Pottawattamie County Conservation Conservator: April 2019

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Flood Damage at Narrows River Park &

Botna Bend Park

Flooding along the Missouri River caused the complete inundation of Narrows River Park with flood waters overtaking the Overlook Shelter, parking areas & even the restrooms & park storage. With river levels predicted to remain high in the coming weeks due to melting snowpack from the north, the park will not be opening until early May to allow time for river levels to lower and for our staff to make the needed repairs to ensure visitor safety. We will be organizing a volunteer work day to help with park cleanup in April. Watch our Facebook page for an announcement coming soon.

Click Here to Follow Narrows River Park on Facebook

Flooding along the West Nishnabotna River took its toll on Botna Bend Park in Hancock. Park staff acted quickly prior to flooding in the park & moved our resident bison and elk herds to higher ground within their pens for their safety. However, the fast moving floodwaters knocked down sections of the fences containing the herds allowing the animals to leave park boundaries. Staff moved in quickly to locate the animals and while they are all accounted for we are still working on relocating them all back to the park. Unfortunately, two bison are known to be deceased. All penned animals are safe and healthy, and are currently being held in temporary pens until permanent fencing in the park can be repaired. Damage to park structures and roadways was also sustained & staff have begun recovery efforts. The park will remain closed until repairs can be completed & we will announce a re-opening date very soon. To volunteer to assist with park repairs please contact Ranger Jon Fenner at 712-741-0471 or at jon.fenner@pottcounty-ia.gov.

Click Here to Follow Botna Bend Park on Facebook

Become a Nature MVP During Our Earth Day Championship

Join us at Hitchcock Nature Center on Saturday, April 20th at 9:00 a.m. for a unique volunteer project. This fun, all ages event combines learning, volunteering, & competition all in one terrific package.

Participants will enjoy a brief overview of some of the not so obvious ways human beings impact the natural world around us & learn some valuable skills to help reduce our footprint. From reducing noise pollution to limiting the spread of invasive species we have a wealth of information to share with you.

Following this short introduction our participants will divide into teams and hit the trails for a morning of volunteer work as we become the Hitchcock Nature Center Litter Patrol! Teams will spread out along the trails to search out & remove litter. Returning teams will have their litter collection weighed & that weight divided by the number of team members. The three teams with the most litter per team member will win some amazing prizes.

There is no fee to attend this program & participants do not need to pay the per vehicle entry fee or have a membership to participate. We appreciate your time as volunteers & thank you for your service to the park! This event is also open to participants of all ages but it should be noted that it will involve some pedestrian travel over uneven surfaces and trails here at the park. Strollers are not recommended.

We do ask that participants pre-register to help us plan & prepare materials. Participants may register as a team but if you are an individual looking for a morning of fun, register solo and join a team when you arrive. This event is the perfect way to give back to the park & make some new friends in the process.

Click Here to Register Online Today

Any questions? Please call 712-545-3283. We can't wait to see you April 20th!

A Pottawattamie County Almanac: A Mighty Bur Oak - April 13th at Hitchcock Nature Center

Join us on April 13th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Hitchcock Nature Center as we examine not only the biology of the Iowa state tree, the Bur Oak, but also its beauty and artistry as well as its importance in literature. We will also be heading outdoors for a wildflower hunt & some nature journaling as well as a discussion of "Bur Oak" by Aldo Leopold.

Register for the April session online for just $15.00 per person or register for all 9 remaining sessions at a discounted rate of $75.00.

Click Here for Details & to Register Online

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month!

Pottawattamie County Conservation is an organization with many moving parts serving thousands of guests each year. The important work we do at your county parks would not happen without the tireless dedication of our volunteers. These folks donate their time & their energy to support our staff & assist our guests in a myriad of ways, from office help to park maintenance they do it all. We would like to take a moment to recognize the volunteers who logged hours of service in 2018. We couldn't do it without you.

Cheryl Bain

Tim Bain

Elliott Bedows

Lance Brisbois

Jade Chambers

Ann Cole

Pat Dingman

Robert Fuchs

Pam Glassmeyer

Suzanne Gucciardo

Scott Guttau

Joni Hendricks

Jim Hendricks

Heidi Hermanson

Jenny Janes

Sarah Johnson

Clem Klaphake

Deborah Kraft

Diane McKee

Tess Moss

Wes Moss

Ronda Nelson

Westy Nelson

Connie Osler

Babs Padleford

Loren Padleford

Tim Pagett

Don Paseka

Janis Paseka

Pat Prine

Luanne Pribyl

Kathleen Pyper

Sandy Reinken

Leigh Rosengren

Janice Salz

Dorothy Shamblen

Billie Shelton

Patricia Slatin

Dorie Stone

Heidi Swanson

Jerry Toll

Jeanne Trachta

Bob Wells

Brian Wetzle

Linda Wetzle

Ralph Wright

Aiden Young

We are always looking for volunteers at each of our parks. Download & submit your application to join this amazing team of park supporters today.

Click Here for More Information

Hitchcock Oak Inventory Project Training

The sprawling mighty oak tree remains a symbol of the American Midwest but a new, swift, and little understood disease has recently emerged in our area with the potential to eliminate these iconic trees from our landscape. Join us at Hitchcock Nature Center to be a part of a new volunteer project aimed at understanding and alleviating the effects of this new threat.

We will be hosting a series of three training sessions aimed at training those interested in joining this unique volunteer program. Each training will be held at Hitchcock Nature Center from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the following dates.

Training Session 1 - Saturday, April 6th

Training Session 2 - Saturday, June 22nd

Training Session 3 - Saturday, September 21st

Training sessions will cover a variety of topics & include field training sessions to help volunteers practice their skills & become independent project volunteers. Topics covered will include the project & field data collection app, oak ecology, & oak fire wounds. Pre-registration is requested for these free events as space is limited.

Click Here for More Information & to Register this Volunteer Opportunity

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Join the Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol

The Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol (LHNSP) is looking for volunteers who want to serve, gain skills, and find camaraderie with a fun, energetic crowd of outdoor enthusiasts.

LHNSP is part of the Rocky Mountain Division of the National Ski Patrol and supports Hitchcock Nature Center and its mission providing courtesy patrols, first aid services, emergency evacuation, and event support year-round. Most of these services are provided in the spring and fall and during select special events.

To be a member of the patrol, you do not need to be a cross-country skier as training will be provided along with training opportunities for emergency medicine, outdoor survival skills, search and rescue, and others.

There are various levels of membership, but every volunteer member must complete Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) class and maintain a current Basic Life Support or CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification.

For more information on how to join the Loess Hills Nordic Ski Patrol, email Loesshillsnsp@gmail.com. Be sure to check them out on Facebook.

Upcoming Programs

Bird Banding Demonstration

9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, April 6