Atherton Memorial Wetland dedicated Oct. 15; Corps of Engineers provide hundreds of acres
Early on October 15, a light drizzle started to fall across Linn County, Iowa. But the precipitation stopped by about 9 a.m. Charlie Atherton glanced at the sky and nodded his head. Then he looked at his mother and smiled.
“I told you. Steve’s got it taken care of,” he murmured.
Atherton was referring to his late brother, Steven Atherton, a long-time Kirkwood Community College professor whose memory and influence were being honored that morning in a field south of Ely, Iowa. The Athertons were among about 90 people who gathered in a parking lot to dedicate a new memorial wetland and nature trail in Steve Atherton’s memory. The 25-year Kirkwood educator died unexpectedly in May 2008 at the age of 54.
Charlie Atherton had returned from his home in Monument, Colorado to attend the dedication with his mother, Lee Atherton of Ely. The ceremonies also celebrated the growth of an endowed scholarship fund in the late professor’s name, ensuring support of future Kirkwood Parks and Natural Resources department students, in perpetuity.
In program remarks, Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich spoke of Atherton’s dedication and focus. “Steve lived for the beauty and value of Iowa’s outdoors, and he wanted his students to take up that love, too. He brought his students into the natural world he loved and taught them to make it their world,” Starcevich said.
Upper Iowa University President Alan G. Walker also attended and presented gifts from the Fayette, Iowa-based school to help enrich the endowment. Walker presented checks to Kirkwood, not only from the university but also from Upper Iowa faculty and his own personal donation.
“We are pleased and proud to share this support in honor of such a great individual and educator. We also are proud to note that last year alone we welcomed about 50 Kirkwood students to complete their studies at Upper Iowa. It’s a great partnership,” Walker added.
Charlie Atherton also presented a check from his family to add to the endowment for his late brother. “I thank everyone at Kirkwood and all the people here today. This tribute and this beautiful spot are a perfect way to remember Steve,” he said.
The ceremonies continued with the unveiling of a commemorative stone designating the Steven J. Atherton Memorial Wetland, with landscaping, decorative stone and a groomed pathway leading northward into a pristine lowland meadow. All the work was done by Kirkwood Ag Science students, guided by their faculty.
The Atherton memorial wetland is a small part of an initial 440 acre land parcel offered to Kirkwood’s Ag Science programs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Corps Coralville Reservoir Area Director John Castle also spoke at the event and said the partnership is “a very fitting tribute” to Atherton and his many years of dedication to the cause of Iowa natural resources.
“Steve lived his passions for nature every day. He believed in conservation and taking care of the Iowa land. It was a pleasure working with him and an honor to know him. We are honored to be a part of this project to make this a working laboratory and teach future students,” he said.
Castle also indicated that discussions between the Corps and Kirkwood may result in even more land added to the cooperative agreement to provide more “outdoor laboratory” options into the future. A large-format aerial photograph was displayed at the event, showing preliminary plans for the wetland, upland prairie plantings and rotation-crop areas through the next decade.
During his 25-year stint at Kirkwood, the late Atherton built a wide network of partnerships and connections in the Iowa conservation and parks arenas. Colleagues remember his work to raise funds for wetlands preservation through an annual wildlife art show, auction and fund-raising dinner.
Atherton was also instrumental in launching the Kirkwood/MacBride Raptor Center project in conjunction with the University of Iowa. He also led efforts to reintroduce peregrine falcons to eastern Iowa and was a champion of prairie habitat restoration. Fellow instructors estimate that his work reclaimed thousands of acres of prairie in the state.
Long-time Kirkwood Ag Science colleague Ken Carroll was sure that were he still alive, Atherton would have been deeply involved in the Corps of Engineers development.
“Steve would have been all over this project. It covers all of his passions—wetlands, prairies and wildlife management,” Carroll said
The finale of the Steve Atherton tribute was the release of four trumpeter swans into a wetland pond a short distance south of the memorial trailhead. As the crowd headed out in vehicles to watch the birds’ release, a light mist started to fall.