Abstract of document information

The Dewey's Pasture Complex consists of 2,200 acres of marsh, 2,300 acres of lakes and 800 acres of grass, cropland and woods all within a fairly small area north of the town of Ruthven, in Clay and Palo Alto Counties. This imperfectly drained area is probably typical of the sight that met early settlers in most of northwestern Iowa; water, water everywhere. In some areas, as much as one half of the land was covered with marshes and lakes.