At the latest Washington County Conservation Board Meeting, the addition of the Bur Oak land addition to the English River Wildlife Area (ERWA) was presented.

Bur Oak, an entity outside of Johnson County, reached an agreement with the WCC Board to acquire 105 acres of land adjacent to an existing 788-acre property. The land is managed by the Washington, Iowa, and Keokuk County Conservation Boards, with the majority of the land managed by Washington County Conservation.

The board promoted the exchange because of its proximity to the already managed land. This allowed  the board to have a clear understanding of how to manage, maintain, and other aspects of the land. The land will be used for outdoor recreational activities.

The overarching goal of this expansion of public land is to allow those who do not have access to large tracts of land to explore and enjoy what nature has to offer.