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Buchanan County Conservation Board (BCCB) - 2026 Needs Assessment Survey

The Buchanan County Conservation Board (BCCB) works as the conservation department in Buchanan County, Iowa. Currently, the BCCB manages 41 parks, accesses and natural areas consisting of 2,931 acres of land used for public recreational areas and for wildlife preservation. This acreage is primarily managed for nature appreciation, wildlife habitat, and parks and recreation areas. Public hunting is permitted in 28 areas, two sites provide playgrounds, campgrounds exist in seven sites, two cabins are available at Fontana Park, picnic facilities are provided in 12 sites and hiking trails are available in 10 sites. The Fontana Interpretive Nature Center and Wildlife Display that exhibits local resources and wildlife conservation are managed by the BCCB. The BCCB provides planting assistance to private landowners to improve wildlife habitat. Attendance at BCCB - sponsored conservation and recreation programs is approximately 17,200 per year.
Section A: Conservation and Environmental Education
1.How familiar are you with Buchanan County Conservation Board’s (BCCB) educational programs? Check one box below.
2.1) If you or members of your household visited the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center or attended an educational program organized by the BCCB since last summer, how would you describe your experience? Check one box below.
3.Please indicate the level of interest you or members of your household have in the following educational program areas. Check one box for each Program Area.
Very Interested
Interested
Not at all Interested
Uncertain
Natural history (wildlife, plants, stars, geology, etc.)
Environmental (air, water, recycling, soil conservation, etc.)
Hunting and fishing
Other recreational (skiing, canoeing, nature crafts, etc.)
Energy conservation
4.Please indicate the importance of the following educational program areas to Buchanan County residents. Check one for each Program Area.
Very Important
Important
Not at all Important
Uncertain
Natural history (wildlife, plants, stars, geology, etc.)
Environmental (air, water, recycling, soil conservation, etc.)
Hunting and fishing
Other recreational (skiing, canoeing, nature crafts, etc.)
Energy conservation
5.How do you most often learn about the BCCB’s programs and activities? Check as many as apply.
6.Which communication methods do you prefer?
Section B: Use of County Facilities
7.Please indicate the estimated number of times you or a member of your household visited the following county parks since last summer. The nearest town is in parenthesis. Check one for each facility.
Not visited at all
1-2 times
3-5 times
More than 5 times
Visited, but can’t estimate
Boies Bend Area (Rowley)
Buffalo Creek Area (Winthrop)
Cutshall Area (Jesup)
Fontana Park (Hazleton)
Jakway Park (Aurora)
Lime Creek Area (Brandon)
Otter Creek Roadside Park (Hazleton)
Troy Mills Wapsi Access (Troy Mills)
Wapsi River Access (Independence)
Three Elms Area (Quasqueton)
Iron Bridge Access (Quasqueton)
Robert “Chic” McGloughlin Easement
Frogville Access (Troy Mills)
Mickey Fox Area (Jesup)
Vanlaningham Area (Independence)
Otter Creek Wildlife Area (Hazleton)
Hoover Area (Troy Mills)
Sand Creek Area (Quasqueton)
Nibeck Wildlife Preserve (Hazleton)
Pine Creek Area (Quasqueton)
Buffalo Creek Wildlife Area (Winthrop)
Koutny Pond/Hoffman Woods (Brandon)
Putty Root Preserve (Quasqueton)
Blazing-Star Prairie (Rowley)
Crumbacher Wildlife Area (Independence)
Bearbower Sand Prairie (Brandon)
Swartz Preserve (Aurora)
Bryantsburg Prairie (Hazleton)
Schneider-Henick-Row Area (Troy Mills)
Rowley Fen (Rowley)
Fairbank Fen (Fairbank)
Anderson Addition to Cutshall Area (Jesup)
Cortright Wildlife Area (Littleton)
Ham Marsh (Independence)
Newton Township Natural Area (Quasqueton)
Patton Prairie (Aurora)
Hodges and North Wildlife Area (Jesup)
Wehner Woods (Lamont)
Guy Grover Timber and Tree Plantings (Rowley)
Quigley-Slattery Heritage Prairie (Winthrop)
Roberts Wildlife Area (Fairbank)
Van Laningham Wildlife Preserve (Aurora)
8.Please indicate which of the following activities you or a member of your household has participated in since last summer. Indicate if the activity was within or outside of Buchanan County. Check one for each Activity.
Within the County
Outside the County
Did not Participate
Attending educational programs
Archery
Bicycling
Backpacking
Bow hunting
Bird watching/feeding
Cross-country skiing
Camping in a park cabin
Camping with electricity use
Canoeing/kayaking/tubing
Driving/sight-seeing
Disc golf
Equestrian camping
Fishing
Geocaching
Hunting upland birds
Hunting ducks and geese
Hunting deer or turkey
Horseback riding
Hiking/walking trails
Ice skating
Motor boating or water-skiing
Mountain biking
Nature photography
Picking berries, nuts, or mushrooms
Picnicking
Playgrounds or nature play areas
Riding all-terrain vehicles
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Tent camping
Target or trap shooting
Volleyball
9.From the previous list (Question 8), indicate the three activities you or members of your household most enjoy.
