In Pocahontas County, Iowa, two neighbouring parcels of land have found a new purpose through a donation that will keep them available for wildlife and public recreation. The properties, given by two families, cover a combined 21 acres of mixed habitat and natural space south of Pocahontas. Rather than remaining under private ownership, the land was transferred to Pocahontas County Conservation, allowing it to serve the wider community while retaining its value as a habitat for local wildlife. The donation formed part of a wider conservation effort in Iowa during 2025, when individuals, families and organisations helped protect thousands of acres across the state.
How 10-acre and 11-acre donations in the US became one conservation property
The 21-acre contribution came from John L. Pascal, Jr. and Sally J. Pascal, who donated a 10-acre parcel to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF). Their property was joined by an adjoining 11 acres given by Gail Ewan, creating a larger stretch of land that could be managed for conservation and public use.Both parcels are located south of Pocahontas in Pocahontas County. Their proximity made it possible for the two donations to be brought together under a single conservation arrangement, rather than treated as separate pieces of land.Following the donations, ownership of the properties was transferred to Pocahontas County Conservation. The county body will oversee the area as a public recreation space, while the land’s natural character provides an opportunity to retain habitat for wildlife.
The conservation process behind the 21-acre Iowa land donation
The donations were made through the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that works with landowners to conserve important natural areas across the state. Its work includes accepting gifts of land, financial contributions towards land value and conservation easements that place long-term protections on privately owned properties.For landowners, these arrangements offer different ways to protect places they have an interest in preserving. In some cases, ownership passes to a conservation organisation or public body. In others, an easement restricts certain forms of development or land use while allowing the property to remain privately owned.The Pascal and Ewan donations resulted in the land being transferred to county conservation, giving the 21 acres a role that combines habitat protection with public access.
Iowa conservation effort protected 2,247 acres for wildlife and public access
The two adjoining properties were among several contributions recognised by INHF for its conservation work during 2025. Over the course of the year, the foundation worked with 22 individuals, families and organisations that chose to protect land through donations of property, land value or conservation easements. Together, these contributions covered 2,247 acres spread across 15 Iowa counties. The protected areas include natural spaces that support native plants and wildlife, as well as places where residents can spend time outdoors.According to the Iowa National Heritage Foundation, the donors were recognised during a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on March 24. The gathering acknowledged the role of private landowners and organisations in helping secure natural areas for the future.Among the other contributions was a 52-acre donation near Rolfe in Pocahontas County, made by Fork Creek Farms, LLC and Richard C. Rastetter, Jr. The property is divided by the North Branch of Lizard Creek and includes open ground and perennial vegetation. Plans for prairie restoration are expected to improve water quality and provide feeding, resting and nesting areas for migratory birds and other wildlife.Protecting and restoring the property had been a long-standing ambition of Rastetter, who died in 2023. His family subsequently helped fulfil that plan through the contribution.
Two Iowa families help secure a future for 21 acres of natural land
The 21 acres donated by the Pascal and Ewan families represent a smaller part of Iowa’s wider conservation programme, but the transfer has given the adjoining properties a defined future. Their management now falls under Pocahontas County Conservation, with public recreation and wildlife habitat among the intended uses. The arrangement also illustrates how separate land donations can be combined to create a larger area for conservation.
