Buffalo Creek Wildlife Area


The Buffalo Creek Wildlife Area is located 7 miles southwest of Ryan in Section 20 & 29 of Adams Township (T87N-R6W), Delaware County, Iowa.

This 80-acre parcel is located on the flood plain of Buffalo Creek which flows through the property from the northwest corner to the southeast corner. The 52.0 acres of cropland on this property were subject to flooding almost as an annual occurrence. As a result, the previous landowners were able to enroll this property into the Emergency Watershed Protection Easement Program (EWP) with the USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in December 1999.

The easement provides permanent protection of the flood plain. As a result, in 2002 with assistance from:

  • Delaware County Pheasants Forever
  • Iowa DNR (Wildlife Habitat Stamp Fund)
  • Delaware County Conservation

the county conservation was able to purchase this property as the start of the “Buffalo Creek Wildlife Area”.

At that time, it was determined the best use of this property was to restore the flood plain in natural habitat for wildlife and provide public recreation activities that are compatible under the EWP program.

Over the next couple of years County Conservation and Pheasants Forever partnered together to install:

  • 7.0 acres of native tree planting
  • 20.0 acres of switch grass
  • 22.0 acres of native prairie grass
  • 1.0 acre wetland development

with a parking lot placed in the southwest corner of the property for public access.

In 2019 an additional 8.0 acres adjoining the property on the north was acquired with assistance from:

  • Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
  • Delaware County Pheasants Forever
  • Delaware County Conservation

This addition will provide improved public access as well as additional wildlife habitat.

Since the first acquisition of this property in 1999 the Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever have acquired several other parcels along the Buffalo Creek. This brings the total areas of flood protection and wildlife habitat to over 1,100.0 acres available to the public.



Location

3170  110th Ave

Ryan, IA



Features

The area amenities include:

  • Hiking Trails
  • Hunting and Trapping
  • Wildlife Observation


Operating Hours & Seasons

This park is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

Closures

All parks and natural areas remain open all year. However, facilities are closed to vehicle traffic and allow only walk-in access during the late fall and winter season. Parks with campground are usually open from mid-April through mid-October.