Public Land Acquisition and Donation Program
The State of Iowa, acting through the Department of Natural Resources, acquires land, from willing sellers, to manage and protect natural resources and to provide recreational opportunities to all the people of the state. Through the public land program, wetlands, forests, scenic areas, prairies, wildlife and fish habitat, rare species habitat, and other resources are being protected and managed.
Public Land Management Program
The DNR land management services include handling land title issues, unauthorized land use issues, boundary agreements, and drainage district issues. Land use agreements such as leases, permits, management agreements, and the issuance of easements are negotiated by land management personnel. Other services include facilitating state title transfers to other government entities, habitat lease program coordination and oversight, contracting for land surveys, building disposal, and management of DNR field office leases.
Conservation Easement Program
Conservation easements are a voluntary, legal means to protect and preserve land. There are many types of conservation easements including wetlands easements, angler and hunter access easements, trail and portage easements and forest, farm, ranchland protection easements to name a few. Conservation easements assist in protecting and improving water quality, wildlife habitat and natural resources in general. They are used to promote the personal desires of the landowner as well as preserving, protecting and improving the overall quality and character of the natural resources for future generations.
For more information about these and other Realty programs, contact our Realty staff.
Staff
Travis Baker
Land and Waters Bureau Chief
(515)729-4407
Travis.Baker@dnr.iowa.gov
Nathan Schmitz
Land Projects
(515)371-2062
Nathan.Schmitz@dnr.iowa.gov
Sabryna Gwinn
Land Management
(515)291-6232
Sabryna.Gwinn@dnr.iowa.gov
Nils Norlan
Review Appraiser
Conservation Easement Coordinator
(515)443-1023
Nils.Norlan@dnr.iowa.gov
Whitney Schuhardt
Administrative Assistant
(515)250-3617
Whitney.Schuhardt@dnr.iowa.gov
DNR Appraisal Guidelines
Appraisal guidelines to assist either grant applicators and their contracted certified appraisers in performing appraisals for grant reimbursement or general certified appraisers contracted by the DNR for performing appraisals on behalf of the DNR.
Real Estate Appraisal Report Guideline
For Grant Reimbursement Applicants and for Iowa Certified General Real Property Appraisers (Effective: January 1, 2022)
Lease to Beginning Farmers Program
Beginning Farming & Habitat Leases
Property Taxes
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources does, in fact, pay property taxes on some DNR owned land.
- Property taxes paid each county Fiscal Year (FY) 2024
- Property taxes paid each county Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (via Habitat Stamp funding)
- Property taxes paid each county Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (via REAP funding)