Conservation director: Deep Lakes campground nearly complete; online reservations generated nearly $40,000 since April

Katie Hammond, Conservation Director for Muscatine County, told the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 13 that the county's Deep Lakes Campground is nearly finished and staff are preparing to bring the new facility online.

Hammond said Deep Lakes will offer 22 full-hookup sites (20/30/50 amp), water and sewer, a family-style shower house with four restrooms, paved driveways and concrete pads, and a connection to the county bike trail. She said pedestals are installed and electrical work and water testing remain before an initial operational period can be scheduled.

Hammond also reviewed changes to the Conservation Board’s reservation system. The county started online reservations at mycountyparks.com in April. From April through the most recent week, Hammond reported the system processed 382 facility reservations and secured nearly $40,000 in revenue across cabins, camping and facility rentals. She said cabin reservation revenue through the online system exceeded prior methods ($20,000+ online vs. $5,340 via old payment methods for cabins in the period reported; camping revenue reported as $14,721 via online vs. roughly $7,500 via other payment types for the same period).

Hammond highlighted other 2025 accomplishments: completion of pre-cast restroom installation, improvements funded by a Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust grant that updated aquatic life-support systems and reptile enclosures, progress rebuilding a raptor mew, and successful events that included the first Muscatine Triathlon at Deep Lakes Park. She said the Environmental Learning Center recorded 864 programs with 18,035 attendees in the fiscal year reported, and noted partnerships with volunteer Eagle Scout projects and Great River Road affiliations that bring visitors to county sites.

Board members asked about camping demand and flood exposure; Hammond said Deep Lakes should not flood, making it an asset during high-water years when riverfront campgrounds are closed. She also said some Deep Lakes sites already have people interested in serving as campground host.

Hammond closed by noting the county maintains about 1,760 acres across 11 parks, with eight full-time staff, two permanent part-time staff, and seasonal interns and volunteers supporting maintenance, natural resource management, education and recreation services.