The Loess Hills Alliance - IowaThe Loess Hills Alliance was formed in 1998 through legis-lative...

The Loess HThe Loess HThe Loess HThe Loess HThe Loess Hills Allianceills Allianceills Allianceills Allianceills AllianceCreating a natural balance in Iowa’s Loess Hills.

The Loess Hills Alliance

will strivwill strivwill strivwill strivwill strive to pre to pre to pre to pre to protectotectotectotectotectspecial natural and culturalspecial natural and culturalspecial natural and culturalspecial natural and culturalspecial natural and culturalrrrrresouresouresouresouresources while ensuringces while ensuringces while ensuringces while ensuringces while ensuringthe economic viabilitythe economic viabilitythe economic viabilitythe economic viabilitythe economic viabilityand privand privand privand privand private prate prate prate prate properoperoperoperoperty rightsty rightsty rightsty rightsty rightsof the rof the rof the rof the rof the region thregion thregion thregion thregion through theough theough theough theough thecrcrcrcrcreation of a common visioneation of a common visioneation of a common visioneation of a common visioneation of a common visionfor Ifor Ifor Ifor Ifor Iooooowawawawawa’’’’’s Loess Hs Loess Hs Loess Hs Loess Hs Loess Hills.ills.ills.ills.ills.

For information contactFor information contactFor information contactFor information contactFor information contact

LLLLLoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Alliance

318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave

Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040

phone 712-433-4645phone 712-433-4645phone 712-433-4645phone 712-433-4645phone 712-433-4645

email lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.com

http://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.org

Organizational Structure

The 28 member boarThe 28 member boarThe 28 member boarThe 28 member boarThe 28 member boarddddd is com-prised of 21 members appointedby county boards of supervisors,(3 residents from each countywith one of the 3 being a countysupervisor), and 7 additionalmembers (who must be selectedfrom a 22 county area in west-ern Iowa) are appointed by theLoess Hills Development andConservation Authority.

EEEEEconomic Dconomic Dconomic Dconomic Dconomic Devevevevevelopment Com-elopment Com-elopment Com-elopment Com-elopment Com-mitteemitteemitteemitteemittee’’’’’sssss purpose is to provide acomprehensive plan for eco-nomic success of the communi-ties within the Loess Hills whichrespects the preservation, protec-tion and integrity of the hills.Addressing issues that include:AgricultureZoningProperty RightsTourismCultural ResourcesLand useNatural ResourcesCommercialIndustrialInfrastructureTransportationHousing

SSSSStetetetetewarwarwarwarwardship Committeedship Committeedship Committeedship Committeedship Committee’’’’’sssss pur-pose is to protect, preserve andenhance for the future of thearea’s natural and cultural re-sources through the use of vol-untary conservation methodswhich are respectful of privateand public property rights andthe local communities. Address-ing issues that include:Woody EncroachmentErosionExotic InvadersNatural AreasLand Use Education of ResourceFill Dirt RemovalCultural ResourcesManagement FundingRe-introduction of FireEmpowerment of Landowners

to PracticeGood Land Stewardship

One of the main efforts of thiscommittee is the re-introductionof prescribed fire as an importanttool for natural area management.This creates a natural process ofdisturbance, allowing the prairieto thrive, preventing forest over-growth on the prairie, and con-trolling undergrowth within theforest. These controlled burnscompensate for the lack of fire onthe landscape and the lack of natu-ral grazers no longer grazing onthe native grasslands. Historically,as herds of bison and elk migratedthrough the Loess Hills area theywould graze the grasslands. Graz-ing today is concentrated onsmaller sized pastures and is grazeddifferently than the native grazers.

PPPPPrrrrrotection Committeeotection Committeeotection Committeeotection Committeeotection Committee’’’’’sssss purposeis to protect, preserve and enhancethe natural and cultural resourcesof the Loess Hills while assuringeconomic viability and rights of thepublic and private property owners.Addressing issues that include:Researching Existing OptionsTax IncentivesDevelopment of Land Protection

IncentivesPrograms and Funding PackagesLandowner Consultation Services

EEEEExxxxxecutivecutivecutivecutivecutive Committeee Committeee Committeee Committeee Committee’’’’’s s s s s purposeis to conduct the everyday businessof the Loess Hills Alliance. It is com-prised of 7 board elected officials whoserve one year terms. The Commit-tee chairs are ex-official members.

