Nahant Marsh unveils new plan to expand conservation lands

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – For the first time since 1998, Nahant Marsh is revising its long-term plan to continue to preserve the natural beauty of the eastern Iowa wetlands.

They revealed their long-term plans at two open houses Wednesday and are also gathering public input before finalizing the plans later this year. If you have questions or comments about upcoming plans, click here Here to hand them over to Nahant Marsh and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Nahant Marsh Learning Center Executive Director Brian Ritter says it’s time for a new plan.

“We’ve either already achieved it or it doesn’t matter anymore [the plan from 1998]Ritter said. “We really knew that we had to update our master plan to have a plan for the next 25 years. And indeed, a master plan is a kind of long-term vision. “

Back in July 2020, Nahant Marsh partnered with the US Army Corps of Engineers to collect data and research on wetland ecosystems and trail development. Ritter says the project has been a long time coming.

“It’s been a long process, but it’s been a really worthwhile initiative for us because it’s really allowed us to take a hard look at our future needs and really the needs of the community,” Ritter said.

The Nahant Marsh Education Center surveyed a wide range of people in 2020, and the biggest thing that came out of those surveys was that people wanted to see more access to the marsh, more trails, and they wanted to experience more of what the marsh needed. to do offer

What was once only 78 acres of wetlands will now approach 400 acres by the end of 2022 as more land is acquired to be protected.

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