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Howard County Conservation Board
One of Iowa’s first 16 conservation boards to be established,
the goals of the Howard County Conservation Board (HCCB)
are environmental education, protection of our natural resources
and providing recreational opportunities for the residents and
visitors of Howard County. Since its formation, the HCCB has
added many conservation and recreation areas to the public
realm, ranging in size from 1 acre to 281 acres for a total of
approximately 2,000 acres in Howard County.
Prairie’s Edge Nature Center
The Prairie’s Edge Nature Center was opened in 2000 through
the support of the community, donations from local citizens and
businesses, and grants. The building functions as a learning center
for area residents to become more familiar with their natural
surroundings. The Prairie’s Edge Nature Center gets its name
from the native prairie planted next to the building. In addition to
the educational aspects, the Nature Center also holds the Howard
County Conservation Offices and Board Room.
Multiple displays fill the Nature Center. The most popular
of these include the live animal displays. A visitor can see two
tiger salamanders meandering through their aquarium, native fish
swimming through a 180-gallon tank, and a live honeybee display.
Three main animal displays occupy the building. Each
covers a separate wildlife habitat found in the county: woodlands,
prairie, and wetlands. These exhibits allow visitors to see all the
animals that reside in the area, many of which are rarely seen in
their natural surroundings.
ACREAGE
CAMPSITES: lectric/ on-Electric/ ull Hookup,
E
N
F
outh, ump Station/ iFi, uestrian
Y
D
W Eq
WATER: rinking/ howers
D
S
TOILETS: lush/ ault
F
V
CABIN RENTAL: easonal/ ear Round
S
Y
SHELTER: nclosed/ pen/ ental/ ree
E
O
R
F
ICNICKING
P
TRAILS: iking/ questrian/ ike-Hard Surface/ t.Bike
H
E
B
M
/Bike- imestone/ nowmobile/ C Ski- roomed/ ater
L
S
X
G
W
SWIMMING: each/ ool
B
P
FISHING: ier/ etty/ ake(acres)/ tream or River
P
J
L
S
BOATING: otor/ anoe/ lectric/ -Boat Rental/ amp
M
C
E
BR
R
SPORTS: rchery/ aseball/ olf/ inter Sports/
A
B
G W
layground/ hooting Range/ orseshoe/ ennis/
P
S
H
T
ce Skating/ edding/ isc Golf
I
Sl
D
SITES: ature Center/ istoric Site/ rairie/
N
H
P
Wildlife xhibit/ etland Area/ mphitheater
E
W
A
ird Watching/ odland/ boretum
B
Wo
Ar
HUNTING: etland/ orest/ pland
W
F
U
32. Taylor's Pond
3 mi. NW of Protivin
7
33. Thomson Marsh
4 mi. SW of Cresco
40
W, F
34. Turkey Bend Wildlife Area
2 mi. SW of Cresco
20
H, X
S
Wo
F
35. Upper Iowa River Access
1 mi. N of Lime Springs
10
S
C
Wo
F
36. Vernon Springs Park/Turkey River
Campground
2.5 mi. SW of Cresco
64 E46
D, S F
OFY P H0.1,
B2.5, X,
S
L17, S M, C,
E, R
P
N, P, B, Wo
37. Wapsi Great Western Line Trail
From Elma to Lylah's Marsh
60
P H, B6,
X6, S6
P, B
38. Wittenbreer Marsh
4.5 mi. W, 1 mi. N of Riceville
40
W, Wo
W, U
* Handicap Accessible
ACREAGE
CAMPSITES:
E
lectric/
F
ull Hookup/
N
on-Electric
Eq
uestrian/
Y
outh/
D
ump Station/
W
iFi
WATER:
D
rinking/
S
howers
TOILETS:
F
lush/
V
ault
CABIN RENTAL:
S
easonal/
Y
ear Round
SHELTER:
E
nclosed/
O
pen/
F
ree/
R
ental
P
ICNICKING
TRAILS:
B
ike-Hard Surface/
L
imestone/
M
t.Bike/
W
ater
E
questrian/
H
iking/
S
nowmobile/
X
C Ski-
G
roomed
SWIMMING:
B
each/
P
ool
FISHING:
J
etty/
P
ier/
L
ake(acres)/
S
tream or River/
T
rout
BOATING:
C
anoe/
E
lectric/
M
otor/
BR
-Boat Rental/
R
amp
SPORTS:
A
rchery/
B
aseball/
D
isk Golf/
G
lf/
H
orse hoe
I
ce Skating/
P
layground/
S
hooting Range/
Sl
edding
T
ennis/
W
inter Sports
SITES:
A
mphitheater/
Ar
bo
tum/
B
ird Watching
Wildlife
E
xhibit/
H
istoric Site/
N
ature Center
P
rairie/
W
etland/
Wo
odland
HUNTING:
F
orest/
U
pland/
W
etland
102
Guide to Outdoor Adventure
Howard
County