Attendance andAttendance andAttendance andAttendance andAttendance and

participation participation participation participation participation ononononon

any committeeany committeeany committeeany committeeany committee

by any interestedby any interestedby any interestedby any interestedby any interested

individual isindividual isindividual isindividual isindividual is

always welcomedalways welcomedalways welcomedalways welcomedalways welcomed

and encouraged.and encouraged.and encouraged.and encouraged.and encouraged.

TTTTTo find out howo find out howo find out howo find out howo find out how

you can becomeyou can becomeyou can becomeyou can becomeyou can become

involved, contact:involved, contact:involved, contact:involved, contact:involved, contact:

Loess Hills

Alliance

318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave

Onawa, IA Onawa, IA Onawa, IA Onawa, IA Onawa, IA 5104051040510405104051040

phonephonephonephonephone

712-433-4645712-433-4645712-433-4645712-433-4645712-433-4645

emailemailemailemailemail

lha@longlines.comlha@longlines.comlha@longlines.comlha@longlines.comlha@longlines.com

website http://website http://website http://website http://website http://

loesshillsalliance.orgloesshillsalliance.orgloesshillsalliance.orgloesshillsalliance.orgloesshillsalliance.org

Summer 2007Summer 2007Summer 2007Summer 2007Summer 2007

Brochure design by nita upchurch studio, ames, iowa 50014 / www.nitaupchurchstudio.com

INGEMANN DANISH

LUTHERAN CHURCH

ORNATE BOX

TURTLE

THE LOESS HILLS

ALLIANCE AND

CATTLE PRODUCERS

BENEFIT FROM

CONSERVATION

practices by revivingpractices by revivingpractices by revivingpractices by revivingpractices by reviving

controlled grazing incontrolled grazing incontrolled grazing incontrolled grazing incontrolled grazing in

the Lthe Lthe Lthe Lthe Loess Hills regionoess Hills regionoess Hills regionoess Hills regionoess Hills region

with grassbankingwith grassbankingwith grassbankingwith grassbankingwith grassbanking.....

Grassbanks restoreGrassbanks restoreGrassbanks restoreGrassbanks restoreGrassbanks restore

pastures for grasspastures for grasspastures for grasspastures for grasspastures for grass-----

based livestockbased livestockbased livestockbased livestockbased livestock

production, as wellproduction, as wellproduction, as wellproduction, as wellproduction, as well

as improve nativeas improve nativeas improve nativeas improve nativeas improve native

prairie biodiversity byprairie biodiversity byprairie biodiversity byprairie biodiversity byprairie biodiversity by

suppressing thesuppressing thesuppressing thesuppressing thesuppressing the

encroachment ofencroachment ofencroachment ofencroachment ofencroachment of

woody vegetation.woody vegetation.woody vegetation.woody vegetation.woody vegetation.

A RECENT

DEVELOPMENT

IN ECONOMIC

GROWTH WITHIN

THE LOESS HILLS

can be seen by thecan be seen by thecan be seen by thecan be seen by thecan be seen by the

reintroduction of grapereintroduction of grapereintroduction of grapereintroduction of grapereintroduction of grape

vineyards. vineyards. vineyards. vineyards. vineyards. (photo above

left) As the grape andAs the grape andAs the grape andAs the grape andAs the grape and

wine industry growswine industry growswine industry growswine industry growswine industry grows

and other economicand other economicand other economicand other economicand other economic

opportunities blendopportunities blendopportunities blendopportunities blendopportunities blend

into the hills so doesinto the hills so doesinto the hills so doesinto the hills so doesinto the hills so does

public awarenesspublic awarenesspublic awarenesspublic awarenesspublic awareness

about the value andabout the value andabout the value andabout the value andabout the value and

integrity of the Lintegrity of the Lintegrity of the Lintegrity of the Lintegrity of the Loessoessoessoessoess

Hills, preserving themHills, preserving themHills, preserving themHills, preserving themHills, preserving them

for generations.for generations.for generations.for generations.for generations.

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DON WISHART

Maintaining the Balance

The Loess Hills Alliance wasformed in 1998 through legis-lative action that was requestedby concerned citizens for thewell-being of the landform inIowa.The organization is governed bya 28 member board of directors.Membership is voluntary andparticipation is encouraged byanyone interested.The mission of the Loess HillsAlliance as defined by its mem-bership is to “protect the natu-ral and cultural resources of theLoess Hills while ensuring eco-nomic viability and privateproperty rights through the cre-ation of a common vision forIowa’s Loess Hills.”