10.From the previous list (Question 8), indicate three activities you have not participated in since last summer, but would like to try.
11.What prevents you from visiting/participating more often?
If you or members of your household enjoy camping, please complete the following question. If you do not enjoy camping, please proceed to Section C: Conservation Priorities
12.Please indicate which of the following services you would gladly pay extra for when you register for a night of camping. Check one for each Service.
Very Likely
Likely
Neutral
Unlikely
Very Unlikely
Wi-Fi Internet Service
Satellite TV
Being able to reserve a site in advance
Staying the night in a camping cabin
Section C: Conservation Priorities
13.When family or friends from outside of county come to visit you in Buchanan County, what places do they most want to visit? Check as many as apply.
14.How often do you visit the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center and live animal exhibits?
15.Did the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center nature library or exhibits or wildlife display meet the needs of children, students and adult visitors? Check as many as apply.
16.Did the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center nature library or exhibits or wildlife display increase your interest in conservation?
17.Do you feel the BCCB should place a high, medium, or low priority on the following projects? Check one for each Project.
High
Medium
Low
Improve/Update the Fontana Park live animal exhibit
Acquire more public hunting land managed for game species
Acquire and protect unique natural areas containing rare/native plants or animals or that have a unique geology
Develop displays to describe important historic sites
Develop more concrete or asphalt bicycle/walking/multi-use trails
Establish a greenbelt by protecting land along the Wapsipinicon River
Land acquisition for public recreational use and habitat preservation
Manage timber for oak/hickory, with periodic harvest in county forests
Maintenance of the Fontana Park live animal exhibit
Organize outdoor outings to important natural sites/events in the Midwest (outside Buchanan County)
Protect natural areas from exotic species such as garlic mustard, buckthorn, and multiflora rose
Provide more unsurfaced trails for hiking and cross-country skiing
Provide tent camping in more areas
Provide modern camping with at least shower facilities and electricity in more areas
Provide more cabins in park settings
Provide an all-weather enclosed park lodge to accommodate rentals by public groups of at least 150 people
Provide planting assistance to landowners who wish to develop habitat on their land
Provide planting assistance to schools and businesses to develop habitat
Provide more in-county educational programs for public participation
Provide more in-class presentations to school classes
Provide more outdoor field trips to school classes
Section D: Future Needs and Improvements
18.Do you feel the BCCB’s emphasis on environmental education should change? Check one.
19.The BCCB charges for some of its services. Indicate if you feel the following fees are too high, too low, or about right. Check one for each Service.
Too High
About Right
Too Low
Tent camping w/o electricity at Fontana Park and Jakway Park ($15 per night)
Tent camping with electricity at Fontana Park and Jakway Park ($20 per night)
Shelter or chapel area reservation at Fontana Park ($50)
Main Shelter reservation at Fontana Park ($75)
Cabin Rental at Fontana Park (two bedroom, bathroom, heated, kitchenette) ($95 per night)
Tent camping w/o electricity at Lime Creek Park ($10 per night)
Tent camping with electricity at Lime Creek Park ($15 per night)
Firewood ($10 per bundle)
Staff tree planting on private land ($50 + .10/tree/staff)
Borrow tree planter by private landowners (no fee – donations accepted)
Staff plant native prairie seeds with drill on private land ($100 +$25/Acre)
Rent planting drill by private landowners ($10/Acre, $50 minimum)
20.How satisfied are you with the services provided by BCCB? Check one.
21.What facilities would you like to see added? Check as many as you’d like.
22.Do you face any barriers to using the BCCB services? Check as many as you prefer.
Section E: Respondent Information
23.Age of person completing this questionnaire:
24.Gender of the respondent:
25.Indicate the number of people in your household in the following age groups (leave blank if none)
1
2
3
4
5
More than 5
Age 5 and under
Ages 6-12
Ages 13-17
Ages 18-24
Ages 25-34
Ages 35-44
Ages 45-64
Age 65 or older
26.Are you a homeowner?
27.Do you live within the city limits?
28.In which city do you live in or closest to?
29.Please indicate your zip code.
Thank you for completing this survey!

Your responses will help the Buchanan County Conservation Board manage their programs and set priorities for the next several years.

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Sanzida Rahman Setu. Transportation Planner II at Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, at (319) 235-0311 Ext. 139 or srsetu@inrcog.org.