Austin Chapter 10 has a rich history of local conservation.
1924 Chapter 10 organized
on January 9, 1924
1928 Tree clusters planted along Hwy 218 between Austin and Owatonna
1929 Fair article publisher, membership at 130
1930-40 Fish rearing and stocking
in East Side Lake and Cedar River
1930 Log cabin loaned by Jay C. Hormel, remodeled
by Ikes
1931-32 First cabin and trap houses built at Todd Park
1932 East
Side Lake created with Austin Chapter 10 support
1933 MN State Division Annual Convention
held in Austin
1934 Membership at 480
1935 Grove of Fir trees planted at Todd Park
1936 Trees, provided by Ikes, planted in every
school yard in Mower County
1948 Membership at 175
1955 Ikes plant trees in Lena Larson Wildlife Management Area
1956 Membership at 225
1957 Ike’s Cabin destroyed by fire. Ikes provide garbage cans for the City of Austin
1959 Lady Ikes Red Cedar Chapter chartered
1969 Membership at 135
1986 Lady Ikes merge with Chapter 10
1989-90 Chapter 10 implemented the Non-Point Source Pollution Pilot Project (NPSP) in Mower
County Schools
1990 Membership at 98
1991 The NSPS learning stations and hands-on program are demonstrated at the 20th annual conference of the North American Association of
Environmental Education held in St. Paul, MN.
1993-95 Demonstrated the NSPS program at the Nebraska State Children’s Groundwater
Festival
1994 In cooperation with Iowa IWLA chapters along the Cedar River, Austin
Chapter 10 began the first phase of the Cedar River Restoration Project. This phase identified pollution sources that have harmed
the river biologically and have inhibited the recreational use of the river
1995 Land
owned by Austin Chapter 10 along the Cedar River is sold to the MN DNR to create the Mill Pond Wildlife Management Area.
1996 Provided $3000 for Hormel Nature Center internship. Provided funding for Banfield School Green Planting Project.
1997 Financial support for Southland/Rose Creek School plantings. Began annual support for Ellis Middle School “Wetbugs” program.
1998 Funding for Hormel Nature Center summer programs
1999 Spearheaded the $13,000 project
that replaced all the fish display tanks and electrical service in the Game & Fish Building at the Mower County Fairgrounds. Contributed $1000 for a Truax planter for the Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District.
2000 Cedar River Monitoring Program in conjunction with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
2002 Donated $1000 to the Hormel Nature Center Land Expansion Project, supported Ellis Middle School Biome Project, began annual funding
of Take-A-Kid Fishing program
2003 Contributed $1500 to Hormel Nature Center Land Expansion
Project, donated $3000 to Mower County Pheasants Forever for land purchase, provided teacher environmental education stipends, and
contributed $1000 to National Ikes for Wetlands Clean Water Act action
2004 Contributed
financial support for CREP
2005 Austin Ikes webpage developed, provided $200 for tree
planter for Mower County SWCD
2006 Initiated purple martin project. Started Eagle
Bluff Environmental Learning Center Summer Camp scholarship program
2007 Cedar River
and Dobbins Creek water monitoring for e-coli
2008 Austin Chapter 10 receives the 2008
Save-Our-Streams award from the National Izaak Walton League
2009 Chapter 10 receives
the 2009 Outstanding Service Organization of Mower County award at the “Pride of Mower Show” at the Mower County Fair. Membership
at 100.
2010 Mill Pond prairie and rain garden plantings.
2011 Larry Dolphin becomes MN Division President, Austin Chapter 10 Facebook page is created