Born and raised in Iowa City, Tamra Elliott has been interested in conservation since an early age. During her childhood, Elliott visited the Macbride Nature Recreation Area (MNRA) every summer, and now as an adult, manages the land. A unique ecosystem, the MNRA requires special care of its trails, infrastructures, rare plant species and natural resources. Elliott expertly balances both the needs of the land and human recreation, specifically by tackling the issue of non-native invasive plants. By using natural processes like fire and removal by hand, the MNRA and the prairie areas within it, are seeing huge improvement. Elliott also works with the University of Iowa research projects, the Wildlife Camps, School of the Wild and The Iowa Raptor Project.
Check out her Iowa City recommendations below.