Mower County Outstanding Conservationist

 

2011 Outstanding Conservationists

 

City of Austin-Parks & Rec Department and

Jay C Hormel Nature Center

The City of Austin has been a leader in conservation to thousands over the years. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, along with Parks and Recreation staff have been providing Environmental education and conservation practices to the city of Austin for many years.

The Nature Center provides environmental and conservation education to students every year. In recent years, the Nature Center has taken a leadership role in water quality monitoring and providing data for problem
areas in Dobbins Creek. They have also worked vigorously to expand the nature center and capture drained wetlands for prairie restoration. The staff continues working with partners to develop pristine prairie restoration and interpretive projects throughout.

The City Parks and Recreation staff brings that same enthusiasm to the city and throughout its park areas. Austin has seen its share of flooding events throughout the years. The city has traded in flood prone homes for green space and optimum wildlife habitat. The staff has never turned down a challenge or an opportunity to improve habitat, conservation and buffer areas within the city. The city has taken advantage of several cost-share and grant opportunities throughout the years. These efforts are paying off. The city has several initiatives to restore native plants along the corridors of the various streams coming through the city. These
plantings encourage wildlife activity and provide aesthetic beauty for park users. They are also slowing down the flood water and filtering out various hazards that are caught in the native grasses.

Below are examples of a few of the recent projects the City of Austin/Nature Center have participated in the last couple years.

	-Native Buffer Plantings 6 Acre Native Buffer planting at Todd Park 7 Acre Native Buffer planting along Cedar River in Wildwood Park Native Buffer and Tree plantings 4,000 Native Plant Project at Mill Pond 1.5 Acre Highly diverse native forbs planting at Mill Pond
	-65 acre Nature Center  expansion seeding Partnered in planning and planting activities -Nature Center Rain Garden  Project -2011 Planting of 95 acres in  new Nature Center acquisition

The Mower SWCD wants to thank the Austin Park and Rec Department for doing their part in protecting and conserving our natural resources.