Contributed image

In 2016, Washington County had 8,460 acres enrolled in the forest reserve program.

From 2012 to 2016 it increased by 9.1% or 704 acres. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, there is a two-acre minimum to be in the program and there must be 200 trees per acre. Also, no cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats or hogs are permitted on the forest reserves. Clayton County in northeast Iowa had the highest number of acres enrolled at 55,305 in 2016. Locally, Keokuk County had 9,397 acres, Jefferson tallied 8,204, Iowa County had 12,522, Johnson County has 11,222, Louisa County recorded 11,823 acres, and of Washington’s contiguous counties Henry had the most at 14,093 acres.