Baldwin Marsh
This 30-acre wetland is located 1 mile west of Baldwin,
just off Highway 64. The area contains one of the best
examples of an upland marsh once very common in Iowa.
The site also has a quality native prairie and a 15-acre
restored native prairie.
ADDITION TO BALDWIN MARSH
The Jackson County Conservation Department recently entered into a management agreement with the
Iowa Department of Natural Resources on a 37 acre tract of land immediately west of the existing county
owned Baldwin Marsh. This addition brings the entire wetland complex at Baldwin Marsh to 67 acres.
Acquired by the Iowa DNR, the property was purchased with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered
species funds. The original Baldwin Marsh property has a federally listed endangered species
population. The state and federal listed species is the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, a wet soil plant
found only on 3 known sites in Iowa. The Baldwin Marsh population is the largest known orchid
population in the entire State of Iowa.
The 37-acre acquisition to Baldwin Marsh allows us to reconstruct the
original wetland site and potentially provide additional area for the
orchid to populate. Reconstruction of the former wetland basin was
completed in February which included installing a water control
structure, cutting of the field drainage tiles, and shaping the wetland
dike. The local Maquoketa Izaak Walton League and the Jackson
County Pheasants Forever chapter assisted in funding this habitat
work. With hopeful spring rains the wetland will hold water for migrating
waterfowl this spring.
The remaining upland portion of the new acquisition was seeded to
native grasses by the Jackson County Conservation staff in the summer
of 2006. Native grass seed stock will be provided by the Iowa DNR,
wildlife division, and is native grass seed harvested from native prairie
sites in eastern and central Iowa. Once the native grass site is
established this area will provide excellent wildlife habitat for waterfowl
and upland birds like pheasants. The site is open to youth hunting
only, which allow young hunters 12-15 years of age the ability to learn
hunting skills from an adult guardian in a non-pressure setting.
Size: 67 acres
Services: Youth Hunting only
