Author Description

Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa is the jewel of the Iowa Great Lakes. A region of wetlands formed by prairie potholes, the area is rich with lakes, sloughs, fens, creeks, prairies, and kettleholes - providing homes for myriad birds, fish, amphibians, and other animals as well as recreation opportunities for hunters, fishers, boaters, hikers, and naturalists. In this readable, well-researched, and beautifully illustrated volume, Michael Lannoo presents an extensive natural history of Okoboji and its cherished wetlands that examines the world of our grandparents, compares it to today's world, and extrapolates to the world of our grandchildren. By highlighting wetland animals, especially the salamanders, toads, and frogs that thrive there, he promotes Okoboji's ecosystems as symbols of the worldwide crisis of pollution, declining biodiversity, and habitat mismanagement. Cautiously optimistic, he suggests directions for wetland management intended to preserve and restore this fragile area.