We hope tools like this, and oth-ers we make available, will be ofassistance to those seeking thebest options for themselves, theirfamily and their property.Iowa’s Loess Hills have graciouslyprovided resources for genera-tions of farmers, businesses andcommunities to thrive while en-gulfing us in their unparalleled,unique splendor. Descendantshave learned that these massive,looming hills are indeed delicateand vulnerable. From our fore-fathers, who lived and worked inthe hills, we have been taughtgood stewardship practices thathelp us to protect our land andallow us to continue to enjoy itsresources.

GUIDING

PRINCIPLES

Grassroots andGrassroots andGrassroots andGrassroots andGrassroots and

broad basedbroad basedbroad basedbroad basedbroad based

representationrepresentationrepresentationrepresentationrepresentation

VVVVVoluntary Poluntary Poluntary Poluntary Poluntary Participationarticipationarticipationarticipationarticipation

LLLLLand use managementand use managementand use managementand use managementand use management

and stewardshipand stewardshipand stewardshipand stewardshipand stewardship

LLLLLand use basedand use basedand use basedand use basedand use based

regional approachregional approachregional approachregional approachregional approach

Communicate,Communicate,Communicate,Communicate,Communicate,

cooperate andcooperate andcooperate andcooperate andcooperate and

coordinate effortscoordinate effortscoordinate effortscoordinate effortscoordinate efforts

Consideration of allConsideration of allConsideration of allConsideration of allConsideration of all

alternativesalternativesalternativesalternativesalternatives

Identify and prioritizeIdentify and prioritizeIdentify and prioritizeIdentify and prioritizeIdentify and prioritize

areasareasareasareasareas

Maintain theMaintain theMaintain theMaintain theMaintain the

economic balanceeconomic balanceeconomic balanceeconomic balanceeconomic balance

of costs and benefitsof costs and benefitsof costs and benefitsof costs and benefitsof costs and benefits

Participation in the Loess Hills Al-liance is voluntary, and legislatorsfelt so strongly that the organiza-tion must represent those livingand working in the hills that itmandated local make up of theboard.If you live within the hills, youhave a voice and a place in theLoess Hills Alliance. If you havean appreciation for and a desirefor future generations to reapenjoyment from the landform,you too have a place throughcommittee work in the LoessHills Alliance.Information about how you canbecome involved with the LoessHills Alliance is on the backpage.

LOESS HILLS

NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY

SPINE AND EXCURSION LOOP

IOWA’S

LOESS

HILLS

GREY HEADED

CONE FLOWER PASQUE FLOWER YUCCA

TIGER

SALAMANDER

DOWNY YELLOW

PAINTED CUP

And not only will the Loess HillsAlliance welcome donations ofyour time but it also acceptmonetarial donations. It is rec-ognized by the Federal Govern-ment as a tax exempt 501C3, soif you would like to financiallyassist the Loess Hills Alliance,send your tax deductible dona-tion to:Loess Hills Alliance318 E Iowa AveOnawa, IA 51040.

The Loess HillsThe Loess HillsThe Loess HillsThe Loess HillsThe Loess Hills

Alliance Alliance Alliance Alliance Alliance works toworks toworks toworks toworks to

protect the resourcesprotect the resourcesprotect the resourcesprotect the resourcesprotect the resources

of this uniqueof this uniqueof this uniqueof this uniqueof this unique

American treasure.American treasure.American treasure.American treasure.American treasure.

The rugged wind-The rugged wind-The rugged wind-The rugged wind-The rugged wind-

blown silt depositsblown silt depositsblown silt depositsblown silt depositsblown silt deposits

provide the perfectprovide the perfectprovide the perfectprovide the perfectprovide the perfect

terrain for many rareterrain for many rareterrain for many rareterrain for many rareterrain for many rare

plants and animals.plants and animals.plants and animals.plants and animals.plants and animals.

LLLLLoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Allianceoess Hills Alliance

318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave318 E Iowa Ave

Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040Onawa, IA 51040

phonephonephonephonephone 712-433-4645712-433-4645712-433-4645712-433-4645712-433-4645

email lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.comemail lha@longlines.com

http://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.orghttp://loesshillsalliance.org

wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.loesshillsnationalscenicbyway.loesshillsnationalscenicbyway.loesshillsnationalscenicbyway.loesshillsnationalscenicbyway.loesshillsnationalscenicbyway.org.org.org.org.org

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