Announcing the 1st Annual Black Hawk County Conservation photography contest!
The contest is open to amateur photographers only. All photos must be original to the photographer and must be taken between January 1, 2021 and October 15, 2021. All photos MUST be taken in parks and areas managed by Black Hawk County Conservation (BHCC). See https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Black-Hawk/Parks.aspx for a list of qualifying properties. There are four categories: Wild Life, Landscapes, Recreation, and a special category for cell phone photos - On the Go. Printed enlargements of the winning photographs will be displayed in the Interpretive Building at Hartman Reserve, November 1-30, 2021, then released to the entrants. The “Best in Show” photo will be featured on the cover of the new Black Hawk County Parks Guide, to be released in January 2022. Complete rules and how to enter the contest can be found at https://www.hartmanreserve.org/photography-contest.html. 

McFarlane Park Halloween 2021
McFarlane Park Halloween Camping weekend is scheduled for the weekend of October 2nd. The theme for the event this year is, Jumanji. Watch for future Oak articles & Facebook page posts for event details!

Reservations for the Halloween weekend will be handled differently this year than what we have done in the past. Reservations must be made online, at blackhawkcountyparks.com, and only the 19 reservable spots will be available for reservation. All other campsites will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Anyone that wishes to use a camping coupon for reservations must contact the BHCC office at 319-433-7275.  

Hartman Reserve Nature Center
Green Iowa AmeriCorps
The Land & Water Steward branch of Green Iowa AmeriCorps, initiated in October 2017, works to revive Iowa's lost or disappearing ecosystems and water quality throughout the state. Their outreach and education initiatives focus on proper land management practices, ecosystem revitalization, storm-water management, and pesticide reduction to help ensure progress towards their overall program goals. AmeriCorps members work directly with their host-sites to carry out the environmental stewardship mission across Iowa. The Cedar Falls team working out of the UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education focuses predominately on land conservation through invasive species removal, seed harvesting, weeding and trail work. They also work on water quality (testing and monitoring, raingarden installation, reducing pesticide usage)  and pollution reduction through community clean ups or composting initiatives. We are thankful for their partnership in assisting the BHCC staff with several conservation projects.

2nd Sunday Speaker
Laura Walter, “Prairie Seeds to Prairie Roots.” - Online February 14th at 2:00 PM. A transplant from the prairies of the Kansas Flint Hills, Laura Walter studied plant ecology at Kansas State University and wove botany, natural history, and ecology throughout a teaching career spanning numerous age levels over nearly twenty years. Laura is now the Plant Materials Program Manager at the Tallgrass Prairie Center where her role in native seed production furthers the center’s mission of “empowering people to value and restore diverse, resilient tallgrass prairie.” Her work allows her to observe and photograph diverse prairie plants at all life stages along with the numerous insects and other animals that use the center’s plantings as habitat. Join Laura as she shares her observations and photos, and explains how the Tall Grass Prairie Center’s programs and projects help make Iowa-sourced prairie seed available for bringing prairies back to our roadsides, farms, parks, and gardens. This is an online presentation; a link will be shared at Hartmanreserve.org at 1:45 PM on February 14th.

Cedar Valley Nature Trail
Brandon Bridge
Iowa Bridge & Culvert contractors have completed the repairs to the Brandon Bridge on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail located in Brandon, Iowa and the trail has been re-opened to the public. The Brandon Bridge represents the last multi-span concrete arched bridge in this region of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and the completed repairs will serve to extend its useful life. The completed repairs include; new concrete at the base of the piers, abutment extensions and material replacement, implementation of an anchoring system to support the bridge walls and a new concrete surface.
 
This bridge preservation project was made possible through funds from; Black Hawk County Gaming Association Grant, Preserve the Cedar Valley Nature Trail group, Buchanan County 4 Seasons Trails Association and the Young Family Foundation. Thank You All for your continued support of Black Hawk County Conservation and the Cedar Valley Nature Trail!

Cedar River Water Trail
Black Hawk County Conservation has partnered with the Iowa DNR, the Cities of Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Hudson, Janesville, Gilbertville and Evansdale to plan and develop water trails on the Cedar River and Black Hawk Creek through Black Hawk County. With the guidance of Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments and a steering committee consisting of 31 individuals, a Master Plan has been developed for the water trails and can be found on the water trail website at; www.cedarvalleywatertrails.com 

The goal is to achieve State Designation of the water trails which includes wayfinding signage, access signage, access improvements and the development of a brochure specific to each water trail.
Although not yet State Designated, the Iowa DNR has completed the Cedar River Water Trail brochure. You can pick up a copy at the Black Hawk County Conservation Administrative Office or at any of the jurisdictions listed above. Now is the perfect time to start planning your paddling adventure for this upcoming season.