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.