Poweshiek County Conservation Director Mark Vavroch retires

By J.O. Parker
 
       Poweshiek County Conservation Director, Mark Vavroch, retired on Friday, Oct. 13.
     Vavroch joined the Poweshiek County Conservation Board as a Park Ranger/Naturalist in 1987. He was named director in 1990 and has held that position since.
     “I inherited a park with aging infrastructure, limited funding and no staff,” recalled Vavroch of his early days as director.
      Thanks to partnerships with the City of Montezuma, Frank Brownell, Poweshiek County Pheasants Forever Chapter, Greater Poweshiek County Foundation, Ahrens Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Foundation (NWTF), Izaak Walton League, Poweshiek County Sportsman’s Association (PCSA), Grinnell Audubon Society, Poweshiek County Alliance, Iowa DOT (Enhancement Funds), Lions Clubs and a great Poweshiek County Conservation Board (PCCB), that all changed.
     Diamond Lake Park encompasses 670 acres of land and features a 90-acre lake in partnership with the City of Montezuma. In addition, the county conservation board oversees six wildlife areas encompassing another 1,800 acres.
County Conservation History:
       Vavroch 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. 
       The lake was built in 1953, and it is still being used as a city reservoir today with the county conservation managing adjacent land for recreation.
      In November 1956, the Poweshiek County Conservation Board was founded. It was one of the first 16 counties to establish a county conservation board in Iowa.
        The first meeting of the board was Jan, 28, 1957.
      In 1958, the Poweshiek County Conservation Board and the City of Montezuma signed an agreement allowing the board to acquire and develop land around the lake as a county park. This arrangement still exists today, and that relationship between city and county government continues to help grow a strong local economy for Montezuma and Poweshiek County.
Highlights of Vavroch’s 30 plus years with the PCCB:
       • Budgets 1990 - $126,000 and now 2023 - $462,000. 
     • Camping fees – 1987 - $7/night for an electric site and the total camping revenue for that year was $7,300. Last year the camping fee was $20/night (and will remain at $20), and the total camping revenue was $102,000.
      • Land Acquisition – Vavorch has been involved in 18 land acquisition projects during his tenure, which have added more than 1,100 acres to county conservation. This has essentially doubled the amount of land managed by the PCCB. The projects were funded by Iowa DNR Wildlife Habitat Stamp grants, Iowa DNR REAP grants, Federal Land and Water Conservation Grants and Pheasants Forever.
      • Fish Habitat Grants – Nine lake/pond projects were funded by Iowa DNR Fish Habitat grants, and two lake restoration projects were funded by the Iowa DNR, which include the Diamond Lake Spillway and the Diamond Lake Watershed Assessment project.
      • Iowa DNR Marine Fuel Tax and infrastructure Grants funded $60K, for the boat ramp/dock and north shower house.
New Facilities Built at Diamond Lake since 1990:
        • Foster Center (headquarters/meeting facility – naturalist programs)
        • Three new restrooms and two shower houses and fish cleaning station
        • Three new shelter houses
        • Added 360 acres for development and watershed protection. 
        • Added a new 33 site campground (four-year project) – updated electrical 2X (fuse)
        • Two hard surface trails (Stagecoach Trail – 2002 and 2010) Resurface 2020.
        • Concrete boat ramp, dock, and kayak launch
         • Asphalt over lays on park roads     
         • New playground equipment
         • New shop and a shop addition
Last year’s Projects:
      • Completed new Stagecoach Trail restroom – funding for the project came from a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant (2020) and ARPA funding from the Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors - $150K project.
       • Watershed Assessment – Board hired Shive-Hattery to complete the work as part of the lake restoration project. This was made possible due to a 75-percent cost share with Iowa DNR Lake Restoration program.
        • Long Term – Heavy rains in August 2010 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 to the Poweshiek County Conservation Board in 2015 to modify the Diamond Lake spillway with a 10 foot drop box to prevent carp from entering the lake in the future. 
       The lake restoration project involves draining the lake, eliminating the carp, removing excess silt, and deepen the shorelines. Due to the City of Montezuma utilizing Diamond Lake for its water source, the city has to find a new source of water during the project.
        The city considered four options for an alternative water source. However, only one option was feasible, and that was to drill a deep well.
       “Currently, the City of Montezuma is working with an engineering firm to design the well, and they are exploring granting opportunities for funding that well project,” noted Vavroch.
        2024 – alternative water supply (well) to be completed.
        2025 – Diamond Lake – Lake Restoration Project begins at yet to be determined date.
      When asked what his top accomplishments were as director, Vavroch said the partnerships that he has built with organization and funding sources he’s worked with over the years.
        “In this field, you can’t complete large projects without good partners who help and fund these projects,” noted Vavroch. “Many partners were involved in the purchase of land north and east of Diamond Lake, which allowed the board to expand the recreation amenities of the park, including the new campground and facilities, trails, additional hunting opportunities and watershed protection for Diamond Lake.”
        As for retirement, Vavroch and his wife, Julie, have moved to Red Rock Lake near Pella.
       “We plan to enjoy the trails and birding around Red Rock and the views of the lake off our back deck,” he said.
        Tylor Nelson has been hired as the new Poweshiek County Conservation Board Director.

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