Allamakee County Conservation completing projects including County Pond improvements and Red Bud Landing canoe access
Overall view ... The view from County Home Park downward to the County Pond just off of Highway 9 north of Waukon is shown in the photo above. Allamakee County Conservation is completing an improvement project at the County Pond that has increased the surface area of the pond and made it more accessible and provided better fish habitat. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Surrounded by more level access ... The picture above of the County Pond shows the more level walking area that has been created around the pond for improved fishing access. The leveling of the bank surrounding the expanded pond is reinforced with riprap that is also providing improved fish habitat within the pond. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Riprap serves dual purpose ... Improvements taking place at the County Pond, part of County Home Park located north of Waukon off of Highway 9, include work both in and out of the water. The riprap lining of the pond, as shown stabilizing the pond bank in the photo above, is also a visible fish habitat improvement at this popular year-round fishing location for bass, bluegills, crappie and catfish. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Public restroom at canoe access ... A public restroom, pictured above, has been added to the Red Bud Landing Canoe Access on the Upper Iowa River. The installation of this restroom was made possible through a combination of grant funding sources including the Water Recreation Access Cost-Share Program (WRAC), a competitive grant cycle administered through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in addition to some funding from the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program. A sidewalk will soon be added to the area for further access. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
Assistant Director Jarrod Olson of Allamakee County Conservation provided a tour and an update Tuesday, July 26 relating to ongoing improvements being made at two sites within the county including the County Pond and the Red Bud Landing Canoe Access. Both are under the care of the Allamakee County Conservation Department.
COUNTY POND – COUNTY HOME PARK
The tour began with the County Pond, part of County Home Park located north of Waukon off of Highway 9, just prior to the Allamakee County Solid Waste and Recycling location and Allamakee County Public Safety Center. Olson discussed fish habitat improvements that have been made to the County Pond as the result of competitive grants being awarded through a six-district conservation area. Olson noted that this competitive grant funding is supported through a portion of fishing license sales within this multi-district area.
As part of the County Pond tour, Olson discussed the shaping of the walkway around the edge of the pond for better access in addition to the lining of riprap around the sides of the pond for increased fish habitat. Olson added that two silt retention areas have been added to catch any sediment resulting from heavy rains with the pond’s depth also being increased by two-and-a-half to three feet. With the silt retention areas and increased depth, Olson explained, the surface area of the pond has increased.
Other improvements include the addition of pea-size gravel to shallow areas for increased spawning areas for bass and bluegills. Olson further discussed the walkway around the pond, which was formerly uneven and has since been shaped, with grass seeding as another improvement to allow for greater ease for walking. In addition to the grass seeding, Olson advised that more trees will be planted, with benches to be placed near the pond. Olson added that the County Pond is a well-used fishery for bass, bluegills, crappie and catfish with year-round access to the public. He said it is also a popular location for ice fishing.
RED BUD LANDING CANOE ACCESS – UPPER IOWA RIVER
Olson next provided an update relating to the Red Bud Landing Canoe Access on the Upper Iowa River off of Red Bud Drive, northwest of Waukon and southwest of Dorchester. Olson noted that this area was formerly covered with boxelder trees, brittle and weak trees that typically grow near rivers, which were cleared as part of the creation of this canoe access and parking area.
As part of this project, Olson advised that the stream bank has been armored, a structural measure for stream bank stabilization using rocks or other materials, with stone steps and a sloped ramp being added for access to the river. It was noted that the heavy rains of the weekend prior to the scheduled tour had resulted in high water and caused some of the recently excavated soil from the project to temporarily cover up the steps at the river access.
Olson said that the recently installed public restroom at the site was made possible through a combination of funding including the Water Recreation Access Cost-Share Program (WRAC), a competitive grant cycle administered through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in addition to some funding from the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program funded by the State of Iowa’s Environment First Fund, which is supported by Iowa gaming receipts and the sale of natural resource license plates in the state of Iowa.
With this location on Red Bud Drive previously being void of any canoe access, Olson explained that landowners Mark and Barb Howe had allowed a public canoe access on their property not far from the new Red Bud Landing Canoe Access. Olson added that the Red Bud Canoe Access is located between two other access points on the Upper Iowa River.
He also advised that grass seeding has taken place at the Red Bud Canoe Access with other improvements yet to include a sidewalk from the public restroom to the parking area, the planting of trees and the installation of entrance signage to finish out this project.
