Work is well underway to construct a new office and storage building to accommodate the relocation of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Rice Lake Wildlife Unit to Ventura.
Greg Hanson, Wildlife Biologist at the Rice Lake office near Lake Mills, said new facilities located just south of Ventura, adjacent to Ventura Heights, will allow the unit to more effectively manage, maintain and develop the public hunting areas it currently oversees in five counties.
“We have needed a new facility. Our Rice Lake office was too small and our storage building collapsed in 2000 from the weight of snow,” said Hanson. “We (DNR offices) have been reorganizing as we have had opportunities, and this was a good time to look at moving.”
The Rice Lake unit currently manages 17,000 acres of state land in Mitchell, Floyd, Winnebago, Worth and Hancock Counties. Hanson said the new office location may allow his staff to oversee some properties within Cerro Gordo and Wright County, as well. He anticipates the unit may give up Floyd and Mitchell County duties.
Four full-time employees and one or two part-time seasonal workers will be stationed at the new office.
Hanson explained that his office differs from the DNR office in Clear Lake in terms of their personnel expertise. While the Rice Lake unit is focused on land management, the Clear Lake office houses personnel dealing with species management. Waterfowl, fur bearing and fisheries biologists are based in the Clear Lake office.
Bob Dolan, Wildlife Management supervisor for the DNR, said the new office site provides better accessibility to the public. The Rice Lake building in Lake Mills was situated in a rural location on a gravel road. That location will be cleaned up and landscaped once the office is relocated to Ventura.
Mad-Gaard Construction, of Northwood, Iowa is the contractor for the Ventura office and shop project. The shop, with three maintenance bays, is expected to be completed yet this year. The anticipated completion date for the office, featuring four offices, a meeting/project room and restroom, is Spring/Summer 2008.