Washington County Conservation

10/15/2026

📢 Calling all anglers: Join WCCB and the Iowa DNR at 11:30am on Saturday October 31 2026 for our trout stocking event! This year we will be stocking the small pond at Marr Park. Grab your gear, fishing license and trout stamp, and come on out!

**All participants over the age of 16 are required to possess a fishing license and trout stamp. 5 trout per person bag limit. Anglers under 16 years of age do not need a license. Anglers under age 16 are required to possess a trout stamp if they want their own bag limit of 5 trout, otherwise the child's fish will count towards their guardians 5 fish bag limit.

https://www.iowadnr.gov/things-do/fishing/where-fish/trout-fishing/community-trout-stocking-schedule?fbclid=IwY2xjawU-CRhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMWV6T2RqVkZKNURFMEFpdUlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0tB__3DnFXFTn0IfwXxtmE45JQn4C7sDXB5XMECyjfWIryZo9WVmQ2S5hAo_aem_we07Bylgefmsql8vF79X7g -schedule

10/12/2026

Our annual Halloween Hike on Saturday night was a huge success! We would like to thank the following local businesses for their donations to our hike. ☺️

10/10/2026

Tonight is the night of the Halloween Hike! The hike begins at the nature center at 5:00 pm, with the last chance to enter the hike being 6:30 pm. There will be inflatables, food trucks, activities and trick-or-treating in the campground! Grab your Halloween costumes and come on out! 🙂🎃

09/30/2026

📢2027 RENTAL DATES OPEN AT MIDNIGHT!
(we also don't know how tomorrow is already October 1st🤯)

Steinbeck Conference Hall: located inside the Conservation Center, this facility has a kitchen attached and restrooms down the hallway. A/C and heating, tables and chairs to fit up to 120 people, along with a sound system, it is ideal for larger groups or groups wanting a more comfortable experience.

Mary Marr Lodge: situated between the pond and mini lake, this facility is all about photogenic scenery! With 8 picnic tables, 2 banquet tables, and additional seating under an overhang, the lodge seats 75 comfortably. A gazebo overlooking the pond and a playground nearby, this spot is perfect for all ages. **Restrooms close October-April**

Shelter 1: located at the front of the park, this facility is quaint and perfect for smaller groups. With 6 picnic tables inside and additional tables under the overhang, this shelter seats 40 comfortably. Year-round restrooms, a volleyball court, and a playground make this shelter perfect for gathering the family!

To reserve a shelter, you can call us at 319-657-2400 or email us at [email protected]

09/15/2026

The Conservation Education Center will be closed today, in order for staff to attend an offsite training. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will open back up tomorrow morning at 8:00. 🙂

09/02/2026

Calling all food vendors! We are looking for a few food vendors or trucks who would be interested in setting up shop the night of the Halloween Hike! If you are interested, please give us a call at 319.657.2400. 😊

08/25/2026

Calling all campers! For our annual Halloween Hike, we would like to incorporate trick-or-treating in the campground for our hike attendees. If you are interested in offering trick-or-treating at your campsite, please see details below. Registration is required, so we know how many trick-or-treating spots to expect! Please give us a call at 319.657.2400 if you have questions. 🎃⛺️

05/27/2026

PSA to all nature lovers! We typically receive a handful of calls each year from concerned citizens about fawns. Rest assured, they have not been abandoned by Mom! The best thing you can do is leave them be, and keep all pets away from them.

Hi. I'm a fawn. ‍👋 Mom left me here while she went on a grocery run. It's cool, I have these neat spots that help me blend in with the forest floor and hide until she's back. Really!

If you see wildlife babies on their own, let them be - their parents know best, and most wildlife leave nests or dens well in advance of being able to care for themselves.

In the case of fawns, they don't move around much the first few weeks, which keeps them from spreading their scent. This hiding strategy is a fawn's best chance of survival until it's old enough to follow Mama Doe around. (Don't worry, she comes back to nurse her baby when you're not looking.)

Although broods or litters of wildlife babies may become widely scattered as young leaves the nest or den, little ones still remain under the direct care and feeding of their parents.

Remember, taking in wildlife is not only illegal, but it often dooms the creature you're trying to save. If you know for certain that a wildlife parent has died, contact a licensed wildlife rehabber and wait for any instructions before handling wildlife: iowadnr.gov/WildlifeRehab

Photo: Eric Burson

05/04/2026

We are officially back to summer hours! 😊

04/13/2026

🗣️WATER IS ON IN THE CAMPGROUND!! Do what you will with this information and maybe we'll see you soon🤗