LCCD showcases productive 2024

LEE COUNTY – The past fiscal year has been a marked one for the Lee County Conservation District.
LCCD director Heather Huebner submitted an annual report to the Lee County Board of Supervisors in August outlining the district's accomplishments for the year.
The top priority was the completion of the Pollmiller Trail rehabilitation. The project cost about $450,000 and was paid for with funding from the county, the Conservation Trust, and a grant from the Land & Water Trust Fund, as well as funding from the City of West Point, to shore up the trail head connection to city property.
The project tore up the old trail and replaced it with new concrete and widened it to 10-feet to make it ADA compliant. It also moved the trail entrance from a road curve to a safer location for users. The renovation was the part of the LCCD strategic plan for the past several years.
Other accomplishments along the strategic plan included a natural playground built by staff just south of the Heron Bend Conservation Center on center property. Two new fish cleaning stations were installed on the docks at both the North Heron Bend Fishing Area along Hwy. 61 and Pollmiller Park. Those projects were funded with grant money from the North Lee Community Foundation.
Huebner said the addition of the stations improves the functionality of the fishing areas and promotes better hygiene and environmental practices in the parks.
A new shower house replaced pit toilets at Pollmiller this summer.
Other accomplishments include a new trail bridge at Heron Bend Conservation, new concrete pads at Pollmiller campgrounds, including new electric and water hookups, and some minor renovations at the Conservation Center in Montrose.
One of the biggest ventures on the district’s agenda going forward is the Pool 19 Island Project. The conservation department has been working with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers dating back to 2021 after local environment and river enthusiast Jim Noll started working the project up with local, state, and federal officials.
The project is a massive ecosystem restoration project in Pool 19 to improve the ecological structure and quality of the pool for fish and other wildlife, according to a report Huebner prepared for the board.
Ultimately, the project proposes to elevate two existing islands and construct a new 3-acre island using dredged sediment. Additional rock and vegetation will be used along with dredged cuts for improved habitat. A feasibility report will be followed with a year-long design phase and potential construction phase through 2027 if the LCCD board decides to move forward with the project.
Huebner said environmental education programs reached more than 21,000 students in 2024. That number is down about 800 from 2023, but is the second-highest contact rate over the past six years.
County park usage increased to its highest level in years with park revenue surpassing $152,000. Chatfield Campground has grown from just $3,500 in 2020 to more than $20,000 in 2024 after substantial improvements to the campground over the past several years. Reservations and walk-up rentals for camping are about equal at 50% and cabin rentals average about 30 per month, with summer rentals being the most popular.
LCCD had $1.87 million in expenses over the year ending June 30, which is an increase of about $600,000 but most of that is due to the Pollmiller Trail renovation. Administration expenses dropped by more than $40,000. Total revenue for the year came in at $232,000 – down about $53,000. Huebner said that was due to lower grant awards and cropland revenue shrinking as farming is reduced at Denning Conservation Area.
Lee County owns and maintains 30 parks and areas around the county.