September 2024 Department Update
As we begin the transition into fall, here's what's been happening at YOUR county parks.Marcus Nack, Environmental Education Manager
Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for Big Hollow Improvements - Sept. 9 at noon
Much has changed at Big Hollow Recreation Area this year and Des Moines County Conservation is hosting a ribbon cuttting with the Greater Burlington Partnership to celebrate. The event will take place at noon on Monday, September 9 at the new campsites just west of the main RV campground.
The 800-acre county conservation park a few miles west of Sperry, IA is the department's keystone park featuring a 178-acre lake with a beach, fishing piers, boat access and much more. This year, the department completed nearly $400,000 worth of improvements to the park, almost all of which were paid for with grants and donations. Improvements completed this year include:
- 18 new electric-only campsites in the wooded area west of the existing RV campground. Five of the sites are arranged in a circle for group camping, six of the sites make up three double-occupancy "buddy sites" with the rest being single occupancy sites.
- Paved walkways around all three sides of the beach and extending out into the swim area. These walkways are connected to paved parking at the top of the hill by an ADA-compliant walking path.
- Paved walkway on the fishing jetty below the RV campground, with a paved connecting path to the kayak launch dock.
- Three paved full-hookup RV sites in the original RV campground.
- Two new sediment ponds, one on either side of the primitive campground west of the RV sites. These ponds are built as part of the lake's water quality improvement plan to capture sediment and runoff that was reaching the main lake.
The demand for campsites and outdoor recreation has increased since 2020, often exceeding capacity at Big Hollow, one of the region's most popular camping destinations. As such, new campsites, water quality improvements, and ADA improvements were all identified as priorities in a park master plan developed in 2021. Community members, businesses, and local organizations soon began contributing to the vision and with those funds, Des Moines County Conservation was able to leverage a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for the campground and ADA improvements and a state fish habitat grant for the sediment ponds.
"None of this would have been possible without the support of the community," said Chris Lee, Executive Director at Des Moines County Conservation. "I'm proud of what's been accomplished here, but the credit belongs to the people in this community who shared our vision of a park that will impact generations to come."
The ribbon cutting will be held at the new campground. The address to the park is 11853 152nd Ave., Sperry, IA. Once at the park, follow the signs toward the shooting range. The ribbon cutting will be just west of the main campground.
CORES Program Update
A significant highlight this past month was Aron, our CORE Specialist, presenting to the local Kiwanis Club. He shared insights into the various programs we've conducted throughout the summer and emphasized the lasting impact these initiatives have on our community. The Kiwanis Club has been a generous supporter of DMCC for years, and Aron’s presentation helped reinforce the importance of community partnerships in fostering growth.
Throughout the summer, we’ve hosted a range of fun and free events. These included a running program, Fire Building program, Hike A Park Programs, Disability Outreach initiatives, a Disc Golf program, two firearm safety and competitions, and more. We're excited to keep the momentum going with even more programs planned for the future.
Preparing for the School Year
August also provided us with a much-needed opportunity to tidy up the nature center and prepare for the upcoming school year. We’ve stored away the summer camp crafts and brought our lesson bins to the forefront, ready for the school programs to begin. Program requests have opened, and we’re eagerly anticipating the return of schools to our programs.
Volunteer Appreciation
On August 8th, we had the pleasure of gathering all our volunteers to celebrate a fantastic year of collaboration and success. We enjoyed a delicious BBQ dinner together and took the time to recognize the incredible contributions our volunteers have made. Their dedication has been truly inspiring, and we’re excited to see what we can accomplish together in the future.
Farewell to Angela, Our Seasonal Intern
This month, we also said goodbye to our seasonal intern, Angela, as she returned to school. Angela played a vital role in our summer camps and programming, and her enthusiasm and hard work were greatly appreciated. We held a special day of celebration for all our interns before bidding her farewell, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Night Creek Stomp Success
For the second year in a row, our Night Creek Stomp event was a resounding success. Despite needing to reschedule due to weather, we still welcomed about 95 enthusiastic guests. Equipped with headlamps and a sense of adventure, participants explored the creek, discovering fish, crawdads, dragonfly nymphs, and even frogs. This program was held in partnership with Trees Forever, and we’re looking forward to continuing our collaboration in the years to come.
Monarch Season Begins
Monarch season kicked off on August 21st, marking the start of our Monarch Butterfly research. Staff members, donned in sun hats, sunglasses, and equipped with giant nets, have been busy capturing migrating butterflies as they pass through our community. These butterflies are on their incredible journey to Mexico, where they will mate. Through our collaboration with the University of Kansas and the Monarch Watch program, we’re contributing to the conservation of this important species. Our efforts in supporting pollinator habitats are a reminder of the simple joys in life, like having food on the shelves at the grocery store.
Welcome to Our New Animal Ambassadors
We’re thrilled to introduce two new animal ambassadors to our nature center: tiger salamanders! These fascinating creatures are excellent examples of indicator species, and this fall, they will help us teach students about habitat quality and diversity. You can visit them on display on the second floor of the nature center.
published Thursday, August 22, 2024
