In October of 2025, Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy (ICC ) awarded a grant of $1,000 to help fund a habitat improvement project on South Bear Creek. The project area includes approximately 400’ of stream bank and in-stream enhancements on the north side of the stream on the South Bear Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the historic South Bear School. These two properties are in the village of Highandville across the stream from the Highland General Store and Campground.
The high stream bank adjacent to the South Bear School (which was built in 1911) and the nearby South Bear Creek WMA has been eroding over many years. The overall goals of this project include installing a floodplain bench on the north side of the stream, stabilizing the bench with rock riprap and any bank toe susceptible to erosion. All riprap will be covered with 6”-layer of topsoil.
Tree root balls will also be added to the stream to improve in-stream habitat and also help redirect the flow of the stream away from the stream bank. These root balls will be saved when trees are grubbed as part of the stream bank reshaping activities. Once the work is completed, all disturbed areas will be seeded with a native plant mix and cover crops, and these areas will also be covered with straw mulch to prevent erosion.
ICC is partnering on this project with the North & South Bear Creeks Watershed Quasi Endowment Fund, which has been established by the Shuros Family with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Other partners include: the Iowa DNR, the Winneshiek County Conservation Board, the Iowa Driftless Chapter of TU, and many other non-profit groups and individuals who have responded to local fundraising events.
The photos below were taken on April 5, 2026 before the project work was scheduled to begin. Additional photos will be taken during and after the work is completed later in 2026.
