CLAYTON COUNTY CONSERVATION Promote the health and general welfare of the people; encourage preservation, conservation, education and recreation through responsible use and appreciation of our natural resources and cultural heritage. 2017 Annual Report Topic Summary 2 Staffing 3 Visitor Numbers 4 Camping Numbers 5 Public Programs 6 Volunteer Hours 7 Grant Summary 8 Law Enforcement 9 Parks & Amenities 10 Board Minutes 11 Welcome Center Visitor Maps Page 12-14 Camping Visitor Maps 15-20 Director Jenna K. Pollock (2015) Board Members Gary Kregel, Guttenberg - CHAIR (2015) Daryl Landsgard, St. Olaf - VICE CHAIR (2016) Larry Stone, Elkader - SECRETARY (1999) Marilyn Lenth, Postville (2016) Pamela Vaske, Strawberry Point (2017)
Summary The Osborne Conservation Center has welcomed over 6,187 visitors from 58 Iowa counties, 39 states and 9 countries in calendar year 2017. In addition the Environmental Education Program has presented over 754 presentations to 13,518 participants (81% youth). The success of this program would not be possible without the assistance of our volunteers. 118 volunteers have contributed 1,059 hours and 20 minutes this year to the Environment Education Program. Clayton County Conservation welcomed over 1,652 camping parties in 2017, spending 1080, nights at the campgrounds. This provided $10,562.11 back into the budget for maintenance and development needs. The Conservation Board manages 1,463 acres, and including six campgrounds and eighteen areas managed for wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. These areas consist of highly erodible river-bottom ground, reclaimed native prairies, and upland mixed-age forests. Over $80,876.03 of grant money has been secured in 2017 alone to assist with Conservation projects and programs, not including FEMA or HMSED dollars received from Natural Disaster Events. In addition, we ve received $16,099.11 in donations, not including dollars directed to our Osborne Partners for Environmental Education Endowment Fund. Partnerships are the driving force of this organization! In 2017, the Conservation Board turned their attention to updating the Five-Year Plan, and incorporated feedback from surveys that identified public awareness and park updates as needs. The Conservation Board was able to undertake a new maintenance shop construction with the financial aid and partnership of the Clayton County Board of Supervisors. In the year ahead, the Conservation Board will continue to assess park management needs and set goals to development plans for each unique area. Page 2
Staffing STAFF MEMBERS-Permanent Full-Time JENNA POLLOCK Director MARTY MULFORD Operations Supervisor HARRY LUSTER Office/Welcome Center Manager (retired March) MOLLY SCHERF-- Office Manager (began May) TAMMIE KRAUS Director of Sales/Office Assistant TUCKER ANDERSON- Park Ranger/Special Projects KENNY SLOCUM- Naturalist ABBEY HARKRADER- Naturalist STAFF MEMBERS Permanent Part-Time DERON HAKERT Maintenance Technician (began January) NON-STAFF MEMBERS - Voluntary Routine Service PAUL & CATHY MARCOTTE Exhibit Security PAM & MARK REINIG Exhibit Security SEASONAL EMPLOYEES SUMMER MAINTENANCE 5 Individuals SUMMER NATURALISTS 2 Individuals MOTOR MILL INTERN 1 Individual VOLUNTEERS Volunteers help the Clayton County Conservation Board and Staff accomplish many achievements. (Statistics shared on page 7 of this report. ) Page 3
Visitor Numbers It is difficult to obtain the exact number of visitors to our areas because of the layout of the parks. Numbers are obtained through signatures of visitors who sign the voluntary Iowa Visitor Registration Book in the Iowa Welcome Center and Motor Mill Guest Book. The purpose and main focus of the numbers is to show trends from year to year. Welcome Center totals for 2017 1,586 Groups of People (down 9.16% from last year) 6,187 individuals (up 11.01% from last year) 3.89 average size of each group party size Iowa Visitor Registration for 2017 2013: 7,008 2014: 7,035 2015: 7,369 2016: 5,619 2017: 6,187 -Representing 58 Iowa counties, 39 States and 9 Countries (See Pages 12-14 for Maps) Motor Mill Visitor Registration for 2017 Traffic Counter Statistics 2013: 1492 2014: 1246 2015: 1439 2016: 1054 16, 130 (April 1-Dec. 2) 2017: 1235 16, 250 (April 4-Oct. 31) Website Unique Visitor Numbers CCCB MMF 2013 42,845 5,011 2014 44,214 3,400 2015 63,007 8,843 2016 90,132 8,678 2017 114,679 10,278 Page 4
