About Us

Who We Are

The Woodbury County Conservation Board is a county governmental agency which owns and operates the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. We also own and operate four large developed parks, over 5,000 acres of undeveloped wildlife areas, several day use areas and river accesses. 

Our Mission

The Woodbury County Conservation Board is a regional agency tasked with providing high quality and valuable education, recreation, enhancement and preservation of our natural resources through professional and courteous service for the betterment of current and future generations.

Our Purpose

The statement of purpose of the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is to provide quality environmental education programs and outdoor recreation experiences; to manage our natural resources in an ecologically sound manner; and to conserve and interpret our natural, historic, and cultural resources.

 

Board

Conservation Board Members

Cindy Bennett, Sioux City

Aaron Gehling, Salix

Thomas Limoges, Sioux City 

Neil Stockfleth, Sergeant Bluff

Christine Zellmer-Zant, Bronson

Conservation Foundation Board Members

Chris Jackson, Sioux City

Brian Hazlett, Sioux City

John Helms, Sioux City

Robert Meis, Sioux City

Rich Pope, Sloan

Norbert Ruhland, McCook Lake

Anne Shaner, Sioux City

Dawn Snyder, Sioux City

Rod Tondreau, Sioux City

Christine Zellmer-Zant, Bronson

Staff 

Conservation Board Staff

Daniel Heissel

Director

Brian Stehr

Deputy Director

Tyler Flammang

GIS/Resource Tech

Dawn Bostwick

Administrative Secretary
Open Position

Open Position

Clerk

Conservation Board Contact Information

Location
4500 Sioux River Rd., Sioux City, IA 51109
Phone Number
(712) 258-0838

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center Staff

Theresa Kruid

Education Director

Kari Sandage

Naturalist

Pam Pfautsch

Receptionist

Dorothy Shamblen

Receptionist

Betty West

Receptionist and Volunteer Coordinator

Nature Center Contact Information

Location
4500 Sioux River Rd., Sioux City, IA 51109
Phone Number
(712) 258-0838

Browns Lake–Bigelow Park and Snyder Bend Park Staff

Josh VanVoorst

Resource Manager

Dylan Bales

Assistant Resource Manager 

Mike Massey

Resource Technician

Brown’s Lake–Bigelow Park
Contact Information

Location
722 Bigelow Park Rd., Salix, IA 51052
Phone Number
(712) 946-7114

Snyder Bend Park
Contact Information

Location
2924 Snyder Bend Rd., Salix, IA 51052
Phone Number
(712) 946-5622

Little Sioux Park Staff

Nathan Silfies

Resource Manager

Derek Bean

Assistant Resource Manager 

Thomas Cobb

Resource Technician

Little Sioux Park Contact Information

Location
1746 O’Brien Ave., Correctionville, IA 51016
Phone Number
(712) 372-4984

Southwood Conservation Area Staff

Erik Lindsay

Resource Manager

Brodie Skinner

Assistant Resource Manager

Southwood Conservation Area Contact Information

Location
3399 330th St., Smithland, IA 51056
Phone Number
(712) 889-2215