By Roger Allen
Mark Vavroch first became a part of Poweshiek County Conservation in 1987, hired as a Ranger, a position he filled for three years; but in 1990 he became Director. After 33 years in that position he will be retiring in mid-October. He and his wife, Julie, will be moving to a home they have purchased at Pella, on the shore of Lake Red Rock.
Hired to succeed Vavroch is Tylor Nelson, coming here from Guthrie County where he has been that county’s Natural Resource Manager.
In addition to a County Director, the Poweshiek County Conservation staff includes: Amy Andrews, Naturalist; Daniel Shreur, Park Tech; Cole Rozendaal, Conservation Tech; and Campground Hosts Rick Moyer, Monica Moyer and Melissa Current.
PARTNERSHIPS PRAISED IN
PROGRAM FOR LIONS CLUB
Vavroch was guest speaker at the August 28 meeting of the Montezuma Lions Club, and gave an extensive review of expansions, improvements and other progress during his tenure as director.
For this audience much of his remarks were about Diamond Lake and Park. He said, “I inherited a park with aging infrastructure, limited funding, and no staff,” but emphasized that he was fortunate to have a great Conservation Board, Board of Supervisors members, and partnerships.
Those partnerships have included: “The City of Montezuma, Frank Brownell, Brownells, Inc., Pheasants Forever, Ahrens Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Foundation, Whitetails Unlimited, Poweshiek County Izaak Walton League, Poweshiek County Sportsman Association, Grinnell Audubon Society, Poweshiek County Alliance, Iowa DOT (Enhancement funds), Montezuma Lions Club, and others.”
30-Year Highlights and Projects
CAMPING FEES:
• In 1987, income was $7,300 – 1,000 camping nights @ $7.00 per night for an electric site.
• In 2022, income was $102,000 – 5,000 camping nights @ $20 per night (Influenced by COVID and the addition of a new campground overlooking Diamond Lake.)
• In 2023 as of mid-summer, income is about $120,000 @ $20 per night.
Diamond Lake has 80 campground sites with electricity availability and approximately 20 non-electric camping sites.
In 1990 the Poweshiek County Conservation budget was at $126,000; for 2023 it is $462,000.
Regarding the following mentioned improvements, Director Vavroch said, “You must realize that funding for these projects didn’t come from General Basic or tax levies; funding came from grants, the Conservation Trust (camping fees); and great partners (Brownells, Pheasants Forever); and leverage of additional funds!”
LAND ACQUISITION:
Vavroch summarized that there have been 18 land acquisition projects equaling 1,100 acres involving an investment of $1.8 million during his tenure. This included 670 acres around Diamond Lake.These projects doubled
the county’s conservation acreage to 2,400. Funding sources cited: Wildlife Habitat Stamp (WHS) grants, REAP, Land and Water Conservation Fund and Pheasants Forever.
FISH HABITAT GRANTS:
There have been nine projects at a cost of $300,000 pertaining to fish habitat (Jordan Pond, Ever-Tru Pond, five rip rap projects, and major improvement to the Diamond Lake spillway.
IOWA DNR RELATED:
Two major lake restoration projects, at a cost of $300,000: Diamond Lake spillway and watershed assessment. Iowa DNR Marine Fuel Tax & Infrastructure Grants totaling $60,000 made possible the boat ramp and dock improvements and the recently added North Shower House.
NEW FACILITIES BUILT AT DIAMOND LAKE SINCE 1990:
• Foster Center (Headquarters/meeting facility – Naturalist programs)
• 3 new restrooms and 2 shower houses (plus a fish cleaning station)
• 3 new shelter houses
• Added 360 acres for development and watershed protection
• New 33-site campground (4-year project); updated electrical – 2X (fuse)
• 2 hard surface trails: Stagecoach Trail – 2002 and 2010; resurfacing in 2020
• Concrete boat ramp, dock, and kayak launch
• Asphalt overlays on park roads
• New playground equipment
• New shop and 2022 shop addition
LAST YEAR’S PROJECTS:
• The new restroom at the north segment of Stagecoach Trail was completed. The Board received a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant in 2020 and ARPA funding from the Board of Supervisors for this $150K project.
• Watershed Assessment: The Board hired Shive-Hattery as part of the Diamond Lake restoration project, with 75 percent cost shared with Iowa DNR Lake Restoration. Long term, with the drilling of a well, Montezuma will have an alternative water source. Vavroch indicated the well is expected to be drilled in 2024 and in 2025 the Lake Restoration Project is expected to begin.
DIAMOND LAKE HISTORY
AND ITS NEAR FUTURE
According to Mark Vavroch, Diamond Lake was built in 1953. He explained that two major fires occurred in downtown Montezuma around 1950, and the city had barely enough water to fight each blaze. Diamond Lake was created in response to this need for a more reliable water supply for the City of Montezuma. It is still being used as a city reservoir with the county conservation managing adjacent land for recreation.
In 2010, heavy rains in August led to an influx of common carp into Diamond Lake. The carp eliminated the aquatic vegetation, disrupting the fish habitat and food base for other game fish. An Iowa DNR lake restoration grant was awarded in 2015 to modify the Diamond Lake spillway with a 10-foot drop box to prevent carp from entering the lake in the future.
About four years ago the City of Montezuma undertook a study to find an alternative source of water for the city before the lake restoration of Diamond Lake could start.
The restoration project involves draining the lake, eliminating the carp, removing excess silt, and deepening of the shorelines. The city considered four options for an alternative water source; however, only one option became feasible, and that is to drill a deep well. Vavroch indicated the well is expected to be drilled in 2024 and in 2025 the Lake Restoration Project is expected to begin.
COUNTY CONSERVATION HISTORY
Vavroch shared that County Conservation Boards were authorized in November 1956 and Poweshiek was one of the first 16 Iowa counties to establish a County Conservation Board. It held its first meeting on January 28, 1957.
WHO IS THIS young man? It is Mark Vavroch at age 25 in 1987, the year he became Poweshiek County Conservation’s new Park Ranger/ Naturalist. Vavroch is retiring in October after three years in that position followed by 33 years as PCC Director. He is a native of Toledo. He graduated from Iowa State University in December 1984 with a forestry major and an emphasis in parks and recreation and prior to beginning work in Poweshiek County he worked with the wildlife section of the Department of Natural Resources. In this photo Vavroch is in a patch of “Big Blue Stem” prairie grass in Diamond Lake Park, a small remnant of what once covered vast areas of the state.