HCCB News & Current Events

Iowa's Water and Land Legacy
by: Connie Betts, Naturalist

In our last newsletter, I gave a brief summary about a sustainable funding bill coming up for vote this fall for.  This bill is meant to provide protected and stable funding for Iowa's land, water, wildlife, and recreation resources.

There is no doubt you will start to hear and see more about it this summer and early fall before the November 2nd vote.  I would like to provide you with the facts and break down the meaning of the legislation.

Iowa's Water and Land Legacy, known as IWILL, would make a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund for the state of Iowa.  Similar funds have been passed in Missouri and Minnesota.  It provides a permanent, dedicated, and accountable funding mechanism for protection of Iowa’s natural resources.

This is different from another piece of legislation called REAP, or Resources Enhancement and Protection Act.  While REAP has provided millions of dollars throughout the years for projects around the state, it is not a reliable form of funding.  It varies with budgets and appropriation by the Iowa legislation.  In tough economic times, such as wha twe are facing currently, the amount of money available is often much less.

This new piece of legislation would be different in that it would be an amendment to Iowa’s constitution that would guarantee funding every year.  The best part for Iowa’s citizens is that it does not involve a tax increase!  The trust fund revenue will come from allocating 3/8 of one cent from sales tax revenue the next time the Iowa Legislature approves a sales tax increase (which may be several years from now).  The state will then decide when the economy is healthy enough to invest sales tax revenue in the trust fund.

So far, it seems that the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund has great support.  90% of Iowans say protecting land, water, and recreational opportunities is critical to the state's economic vitality, and 75% support increased funding for those purposes.  More than 90% of Iowa’s legislators voted "yes" twice to create the enabling legislation in 2008 and 2009.

If the legislation passes, when it is in full effect, it could generate $150 million dollars for Iowa’s natural resources. The money would be divided by resource needs and grants offered for projects, many that could occur in Harrison County!

I encourage you to find out all you can about IWILL and keep checking news articles before the November 2nd vote. Visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website at iowadnr.gov and look for sustainable funding. If your community organization would like a presentation on IWILL, please call me at 712-647-2785 ext. 12.

Ice Fishing Day Was Fun!

Kids Ice Fishing
About 15 students came out to Willow Lake for a day of ice fishing, snowshoeing, and winter fun.  We didn't catch many fish, but gave it a good try!  Pictured to the left is David Seilstad, ISU Extension and Katie Malone of Woodbine drilling an ice fishing hole.  Shelby Cooper and Ali Glackin, pictured right, built a snowman for wildlife with food (old carrots, etc.) donated from Foodland of Woodbine (thanks so much!).  We added a little birdseed and corn and the critters loved them!

Parks Set To Open April 1st

Morel MushroomsHarrison County Conservation Board's park and wildlife areas are set to open April 1st if conditions allow.  However, with the heavy snowfall this winter and added spring rains, roads and recreation areas such as camping pads, may be too soft for use.  These areas can be easily torn up and create more work later in the season.  Gates will remain closed until areas are dried out.  If you are going to be doing some early season camping, you might want to give us a call first and check on conditions.  If you have any questions, just give HCCB a call at 712-647-2785. Thanks for your cooperation!

Save money on camping - get your coupon books today!

HCCB Receives Grant For New Latrine
by: Scott Nelson, Operations Supervisor/Park Ranger

Last summer, the HCCB received a grant to build a latrine on the south side of the foot bridge near the boat ramp at Willow Lake.  We were one of five county conservation boards to be awarded the Water Resource Access Grant administered through the Iowa DNR.  The purpose of this grant is to provide better access for the boating public by means of new boat ramps, docks, parking lots, dredging, lights, and restroom facilities.  Monies are derived from the excise tax on the sale of motor fuel used in watercraft around Iowa.  Each year, a percentage of the collected tax is used for capitol improvement plans such as these at various locations on public lakes and streams.

Staff started the building project in November of 2009, with the placement Help Neededof the vault/pit, pouring the concrete floor, and trenching electricity to the site.  Unfortunately, Old Man Winter arrived shortly after, so the plan is to have the project completed by early this summer.  The building itself will be a 6 by 9 foot split-faced concrete block structure with a 4 foot overhang on the front.  Designed for unisex usage, this latrine will not only service the boaters who use Willow Lake, but will also be a much appreciated stop for people visiting the beach, hiking, and for school programs and summer camps.  Look for a picture of the finished project in a later newsletter.

With winter being what it was, many of the outside projects on the drawing board were not checked off the list.  However, that left plenty of time to attend inside projects.  We added a storage room to the wash bay of our shop, and also remodeled the main shop by tearing out old cupboards and benches, fresh paint, and a good old fashion cleaning.  The hopes are that this area will now have the ability to be used for public programming as well as a shop area.

All the staff is looking forward to spring and summer and we hope to see you using your public areas!

The Season For Morel Fever

Morel MushroomsIf this long winter has you suffering from 'shroom gloom and wishing for spring, you're probably not alone. But how do you know if you're a serious morel mushroomhunter? Here's the top ten ways to tell!

10. About six weeks before the season, you start a new exercise
      regimen of bending over to touch your toes and back up again.
  9. You have an onion bag collection and you'll proudly show it off to
      anyone who wants to see it.
  8. You've tried to train your dog to sniff out morels.
  7. You bought a safe especially for the map of the best morel spots in
      the county and you're the only one that has the combination.
  6. You've come up with your own rain dance to do every spring.
  5. You have a picture in your wallet of you with the "mother load."
  4. With your best poker face, you can give first time hunters false intelligence
      on where to start looking.
  3. You won't even tell your mother where you find morels.
  2. The gossip at the coffee shop has turned to the latest morel sighting.
  1. Before entering the woods, you make a plea to the mushroom gods,
      "May the fungus be among us."

Have a great mushroom season, be safe, and respect private property and our resources!

Morels start when temps are 60's during day and 40's at night

Want To Help Future Hunters?
We Need You!

Morel MushroomsLove to deer hunt? Is your passion calling in that bird during spring turkey season? We're looking for people interested in volunteering as hunter education instructors for classes held in Harrison County.  Currently, HCCB staff and a few dedicated people volunteer their time for these classes held twice a year at the Willow Lake Recreation Area.  However, it takes several people at each class to provide the lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and assisting on the gun range.  This ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for the students!

So what do you have to do to become a hunter education instructor in Iowa?  It's simple!  If you have already taken the hunter education course, you can go to a new instructor workshop (just one day) and become an instructor.  You can contact us or the Iowa DNR to find out when and where these workshops will be held.  That's it!

Then, just contact Harrison County Conservation Board to help with a class.  If you don't feel comfortable lecturing, you can help with the hands-on activities, or whatever is your specialty.  If this sounds like something you'd like to do, call Scott Nelson, Operations Supervisor/Park Ranger at 712-647-2785 ext. 14.  Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!

Email us at hccb@HarrisonCountyParks.org