Conservation staff report: Heart of Iowa Nature Trail ribbon cutting, lagoon rehab delays and 14 bond projects under way

County conservation staff told the Story County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 that the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail ribbon cutting and community bike ride drew about 300 registered riders, that the Hickory Grove lagoon rehabilitation project has been delayed by high bacterial/sludge levels but is now advancing with disposal assistance from the City of Ames, and that the department has 14 bond projects in its portfolio with six currently in design.

"We received a grant from Iowa DNR a number of years ago to rehab the old lagoon into a rearing pond," the conservation presenter said, and staff added that bacterial testing of dredged material delayed land application until the sludge levels dropped. The City of Ames has agreed to accept disposal on its sites, staff said, and the department obtained a grant extension; staff cautioned that construction costs have risen since the original award and additional fundraising will be needed to cover remaining costs.

Staff reported completion of the Prairie Valley Preserve wetland and a recent dedication event, progress on final improvements to the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail including paving and backfilling, and the planned start of private‑property work adjacent to the trail to address access issues. Edge‑of‑field water‑quality practices for the year‑two project were reported as being installed along E29 after an earlier bid rejection and rebid.

The countywide trail plan, staff said, will be posted on the county website and reflected roughly 350 public survey responses; the plan visualizes a long‑term goal of connecting every city in the county by trail. Programming was described as robust: summer camps were full, school outreach and classroom scheduling are underway, and the department is pursuing recertification under a national service‑enterprise volunteer certification process.

On administrative matters, staff said the conservation board reviewed rules and the employee handbook and removed compensable lunch periods; conservation staff will now follow the county standard practice on lunch periods. Bond projects listed as under design included the Lowhead Dam Mitigation Project (Hainan Small), Daken's Lake cabin, Deppe Family conservation area landscape plan, Hickory Grove Park beach improvements (a cooperative design with Iowa DNR to mitigate bacteria and improve access), Shrek water‑trail access, and Tedesco Shelter restroom. Two projects — Oxbow restorations at Wicks Wildlife Area near Story City and at Carroll Prairie — were reported as having completed design and moving toward construction quotes.

Staff said a county watershed assessment completed in 2018 will be reviewed by a countywide committee in September as the county considers updates, and staff also described recent outreach events including a prairie dedication, field days and 'get outdoors' activities.

Supervisors did not take formal action on the report; staff sought questions and provided timeline and funding clarifications where asked.

Ending: Staff said more detailed schedules and cost estimates will be provided as design work advances and as fundraising needs become clearer.