County Conservation clears vegetation at Lake Iowa

MARENGO — Visitors using Lake Iowa campgrounds can see the lake again.

The Iowa County Conservation Department has cleared about 36 ½ acres, Iowa County Conservation Director Jacob Slings told the Iowa County Board of Supervisors during a meeting this month.

Most of the cleanup has been near camping spots. “You can now see the lake, which is a big draw,” said Slings.

County Conservation will clear more when the campgrounds clear out, said Slings. He plans to keep working on the vista. There are a lot of birch, cherry and oak trees there, he said.

There was an inundation of vegetation around Lake Iowa, and residents have told Slings how the area looked in its glory days when it was well manicured, he said.

“It took a long time to get like that,” said Iowa County Supervisor Jon Degen. Cleaning it up will take time as well.

Scouts had been showing up at conservation board meetings asking to clear the vegetation at the lake, said Slings.

County Conservation cleaned up about 5 ½ acres near the scout camp. The lake is now visible from the camp.

Slings showed photos of the area before and after clearing. Slings said the vegetation used to grow right up against a vehicle on the road at the north end of the lake just past the equestrian trail.

Clearing starts with bushwhacking, said Slings. Stage two is fire. Stage three is mowing the area to keep it from getting overgrown again.

“You’ve just got to keep hitting it,” said Slings, so weeds like wild parsnip don’t pop up.

Since clearing the area, wild asparagus has begun growing there, said Slings.

County conservation sprays areas of thicker invasive species to keep them from growing back, Slings said. In about three years he’ll be able to see if the growth comes back as timber or as prairie.

County Supervisors Kevin Heitshusen and Alan Schumacher suggested Slings contact the county secondary roads department to clear some of the bigger trees because that department has bigger equipment.

Conservation works well with secondary roads and with County Engineer Nick Amelon, Slings said. “As we see the need, I’ll approach Nick,” he said.

Slings is making repairs to the amenities at the park as well, he said. He replaced a roof on shelter five and is planning 15-amp upgrades and adding seating areas.

“A lot of people do walk around the park,” said Slings. Benches are often donated by organizations.

In the spring, County Conservation cleared the willows at Gateway Park in Marengo before the children’s fishing tournament. “It looks so much better,” said Schumacher.

The department tested the lake water before the triathlon at Gateway Sept. 14 and cut back the weeds.

“There is a five-year plan in my office which I’ve been looking at,” said Slings. He’s working on a new plan for the next five years.

Slings is also trying to “revamp volunteerism that once was,” he said. He’s looking for community involvement. Anyone who wants to volunteer can visit iowacountyconservation.org.

The website also provides a way to donate, sign-up for a newsletter and a calendar of events at Iowa County Conservation properties.

Campers at Lake Iowa this weekend will be judged for their creepy campsites and costumes in an early Halloween event.

The nature center will be open all day Oct. 5, and Iowa County Conservation hosts a couples forest therapy walk at Lake Iowa Park Oct. 20 from 1-4 p.m.

“The place has a lot of history,” said Slings of Iowa Lake.

Supervisor Abigail Maas suggested a marketing slogan: There’s nothing more Iowa than Lake Iowa in Iowa County, Iowa.