Two Pocahontas County families have turned their private land into a permanent community asset, donating adjoining properties totaling 21 acres for wildlife habitat and public recreation south of Pocahontas.
John L. Pascal, Jr. and Sally J. Pascal gave a 10-acre parcel, while their neighbor Gail Ewan donated an adjoining 11 acres, according to The Times of India. The combined property was transferred to Pocahontas County Conservation, which will manage it for both public access and wildlife habitat.
How the donation came together
The gifts were made through the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that works with landowners across the state to conserve natural areas. Because the two parcels sit side by side, they were combined into a single conservation arrangement rather than managed as separate tracts.
The arrangement shows how private landowners can protect places they care about without waiting on government programs. In some cases, ownership passes outright to a conservation organization or public body. In others, a conservation easement restricts development while the property stays in private hands.
Part of a bigger conservation year in Iowa
The Pascal and Ewan donations were among several contributions recognized by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for its 2025 conservation work. Over the year, the foundation worked with 22 individuals, families and organizations that chose to protect land through property donations, contributions toward land value or conservation easements.
Together, those contributions covered 2,247 acres across 15 Iowa counties, according to The Economic Times. The protected areas include natural spaces that support native plants and wildlife, along with places where residents can hunt, hike and spend time outdoors.
The donors were recognized during a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on March 24, the foundation said.
Family fulfills a longtime conservation goal
Among the other 2025 contributions was a 52-acre donation near Rolfe in Pocahontas County from Fork Creek Farms, LLC and Richard C. Rastetter, Jr. The property is divided by the North Branch of Lizard Creek and includes open ground and perennial vegetation.
Plans for prairie restoration are expected to improve water quality and provide feeding, resting and nesting areas for migratory birds and other wildlife. Protecting and restoring the property had been a long-standing ambition of Rastetter, who died in 2023. His family helped fulfill that plan through the contribution.
Why private conservation matters in Iowa
The 21-acre transfer is a small piece of Iowa's wider conservation effort, but it gives the adjoining properties a defined future under Pocahontas County Conservation. Inkl reported that the neighbors' joint contribution has created a new 21-acre conservation area that combines habitat protection with public access.
For rural counties like Pocahontas, land donations offer a practical way to expand outdoor recreation without burdening taxpayers. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation accepts gifts of land, financial contributions toward land value and conservation easements, giving landowners flexible options depending on their circumstances.
The arrangement also demonstrates how separate donations can be combined to create a larger conservation area, a model other Iowa landowners could follow.
Frequently asked questions
Who donated the 21 acres in Pocahontas County?
John L. Pascal, Jr. and Sally J. Pascal donated 10 acres, and Gail Ewan donated the adjoining 11 acres, for a combined 21 acres south of Pocahontas.
Who manages the donated land now?
Pocahontas County Conservation owns and manages the property as a public recreation space with wildlife habitat.
How much land did Iowa conservation efforts protect in 2025?
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation worked with 22 donors to protect 2,247 acres across 15 Iowa counties in 2025.