The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be conducting an aerial spraying project targeting invasive cottonwood and willow trees that are encroaching on grasslands at 15 wildlife management areas.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Chichaqua (Fatland) between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Osborn, Asche and Maifield areas between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Big Wall Lake between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Buffalo Center, Good Neighbors (Woodley), Good Neighbors (Mountain South) and Good Neighbors (Halvorsen) between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Burr Oak, Eagle Lake and Tuttle Lake between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Seneca Access between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Ocheydan between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
- Locally, spraying will occur at Colo Boggs between Aug. 26-Sept. 4, when weather conditions allow.
“The purpose of this project is to open the grasslands back up, said Ryan Harr, with Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Using a helicopter is a cost-efficient way to cover a lot of acres in a short amount of time. The helicopter can knock out an area in around an hour that would take us 3-4 days on a tractor.”
Areas where the spraying will occur will have had signs placed in the parking lot for two weeks alerting visitors to the project. On the day of the application, a “Wildlife Area Closed” sign will be posted and re-entry is not advised until “Wildlife Area Closed” signs have been removed. This is the third year of the project.