Johnson County Conservation

The F.W. Kent Park Campgrounds are open for the season. The weather may not be perfect, but it is getting close. Get your camping gear ready, clean out the camper and come out and enjoy the wonderful F.W. Kent Park Campground. Remember Hills Access Campground is also open. Hills Access remains open year round as weather and site conditions allow and provides a great Iowa River camping experience. Looking forward having you all join us for a visit at either of these locations.

2020 was quite the year! Starting was a pandemic in early spring, followed by a massive increase in park and area visitation. To say 2020 was unusual would be an understatement. Learn more about what the JCCB was able to accomplish in our Annual Report. https://drive.google.com//1-zf9frOqESBbjr0eLXxuvVUj7/view

JCC's spring newsletter is out! In this issue: *New Solar Array *New Staff/Members *Trail Updates *JCC Spring Events/Programs... Read the newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/JCCSpringNewsletter Subscribe to JCC newsletters here: https://tinyurl.com/y2you6x9

A few photos of yesterday's prescribed burning at F.W. Kent Park.

Staff will be conducting more prescribed burns today at F.W. Kent Park. All prescribed burn team members have attended National Wildfire Coordination Group trainings. A briefing is conducted before each burn to discuss weather conditions, burn objectives, escape routes and safety zones, to check radio communications and ensure everyone understands the burn plan to be conducted. Prescribed burns are done under specific guidelines in accordance with a burn plan that has been w...ritten to obtain specific objectives and provide for the safety of the crew. If you see the prescribed burn crew please provide them plenty of space to conduct the prescribed burns for your safety and theirs. These burns help reduce invasive species and stimulate native plant communities. You are welcome to explore these areas in the weeks ahead and witness the rejuvenation that occurs in these environments. See more

The spring flowers are beginning to bloom and it's time to get outdoors and partake in their beautify. These wonderful photos were taken by Richard Lutz at the Williams Prairie. Marsh Marigolds can also be found near the Hoover Trail northeast of Solon. The awakening of these flowers remind us of the great growing season ahead.

We're so excited to have the Storybook Trail back up! Given the popularity of the trail throughout last year, we've added a spring season, with new books on a two week rotation. First up is The Tale of a Tadpole - the timing is perfect to learn about frogs, as the wetlands along the trail are bursting with frog song! For our selections, we aim to provide a mix of seasonal books, in many senses. Our rotation includes books for different reading levels, books that range from f...act-heavy to imagination-driven, and books that feature diverse characters. This spring, four of the books are paired, so that the topics can be explored at a beginner level first, followed by a more in depth read with the next book. The spring schedule is as follows (with new books typically posted around 9 AM on the first Monday of the week): April 5 - 19: The Tale of a Tadpole April 19 - May 3: A Frog's Life May 3 - May 17: Mama Built a Little Nest May 17 - May 31: The Thing About Bees: A Love Letter May 31 - June 14: Begin with a Bee From June 14 on, our weekly book rotation will resume throughout the rest of the summer. We can't wait to see you out on the trail!

Spring is the perfect time to think about solar! April brings a limited-time program that offers education and competitive prices for residential and other sola...r installations through volume purchasing. Building on past successes, Linn County and Johnson County, including the city of West Branch, are launching Grow Solar Linn + Johnson Counties. Register for the kick-off Solar Power Hour, which takes place online at 6:30 p.m. April 13, or future events at www.linnjohnson.growsolar.org.

Check out this great event that our friends with Take A Kid Outdoors (TAKO) are hosting next weekend! TAKO is dedicated to providing immersive outdoor experiences to children and people of all ages. Help us spread the word!