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Departments | Conservation | News
DATE: AUGUST 25, 2010
TOPIC: 2010-2011 ARCHERY HUNTING LOTTERY AT LIME CREEK CONSERVATION AREA
FROM: TODD HANSEN, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER-PARKS
Effective for the 2010-2011 Archery Deer Hunting Season, the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board will conduct a lottery for the 35 annual archery permits at the Lime Creek Conservation Area. Effective Monday, August 30, 2010 at 8:00 am lottery registration forms will be available. Registration forms will be limited to one entry per individual and all registrations must be completed in full prior to being eligible for the lottery. Lottery registrations may be picked up and dropped off at the conservation office or the outdoor registration box at the LCNC. Registration forms will be accepted until September 10, 2010 at 4:00 pm. The archery deer hunting lottery will be held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 8:00 am. The 35 successful lottery applicants will receive a permit and window tag that must be present while hunting at LCCA (non-transferrable). All Iowa DNR deer hunting rules and regulations will apply. Hunters will be required to return a post season survey and will be prohibited to hunt the following year if the survey is not returned. If you have any questions please contact the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board office at (641) 423-5309.
DATE: MAY 25, 2010
TOPIC: WEED AND BRUSH SPRAYING
FROM: JOSH BRANDT, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER-ROW/WEED COMMISSIONER
The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board ROW Vegetation Management staff will soon begin noxious weed and brush spraying in the right-of-way adjacent to county roads as outlined in Cerro Gordo County's Noxious Weed and Brush Control policies. Spot herbicide applications to species identified on the State of Iowa's noxious weed list will begin in late May and persist through the summer as sites of infestation are identified. Foliar herbicide applications to small trees and brush within the right-of-way will begin in late July and continue through early Fall. Any questions or concerns regarding roadside spraying of noxious weeds or brush may be directed to the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board at 641-423-5309.
DATE: MAY 7, 2010
TOPIC: SPRING UPDATES
FROM: TODD HANSEN, PARK MANAGER
- Effective immediately, the Shellrock River Greenbelt extending from 295th Street to county road B30 is officially open for the season
- Effective immediately, the Cerro Gordo County Campgrounds are all open
- Effective immediately, the gate at Mallard Marsh has been opened to the public
- Effective immediately, the access is open and the dock is in at Bluebill Wildlife Area
- Effective immediately, the Trolley Trail between Mason City and Clear Lake has been swept and is open for the season
- Effective immediately, all designated trails at Lime Creek Conservation Area are open to foot, horse and bicycle traffic.
If you have any questions or need additional information regarding any of the above items, please contact the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board office at (641)423-5309.
DATE: MAY 7, 2010
TOPIC: LRTF GRANTS AWARDED
FROM: JOSH BRANDT, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER-ROW VEGETATION
The Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board has recently acquired approximately 400 pounds of native grass and wildflower seed to be used to restore native prairie within the roadsides of Cerro Gordo County. Our Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) program submitted a Living Roadway Trust Fund (LRTF) grant proposal seeking funding through the Transportation Enhancement Program administered by the Iowa DOT, and was awarded funding to facilitate the purchase of enough seed to restore 20 acres of roadside to native vegetation.
In addition to the native seed acquision, the CGCCB also applied for and received $10,000 in grant monies to partially fund a 36' by 40' expansion of the equipment storage shed located at Lime Creek Conservation Area.
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.
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.
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.
HUNTING & FISHING INFORMATION
A complete list of hunting and fishing regulations can be found at: www.iowadnr.com
Cerro Gordo County Conservation Office
Mason City, IA 50401
Phone:(641)423-5309
Fax:(641)423-1566