116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Rural health part 4: Budgets are a balancing act for rural hospitals
When it comes to a rural hospital's budget, it's all about balance.
These hospitals generally have more narrow financial margins in addition to larger groups of patients on Medicare and Medicaid, which makes them more vulnerable to budget cuts and political fights.
The natural character of this Allamakee County property owned by Patrick Burke and Nancy Rigler of DeKalb, Ill., has been protected through a conservation easement with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
Prairie grass bordering Brook Creek provides a canopy of shade for the native brook trout that live there. The native vegetation was established during the past seven years as part of a project to transform what had been a cornfield ditch into the classic tall grass prairie trout stream that had once flowed through the Allamakee County farm. (Mike Osterholm)
VISTA 4 North of Waukon Junction, Allamakee County
A section of prairie in 368 acres of privately owned land that may be added to the Yellow River State Forest in Allamakee County. Shot on Friday September 5, 2014. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Paint Creek flows through 368 acres of private land that may be added to the Yellow River State Forest in Allamakee County. Shot on Friday September 5, 2014. The land includes over 2 miles of Paint Creek with naturally reproducing brown trout and habitat for migratory Cerulean Warblers. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
A bridge over Paint Creek flows on 368 acres of private owned land that may be added to the Yellow River State Forest in Allamakee County. Shot on Friday September 5, 2014. The land includes over 2 miles of Paint Creek with naturally reproducing brown trout and habitat for migratory Cerulean Warblers. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Midges hover over Brook Creek in July. The aquatic insects provide a daily smorgasbord for the native brook trout that inhabit the Allamakee County stream, which as recently as 2004 was a ditch running though a cornfield. (Mike Osterholm)
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