Save the Prairie 2025 Restores 5.4 Acres of Rare Iowa Habitat
Posted August 15, 2025
Posted by Conservation and Public Relations
Pottawattamie County Conservation recently hosted their annual Save the Prairie workday at Crescent Hill at Hitchcock Nature Center, bringing together 45 volunteers and staff from conservation organizations across the region. The event, now in its second year, focused on removing invasive Eastern red cedar to protect and restore the rare prairie ecosystem of the Loess Hills.
Working in five squads on an unseasonably cool summer day, participants spent the day cutting, hauling, and pile burning cedar trees. The coordinated effort resulted in 5.4 acres of prairie restored in a single day.
Partner organizations included Fontenelle Forest, The Nature Conservancy Iowa, Harrison County Conservation, Woodbury County Conservation, and Iowa DNR, with representation from across the Loess Hills. The event was supported by a grant from the Iowa Prairie Network, which provided lunch for participants, chainsaw fuel, skid loader fuel, and chemical treatments for invasive plant control.
Prairie restoration is critical in Iowa, where less than one-tenth of one percent of the state’s original prairie remains due to settlement and agricultural development. These remnants, often found in small, scattered pockets, are essential for biodiversity, soil health, and erosion control. The Loess Hills, including sites like Crescent Hill, are home to some of the last intact prairie in the state.
Not all the cedar removed during Save the Prairie was burned. Some wood will be repurposed as firewood for county park campsites, while other pieces will be used in future building projects at Crescent Hill, blending historic stewardship with forward-looking conservation.
“Seeing so many organizations come together for a shared purpose shows the power of partnerships in conservation,” said Jeff Franco, Pottawattamie Conservation Executive Director. “Events like this save prairie, but they also strengthen the connections that make large-scale habitat restoration possible.”
Planning is already underway for Save the Prairie 2026, continuing the mission to protect one of Iowa’s rarest and most valuable landscapes.