Sauer - Ozark Fen Conservation Easement

The Sauer - Ozark Fen Conservation Easement was donated to Greenbelt in 2024 by landowners Susan and Paul Sauer. The easement covers approximately 39 acres of land in southwestern Maries County, between Dixon and Iberia, MO.

Over 80 percent of the property consists of forest and woodland habitat, while a significant portion of the remainder consists of open grassland areas, much of which Paul and Susan are actively working to restore to native prairie conditions. In addition, a tributary of Atwell Creek runs through the property, buffered by steep stream banks that are heavily forested.

But the most notable aspect of the landscape consists of an Ozark fen complex in the southeastern corner of the property. This relatively unique and significant feature provides habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which are not found on any of Greenbelt’s other protected sites.

Largely due to the unusual and sensitive nature of the fen complex — which is shown in the picture above — this easement project was made possible by funding assistance from the Missouri Department of Conservation.