Who IACCB is...

The Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards (IACCB) is a nonprofit organization assisting member county conservation boards in areas of board member education, public relations, and legislation. The association's main purposes are to promote the objectives and supplement the activities of conservation boards, exchange information, assist boards and members in program development and provide a unified voice in the legislature. The IACCB is governed by a nine-member board elected by member counties.  All 99 counties are currently members of IACCB.

You can now search all of Iowa for your favorite county conservation board areas on

OR continue looking through our site to view and print pages from the Guide to Outdoor Adventure!  This publication lists all the areas managed by the county conservation boards in Iowa and what they have to offer.

IACCB Annual Conference

2010 IACCB Annual Conference will be in Council Bluffs, September 16-18.

Pre Conference Activities:

Friday’s Tours

Saturday’s Tours

     Pottawattamie County Hitchcock Nature Center
     Harrison County Historical Village

Lodging

The Hilton Garden Inn at the Horseshoe is the facility that the 2010 conference will be held at.  It is scheduled to open this fall, 2009.  We will let you know when you can call and make reservations for next year’s event.  Reserve the Date!  September 16-18, 2010 and we will let you know when it is open for reservations.

Who County Conservation Boards are...

Conservation boards are local natural resource management and outdoor recreation agencies whose responsibilities are the following: to acquire, develop, maintain and make available public museums, parks, preserves, parkways, playgrounds, recreation centers, forests, wildlife and other conservation areas, to encourage the orderly development and conservation of natural resources and to provide adequate programs of public recreation. Conservation boards also help educate local residents about the natural world in which we live, and administer roadside vegetation management programs. County conservation boards have been created in all of Iowa's 99 counties and are governed by Chapter 350 of the Code of Iowa.

When traveling, look for the "Arrowhead" transportation directional sign which will direct you to one of these fine areas.

About IACCB

Interesting facts about IACCB:   

   *  Established October 15, 1959.

    * 1,722 areas managed by those employees

    * 176,385 acres

   * 565 (+/-) permanent, full-time positions

  * 600 (+/-) seasonal & part-time employees

History of County Conservation Boards 

    In 1955, the Iowa State Legislature approved the County Conservation Law, now Chapter 350 of the Code of Iowa.  This law allowed citizens of Iowa counties to vote to create a county-run and county-financed conservation board system.  These conservation boards are authorized to acquire, develop, and maintain areas devoted to conservation and public recreation.  Parks, wildlife areas, preserves, river accesses, recreation areas, and museums are a few examples of areas that have been acquired.  Conservation boards also serve as a primary nature resource management agency in their respective counties, help educate local residents about environmental issues, operate nature centers, manage county wildlife conservation efforts, and administer roadside vegetation management programs.  County conservation boards have been created in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.  The system is a unique blend of lay input, professional staffing, and cooperation between county and state agencies.  This system is recognized as one of the most successful county conservation programs in the United States.)
    Conservation board members are responsible to the taxpayers of the county to provide the best conservation/outdoor recreation/education programs possible with the resources and finances available.  Boards have to listen to and respect many points of view; determine the overall benefits to the citizens of the county; be aware of state and federal statutes, county rule ordinances and policies implemented by the board in the past; then make decisions and set the direction of the board.  Chapter 350 of the Code of Iowa requires that any person appointed shall be selected on the basis of their demonstrated interest.
 

IACCB MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of the Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards is:

    l.    To do any and all things necessary to promote the objectives and implement the activities of County Conservation Boards in Iowa Chapter 350 of the Code of Iowa.

    2.    To exchange information, experiences, and plans relating to conservation and recreational development and to cooperate in furthering the efforts of individual County Conservation Boards in all the areas of their responsibility.

    3.    To assist County Conservation Boards and individual members to develop programs and secure advice and technical information relating to their responsibilities.

    4.    To provide a unified effort to represent the interest of County Conservation Boards to legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Legislature for the State of Iowa.