Story County Conservation Board reviews plan to acquire former U.S. Army Corps land to bolster river greenbelt

At its April 26, 2026 meeting, the Story County Conservation Board heard a presentation from Conservation Director Michael Cox on an acquisition and disposal plan for land formerly owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cox said the plan’s primary goal is to bolster protection of land along the river by acquiring parcels that fit the county’s greenbelt, while disposing of parcels not needed for that greenbelt back to private ownership. He said discussions with affected landowners have been underway for some time and that the plan is intended to clarify which parcels the county would pursue and which would be returned to private ownership.

The presentation outlined the strategy’s conservation objective — strengthening continuity of protected riverfront land — and described outreach to adjacent landowners who attended the meeting. No formal vote or contract award was recorded on the plan at the April 26 meeting; the board discussed the proposal and received information from staff but took no action.

Why it matters: Riverfront corridors contribute to floodplain function, habitat connectivity and public access. A formal acquisition-and-disposal plan guides which parcels a county will retain for conservation and which it will release, affecting landowners, neighboring properties and future management responsibilities.

Next steps: The board did not adopt the plan or authorize purchases at this meeting; staff indicated ongoing discussions with landowners will continue and the proposal may return for formal action at a future meeting.