Camping Numbers Bloody Run Park Motor Mill Park Joy Springs Park Buck Creek Park Frieden s Park Totals # of Users # of Nights Fees 2013 963 659 $ 6,646.00 2014 1146 779 $ 7,746.64 2015 906 679 $ 6,761.50 2016 945 693 $ 7,046.00 2017 1049 730 $ 7,477.16 2013 222 112 $ 1,150.00 2014 188 106 $ 1,059.75 2015 292 176 $ 1,780.00 2016 228 140 $ 1,520.00 2017 307 139 $ 1,570.00 2013 60 29 $ 347.00 2014 71 41 $ 500.00 2015 86 46 $ 480.00 2016 142 79 $ 787.00 2017 148 59 $ 770.00 2013 61 91 $ 480.00 2014 71 90 $ 624.00 2015 38 26 $ 130.00 2016 107 113 $ 585.00 2017 70 69 $ 299.95 2013 113 62 $ 515.00 2014 66 34 $ 250.00 2015 55 59 $ 295.00 2016 79 82 $ 395.00 2017 78 83 $ 445.00 2013 1419 953 $ 9,138.00 2014 1561 1031 $ 10,190.39 2015 1431 986 $ 9,446.50 2016 1504 1107 $ 10,333.00 2017 1652 1080 $ 10,562.11 Page 5
Public Programs Environmental Education Programs presented by the Clayton County Naturalists and Osborne Staff are tracked by the format shown below (Table). For the purpose of the Annual Report, totals have been calculated for each category pertinent to this report. There are several specialty programs held at Clayton County Conservation Parks/Areas that may or may not be led by our Naturalists and Staff but are listed below the table to show their impact on the Clayton County Community. Program Year Program Demographics Participants Events Type/Title Presentations School/Town Grade Youth Adults Group Hours 2015 438 734 8,359 1,678 588.75 2016 392 702 10,439 2,500 459.5 2017 421 754 10,910 2,608 632.75 Heritage Days 2017 700 Participants Estimated (Rainy weekend) Hunter Education Class-June Hunter Education Class- August Deer Hunter Registration Turkey Hunter Registration 25 Students, 15 Instructors 33 Students, 13 Instructors 11 Hunters Registered 2 Hunters Registered Page 6
Volunteer Hours Volunteers assist the Clayton County Conservation Board and Staff by volunteering their time to help present Environmental Education programs, guide at Motor Mill, clean-up projects, Hunter Education Classes, Fishing Clinics, Heritage Days, Iowa Room Staffing, Bluebird House building, Fishing Pole maintenance, and many more projects. Without our dedicated volunteers we would not be able to enjoy the successes achieved in 2017. Total Volunteer Hours Volunteers Program Year # of Volunteers Volunteer Hours 2015 815 2536 2016 217 3130 2017 118 1,059.33 Public Program Volunteers Volunteers Program Year # of Volunteers Volunteer Hours 2015 309 1060 2016 98 (Not including Heritage Days) 931.3 2017 83 259.33 Motor Mill Volunteers Volunteers Program Year # of Volunteers Volunteer Hours 2015 58 1476 2016 44 1419 2017 35 800 Page 7
Grant Summary Grant Monies Received or Awarded 2017 Grant Item Amount Received FY Silos & Smokestacks Motor Mill Exhibits $10,000.00 9/2016 (5,000) 17 Iowa Tourism Motor Mill Brochur. $1,057.00 9/2016 17 Silos and Smokestacks Mini Grant $500.00 Paint IA Beautiful Welcome Center $246.80 1/2017 17 Keep American Beautiful Bin Grant Equip.est. 1/2017 17 $8,000.00 Iowa DNR Water Access TRP Access/Bank Proj. est. 2017 18 $25,790.60 WRAC Boat Access MM $13,710.00 12/2016 18 CCFF MM Quern $500.00 2017 18 CCFF MM Cameras $533.87 2017 18 Native Plant Society Young Conservationist $560.00 2017 18 Program UMGC NC Exhibit Updates $17,116.76 October 2017 18 Silos & Smokestacks MM Intern $2,861.00 August 2017 18 TOTAL $80,876.03 Page 8
