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Farm Creek Public Wildlife Area

Farm Creek Public Wildlife Area is a 320-acre property open to public recreation in the southeastern portion of Pottawattamie County, just 5 miles east of Carson, Iowa.
Farm Creek Public Wildlife Area
45638 Chestnut Rd
Carson, Iowa 51525
(712) 328-5638

Directions:
Take Highway 92 east from Carson (5 miles). Turn south on 460th Street (1-mile). Young Pond is west ¼ mile on Chestnut Road. Riepe Pond is ¾-mile east on Chestnut Road.

The gently rolling property was acquired in 2001, and the majority of the land has been restored to native prairie fields filled with a diverse mix of native grasses and flowers. The property is named for the stream that bisects the area. Farm Creek is a unique stream in Iowa because it has never been channelized or straightened by humans leaving a beautiful, meandering waterway with miniature oxbow ponds along its course.

Two ponds are located at Farm Creek for public fishing and recreation. The Young Pond (west pond) is 16-acres with a boat ramp, dock, fishing jetty, and constructed spawning beds. The Riepe Pond (east pond) is 5-acres and accommodates bank fishermen, as well as smaller canoes. Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish are stocked in both ponds.

When you visit Farm Creek you may notice a portion of the property being harvested for native hay each year in late summer. Pottawattamie Conservation utilizes the native vegetation as feed for their bison and elk herds at Botna Bend Park in Hancock, Iowa. These plant species are better suited for their digestive systems, and it is financially beneficial to raise our own feed. An additional benefit to haying a portion of the property each year is the improvement of the habitat helping us accommodate as many different types of grassland nesting birds as possible. It is not uncommon to see 8-10 different bird species in a short walk on the property!

Farm Creek Public Wildlife Area Map

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