It never occurred to me until recently reading the results of a study, that what we do and who we are at Jasper County Conservation was not clear to everybody in this community. I was surprised and it made me a bit sad to know that some people think we are the same organization as the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and perhaps we haven’t worked hard enough to reach absolutely everybody in the county. Maybe that is impossible, but just maybe we have reached you and you didn’t even know it was us.
I grew up in a conservation family, as my dad was an Iowa DNR law enforcement officer for, well, as long as he has been my dad. I have always known that my dad was a state employee, and that the IDNR is a state agency, funded by our state government.
On the other hand, field trips throughout my school years to our county parks with the Jasper County Conservation Naturalist top my “best ever” memories of growing up. Jasper County Conservation is funded by our local government, and it is your tax dollars that keep county parks such as Mariposa, Jacob Krumm, Ashton and the Chichaqua Valley Trail open and maintained. It is also your tax dollars that help employ the naturalists that visit your children and grandchildren’s schools, teaching them about the great outdoors and taking them on field trips. I feel like the jobs and responsibilities we all have at the Jasper County Conservation office are of paramount importance.
Here are some County Conservation facts:
• In 1955, the Iowa Legislature passed a law permitting counties to establish County Conservation Boards
• The Jasper County Conservation Board was authorized in 1962, with the purpose being to acquire and develop county parks, preserves, forests, wildlife and other conservation areas.
• Five board members are appointed to five-year terms by the Board of Supervisors. Current board members are Carol Kramer, Robyn Friedman, Andy Stone, Calvin Winn and Chris Herbold.
• County Conservation programs are supported by a tax levy in an amount determined by the Board of Supervisors.
• The Jasper County Conservation Board manages more than 3,000 acres of Jasper County land dedicated to public use and enjoyment. This includes parks and recreation areas, campgrounds, wildlife preserves, lakes, bike trails and hunting areas.
• Jasper County Naturalists (well known to your kids as Katie Cantu and Greg Oldsen) meet with more than 15,000 people each year during educational programs.
• We also have two law enforcement park officers (Jerry Ratliff and Dennis Cooling), two maintenance technicians (Kent Dunsbergen and Robbie Graham), and an office manager/educator/mother to us all (Janet Rinehart). We work together as a team to make your experience with the outdoors the very best it can be.
• We cannot sell you hunting and fishing licenses. However, we will be happy to assist you with obtaining the proper forms to be sent to the DNR.
And some DNR facts:
• The DNR manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks. Rock Creek is a state park in Jasper County that is managed by the DNR.
• The DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land and water through technical assistance, permitting and compliance programs. We have a DNR law enforcement officer in Jasper County, Deb Howe, who can be reached at 641- 521-2003.
• The DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education.
So you see, the people of Jasper County actually each play a personal part in our local park system and our children's environmental education. Jasper County Conservation partners with the Iowa DNR in many ways, but our county system is so special because it is our very own to build and grow. To contact Jasper County Conservation, call 641-792-9780 or check us out online at www.jaspercountyconservation.com
• Contact Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante
at KVanZante@co.jasper.ia.us