SUPPLIERS OF IOWA-ECOTYPE PRAIRIE SEED TO BE LISTED
by Cindy Hildebrand
Because of the growing interest in using local-ecotype seed for prairie
plantings, the Iowa Prairie Network News plans to publish a list of suppliers
who carry Iowa-ecotype prairie seed.
If you would like to be listed, or know a supplier who should be listed,
please send pertinent information to the address below.
To qualify for this listing, a supplier should supply seed which has been
harvested from an Iowa prairie remnant or propagated from seed collected from
Iowa native prairie remnants. Named genetic selections or hybrids do not
qualify.
If the seed was collected directly from Iowa prairie remnants, it should
have been harvested legally and ethically. Ethical harvesting means not
overharvesting or causing physical harm to the remnant (such as permanent
ruts). The seed, whether supplied as a mix of species or as single species,
should be available independently of non-local seed (i.e., not mixed with seed
from other states.) It should also be available independently of named
genetic
selections or hybrids.
There should be some reasonable evidence available (documentation,
certification, maps, testimonies) that the seed is Iowa-ecotype seed.
If a supplier does not carry Iowa-ecotype seed, but carries seed descended
from prairie remnants within fifty miles of Iowa, that information can be
submitted for separate listing.
Seed should be accurately labeled. It should also be harvested, cleaned,
stored, bagged, and transported in ways that prevent contamination of the
harvested seed or harvest site by inappropriate seed or diseases.
These criteria, and this listing, may be updated in the future. If you
have
comments or suggestions regarding the criteria for listing, please contact
Cindy
Hildebrand (see back page).
Please send supplier information to (Erma Selser address or email).
Thank you for your help in compiling this listing.
EDDYVILE DUNES/BYPASS UPDATE
byGlenda Buenger and Pat McAdams
To our knowledge as of this writing (2/26), nothing’s happening. The FHWA
(Federal Highway Administration) has not given final approval to the Bypass
project, and the Corps of Engineers has not initiated the 404 permit process.
Both are necessary for construction to begin.
The project seems stalled and beset with problems. Stay tuned! For more
information, please contact Glenda Buenger and Pat McAdams, (515) 632-8308;
e-mail: rockman49@hotmail.com
THE LOESS HILLS ALLIANCE
by Glenn Pollock
A bill HF 218 was introduced to create The Loess Hills Alliance. This bill
original intent was to provide means of protecting the Loess Hills. The bill
has been completely changed and more amendments will be added. IPN board has
not taken a position on this bill. We will report on the outcome in the next
newsletter.
ENGELDINGER MARSH
From CIPN Newsletter Volume 8 #1
The DOT postponed the February 25 Public Hearing on the routing of 65/330
around the marsh. This will allow them time to consider an alternate route
proposed by the Friends of Native Iowa. The DOT is trying to work with the
interested parties in establishing the most environmentally and farmer
friendly
alternative.
The fragile hydrology of Engeldinger Marsh could be impacted by the
construction of a roadway in the wrong place. Secondary impacts, such as
altered ground water flows, could cause permanent changes in the water supply
to
other unique nearby natural areas. An environmental assessment will be done
that will discuss the DOT’s analysis of the problems and merits of each route.
This should be carefully examined by all who are interested in this issue. To
obtain a copy of the Environmental Assessment, call DOT Project Planning at
(515) 239-1225 and ask to have a copy of the EA sent to when it is ready.
IOWA LAKESIDE LABORATORY CELEBRATES 90TH BIRTHDAY IN 1999
In 1999, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is celebrating its 90th birthday.
Professor Thomas H. McBride of the University of Iowa and a number of
biologists
from other Iowa colleges established Lakeside in 1909 as a private summer
field
station. It was on of the first in the united States. In 1936 Lakeside
became
a state institution, and today it is run cooperatively by Iowa State
University,
the University of Northern Iowa, and the university of Iowa through the Iowa
State Board of Regents. Since its foundation, Lakeside’s mission has been to
provide students an opportunity to get hands-on experience working with Iowa’s
natural and human environments through its field-oriented summer courses and
to
provide research facilities and support for graduate students and faculty
working on research projects in northwestern Iowa.
