We who live in Linn County, Iowa are fortunate that we have a progressive program to develop pollinator habitat for monarchs and pollinators! Please follow the below links to learn more!
From: http://www.linncounty.org/1345/1000-Acres-Pollinator-Initiative
"The 1,000 Acres Pollinator Initiative is a public/private partnership in which Linn County Conservation, has partnered with the Monarch Research Project (MRP), Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation, and the Marion Parks Department. This collaborative effort aims to restore 1,000 public land acres to a diverse native prairie habitat (Pollinator Zones) within five years through private funding. This primary goal is to restore significant monarch and pollinator habitat throughout the communities of Linn County, Iowa through a collaborative public/private partnership that engages governmental, business, educational, non-profit, and citizen sectors of the community."
..... In the first three years of the initiative (2017-2019), 802 of the 1,000 acres have been installed with a funding level of about $630,000 provided primarily by the Monarch Research Project through private donations and grants on over 400 acres on Linn County Conservation managed areas"
The Linn County 1,000 Acres Pollinator Initiative is a recipient of the 2019 Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Excellence in Action Award, a competitive awards program that seeks to recognize innovative county government employees, programs, and projects. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the ISAC Annual Conference in Des Moines on August 21, 2019.
Also read about a 6.6 acre Orlan Love Prairie at Squaw Creek Park
“Orlan’s stories are credited with raising public awareness of the need
to protect natural resources in Eastern Iowa and beyond the state’s
borders,” the sign installed at the prairie reads, in part. “This
prairie is a living tribute to a much-loved writer and conservationist.” From Homegrown Iowan