Law Enforcement Routine Patrol of County Parks Register campers Public Relations Environmental and Laws Education Checked 54 Fishing Licenses Checked 131 Hunting Licenses Investigated incidents in parks Patrol for hunting/fishing violations Call types and number of incidents: Traffic Stops 9 Suspicious Activity 11 Vehicle Accident 4 Animal Call 6 Medical 1 Criminal Mischief 3 Suicidal Subject 2 Storm Damage 6 Navigation Checks 22 Hunting Violations 13 ATV Violations 11 Narcotics 2 Trespass 9 Noise Complaints 5 Assist other agencies Agency Number of assists Mar-Mac 1 Clayton County 10 Iowa DNR 5 USFWS 1 Strawberry Point 6 TOTAL 23 *Assisted State Conservation Officers during the regular shotgun deer seasons. Page 9
Camping Hunting Canoe Trails Fishing Picnic Playgroun Restroom Shelter Bridge Parks & Amenities Name Acres Address Becker Property (East) 200 37160 Great River Road, Guttenberg, IA x x x Becker Property (West) 173 36061 Millville Road, Guttenberg, IA x x Bloody Run 135 128th Street, Marquette, IA 29857 x x x x x x x Buck Creek 103 232nd Street, Garnavillo, IA 30286 x x x x x Chicken Ridge 1 19681 Chicken Ridge Road, Elkader, IA 52043 x **(EWP/Elkader) 24 **(Eno Property) 69 16775 Dove Ave. Luana, IA Frenchtown 11 26254 Mississippi Road, Guttenberg, IA x x x x x Frieden's Park 8 16723 Chariot Road, Elkader, IA 52043 x x x x x Joy Springs 90 37771 Alpha Ave. Strawberry Point, IA x x x x x x Kleve Fen 29 Aspen Ave. Postville, IA Motor Mill 155 23002 Grain Rd. Elkader, IA 52043 x x x x x x x Motor Mill South Side x x Osborne Archery Range 29378 HWY 13 Elkader, IA 52043 x x x Osborne Canoe Access 29576 Hwy 13, Elkader, IA 52043 x x Osborne Hunter Ed Course 29498 HWY 13, Elkader, IA 52043 x Osborne Pond 29458 Hwy 13, Elkader, IA 52043 x x x x x 2 x Osborne Quarry 29578 HWY 13, Elkader, IA 52043 Osborne Conservation Center 300 29862 Osborne Rd, Elkader, IA 52043 x x x x 4 x Osterdock Access 3559, Osterdock, IA x x x Pleasant Ridge Wildlife Area 88 40062 C9Y Holy Cross, IA x Pony Hollow Trail 4 26184 Hwy 13, Elkader, IA 52043 x x x Retz Memorial Preserve 49 Stone Pines 2 Strawberry Point Turkey River Park 20195 Strawberry Point Rd., Elkader, IA 52043 x x x x x Volga Pines 22 28807 Buchanan Street, Volga, IA 52077 x TOTAL 1463 Managed by Clayton County Conservation Board Page 10
Board Minutes The Clayton County Conservation Board meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm at the Osborne Conservation Center. At times there are special meetings called, and those meetings are advertised one week in advance on our website and through various media sources in print and electronically. The Board Minutes are posted on the County Conservation website, www.claytoncountyconservation.org, and are available in print at the Clayton County Conservation Offices at the Osborne Conservation Center. Minutes are published once they have been approved by the County Conservation Board at the following meeting. It was decided at the January 2016 Board Meeting that the Summary of Board Minutes would no longer be included in the Annual Report. A full listing of the Board Minutes are available at the Osborne Conservation Center, Clayton County Conservation Office Building. Six months worth of Minutes are posted on the Conservation Website. Page 11
Visitors by County Page 12
Visitors by State Page 13
Visitors by Country Page 14
Camping Numbers Map Total Number of Nights Page 15
Camping Numbers Map Number of Nights at Bloody Run Page 16
Camping Numbers Map Number of Nights at Motor Mill Page 17
Camping Numbers Map Number of Nights at Joy Springs Page 18
Camping Numbers Map Number of Nights at Buck Creek Page 19
Camping Numbers Map Number of Nights at Frieden s Page 20
Clayton County Conservation Board 29862 Osborne Road Elkader, IA 52043 Phone: 563.245.1516 Fax: 563.245.2222 E-mail: cccb@claytoncountyia.gov Mission: to promote the health and general welfare of the people; and to encourage preservation, conservation, education and recreation through responsible use and appreciation of our natural resources and cultural heritage.