Buchanan County Conservation

The Conservation Board offices are located at Fontana Park Interpretive Nature Center.  Buchanan County Conservation Board provides parks, prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and river accesses for both people and wildlife. The Conservation Board manages 41 properties, and features an award-winning Environmental Education Program.  The Conservation Board's mission is to "improve quality of life through programs of conservation and education."


Enjoy Buchanan County rivers

Nature Center display floor hours are:
Monday - Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Weekends April 1st - October 3 1st 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Weekends November 1st - April 1st 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Nature Center can open by appointment by calling (319) 636-2617
Winter: Nature Center may be closed if travel conditions are "Not Advised," please call in advance (319) 636-2617.
Buchanan County Area Conservation and Natural Resources Scholarships
The deadline for the application is March 11, 2019.  Click here for the flier and click here for the applicaiton.

Upcoming Public Programs



Nature Kids - Owls
Monday, February 11th, 10 AM
Fontana Nature Center
Preregistration is required 

Bring a child to the park to discover and experience different owls of Iowa.  The program will begin with a story, an owl craft, and ends with time spent exploring outdoors (dress for the weather).  Children must be accompanied by an adult and the program is geared toward kids age 3-5.  Click here to get preregistered.

Coyote Club - Ice Fishing
Saturday, February 16, 9 AM
Fontana Nature Center 
Preregistration is required $5 per child

Coyote Club is for kids age 6-10 who are interested in nature, animals, and outdoor fun! Participants engage with the Naturalist at Fontana Park, with programs scattered throughout the year.  Fontana Lake is a great spot to fish, even in winter.  The February Coyote Club program is a great time for young people to get out on the lake and try their luck at ice fishing.  All supplies will be provided, including bait, snacks, and drinks.  Adults are encouraged to learn and participate with their kids.  Click here to  preregistered.

Sandhill Crane and Prairie Chicken Motor Coach Trip
Sunday, March 24 to Tuesday, March 26; 
Registration deadline February 22 
Only a few spots remain, register ASAP (must mail in deposit & info from brochure)
Click here to get Registration Brochure

line of cranes

 

 

MONARCHS MONARCHS MONARCHS Click here to learn about plants for Monarchs



Friends of Fontana Park

The Friends of Fontana Park (FFP) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help fund the Buchanan County Conservation Board's environmental education programs.  The FFP provides most of the material costs for the wildlife display, nature center exhibits, quarterly newsletters, and some of the many educational programs and exhibits offered at Fontana and other Buchanan County parks. For more information on Friends of Fontana Park and how you can contribute to this 501c3 organization, click here.


WE NEED TO PROTECT IOWA’S NATURAL AREAS
• Roughly half of Iowa’s rivers, lakes, and streams fail to meet water quality standards
• Less than 10 percent of Iowa’s wetlands – natural spaces that help prevent flooding and provide habitat for wildlife – remain, amounting to a loss of 5 million acres of wetlands
• Over the last two decades, Iowa has lost more than 1.6 million acres of habitat suitable for pheasants and other small game
• Iowa loses an average of 5 tons per acre of soil, our major economic engine, each year to erosion
Click here to learn about Fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund

Find us on:

 Would you like to find out more about wildlife, county programs, Iowa fishing reports and more? Please email dcohen@co.buchanan.ia.us to be placed on the Conservation List serve. You will receive approximately 2-3 emails a week about conservation programs in Iowa.