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News Brief

March 7, 2014DES MOINES, Iowa |  By: Peterson

Loess Hills

 

Members of the Loess Hills Alliance Board of Directors are abandoning plans to seek a national reserve designation for the region.
Meeting at the Desoto Bend National Wildlife Reserve Wednesday afternoon, 13 of the board's members voted against proceeding with the designation, while 5 voted in favor.
Two board members abstained, and 7 members were not in attendance.
Under a national reserve designation, the Loess Hills would become affiliated with the National Park Service.
Alliance board member Terry Lewis of Sidney says opposition from landowners convinced the majority of the board members to vote against further exploration.

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Lewis supported seeking the national reserve designation.
In his opinion, the designation would have benefited the Loess Hills.

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Lewis questions whether the effort will be revived in the future.

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Supervisors in Fremont, Mills, Harrison and Monona counties approved resolutions voicing either concern or opposition toward the alliance's plans.
Leo Ettleman of Fremont County was among the opponents speaking against the proposed designation at Wednesday's meeting. Ettleman could not be reached for comment as of late Wednesday afternoon.