Solar array part of $184,500 of improvements made by Friends of Yellow River State Forest ...

Friends of Yellow River State Forest has recently had solar panels installed at the State Forest headquarters near Harpers Ferry. The panels were installed in September and started operation in October. Friends of Yellow River State Forest purchased the panels and donated them to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The panels were installed in an effort to significantly reduce the utility bills at Yellow River State Forest.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest President Kelli Boylen says, “Installation of the solar panels is the largest project the Friends group has done to date, and we hope to inspire others to move toward more sustainable energy options.” Friends of Yellow River State Forest hired Eagle Point Solar to install a 42-panel array (pictured in the submitted photo above) outside the forester’s office at the State Park.

The total project cost was $58,800. The new solar array has 42 panels and it is estimated to have a payback of 13 years or less. It is designed to provide 70 percent of the energy needs of Yellow River State Forest.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization. The group’s mission is to enhance Yellow River State Forest for public use while protecting the integrity of the flora, fauna, soil and water. The group’s main fundraisers are donations, membership dues, selling firewood to campers and its annual 5K, 10K and half-marathon events held the Friday and Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. Anyone is encouraged to volunteer with firewood prep, with dates and details available on the group’s Facebook page and website.

All funds raised are invested back into Yellow River State Forest. Since they had their first meeting in 2019, the Friends have reinvested more than $184,500 into the State Forest. Other projects Friends of Yellow River State Forest has completed include streambank restoration and trout habitat improvements, purchasing two sound recording devices for forestry to monitor birds/wildlife, purchasing prairie seed and a pumper unit for the UTV to be used for spring burning, obtaining more than $6,000 worth of trees for campgrounds, and replacing 132 new picnic tables and all of the horse hitching posts.

Upcoming Friends of Yellow River State Forest events include First Day Hike at 9 a.m. January 1 at the Paint Creek Unit, and a Moonlight Hike, co-sponsored with Allamakee County Conservation, Wednesday, February 12 (details to be announced). The group is also already planning its annual 5K, 10K and half-marathon event set for May 9 and 10. To learn more about Friends of Yellow River State Forest or any of the group’s upcoming events, visit www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org or follow them on Facebook. Yellow River State Forest is located 15 miles from Prairie du Chien, WI and 16 miles from Waukon near Harpers Ferry and Waterville.