Posted: March 30, 2023

Written by: Winneshiek County Conservation Staff


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This year the Winneshiek County Conservation Board is excited to celebrate its 65th anniversary! The mission of the Winneshiek County Conservation Board (WCCB) is to provide the public with wide-ranging opportunities for quality outdoor recreation while wisely managing our natural resources and encouraging land stewardship through natural history and environmental education programming. WCCB has met Winneshiek County residents’ significant desire and support for access to greenspace and outdoor recreation by connecting people to the outdoors and keeping the outdoors worth connecting to over the past 65 years. WCCB is an effective organization that will continue its legacy of support for natural resources, recreation, tourism, and education in the county for future generations.

A Legacy of Conservation Achievement
The projects and community partnerships fostered by Winneshiek County Conservation during the past 65 years had a clear, positive impact on the economy, quality of natural resource management, outdoor recreation, and environmental education in Winneshiek County. The Winneshiek County park system started in 1958 with plans for two undeveloped areas that would later become Kendallville Campground and Lake Meyer Park. The original WCCB members included Paul Henzler, Dan Meyer, Floyd Pearson, Loren Rue, and Walter Witt. These board members accepted the task to expand natural resource management and environmental education in Winneshiek County, spurred on by legislation from the Code of Iowa – Chapter 350 that created conservation boards in every county in Iowa and authorized them to form conservation areas to benefit the public.
Winneshiek County Conservation now manages over 20 parks, trails, and wildlife areas that are available for public use and enjoyment. WCCB is part of Iowa’s county park system, a system that is nationally recognized for its impacts on tourism and outdoor recreation. Board Chair Bill Ohde shared, “County parks offer an important middle-ground between small municipal parks, undeveloped state wildlife areas, and the scattered state park system. In Winneshiek County, the county park system offers one of the few public lakes in the Driftless Area (Lake Meyer), recreational trails connecting small communities (Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail), and opportunities for camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, and many other recreational activities for people that don’t have an easy alternative or can’t afford other recreational options.”

A Leader in Environmental Education
The Winneshiek County Conservation Board employs one of the top naturalists in the state, Larry Reis, who has won numerous awards for his work and dedication to conserving natural resources in Iowa throughout his lifetime. Over the course of his 40-year career with WCCB, Larry has given an estimated 8,000 programs reaching over 200,000 people (the entire population of Winneshiek County ten times over), ranging in age from preschoolers through the elderly. An avid outdoorsman, Larry specializes in many outdoor skills from hunting and fishing to birdwatching and wildlife photography. Larry has been instrumental in the development of the environmental education program as well as the restoration of Lake Meyer and other Winneshiek County parks to shining examples of diverse ecosystems. Larry says, “It has been very rewarding to work for the Winneshiek County Conservation Board where we’ve been able to protect some of the county’s most valuable natural resources, including prairies, cold-water trout streams, and pristine woodlands. County residents and visitors can now enjoy these natural treasures for all time. We also have a wonderful environmental education program that gives school children and adults many opportunities to learn about and enjoy nature here in Winneshiek County.”
Winneshiek County Conservation Board’s environmental education program started 50 years ago with the construction of the Lake Meyer Nature Center in 1973. Since then, WCCB staff have developed and implemented innovative programming to help children throughout the county learn about fishing, kayaking, biking, cross-country skiing, archery, natural sciences, and more. The Fit Environment program has been picked up by other educators throughout the state and become a model for how to help kids lead healthy lives by teaching them outdoor recreation skills. In recent years, WCCB has even added programming to promote recycling, composting, and waste reduction in the county in partnership with the county’s recycling center and sanitary landfill. WCCB’s staff provides programming through collaboration with local schools, nursing homes, daycares, libraries, and civic organizations. South Winneshiek Schools Superintendent Kris Einck shares, “Winneshiek CCB provides youth programming that is invaluable to our teachers and rural students and their families. They inspire our kids to enjoy active lifestyles and to want to live in Winneshiek County when they grow up.”

Upcoming Events & Opportunities to Get Involved
Winneshiek County Conservation hosts several public events annually including the Lake Meyer Ice Fishing Derby in February, the Stan Shevik Memorial Family Fishing Clinic in June, activities at the Winneshiek County Fair in July, and the Lake Meyer Campground Trunk or Treat in October. In April, WCCB will also be working with community partners to promote and celebrate Earth Day. All year long, WCCB plans to continue their legacy of bringing people to nature with guided hikes, birdhouse building, kayaking, and more. You can celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Winneshiek County Conservation Board by participating or volunteering at any of these events. Find more information at www.winneshiekwild.com/upcoming-events.

More Photos

Celebrating Generations of Quality Conservation in Winneshiek County Gallery Photo
Celebrating Generations of Quality Conservation in Winneshiek County Gallery Photo
Celebrating Generations of Quality Conservation in Winneshiek County Gallery Photo
Celebrating Generations of Quality Conservation in Winneshiek County Gallery Photo
Celebrating Generations of Quality Conservation in Winneshiek County Gallery Photo
Celebrating Generations of Quality Conservation in Winneshiek County Gallery Photo