Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development

Mine Land Reclamation

Mahaska County and neighboring Marion County contain over 80% of the un-reclaimed abandoned mine lands in Iowa. Un-reclaimed abandoned mine lands are often high in acidity, poorly vegetated and impair water bodies with acidic runoff.

Reclamation projects are costly and are most successful when multiple partners can help fund each project. Pathfinders receives a $100,000 federal Office of Surface Mining grant available to non-profit organizations for each reclamation project is partners in. Pathfinders has partnered with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Mines and Minerals Division, Mahaska, Van Buren and Monroe Soil and Water Conservation Districts, local Pheasants Forever chapters and other partners to reclaim sites in Mahaska County, Van Buren County and Monroe County.

Pathfinders is currently involved with two active reclamation projects in Mahaska County: Groenedyk and Lewis and one in Monroe County: Harris.

To date, Pathfinders has helped reclaim 15 sites in 3 counties by bringing in $1.5 million in grant dollars.

View map of identified abaondoned mine land sites in Mahaksa, Wapello and Van Buren Counties.

 
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NEWS & EVENTS

Pathfinders RC&D Monthly Board Meeting
Wednesday, February 22
6:00 p.m.
Pathfinders RC&D Office, 304 South Maple, Fairfield
Cultivating Opportunities: A Look at Local Food Issues in our Changing World
Saturday, March 3
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Advanced Technology Center
Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa
$25 before February 26
$35 after February 26 or at the door
Registration includes locally grown lunch

Southeast Iowa is filled with opportunities!  Find out what's happening in local food production and explore where we go from here.

For more information, contact Tish Reck at (641) 683-5170 or Tish.Reck@indianhills.edu. 
Register online

Getting Yourself on Google Maps
Tuesday, March 6
9:30 a.m - Noon*
Honey Creek Resort, Moravia

FREE for Historic Hills Byway communities/attractions or CITR Members 
$10 regisration for all others

*Optional Post-workshop Tourism Exchange
Noon - 1:30 p.m., $10 for lunch if attending

This is a comprehensive training on how to get your business or point of interest plotted on Google Maps and how to create functional and user-friendly event maps.  Funded in part through Central Iowa Tourism Region.

For more information contat Katy at Pathfinders at 641-472-6177 or email katy@pathfindersrcd.org

NEW! Grant Received for Mormon Trail Development

Pathfinders recevied $86,000 in Statewide Transportation Enhancement grant funds to identify nationally significant historical resources on the Iowa Mormon Wagon Trails and Iowa Mormon Handcart Trail.  

The project will include a cultural and natural resource inventory and land acquisition study.   The project will also result in preservation and interpretive plans.  This project is being completed as part of  Iowa scenic byway development

While grants funds have been committed, Pathfinders is still securing necessary cash match. The project is expected to start in fall 2012.  

For more information call 641-472-6177 or email Byway Coordinator Katy Anderson at katy@pathfindersrcd.org.