Eagle Flats Marsh is part of a large 800-acre historic wetland complex in Hancock County, Iowa, that was drained in the early 1900's. This large wetland complex was once part of a long chain of wetlands that formed the natural headwaters of the Iowa River's West Branch. Despite extensive drainage and farming efforts that have occurred on-site for the past century, this area still floods most springs, which attracts large numbers waterfowl and other migratory birds. During 1992-2001, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) initiated an aggressive plan to restore this historic marsh by acquiring several tracts and restoring them back to native prairie and wetlands. While most of these restoration efforts have been successful, DNR managers have had a difficult time effectively managing some of the restored wetland basins due to the severely altered hydrology and lack of adequate infrastructure needed to effectively manage water levels.

In 2007, the Iowa DNR, DU and several local conservationists initiated a plan to enhance these wetlands by surveying, designing and constructing a series of wetland cells that could be managed independently using a relift pump, cross-levee system and water control structures. After completing the topographic survey and hydrologic analysis, DU's engineers determined that four individual wetland cells could be developed on this tract totaling 269 acres. Each wetland cell can be managed independently using this levee system and structures to optimize habitat conditions for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. These shallow, seasonally flooded wetlands provide high-quality foraging habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds that stop to rest and refuel during spring and fall migration.

After battling several months of wet weather that resulted in construction delays, this project was finally completed in August 2010. Over $500,000 were invested in this project by a diverse group of private, state and federal conservation partners. In fact, over $50,000 of private funds were invested in this project by DU major donors.

DU and the Iowa DNR will celebrate this completed project and formally thank all of the key partners that made these efforts possible by hosting a project dedication ceremony in spring 2011. A concrete cairn and bronze plaque will be erected on-site to recognize all of the major project supporters and enshrine their names on the bronze plaque.

For more information on this project, contact Eric Lindstrom, Regional Biologist-Iowa, at (515) 232-9104 or elindstrom@ducks.org.

View highlights for this project in PDF format.