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info@BurOakLandTrust.org
319.338.7030
5 Sturgis Corner Drive, Suite 1250, Iowa City, IA 52246

Conservation History

    

1978
March 28

Johnson County Heritage Trust established

Johnson County Heritage Trust established
Land offered to the city for conservation was instead sold to a developer. This tragic loss led Nancy Seiberling and other public-spirited people to realize that Iowa City needed a private, nonprofit organization that could act quickly to seize such opportunities and then hold land on its own or resell it to a public body.
1980
November 6

First property protected

First property protected
Acquisition of  Turkey Creek Nature Preserve at 107.2 acres.
1983
March 13

First Prairie Preview environmental forum held

1986
November 17

Hora Woods Acquisition

Hora Woods Acquisition
19.52 acres
1988
April 23

Membership at 45

Membership at 45
Ten years after organization founded.
1989
April 24

Instituted Annual Conservation Award

Instituted Annual Conservation Award
To recognize conservation service.
1992
June 13

Shimek Ravine Acquisition

Shimek Ravine Acquisition
13 acres of oak-hickory forest that had been purchased by seventeen home-owners in the Ridge Road area to protect that land from development. The home-owners said that they wanted these woods and ravine to remain in their “natural state.”
1998
August 26

Belgum Grove Acquisition

Belgum Grove Acquisition
40 acres of land along Dirty Face Creek west of Hills donated by David and Kathie Belgum.
2000
February 20

Joined the national Land Trust Alliance

Joined the national Land Trust Alliance
2004
July 8

Big Grove Acquisition and Natural Woodlands Protection

Big Grove Acquisition and Natural Woodlands Protection
40-acre Big Grove was our fifth property to acquire from a bargain sale with Dick Schwab, along with nine 10-acre conservation easements called Natural Woodlands.
September 8

Launched $400,000 “Watershed Moment” capital campaign

Launched $400,000 “Watershed Moment” capital campaign
To acquire endangered land and to perform model stewardship on its properties through: 1. Land Acquisition and Protection, 2. Belgum Grove Restoration and Environmental Classroom, 3. Turkey Creek Stewardship and Restoration, 4. Natural Woodlands Stewardship and Restoration, 5. Shimek Ravine Stabilization, 6. Hora Woods Stewardship, 7. Fundraising
2005
June 5

Administrator Hired

Administrator Hired
First paid member of staff.
2006
March 12

Prairie Preview organized and hosted by JCHT

For the 23rd annual Prairie Preview, a free, community environmental forum, Johnson County Heritage Trust took over the organization and hosting of this important event.
May 20

Launched $25,000 “Saving Propane Prairie” capital campaign

Launched $25,000 “Saving Propane Prairie” capital campaign
Propane Prairie, later called Strub Prairie, is the highest-quality prairie left unprotected in our country – it encompasses wet, mesic, and dry prairie types with unusual biodiversity.
May 21

First Family Day – in the spring at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

First Family Day – in the spring at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve
Spring Family Day at Turkey Creek is a great time to get out on the property with families and children of all ages to learn about and enjoy nature.
October 20

1st “Under a Cider Moon…a Celebration of Autumn” fundraiser event

Celebrate Under a Cider Moon with Our Fall Fundraiser!
Live and silent auction items with local food and wine to support conservation!
December 15

Strub Prairie acquisition

Strub Prairie acquisition
Saving Propane Prairie was a success and Strub Prairie was acquired with 1.08 acres.
2007
October 8

Strub Prairie Conservation Easement

Strub Prairie Conservation Easement
0.3 acres
2008
February 2

Launched $25,000 “Bringing Iowa Back to Belgum Grove” capital campaign

Launched $25,000 “Bringing Iowa Back to Belgum Grove” capital campaign
To reconstruct prairie from old pasture land, develop wetland habitat and restore an old stream crossing, restore savanna in the oak-hickory area, create trails for hiking and bird watching access, and provide educational opportunities by developing an “outdoor classroom.”
2009
December 28

