Des Moines County Conservation is dedicated to the sustainability of natural resources through land stewardship, conservation education and by providing quality outdoor recreation opportunities.
History of Des Moines County Conservation
The Des Moines County Conservation was established in 1962 to acquire and maintain various county-owned natural areas for the benefit of the county's inhabitants. Des Moines County is located in southeastern Iowa adjacent to the Mississippi River and has an area of 261,760 acres or approximately 416 square miles. Des Moines County has 184,975 acres of farmland per the 2007 ISU information, which is 70% 0f the total land in DMC.
The county is bordered on the east by the Mississippi River and on the south by the Skunk River. According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) survey, the county is on a loess-covered glacial till plain. The soils were formed under prairie and forest vegetation.
The greater portion of the county originally consisted of prairie land, surrounded by streams and timberland. The soil consists of a rich loam from ten to twenty inches or more in depth and currently support the production of corn, wheat, barley, potatoes, turnips, blue grass, timothy, and other grains typically grown in this latitude. The soils continue to support heavy agricultural activity consisting primarily of corn and soybeans.