Dam removal, a new cabin and park improvements among upcoming Story County

A dam renovation, oxbow restoration and a family cabin are the first projects that will be funded by Story County’s recently approved $25 million conservation bond.

The Story County Water and Land Legacy Bond received majority voter support in the Nov. 5 election. The bond passed thanks to 77% of pollsters voting “Yes.”

The bond will dedicate funding for conservation and recreational projects countywide. Specific focus areas include bike trail extensions, enhanced water quality and habitat, and flood mitigation along the Skunk River.

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Four initial projects will receive early focus

Story County has already partially funded four of the projects. These include removing part of Hannum’s Mill Dam (north of Ames on the Skunk River), restoring the Wicks Wildlife Area oxbow (located at 10817 Timberland Drive), a cabin renovation at Dakins Lake (north of Zearing), and general work at Deppe Family Conservation Area near McFarland Park.

There’s plenty of engineering left to get those projects ready to go, Jim Pease, co-chair of the Story County Water and Land Legacy, said.

Story County Conservation will request the required bond money at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

Renovation at Hannum’s Mill Dam

The county plans to remove the north half of Hannum’s Mill Dam to provide a better, safer water route, Pease said.

“For quite a few years, we’ve had portings around the dam, but that is really insufficient for fish passes,” Pease said. “It’ll help fish and mussel passes, and will primarily be much safer for paddlers going down that area.”

The dam removal is estimated to cost about $800,000.

While some of the plans have been finalized, the project requires a final engineering plan.

New family cabin at Dakins Lake

One of the primary bond projects will be to construct a cabin at Dakins Lake in northeast Story County for family use. The cabin would be a medium-sized structure that could host about six to eight people, Pease said.

Pease said the plans are nearly ready to go and should be poised for construction by the next fiscal year.

The Deppe property will provide extensive recreation opportunities for Story County residents with hiking trails, picnic areas and possibly a water feature, like a small lake.

Preparing a new conservation area for the public

Story County Conservation secured ownership of the Deppe Family Conservation Area in early 2024. Prairie restoration is underway, and the park is anticipated to open in 2027.

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The area is 124 acres located directly south of McFarland Park, along I-35.

Story Conty Conservation hopes to use the bond to construct a parking area, picnic shelter, and educational signage. Adding trails is also a goal, but Pease said that will not be part of the project initially to make way for prairie restoration.

The prairie will be enhanced by growing soybeans in the area, Pease said.

“When you’re doing prairie plantings, one of the best ways is to farm soybeans for a couple of years,” Pease said. “We’ve had one year of that, and we’re going to do at least one more.”

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Oxbow restoration at Wicks Wildlife

The 55-acre property north of Story City is home to twisting river bends known as oxbows, or old streams that are cut off over time. This can occur naturally or through human intervention.

As sediment fills in these cut-off sections, restoration becomes necessary to maintain water quality and biodiversity, Oxbow restoration at Wicks Wildlife will be one of the four initial conservation projects.

One key aspect of the $25 million bond is to improve the county’s water quality, with 32% of the funds designated for water and habitat. About 36% of the bond will be used on county parks, and the other 32% will be for trails and outdoor recreation.

Story County also plans to extend several bike trails in the county in addition to other park improvements. Timelines for those projects have not yet been set.

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: What projects is Story Co. pursuing with its $25 million bond?

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