Davenport Plant Wildlife Restoration Areas

About the Program
Since 2005, the Summit Materials Iowa Davenport Plant has designed and implemented a wildlife restoration project on 18 acres of land adjacent to the cement plant. To the east of the property is the Mississippi River, and to the west is a matrix of developed and undeveloped land, primarily consisting of industrial or commercial land-uses. The conservation objectives for this program are to contribute to the regional biodiversity through providing habitat for mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and invertebrates. These objectives will be met through the restoration of 10 acres of tallgrass mesic prairie and the management of the two-acre pond and a six-acre wetland.

Practices and Impacts

• Water quantity is maintained through checking the inlet and outlet structures of the manmade pond and beaver flow devices in areas where beaver activity has created impoundments. Water quality is assessed through water sampling and analysis. To address low dissolved oxygen levels in the pond, a water aeration system was installed.
• The pond and wetland areas are frequently used by the employees of the Davenport Plant for fishing, wildlife viewing and general exposure to the outdoors. Recreational use is further promoted and facilitated by mowing of paths and access areas.
• The 10 acres of prairie are maintained through prescribed burns, invasive species removal and herbicide application. The team monitors the prairie through plant inventories to maintain a native plant habitat consisting of grasses and forbs.
• Two barn owl nesting boxes were installed in 2018 on the prairie habitat near the Mississippi River. The site also has two purple martin bird houses; one is located near the pond, while the second one was installed in 2018 on the prairie near the Mississippi River. The bird houses/boxes are monitored and maintained by the team to provide successful nesting habitat for the targeted species.
• The team created a pollinator garden in 2019 that is about 270 square feet to provide sufficient habitat for native pollinators. The site was previously mowed turf grass. The garden is maintained with consistent mulching, weeding, watering and harvesting seeds.