dr. Elisabeth M. Hamin, Assistant Professor in
Community and Regional Planning for Iowa State University, described the
benefits and drawbacks of federal assistance and participation if the Loess
Hills area would become a national park, preserve, or reserve. National
parks are balanced between use and preservation, and they bring federal
dollars and tourism, and assist in maintaining the local culture. However,
park management is dependent upon how the legislation creating the park is
drafted and implemented. The National Park Service buys land only from
willing sellers and pays market value. National preserves and reserves do
not attract as many tourists, because tourists are unsure about whether the
systems are open to the public.

Loess Hills Background & Update/Corridor Management Plan. The Western Iowa
Tourism Region (WITR) receives county, corporate, and state funding. With
the majority of funding deriving from the state Department of Economic
Development (DED), the organization works closely with the DED's Division
of Tourism. In turn, WITR works closely with Golden Hills Resource
Conservation & Development in providing maps and visitor signs for the
Loess Hills area. The two organizations have also developed and published a
"Loess Hills Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan" and guidebook. Also
working to promote the Loess Hills area is the Loess Hills Hospitality
Association, which trains volunteer tour guides and works to attract large
groups of tourists.

Opportunities and Threats to Current Use. A panel representative of the
multitudinous interests in the Loess Hills area convened to explain their
positions toward development, usage, and conservation of the area. Concerns
identified by panelists included soil compaction from walking and multi-use
trails; erosion of the hills by poor agricultural practices, development of
housing tracts, and recreational usage such as horseback riding, mountain
and dirt biking, and four-wheeling; the invasion of nonindigenous
vegetation; the need for woodland and resource management and for
conservation of a unique ecosystem; and the need for "green" or "open"
spaces.

DNR Loess Hills Strategy. Mr. Larry Wilson, Director of the Department of
Natural Resources, described the department's strategy for protection and
management of the Loess Hills as a four-step process: research and
education, acquisition and management, wildlife management and protection
of rare species, and technical and financial assistance. The state owns the
Turin Loess Hills preserve, which is managed by the DNR's Wildlife Bureau,
in Monona County. The DNR pays property tax on all of the land it acquires
on behalf of the state.

Landowner Options. Mr. Mark Ackelson, President of the Iowa Natural
Heritage Foundation, described voluntary ways of protecting the land in the
Loess Hills area. The foundation publishes a guide that includes the
following options for landowners: conservation easements, preserve
dedication, annuity trusts (and other methods that include tax advantages),
and donating land in lieu of paying inheritance tax. He noted the
foundation will be backing legislation for further tax advantages for
landowners interested in selling, donating, or otherwise protecting their
Loess Hills land for conservation, preservation, or protection reasons.

Group Discussion Reports. Those attending the forum divided into groups to
discuss Loess Hill area concerns. The four general areas studied included
urban development and housing, conservation, agriculture and forestry, and
recreation. The solutions to problems identified by the groups were
summarized as follows: complete inventories of the area; develop plans for
land use, regional plans, and plans for a sustainable system; review
comprehensive plans from other areas, enforce existing regulations,
advertise, and increase public education; define areas to protect; preserve
natural resources of area, develop natural areas management; provide staff
and budget to accomplish goals; and create an alliance with authority to
identify and prioritize goals for Loess Hills.
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Lyle Krewson
6403 Aurora Avenue #3
Des Moines, IA 50322-2862

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515/276-8947
515/276-6844 - FAX
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