Raccoon River Savanna
Bird Conservation Area

Carroll and Guthrie Counties, Iowa

Iowa's tenth Bird Conservation Area (BCA) was inaugurated December 13, 2006 in Coon Rapids, IA.
The Raccoon River Savanna BCA is built around the core protected areas of Whiterock Conservancy (4,909 acres) Elk Grove Wildlife Ares (1,600 acres) and Springbrook State Park/Wildlife Ares (1,286 acres).

The Raccoon River Savannah BCA comprises 54,361 acres. All private landowners within this area can apply for extra points on the federal WHIP applications and priority assistance from the DNR's Landowner Incentive Program

Located largely along the Middle Raccoon River, this BCA includes various habitats:

Whiterock's bird inventory has so far confirmed the presence of 29 out of 67 breeding species of greatest conservation need, with up to 20 more species likely.

Bird watching is among the nation's fastest-growing outdoor activities. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, "watchable wildlife" activities generate about $188 million per year in Iowa.
An estimated one million Iowans participate in bird and other wildlife-watching activities annually, with approximately 310,000 traveling away from home to seek wildlife watching opportunities.

In 2005, the Coon Rapids-Whiterock area won the coveted designation as one of the first three "Iowa Great Places." Access infrastructure and habitat improvements will enable it to attract upwards of 50,000 visitors a year.
The BCA program promotes landscape-scale habitat improvements as part of an international effort to protect birds with the greatest conservation need. The model depends on partnership between public agencies, private conservation organizations and private landowners.