Carroll Prairie is an excellent example of what can happen when people choose to do the “right thing.” This nearly 50-acre area was purchased by Ames resident Lorna Carroll in 1999. Over time, after management of invasive species became difficult, she worked with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Story County Conservation to transfer the land to public ownership, for less than the appraised value. In 2018 the land was opened to the public.

Perched on a low ridge a little north of Ames and just west of the South Skunk River sits a little “postage stamp-sized” natural area called Leopold Woods. Managed by Story County Conservation, this 22-acre property was acquired from Don Norton in 2007 and named in honor of Aldo Leopold.

Heading north out of Ames on County Highway R38 (“County Line Road”) one soon descends into the Ioway Creek valley. Immediately north of the creek on your right (east) is one of Story County Conservation’s newest public properties: Prairie Valley Preserve, which includes the contiguous “Landers Prairie.”

There is a “little treasure” just east of I-35 and a bit north of 13th Street – Jim Ketelsen “Greenwing” Marsh. This 68-acre public area, acquired in 1987, commemorates the life of Jim Ketelsen, an outdoors person who tragically died while duck hunting in the Des Moines River.

Join a community bike ride Saturday, Aug. 9, to celebrate the near completion of the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail, which connects five communities in Story County. The Heart of Iowa Nature Trail Bike...