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DNR News Releases

Archive by category: Parks and Rec Areas, CampingReturn

State Preserves Advisory Board to meet via teleconference August 10

• 8/1/2023 12:16:00 PM
• View Count 2753

The State Preserves Advisory Board of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet via teleconference at 10 a.m, August 10.

Lake Keomah State Park restoration being planned

• 7/25/2023 11:48:00 AM
• View Count 2794

OSKALOOSA – Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other project partners are planning a lake restoration project at Lake Keomah State Park to improve water quality and recreational opportunities.

Pikes Peak State Park campground to open July 27

• 7/25/2023 11:44:00 AM
• View Count 2826

MCGREGOR – The Iowa DNR is re-opening the newly renovated Pikes Peak State Park campground on July 27. Campers will enjoy upgraded camping amenities, along with the ability to make same-day reservations at all campsites.

Crow Creek Wildlife Area to close temporarily during construction project

• 7/24/2023 4:54:00 PM
• View Count 2625

A construction project at Crow Creek Wildlife Area, on the north edge of Davenport, will temporarily close access to the area while work is underway.

DNR Creating Plans to Improve Amenities at Gull Point State Park

• 7/21/2023 4:40:00 PM
• View Count 3584

MILFORD -- The Iowa DNR is in the early planning stages of a renovation plan at Gull Point State Park to re-pave park roads, upgrade the campground, install a new flush bathroom and improve accessibility.

Lake Ahquabi State Park campground to open July 20

• 7/18/2023 11:35:00 AM
• View Count 4002

INDIANOLA – The Iowa DNR is re-opening the newly renovated Lake Ahquabi State Park campground on July 20. Campers will enjoy upgraded camping amenities, along with the ability to make same-day reservations at all campsites.

Help stop aquatic hitchhikers this Fourth of July

• 6/20/2023 2:36:00 PM
• View Count 2505

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages all boaters and anglers to check for unwanted hitchhikers on their boats and equipment this Fourth of July to help protect Iowa lakes and streams.Aquatic invasive species move from one water body to another by hitchhiking on boats, in bait buckets and on other equipment used in the water. They can create serious problems for Iowa waters and negatively impact the quality of outdoor recreation experiences.“Aquatic invasive species can reduce native speci...

Swimmers itch is showing up, right on schedule

• 6/20/2023 2:31:00 PM
• View Count 4485

Swimmer’s itch is starting to make its presence known in many of Iowa’s natural lakes in north central and northwest Iowa.

DNR Seeks Public Input on State Park Administrative Rule Revisions

• 6/13/2023 1:15:00 PM
• View Count 2863

The DNR is seeking informal comments on administrative rules for Iowa state parks and related programs. Executive Order 10 (EO10), signed by the Governor on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded. The EO10 process includes public engagement with the opportunity for meaningful input.

Dry conditions delay campground opening at Pikes Peak State Park

• 6/13/2023 1:13:00 PM
• View Count 3100

MCGREGOR– An excessively dry start to the recreation season is delaying the opening of the newly renovated campground at Pikes Peak State Park.

State Preserves Advisory Board to meet via teleconference June 20

• 6/6/2023 2:24:00 PM
• View Count 2312

The State Preserves Advisory Board of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet via teleconference at 1 p.m, June 20.

Heavy rains delay opening at Lake Ahquabi State Park

• 6/6/2023 2:17:00 PM
• View Count 2606

INDIANOLA – Heavy rains last week caused washouts and erosion at Lake Ahquabi State Park, delaying reopening of the park until mid-July.

Long-term project is bringing prairie back to hard to get to places of the Loess Hills

• 6/6/2023 2:13:00 PM
• View Count 2035

“Limb’n and chunk’n in pieces your swampers can move,” yelled Doug Chafa in what sounded like secret code known only to the 30 or so select people who happened to be dressed in chainsaw chaps, long sleeve shirts, hard hats and gloves.

Join us this weekend! Kick off summer in Iowa State Parks, June 9-11

• 6/6/2023 2:11:00 PM
• View Count 2131

DES MOINES ⎯ Several state parks and forests will be hosting family-friendly programming and activities as part of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) new Summer Kick-Off event, June 9-11.

Discover Hidden Gems with the 2023 State Park Passport

• 5/30/2023 11:45:00 AM
• View Count 7390

The Iowa State Park Passport is back in 2023 and better than ever.

Help protect Iowa’s forests - leave firewood at home

• 5/23/2023 1:29:00 PM
• View Count 2394

Thousands of Iowans will be camping and building campfires this Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer.

Help stop the spread of invasive species in your community

• 5/23/2023 1:25:00 PM
• View Count 2132

Governor Kim Reynolds recently proclaimed June as Invasive Species Awareness Month in Iowa.

Fawning season is here, deer are on the move

• 5/23/2023 1:20:00 PM
• View Count 2382

The calls have been coming in to field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and will only increase as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season.

Visitors expected to fill parks over Memorial Day weekend

• 5/16/2023 1:42:00 PM
• View Count 2092

Iowa state parks and forests are gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the outdoor summer recreation season.

Paddle your way to prizes!

• 5/15/2023 3:48:00 PM
• View Count 2186

The Hook n’ Paddle Passport, launched last summer, has been refreshed and is ready for a second year of fun.

Midwest black bear population may start calling parts of Iowa home down the road

• 5/9/2023 2:04:00 PM
• View Count 7609

There’s a pretty good chance that, in the next several weeks, Northeast Iowa will be visited by a few wandering black bears coming down from Minnesota and Wisconsin ahead of the breeding season. It’s been an annual occurrence in this region each spring since 2014.

