Tama County Conservation is located in central Iowa and is home to Otter Creek Lake & Park, Ike's Shooting Range, and TF Clark's Park. The Tama CCB manages 14 parks, water recreation accesses, and natural areas about the county, encompassing some 1,102 acres.

 

Otter Creek Lake Restoration Project

May 2023 Update: Otter Creek Lake and Park is currently CLOSED due to ongoing restoration efforts. Camping and public access to the park are unavailable until further notice. Current restoration progress includes establishment of excellent fish habitat, improved angler access, removal of sedimentation, irrigation improvements, and more. We hope to conclude our restoration by August 2023. For progress pictures and additional updates, please check the Tama County Conservation Facebook page.

For questions regarding Otter Creek Lake & Park, call us by phone at: 641-484-2231.

We also encourage you to check out other camping opportunities Tama County has to offer by visiting T.F. Clark's Park in Traer, Iowa or Union Grove State Park. 

 

Click Here! To view and download the Public Information Sheet that was provided during the Public Meeting held on 4/13/2021 via Zoom.

Click Here! To view the 2015 Otter Creek Watershed Plan.

Click Here! To view the map of the improvements that will be made to Otter Creek Lake during the Lake Restoration Project. 

Click Here! To view the map of the overall watershed improvements for the Lake Restoration Project. 

T.F. Clark's Park

T.F. Clark's Park is currently open for camping on a first come first serve basis. Registration is self serve. We are not accepting reservations for the 2023 camping season. 

 

 

Programming & Events

Tama County Conservation offers a wide variety of fun educational programming including crafts, educational talks, animal encounters, guided hikes, fishing, canoeing, and more. We will gladly work with schools, childcare centers, homeschool groups, clubs, organizations, businesses, wedding parties, and other groups to provide fun educational experiences. Any group is eligible for free programming, even if you're not part of an organization! If you would like to arrange a program or learn more, please email rgenaw@tamacounty.org or call 641-484-2231.

 

For more information on our educational program offerings and a (non-comprehensive) list of available programs, please click here to see our educational programming guide.

 

Knee High Naturalist

Knee High Naturalist is a monthly program for children ages 3-8. Stop by the Toledo Public Library any time from 10-11:30am on the first Saturday of the month for a story and a fun craft, animal encounter, game, or other activity! Check our Facebook page (Tama County Conservation) for updates. For questions, call 641-484-2231 or email rgenaw@tamacounty.org.

 

Eco Artists

If you're interested in making beautiful, environmentally friendly art, this is the group for you! The Eco Artists program is aimed towards adult crafters and is free to participate in and includes hands-on arts & crafts like jewelry making, paper craft, mosaic making, leaf printing, collaging, rock painting, and more! We meet at the Toledo Public Library at 10am on the last Friday of each month. Check our Facebook page (Tama County Conservation) for updates. For questions, call 641-484-2231 or email rgenaw@tamacounty.org.

 

TAMA COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD
2283 Park Road
Toledo, IA 52342
PHONE: (641) 484-2231
FAX: (641) 484-2231
EMAIL: Contact Tama CCB

Activities in Tama County

Visitors to Tama County parks enjoy all sorts of great activities within their parks.
 
Here is just a sampling:

• Naturalist-led environmental education events
• Camping areas for RVs and tents
• Fishing (lake and river access)
• Boating- access to the Iowa River and Otter Creek Lake. Great for small boats, kayaks, and canoes.
• Hiking & biking trails
• Picnicking
• Public hunting access on two facilities

Facilities in Tama County

Parks managed by the Tama County Conservation Board offer many fine facilities to enhance your outdoor recreational activities:

• 65 RV and 20 tent camping sites at two parks
• 70 acre lake providing easy access for fishing, swimming, and boating
• 3 open air picnic shelters
• Tables to accommodate 200 people while picnicking
• Shooting and archery range
• 10 miles of trails  
• 5 boat ramps for access to Otter Creek Lake and the Iowa River
• 260 acres available for public hunting
• 3 playgrounds
• Swimming beach
• Tama County Nature Center available to rent or tour   
• And much, much more!

Parks in Tama County

• View by List
• View by Map