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Fremont County Students Help Restore Loess Hills Prairie on Earth DayApril 25, 2005 High school students in Fremont County learned the uniqueness of the Loess Hills and assisted in native prairie restoration at an Earth Day event April 22 at the Bob and Colleen Geiger farm north of Thurman, Iowa. Fremont County Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) hosted the activities. The approximately 40 students split into small groups for the morning educational session, learning the history of the Loess Hills, identifying native grasses, working on a prairie restoration science project and measuring acres with a global positioning system (GPS). Students spent the afternoon clearing away invasive cedar trees on the Geiger’s native prairie. “We learned that cedar trees are taking over the Loess Hills prairie,” said Suzanne McCreary of Sidney High School. “The trees are covering and shading the native plants and grasses, not allowing the sun to get through.” Colleen Geiger, who has lived on the farm with her husband for 39 years, said it meant a lot to have area high school students help out. “It’s really fun for me. I used to be an English teacher, so anything involved with education is just delightful,” she said. “It amazes me how many people in the county don’t really know anything about the Loess Hills or they have never been up here to see how rugged it is with all the ravines, steep inclines and the natural beauty,” said Geiger. “I’m just thrilled these students are learning about it, and hopefully they will carry on and help preserve the Loess Hills in the future.” Loess (pronounced “luss”), is German for loose or crumbly. Iowa's Loess Hills are unusual because the layers of loess are extraordinarily thick, as much as 200 feet in some places. The extreme thickness of the loess layers and the intricately carved terrain of the Loess Hills make them a rare geologic feature. Shaanxi, China, is the only other location where loess layers are as deep and extensive. “The Loess Hills have a wind-driven soil that is very erosive. It’s unique with a lot of the native plant life around here,” said Geiger. “I have lived here most of my life, and 55 years ago there weren’t any cedar trees on this land. Slowly they keep evolving until now where they’ve taken over the pasture and the Loess Hills. It’s difficult to walk anywhere in the hills with a path that isn’t obstructed.” Fremont County District Conservationist Kristie McKinley said the Geiger’s are receiving cost share funds through the USDA’s Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). “We are removing cedar trees and stringing fence for pasture,” said McKinley. “The native prairie is being restored and rare prairie plants and animals are being saved from extinction.” Earth Day was started in 1970, and McKinley said the effects of this environmental movement can be felt in Fremont County. “Since Earth Day began, the bald eagle has been removed from the endangered species list and is actually nesting here in Fremont County,” she said. “We have also restored nearly 10,000 acres of wetlands in the past six or seven years. That is more than any other county in Iowa.” Along with Fremont SWCD and the USDA-NRCS, the April 22 Earth Day event was sponsored by Bank Iowa in Shenandoah and First Community Bank in Sidney. Contact: Kristie McKinley
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