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Departments | Conservation | News

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DATE:    AS OF FEBRUARY 16, 2010

TOPIC:  LCCA CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS

 

The Lime Creek Conservation Area woodland-diagonal stride cross country ski trails have been groomed and tracks have been set.  Additional grooming will occur after significant snowfall.  The skate ski trails are being groomed after snow events, and maintenance grooming is being done as needed.  In addition, the trail around Quarry Lake is packed for hikers, dog walkers and snowshoe enthusiasts.  For more information contact the Conservation Board Office at 641-423-5309 and ask for Fred Heinz/Director.

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DATE:    FEBRUARY 1, 2010

TOPIC:  SUMMER INTERN POSITIONS

 

The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board is now accepting applications for the following Summer 2010 intern positions:

 

• Park Attendant
• Park Management
• ROW Vegetation Management
• Wildlife/Parks Management

 

Employment period is approximately May to October.

 

Application Deadline is Friday, February 19, 2010.  To request an application and job description, please stop by the Cerro Gordo County Conservation office or call Mary Ermer at 641-423-5309.

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DATE:   JANUARY 21, 2010
TOPIC: ANNUAL ELECTION OF CONSERVATION BOARD OFFICERS

FROM:  MARY ERMER, OFFICE MANGER

 

The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board met on Tuesday, January 19th for their regular monthly meeting.  Election of officers for the 2010 year was held with the following individuals being voted to the respective positions:  Dr. Ron Masters of Mason City “Chair”, Mr. Steve Karabatsos of Rockwell "Vice-Chair", Mr. Dave Kaiser of Mason City “Secretary/Treasurer”.  Other members of the conservation board include Mr. Jim Roseland of Thornton and Mr. Gene Hinrichs of Ventura.  Board members are appointed by the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors for staggered terms of five years as specified by the Code of Iowa.

 

The Board members are responsible for policy setting and overall management of the programs administered by the County Conservation Department.  The public meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Lime Creek Nature Center, located north of Mason City.  For more information about the board, contact Fred Heinz/Director @ 641-423-5309.

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DATE:   NOVEMBER 26, 2007

TOPIC: LIME CREEK ANNOUNCES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROJECT

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO:

   FRED HEINZ-DIRECTOR

   TODD VON EHWEGEN-NATURALIST

 

The Lime Creek Nature Center is harnessing the natural power of wind and sunlight with an exciting new project.

 

A 35-foot, 2500 watt wind turbine and eight 130-watt solar panels have been installed to create a "hybrid" alternative energy system that will provide power to the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board shop.  The solar panels and wind turbine are located in the picnic area and restored prairie just north of the nature center parking lot.

 

A computer touch screen display in the Lime Creek Nature Center will monitor the system's wind and solar energy output and weather conditions.  This interactive display will provide nature center visitors with a "hands-on" educational experience on the alternative energy system.

 

The power generated by this system will be stored in eight 6-volt batteries in the conservation board shop.  Two 3600 watt DC/AC inverters will convert stored power from the batteries into usable electricity for the shop.

 

The goal is for the solar panels and turbine to provide 100% power for the shop, but the system will automatically revert to standard electricity if necessary.  The system also has the capability to run off of the batteries if the utility grid goes down.

 

The total cost for this project was $87,965.  Half of it was funded by the conservation board's Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) account, and the other half by the Lime Creek Nature Center Foundation's Dorothy Curtis Trust account.

 

The solar panels are currently fully operational and to date they have provided 100% of the power for the conservation board shop.  The wind turbine is awaiting some minor work to complete its installation.  The interactive computer monitoring system should be completed by spring to finalize the project.

 

The Lime Creek Nature Center's alternative energy system will provide a demonstrational facility for renewable energy; specifically a hybrid (solar/wind) system to show integration into existing buildings.  Not only will this system be extremely cost-effective, it will also reduce carbon emissions and support a healthier natural environment in accord with the nature center's educational mission.

 

For more information on this project, contact the Lime Creek Nature Center at 641-423-5309.

 

 

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DATE:   JULY 3, 2007

TOPIC: NEW RULES & REGULATIONS

FROM:  TODD HANSEN, PARK MANAGER

 

Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board has adopted two new rules and regulations effective 7/15/07.

1.  "Motorized vehicles in campgrounds restricted to licensed units, except golf carts being used to travel to and from golf course."

2.  "The use of rifles and handguns is prohibited at the Lime Creek Conservation Area public hunting zone surrounding Quarry Lake."

For more information contact the Cerro Gordo County Conservation office at (641) 423-5309.

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HUNTING & FISHING INFORMATION

 

A complete list of hunting and fishing regulations can be found at: www.iowadnr.com

Cerro Gordo County Conservation Office