Cedar Valley Nature Trail

Iowa

The purpose of this project was to analyze the feasibility of the conversion of an abandoned railroad right-of-way to a recreation trail in terms of potential use, conservation benefits, landowner attitudes, legal considerations, costs, and a host of other considerations documented in the summary report. The study and report was conducted and written by our office under a contract with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Legal consultants were provided by the National Park Service, other minor subcontractors were led by Craig Ritland, and volunteer work utilized to facilitate the expedient completion of the study. The result of this work is an extremely popular, mostly privately financed public recreation trail. It traverses four counties, following a route which carries it through the Cedar River bottom lands, along the forested banks of the river, and across rolling farmland. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC included a photograph of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail in its magazine shortly after its completion. In 2001, Alliant Energy and Trees Forever contracted with Craig Ritland to assist in a visioning exercise with Linn County residents to produce a vegetation management plan compatible with overhead power lines within the trail corridor.

Our Portfolio
PICT0011.JPG