To view the online current 242-page edition of the County Conservation Guidebook to Outdoor Adventure
In 1955, the 56th General Assembly passed the "County Conservation Law" - Chapter 350 of the Code of Iowa (then Chapter 111A). This law created a conservation-outdoor recreation program that was unique at the time, and required the voters of each individual county in Iowa to establish their local county conservation board. In 1956, the first 16 boards were approved, and in 1989 - Allamakee County was added as the state's 99th county conservation board. Today, county conservation boards own and/or manage nearly 200,000 acres of parks, natural areas, preserves and trails in over 1,850 areas across Iowa! The County Conservation Board system has filled a gap that once existed between community-managed public recreation areas and the state's outdoor recreation facilities.
The Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards (IACCB) is a nonprofit organization [501(c)6] assisting member county conservation board in areas of board member education, public relations, and legislation. Since forming in 1959, the Association's main purposes are to promote the objectives and supplement the activities of conservation boards, promote networking and the exchange of information, assist board and members in program development and facilitate a unified voice to the Iowa legislature. The IACCB is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors elected by member counties, the County Conservation Directors Association (CCDA), and the Iowa Association of County Conservation Board Employees (IACCBE). (See PDF file below)
The Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards (IACCB) is a nonprofit organization [501(c)6] assisting member county conservation board in areas of board member education, public relations, and legislation. Since forming in 1959, the Association's main purposes are to promote the objectives and supplement the activities of conservation boards, promote networking and the exchange of information, assist board and members in program development and facilitate a unified voice to the Iowa legislature. The IACCB is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors elected by member counties, the County Conservation Directors Association (CCDA), and the Iowa Association of County Conservation Board Employees (IACCBE). (See PDF file below)
PURPOSE:The purpose of the county conservation board is "to acquire, develop, maintain and make available to the inhabitants of the county public museums, parks, preserves, parkways, playground, recreational centers, county forests, wildlife and other conservation areas, and to promote and preserve the health and general welfare of the people, to encourage the orderly development and conservation the natural resources and cultivate good citizenship by providing adequate programs of public recreation." County Conservation Boards are also the leaders in local outdoor and natural resource conservation education, and in many counties administer/assist with the county's roadside vegetation management programs.
Obviously, the purpose established for county conservation boards is extremely broad. This allows each county to establish a program that meets the needs of their citizens. Subsection 350.4(1) also assigns the responsibility to the conservation board "to study an ascertain the county's....needs for such facilities, the extent to which such needs are currently met, and to prepare......a coordinated plan of areas and facilities to meet such needs." This planning requirement is extremely important in that it sets long-range director for the board and prevents uncoordinated development.
Obviously, the purpose established for county conservation boards is extremely broad. This allows each county to establish a program that meets the needs of their citizens. Subsection 350.4(1) also assigns the responsibility to the conservation board "to study an ascertain the county's....needs for such facilities, the extent to which such needs are currently met, and to prepare......a coordinated plan of areas and facilities to meet such needs." This planning requirement is extremely important in that it sets long-range director for the board and prevents uncoordinated development.
MORE HISTORICAL INFORMATION / LEGISLATIVE INFO.
| MAY 2021 ISAC COUNTY MAGAZINE - EXPLORING COUNTY CONSERVATION |
| WHY COUNTY CONSERVATION MATTERS - 2021 |
| 2017 ISAC IOWA COUNTY MAGAZINE - COUNTY CONSERVATION |