Kick off summer in Iowa State Parks, June 9-11

• 5/9/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 2076

DES MOINES ⎯ Several state parks and forests will be hosting family-friendly programming and activities as part of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) new Summer Kick-Off event, June 9-11.

Natural Resource Commission to meet May 11 in Des Moines

• 5/8/2023 3:16:00 PM
• View Count 1821

DES MOINES – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m., May 11, in the Wallace State Office Building.

Annual state auction is live online through May 6

• 4/25/2023 11:50:00 AM
• View Count 6966

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources annual spring auction is being held online now until May 6.

It’s Back: Sign Up for 2023 Hook n’ Paddle Passport

• 4/25/2023 11:44:00 AM
• View Count 4311

The Hook n’ Paddle Passport, launched last summer, has been refreshed and is ready for a second year of fun.

Spring is a great time for a boating education course

• 4/18/2023 4:19:00 PM
• View Count 2374

It may not feel like boating season yet, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), along with boating safety advocates nationwide, are urging boaters to enroll in a boating education course this spring.

Earth Day—Saving the earth one small step at a time

• 4/18/2023 4:16:00 PM
• View Count 3032

DES MOINES—Figuring out what you can do to help the planet can seem overwhelming.

Show your support for the outdoors while enjoying a day at the ballpark

• 4/11/2023 2:19:00 PM
• View Count 2410

Join the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Iowa Cubs, for Outdoors Day with the Iowa Cubs, on April 29.

Get weekly wildflower bloom reports in your inbox

• 4/10/2023 4:12:00 PM
• View Count 3489

Enjoy Mother Nature's show of spring beauties with Iowa DNR's new weekly woodland wildflower bloom report. Get an up-to-date list of woodland wildflowers in bloom by region - northern Iowa, central Iowa and southern Iowa.

Natural Resource Commission to meet April 13 in Des Moines

• 4/10/2023 4:02:00 PM
• View Count 2565

Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m., April 13, in the Wallace State Office Building.

Plan your spring wildflower walk with new bloom report

• 4/5/2023 9:06:00 AM
• View Count 2822

Experience the best of Iowa’s spring season with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) new weekly woodland wildflower bloom report.

Renovations at Geode State Park to close beach area in 2023

• 4/4/2023 11:52:00 AM
• View Count 3582

GEODE, Iowa – The beach and surrounding facilities at Geode State Park will be closed for the 2023 recreational season beginning in late April due to a major road and parking lot construction project.

Celebrate the Civilian Conservation Corps’ 90th Anniversary at these parks

• 3/30/2023 2:45:00 PM
• View Count 3912

From atop an observation tower to an overlook by a lake and even the steps beneath your feet, the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps touched many significant structures in Iowa’s State Parks. Celebrate the CCC’s 90th anniversary, March 31, by visiting these stand-out examples of CCC projects in Iowa.

Summer seasonal positions available in Iowa state parks

• 3/28/2023 11:42:00 AM
• View Count 3626

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Parks Bureau is looking for job applicants for seasonal park officer and employee openings in 24 parks around the state.

State awards contract to Achieva Enterprises to operate Honey Creek Resort

• 3/27/2023 9:47:00 AM
• View Count 4017

DES MOINES—State-owned Honey Creek Resort at Rathbun Lake has a new concessionaire, Achieva Enterprises, which will assume operations on April 14, 2023, when it reopens for the season.

Volunteer Clean-up event planned for Red Haw State Park on March 12

• 3/7/2023 12:18:00 PM
• View Count 1696

CHARITON – Red Haw State Park is hosting a volunteer clean-up event on March 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. Volunteers should meet at the Stone Shelter at the south end of the park.

Natural Resource Commission to meet March 9 in Des Moines

• 3/6/2023 9:16:00 AM
• View Count 2098

DES MOINES – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m., March 9, in the Wallace State Office Building, second floor, north conference room, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.

April 21-23 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop now accepting registrations

• 2/28/2023 1:31:00 PM
• View Count 3098

Registration is now open for the April 21-23 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, near Solon.

As one-year anniversary of tornado approaches, cleanup continues at Red Haw State Park

• 2/28/2023 1:29:00 PM
• View Count 3224

CHARITON, Iowa -- Nearly one year ago, an EF 3 tornado cut an 11-mile swath of destruction through Lucas County causing extensive damage to Red Haw State Park, and claimed one life.

Harsh winter across North Iowa is reminder habitat is critical for wildlife survival

• 2/7/2023 8:24:00 PM
• View Count 6066

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) is a nationwide Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practice within the continuous sign-up administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Campground hosts needed for upcoming recreation season

• 1/24/2023 11:56:00 AM
• View Count 12877

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking people who enjoy the outdoors, camping and meeting new people, to consider becoming volunteer campground hosts for the upcoming recreation season.

5 more of Iowa's best winter hikes

• 1/23/2023 1:05:00 PM
• View Count 12196

We couldn’t stop at just six awesome winter hikes - here are five more Iowa State Parks that offer awesome winter experiences from hikes and beyond.

State Preserves Advisory Board to meet Jan. 27

• 1/19/2023 2:34:00 PM
• View Count 9508

The State Preserves Advisory Board of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 1:30 p.m., Jan. 27, in the Wallace State Office Building, second floor conference room north, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.

6 of Iowa's best winter hikes

• 1/19/2023 11:45:00 AM
• View Count 15516

As cozy as it is sitting inside and watching the snow fall, getting outdoors can be even more fun. Here are a few Iowa state parks that make bundling up worth it for the memories made. 

Teaching outdoor skills courses scheduled this summer

• 1/17/2023 11:43:00 AM
• View Count 9061

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sponsoring four courses on how to teach outdoor skills for K–12 teachers, naturalists and other educators this summer.

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