Big boost for Big Grove land trust under preservation plan

SOLON - The Bur Oak Land Trust on Wednesday announced the kickoff of the public phase of its campaign to raise $700,000 to purchase and preserve a remnant of a once-large bloc of Johnson County timber known as Big Grove.

Of the $700,000 goal, $360,000 will go toward buying 40 acres adjacent to the 40-acre Big Grove Preserve near Coralville Lake. The remaining $340,000 will support the continued stewardship and active conservation of the Big Grove Addition and other Bur Oak Land Trust properties.

'The addition is a truly amazing property,” said Don Bolin of Iowa City, who with his wife Liz donated $200,000 to the campaign.

'It's one of the few places in the county where you can really be alone with only the sounds of the wind, birdsong and flowing water,” said Bolin, who has worked about 15 hours a week since 2006 to rid the original Big Grove preserve and the addition of invasive species such as garlic mustard and multiflora rose.

Bolin said the beauty of the addition is enhanced by a sparkling creek bordered by limestone outcroppings.

In addition to the Bolins' gift, the 10 members of the trust's board of directors donated a total of $100,000, and additional donations brought the campaign's 'soft ask” total to more than $420,000.

The remaining $280,000 will be secured through more formal fundraising activities, said Dick Schwab, co-chairman of the campaign.

Schwab said early settlers attached the Big Grove name to the heavily forested Iowa River corridor north of Iowa City. Though it once covered about 120 square miles, it has been diminished by development and agriculture, he said.

The Big Grove Preserve and its 40-acre addition, plus another 60 acres protected through conservation easements, will protect a key part of it for future generations.

Schwab said eight of the nine trust-managed properties are open to the public.

Trust members, with the help of more than 100 Solon second-graders, celebrated the $420,000 milestone with the planting of a bur oak and hikes through the woods Wednesday.

Providing places where people - and especially children - can learn about and appreciate nature is one of the trust's top priorities, said Carter Johnson, president of the trust's board of directors.

By helping with the tree planting, the Solon second-graders, he said, 'are taking the first steps in continuing our legacy for land conservation for future generations.”

Tammy Wright, Bur Oak Land Trust executive director, said people who want to contribute to the campaign are encouraged to call (319)-338-7030 or visit www.BurOakLandTrust.org.