Six section of the Natural History Workshop, each on a different aspect of
the natural history of Iowa will be taught in 1999. this course has no
prerequisites. Each section last one or two weeks and can be taken on a
credit
or non-credit basis. Sections that will be taught in 1999 are:
Section A. Amphibians and Reptiles (August 8-13)
Section C. Nature Photography (August 8 - 13)
Section G. Prairies and Prairie Restoration (August 8 -13)
Section L. Life in Lakes (June 27 - July 2)
Section P. Field Archaeology (May 23-28, May 31-June4, or June 6 -11)
(Section P can be taken for one week or two consecutive weeks for one credit
per week.)
Section U. Sketching Nature (May 23 - June 4)
Other courses being offered during the summer of 1999 are First Term --(May
23 or May 31 - June 18) Archaeology, Ecology, Environmental Geology of
Northwest
Iowa, Freshwater Algae, Ornithology, Second Term (June 20- July 16) Aquatic
Biology, Ecology and systematics of Diatoms, Evolution Plant taxonomy Prairie
Ecology, Third Term (July 18 - August 6 or August 13) conservation Biology,
environmental Analysis of Watersheds: Hydrology and Surficial Processes,
Plant
Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Wetland Ecology.
There will be an Adult Nature Weekend at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory August
6-8,
1999. This is an opportunity to participate in field trips to various natural
areas in the Iowa Great Lakes region supplemented by evening interpretive
programs. Learn more about Iowa’s natural history from some of the leading
naturalists in the state wile in a relaxed and congenial setting. For more
information, contact Dr. Lois Tiffany, Department of Botany, Iowa State
University, Ames, IA 50011-1020; phone: 515-294-3121: or contact Iowa Lakeside
Laboratory.
For more information about Lakeside, please contact the Iowa Lakeside
Laboratory Administrative Office, 131 Bessey Hall, Iowa state University IA
50011-1020; phone: 515-194-2488, email: lakeside@iastate,edu, or log onto our
Web site at http://www.public.iastate. edu/~Lakeside. The complete 1999 Iowa
Lakeside Laboratory Bulletin and registration form is on the Web
NAME CHANGE
Note name change Walnut Creek National Wildlife Refuge- Prairie Learning
Center is now Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge- Prairie Learning Center .
Same place just a different name in honor of Neal Smith. If you are looking
for
information on prairies this is a good place to visit. See the buffalo and
elk in the drive through enclosure and view prairie and savannah restoration.
It has numerous excellent displays. Visit the Prairie Point Bookstore for
books
on numerous topics from buffalo to prairie flowers to prairie restoration.
"THE LANDOWNER’S OPTIONS"
by Glenn Pollock
IPN gave Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation $300.00 for the publication of a
new edition of "The Landowner's Options". The book is a guide to the voluntary
protection of land in Iowa. The board recognized the book was a match with
IPN
mission. IPN’s name will appear in the new addition. To obtain a copy contact
INHF at (515) 288-1846.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
by Casey Kohrt
We need your support! Members need to pay their dues. We have an
exceptionally large amount of people that are not paid up. Due to the cost of
printing and mailing the newsletter, we can no longer mail it to expired
memberships. Look on the upper right hand corner of your mailing label to see
if you are paid. If it says not paid, this will be your last issue unless you
pay your dues.
Our membership year runs from annual meeting to annual meeting. Dues paid
for that year will be good through the annual fall meeting of that year.
You will receive all three of the newsletters from that year (late winter,
late spring/early summer, and late summer). You can pay your dues as far in
advance as you wish.
You will receive ONE issue of the newsletter for the next year (the late
winter issue, this one) and then be dropped from the list if you are not
current.
We do not want to have to drop anyone from the list, and feel that everyone
is an important part of the Network. We have made some great progress last
year
in protecting some of Iowa's prairie heritage, and it was all done through
networking. Remember "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed
citizens c
Erma Selser
Grand View College
1200 Grandview Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50316
515-263-2905