In the 2024 general election, voters were asked to vote yes or no on the $25 million Story County Water and Land Legacy bond, which aims to fund conservation and recreational projects.

The official results from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office show that the measure was approved with 77.73% of ‘Yes’ votes, exceeding the 60% approval needed. 22.27% of voters did not support the bond.

“This large margin of victory clearly shows that there is strong support for critical conservation and recreational projects across the county,” according to the Story County Water and Land Legacy Bond website.

Funding for initial projects has been secured and will move forward “in the near future,” according to the website. The first project priorities include (not necessarily in order):

• Hannum’s Mill Dam renovation
• Wicks Wildlife Area oxbow restoration
• Rental cabin at Dakins Lake
• Deppe Family Conservation Area (expanding McFarland Park)
  • Trail network
  • Educational signage
  • Parking area
  • Picnic shelter

 James Pease, co-chair of the bond’s committee and the board chair of Story County Conservation, told the Daily over email, “The timeline for about 4 initial projects is fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025. No bond funds will be available to us until then.” 

Some additional projects include stabilizing the Skunk River’s banks to prevent erosion, reduce flooding and improve water quality at Hickory Grove Park. They would also support new ADA-accessible trails and upgrades to existing parks, including expanded fishing and kayaking areas and an environmental education and nature center at McFarland Park. To view all of the projects, visit their website.

“All the projects were part of our Capital Improvement Plans (done annually and projected out over years) and our Strategic Plans,” Pease stated. “They were selected by the Conservation Board as being the highest priority projects to complete over the next 5-10 years. The first four are some that we already have matching funds secured for them and we can ‘hit the ground running’ with in FY26.”

The bond funding designates 36% for parks, 32% for water and habitat projects and 32% for trails and outdoor recreation. 

“We will keep the public informed in a variety of ways: our county conservation website and Facebook page, our county conservation newsletter (Prairie Horizons), and through news releases,” Pease stated. “In addition, we will have public ‘ribbon cuttings’ at the completion of every bond-funded project that both the press and the public will be invited to attend. We are also looking at other ways to keep the public informed and aware of how this bond money is being spent.”

For more information, visit the Story County Water and Land Legacy Bond website.