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 kettle holes. In this readable and beautifully illustrated volume, Michael Lannoo presents an extensive natural history of Okoboji and its cherished wetlands that examines that world of our grandparents, compares it to today's world, and extrapolates to the world of our grandchildren.
“Lannoo has both a very broad and a deep understanding of the animals and plants of the Iowa Great Lakes region. This book will appeal to a wide audience ranging from scientists and educators to an interested general public.”—James J. Dinsmore, Iowa State University
“…an important and unique book…a fascinating introduction to the natural history of the Iowa Great Lakes region and human impact, both intended and otherwise, on it. Okoboji Wetlands can be read and enjoyed by a resident or visitor to this ecologically important region.”—Arnold van der Valk, director, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
“This lively and entertaining book is, unashamedly, a work of advocacy. The Okoboji wetlands of Iowa are symbolic of a habitat that is threatened throughout the world. Lannoo presents a powerful argument based on his intimate knowledge of Okoboji; he explores the choices we face and the kind of decisions we must make if the Earth is not to be turned into a place that is hostile to all but a few forms of life.”—Tim Halliday, Open University