It is the largest undisturbed wooded area in Black Hawk County, Iowa and is home to three distinct habitats including wetland, forest, and prairie.

Eleven acres of Hartman Reserve's lowlands was briefly considered for the US 218 highway, but public opinion helped to push the route north of George Wyth Memorial State Park.

This area included two lakes created through sand mining operations and land up to the Cedar River.

In 2005, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack signed the Articles of Dedication and designated part of the reserve as the Hartman Bluff State Preserve.

Every spring the Cedar River floods into the reserve creating super saturated soils and marsh-like conditions.

Yellow Lady Slipper and Indian Pipe are some of the uncommon flowers that can be found in the prairies and throughout the rest of the reserve.

The most common include white-tailed deer, river otters, turkeys, pileated woodpeckers, red shouldered hawks, foxes, vultures, geese, wood ducks, mallards, ospreys and bald eagles.

Starting in 1994, Hartman decided to allow bow hunting during a special season to help keep the deer population under control of the Iowa DNR.

These areas are part of the Deer Management Zone and harvested animals may be checked in at the nature center during regular business hours.

Two organizations that recognize the reserve as a great place for birdwatching and animal watching are Iowa Watchable Wildlife Site and Important Bird Area.

[10] All of the water trails lead into the Cedar River, George Wyth Memorial State Park, and the many lakes on the reserve.

The trails can be used anyday between sunrise and sunset The Gene and Betty Buckles Program Center is an environmentally friendly building.