Solar array part of $184,500 of improvements made by Friends of Yellow River State Forest

Friends of Yellow River State Forest has installed solar panels at the state forest headquarters. 

The panels were installed in September and started operation in October. Friends of Yellow River State Forest purchased the panels and donated them to the Iowa DNR.  The panels will significantly reduce the utility bills at Yellow River State Forest. 

Friends of Yellow River State Forest President Kelli Boylen says, “Installation of the solar panels is the largest project the Friends group has done to date, and we hope to inspire others to move toward more sustainable energy options.”

The total project cost was $58,800.

The new solar array has 42 panels and it is estimated to have a payback of 13 years or less. It is designed to provide 70 percent of the energy needs of Yellow River State Forest.  

Friends of Yellow River State Forest is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization. Their mission is to enhance Yellow River State Forest for public use while protecting the integrity of the flora, fauna, soil and water.  

Their main fundraisers are donations, membership dues,  selling firewood to campers and their annual 5k, 10k and half marathon held the Friday and Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. Anyone is encouraged to volunteer with firewood prep, dates and details are available on their Facebook page and website.

All funds raised are invested back into Yellow River State Forest. Since they had their first meeting in 2019, they have reinvested more than $184,500!.Other projects Friends of Yellow River State Forest has completed include:streambank restoration and trout habitat improvements, purchasing two sound recording devices for forestry to monitor birds/wildlife, purchased prairie seed and a pumper unit for the UTV to be used for spring burning, obtained more than $6,000 worth of trees for campgrounds, and replaced 132 new picnic tables and all of the horse hitching posts.

Upcoming Friends of Yellow River State Forest include:  First Day Hike at 9 am on Jan. 1 at the Paint Creek Unit, and a Moonlight Hike, co-sponsored with Allamakee County Conservation, on Wednesday, Feb. 12 (details to be announced) and they are already planning their annual 5k, 10k and half-marathon set for May 9 and 10.

To learn more about Friends of Yellow River State Forest or any of their upcoming events, visit www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org or follow them on Facebook.

Yellow River State Forest is located 15 miles from Prairie du Chien, WI and 16 miles from Waukon, IA.