Johnson County conservation partners updated the Board of Supervisors Aug. 6 on progress implementing a seven-year natural areas management plan at the Historic Poor Farm site and presented a draft fiscal year 2026 service agreement for $64,500 with Eocene Environmental Group (presentation led by Ilsa DeWald).
Ilsa DeWald, local food and farm manager, said the restoration team collected data at roughly 300 sample points across the property, divided the site into 16 management units, and built goals and budgets for each area. The project is midway through the seven-year timeline (calendar year 4) and moving from an initial high-intensity establishment phase into a long-term maintenance phase, which staff said will meaningfully reduce annual costs.
Key on-the-ground results reported by DeWald and project staff include planting about 600 trees and 100 shrubs representing roughly 37 species; establishing about 44 acres of prairie including an 18-acre Prairie Meadow West planted in 2018; managing 27 acres of woodland (eight acres with active understory establishment); wetland restoration at the Willow Creek headwaters, including EPA grant-funded BMPs; and stream-restoration work completed in 2024 to stabilize head cuts. DeWald emphasized public engagement—tours and events—and adaptive management as central to long-term success.
Supervisors praised the before-and-after photos and asked operational questions about invasive-plant control; DeWald said staff remove biennial weeds mechanically and use prescribed burning on selected acres to support native regeneration. Supervisors also discussed future stewardship options, including the possibility of transitioning long-term management responsibilities to the Johnson County Conservation Board; presenters said the seven-year plan was written to support such a transfer and that the longer county staff remain involved, the easier a transition would be.
The presentation also noted a practical planning consideration: a supervisor said the City of Iowa City has identified the Prairie Meadow East area as the most suitable location for potential future residential development; presenters said much of the establishment work there is complete and would not be a heavy capital loss if limited areas were incorporated into development plans. The board did not vote on the FY26 service agreement Aug. 6 but accepted the update and expressed support for continuing the partnership and bringing the service agreement forward for formal action.