The Stewardship Committee strives to protect, preserve and enhance the fragile native ecosystems of the loess hills for the future of the area's natural and cultural resources by providing education, training and resources to private landowners and local Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD's).  One of the main efforts of this committee is the re-introduction of prescribed fire as an important tool to help restore the health of the Loess Hills ecosystems.  Fire is essential to maintain the integrity of the prairie and bur oak savanna that many rare plant and animal species depend upon for survival.  Some of the Committee's other focus topics are: Woody Encroachment, Exotic Invaders, Erosion, Fill Dirt Removal, Natural Area Management, and the Empowerment of Landowners to Practice Good Land Stewardship.   
Committee Chair: Lance Brisbois

Recent projects:
To help accomplish these goals the Stewardship Committee partners with other organizations and entities to fund two Private Lands positions.
Other projects the Stewardship Committee has supported in recent years include: Loess Hills Cooperative Burn Week, Loess Hills Nature School programming, Loess Hills Prairie Seminar, Hitchcock Nature Center BioBlitz, and Harrison County Summer Technician. 
Download the 2021 Cooperative Burn Week report here.

​2021 Meetings
Meetings take place at Brent S. Olson Memorial Visitor Center (Loess Hills State Forest Headquarters) at 206 Polk Street, Pisgah. Meetings are open to the public. Please contact us to confirm meeting time and location. 
  • Wednesday, February 3 at 10:30am
  • Wednesday, March 3 at 9:00am
  • Wednesday, May 5 at 10:30am
  • Wednesday, June 2 at 9:00am
  • Wednesday, August 4 at 10:30am
  • Wednesday, September 1 at 9:00am
  • Wednesday, November 3 at 10:30am
  • Wednesday, December 1 at 9:00am

Conservation Resources for Landowners
The Stewardship Committee contributes funds for two Pheasants Forever Private Lands Biologists positions, who provide quarterly reports of their efforts.
 
Jason Andersen
Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist 
Harrison, Pottawattamie & Shelby counties 
712-328-2489 x3
jandersen@pheasantsforever.org
​Jake Holt
Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist
Mills & Fremont counties

Meeting Minutes
May 5, 2021
March 3, 2021
February 3, 2021
September 2, 2020
February 5, 2020
November 6, 2019
September 4, 2019
June 5, 2019
March 6, 2019
February 6, 2019
November 7, 2018
September 5, 2018
August 1, 2018
June 6, 2018
May 2, 2018
March 7, 2018
February 7, 2018
December 6, 2017
November 1, 2017
September 6, 2017
June 7, 2017
May 3, 2017
March 1, 2017
February 1, 2017
December 7, 2016
​November 2, 2016
September 7, 2016
August 3, 2016
June 1, 2016
May 4, 2016
March 2, 2016

2016 Annual Report

Other Resources
 Iowa Native Prairie Planting Guides:
          • Native Prairie Establishing & Managing Native Plantings
          • Planting Native Prairie Into Cool Season Sod  
          • Planting Native Prairie Into Corn/Bean Stubble
• Stewardship Resource Directory 
• Pheasants Forever Quarterly Partner's Report - January-March 2017 (Mills & Fremont counties)
​• Pheasants Forever Quarterly Partner's Report - January-March 2017 (Monona, Harrison & Pottawattamie counties)
• Pheasants Forever Quarterly Partner's Report - April-June 2016 (Mills & Fremont counties)
• Pheasants Forever Quarterly Partner's Report - April-June 2016 (Monona, Harrison & Pottawattamie counties)
• Pheasants Forever Quarterly Report - January-March 2016  (Mills & Fremont counties)
• Pheasants Forever Quarterly Report - January-March 2016 (Monona, Harrison & Pottawattamie counties)
• 2014 Landowner Burn Workshop Press Release
• 2014 Field Day Information
• Loess Hills Before and After Photos (PowerPoint Presentation)
2021 Stewardship Committee RFP (closed)
Click here to learn about Prescribed Fire in the Loess Hills
Prescribed Burn Photos
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