The Washington County Conservation Board, along with the boards in Iowa and Keokuk Counties, owns 160 acres of land around the English River and they are now leasing a portion of it to a new person. Until this year, the conservation boards had been leasing 40 acres of farmland to an individual, but he decided he didn’t want to continue. At their most recent meeting, the board went over bids for a new lessee for the land, and they came to an agreement with the other conservation boards to accept the high bid of $260 per acre.

The 40 acres of tillable land the boards lease out is located in Iowa and Keokuk Counties, just outside of the northwest corner of Washington county. Each conservation board has an equal share in the property’s income. Washington County Conservation Director Steve Anderson said, “Years ago, we had an opportunity to do that jointly and acquire that property through a wildlife habitat stamp fund. And once we accomplished that, we then created a 28E agreement whereby each of the counties involved have exactly equal voice in ownership and everything that happens up there.” After coming up with the agreement, the three counties do everything jointly with regards to the property, including the crop lease.