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Story County conservation staff report Hickory Grove wastewater completion, wetland projects, trails plan and seed‑harvest results
Summary
Conservation staff reported the Hickory Grove wastewater project is complete, detailed oxbow and wetland restoration design work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Iowa Soybean Association, announced a final trails plan and described natural-resources work including a 1,133‑pound prairie seed harvest and a restarted kestrel box program.
Story County conservation staff reported a range of completed and in‑progress natural‑resource projects during the Board of Supervisors’ Feb. 25 meeting, including completion of the Hickory Grove wastewater system, progress on wetland and oxbow restoration designs, a finalized county trails plan and operational updates including seed harvest and habitat structure work.
Why it matters: The conservation projects affect county parks and wildlife areas, recreational amenities and local ecological restoration efforts; some work draws outside funding and partnerships that reduce local costs.
Highlights from the department report, presented by Mike Cox (Conservation staff): - Hickory Grove wastewater: The new system is operational; staff noted this will allow remediation of the old lagoon. The department is coordinating with state environmental staff to convert the old lagoon into a fish rearing pond; the plan would use walleye provided by the Department of Natural Resources and rear them until they're large enough to survive in open water. - Wetland/oxbow restoration: Staff reported coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Iowa Soybean Association to move forward with design work at Wicks Wildlife Area and potential work at Carroll Prairie. The county will receive contracted services from partners to support design and restoration work; the report described those partner agreements as covering design services. - Prairie Valley Preserve: Contractor work is pending; wetlands work is contingent on the contractor returning to complete final hookups this spring. - Trails plan: A multi‑community public vetting process has concluded and the final trail plan was received; staff anticipates forwarding it to the Conservation Board for approval in March. - Awards and outreach: Volunteer Bob Hartzler received statewide recognition for volunteer service. Former outreach assistant Paige Higbee received an award for interpretive print media. - Debris cleanup and habitat work: Tornado‑related debris cleanup at Jeanette Wildlife Area is largely complete. Pollinator plantings funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are planned for spoil areas at Hickory Grove and McFarland Park. The county installed bat nesting structures on the Tedesco Environmental Learning Corridor Connector Trail with funding from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. - Dakins Lake outlet: Staff reported a partial drawdown of Dakins Lake after a shifting in the outlet structure caused a leak; the leak has been arrested but a final repair will be required in spring. - Bond and other projects: Staff discussed non‑bond design contracts (Hennams Mill dam mitigation, Dakins Lake cabin design) and a cultural review contract for the Deppi Family Wildlife Area farmstead area. Mike Cox reported the Iowa DNR is interested in working on Hickory Grove Beach as a pilot for bacteria‑management engineering and financing assistance.
Integrated Vegetation and Resource Management (IRVM) update (presented by Ty): - Seed harvest and seeding: The program combined 1,133 pounds of prairie seed in the last season. Purity ranged from 13% to 26% across properties; the seed harvest is split with private landowners (landowner share 60%, county 40%). The county estimated the harvested seed value at roughly $11,000 and plans to use it for right‑of‑way and natural area plantings. - Kestrel box program: Funding was secured from Big Blue Stem Audubon Society and Story County Pheasants Forever ($1,000 pledged by each); staff repaired and installed 26 kestrel boxes and have begun adding nesting material. - Operational notes: The IRVM program reported work‑order and equipment maintenance schedules, planned spring burn and scouting, and upcoming contractor quotes for maintenance spraying in specific drainage districts.
Board members thanked staff for the updates; no formal board action was taken on the conservation report during the meeting.
Ending: Staff indicated these items will proceed under existing project timelines and partnerships; several items will return to boards or be brought forward to conservation partners for approval or funding action.
