Welcome

Welcome to the Winnebago County Conservation Board, one of 99 county conservation boards in Iowa.

We are located in the rolling hills of north-central Iowa's prairie pothole region.

Our purpose is to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for everyone and to protect and conserve our natural resources.

Scroll down for the latest news and browse through our web site often to see what we have to offer! And, be sure to contact us if you have any comments or questions!

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Read the Summer, 2022, edition of our newsletter,
"The Prairie Country Quarterly," here.

(Our newsletter has gone all digital! Let us know if you'd like
an email when it is published here on our web site.)

Check out our Thorpe Park web cam here!

Construction to begin soon on our new Environmental Education Center!

Last year, due to Covid cost increases, the bids for our new nature center came in 40% higher than what we had anticipated. But, we continued to fundraise and also changed a few aspects of the building plan. Then, on June 14th, we reviewed a new set of bids. After reviewing the bids, the WCCB approved Kingland Construction Services' bid of $2.297 million and, on July 11th, the Board signed a contract to begin construction! Depending upon supply issues, weather, and schedules, construction will begin either this fall or next spring! The Center is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.

Thanks to all the wonderful support we've received so far, we've raised about 82% of the $2.297 million. So, we continue to need donations to help us finish the project, as well as to furnish the new center and create exhibits! We actually need your help now more than ever to get us to the finish line. You can even donate here on our web site! (You'll see the "Donate" button if you scroll down the page.) We want to thank all the donors who have already contributed so generously to this project and have helped us get this far. We are truly grateful for all the support we have received! We will keep everyone posted as the project moves along!

• The center will contain exhibits and interactive displays to help increase people's awareness and knowledge of their natural resources, as well as how to conserve those resources.
• It will be centrally-located in the county, just south of the north junction of Highways 9 and 69.
• The building will be 40' x 96', or 7,680 square feet over two levels.
• It will be a rustic design, with 28'-high vaulted ceilings.
• The building will meet ADA specifications for accessibility.
• It will include a variety of green design elements, including possibly a solar energy system.
• Rooms will include offices, a large program/meeting room (that will seat 85-100 people), an exhibit area, a workshop/activity area, a staff meeting room, and a kitchenette.

The WCCB recently signed a $2.297 million contract with Kingland Construction Services! We have already raised 82% of that amount, mostly through small and large donations and numerous grants, and the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors have also contributed generously. But, fundraising continues! We still need to raise the remaining 18% to complete the project, as well as raise additional money to purchase furnishings and create exhibits.

The following donor recognition levels have been established...

• Chickadee Level: < $250
• Bluebird Level: $250-$499
• Goldfinch Level: $500-$999
• Cardinal Level: $1,000-$2,499
• Sandhill Crane Level: $2,500-$4,999
• Trumpeter Swan Level: $5,000-$9,999
• Bald Eagle Level: $10,000 and higher.

All donations under $250 will be recognized in "The Prairie Country Quarterly," our quarterly newsletter. Donations above that amount will also be recognized at the center itself. A variety of naming opportunities will also be available for larger donations.

We have completed preliminary dirt work and installed the septic system, with actual construction beginning either later this year or next spring. If all goes as expected, we then hope to be holding our Grand Opening by the end of 2023! We'll keep you posted!