The Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in northwest Johnson County has been closed to camping to curtail all night parties and damage to the area.
The closure will remain in place to allow officials time to address the problems with littering, off-road driving, including large campers driving off maintained roadways, illegal tree and grass cutting, drug use and possession, under-age alcohol consumption, public intoxication, and large bonfires left unattended.
Conservation officers and wildlife staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have been working to address these issues for more than 10 years.
“We’ve done education and enforcement while dealing with the litter and drinking parties, campers staying longer than 14 consecutive days and illegally cutting down trees and mowing habitat,” said Shawn Meier, southeast Iowa district law enforcement supervisor for the Iowa DNR. “We don’t want to see it shut down for good, but what’s happening here is not camping — it’s a party.”
The increasing amount of violations led officials to temporarily close the area to camping.
The Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area is leased and managed by the Iowa DNR but is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Tim Thompson, wildlife management biologist with the Iowa DNR, said public meetings will be held over the coming year to review the Corps of Engineers master plan for Coralville Reservoir.
“People are welcome to comment on camping but we need constructive input on stopping the illegal activities and general disturbances to the wildlife habitat,” he said. “We want people to enjoy getting back to nature by using Hawkeye responsibly.”
Thompson said the area has attracted people looking to avoid rules in place at the county, state and federal campgrounds. “These areas are managed to benefit wildlife — not to allow all night parties,” he said.
Most DNR wildlife areas allow primitive camping with minimal gear and little disturbance to the natural environment on an area that is not preconditioned for camping. Everything packed in is packed back out; no trash left behind.
“True primitive camping has little impact on wildlife areas,” Thompson said. “But people bringing in large RVs and establishing their own campgrounds all summer and weekend bonfire parties do have an impact. We don’t have the budgets or staff to handle the maintenance of those types of use. Public parks are set up with restrooms and sewage waste disposal to handle intensive camping. They are staffed to provide an enjoyable and safe camping environment.”