O’Mara Newport Woods acquisition

O’Mara Newport Woods acquisition
30 acres
2010
June 15

10,000 Hours Show Non-Profit of the Year

10,000 Hours Show Non-Profit of the Year
July 23

Launched $150,000 Property Stewardship capital campaign

To ensure strong and sustained stewardship of our properties by raising money for a stewardship position and through prescribed prairie burns, seed propagation, managing woodland to allow native species to grow, and controlling and eliminating invasive species.
September 12

First Fall Family Day – at Belgum Grove

First Fall Family Day – at Belgum Grove
Fall Family Day at Belgum Grove is a great time to get out on the property with families and children of all ages to learn about and enjoy nature.
December 3

Pappy Dickens acquisition

Pappy Dickens acquisition
16.5 acres
December 28

Lust Farm conservation easement

Lust Farm conservation easement
148 acres
2011
January 1

Promoted Administrator to Executive Director

January 2

Hired Property Stewardship Specialist

Second paid staff
2012
April 23

Membership at 479

Thirty-four years after organization is founded.
December 23

Lorson conservation easement

Lorson conservation easement
13.46 acres
2013
March 15

Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
National program promoting the highest national standards for ensuring permanence in the conservation of American lands.
December 27

Beaumont conservation easement

Beaumont conservation easement
40.63 acres
2014
April 20

Changed our name to Bur Oak Land Trust

Changed our name to Bur Oak Land Trust
Exciting rebranding of the organization!
July 26

First Annual Music on the Prairie at Belgum Grove

First Annual Music on the Prairie at Belgum Grove
Local musical talent on the prairie!
September 15

Horak conservation easement

Horak conservation easement
82.49 acres
2015
March 1

Hired Administrative Assistant

Third paid staff.
December 20

Big Grove Addition acquisition

Big Grove Addition acquisition
40 acres adjacent to Big Grove.
2016
January 1

Launched $700,000 Conserve. Protect. Grow. capital campaign

Launched $700,000 Conserve. Protect. Grow. capital campaign
April 24

2016 Conservation Award recipient

2016 Conservation Award recipient
Mark Vitosh
2017
January 1

Contracted Part-time Grant Writer

April 21

2017 Conservation Award Recipient

2017 Conservation Award Recipient
Zac Wedemeyer/Taproot
September 1

Muddy Creek Preserve acquisition

Muddy Creek Preserve acquisition
40.63 acres of former pastureland donated by Barbara Beaumont and Kurt Hamann.
December 12

Kessler Prairie acquisition

Kessler Prairie acquisition
25.97 acres of 7 separate prairies, a creek, wetlands, bur oak savanna, and closed savannas donated by Jim and Kathy Kessler.
2018
April 20

2018 Conservation Award Recipient

2018 Conservation Award Recipient
Sharon and Gary Lust
July 2

New Property Stewardship Specialist: Jason Taylor

New Property Stewardship Specialist: Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor co-owned a native land restoration company, has been restoring a private property in Van Buren County, and looks forward to sharing his passion for land conservation with the community.
September 4

Contracted Part-time Grant Manager

November 8

Ramsay Conservation Easement

Ramsay Conservation Easement
42.93 acres
2019
April 19

2019 Conservation Award Recipient

2019 Conservation Award Recipient
Barbara Beaumont and Kurt Hamann
August 1

Executive Director Transitions to Development Director

Executive Director Transitions to Development Director
Tammy Wright, the Trust’s founding Executive Director who has led the organization for the last 14 years, transitions to Development Director.
August 1

Promoted Land Steward to Executive Director

Promoted Land Steward to Executive Director
Jason Taylor has been selected as the new Executive Director.
September 1

New Land Steward hired

New Land Steward hired
Carter Johnson has been selected as the new Land Steward.
October 27

First Conservation Leadership Award Recipient Announced

First Conservation Leadership Award Recipient Announced
Development Director and former Executive Director Tammy Wright was awarded Bur Oak Land Trust’s first conservation Leadership Award at our 13th annual “Under a Cider Moon…a Celebration of Autumn.”
December 2

New Program Director Hired

New Program Director Hired
Meredith Roemerman has been selected as the new Program Director.

 

For a personal recollection of Johnson County Heritage Trust’s conservation history to 2004, click here: Bob Sayre Conservation History