Iowa County: The Landowner Incentive Program gives grants to help people restore prairies and savannas and create habitat for threatened plants and birds.

"We just looked over there and there are two immature red-headed woodpeckers. They came in this year already, which is very exciting." Mary Trewartha gets excited when talking about all the birds and plants that have found new habitat in her restored prairie on her farm west of Dodgeville. "My main emphasis is for grassland birds. The bobolinks nest in the fields here."

Trewartha used a federal grant to help restore 10 acres of prairie. Now she's received a $9,000 grant through the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) to restore another 10 acre valley.

LIP is run by the DNR, providing 75% of the funding for a restoration project. "I match it with funds and hours of work," says Mary.

Jim Sime says his LIP grant helps pay for tree removal and removing invasive species. "You can do a yard pretty good. But you start getting up to 5, 10, 50 or 100 acres and it's just beyond the ability of one person."

The goal of the program is not just beauty. Prairies provide crucial habitat for threatened plants and birds. "It is possible-even with relatively small areas-to make a big difference in terms of species protection," says Lloyd Eagan, the DNR's Regional Director.

Both Mary and Jim say they love the land and the project.

"It's hard to explain but it just makes you feel good," says Jim.

"It becomes a passion. This for me is incredibly important," says Mary.