Parks & Recreation

Ada Hayden Heritage Park

5205 Grand Ave Ames, IA 50010

Trail Information

Crushed Rock Upland Trail	1.2 Miles
Outside Loop Hard-Surface	2.8 Miles
North Loop	1.4 Miles
South Loop	1.8 Miles
Figure 8	3.2 Miles

Who is Ada Hayden

Personal Life: 1884 to 1950

Ada Hayden was born on a farm about two miles north of Ames on August 14, 1884 in the general vicinity of Top-O-Hollow and Hoover Avenue. Hayden's parents owned part of the land that is currently known as the Ames Quarry. The entire area was her childhood "playground". Hayden used her family prairies as the reconstructed site will be used in 2003 and beyond: 

 "Her interest in wildlife was in harmony with that of her parents who maintained on their farm several acres of virgin prairie for the sake of preserving the native flora. During her youth and most of her college days, this area was an outdoor laboratory for her classes in systematic botany, ecology, and other college courses which she taught."

(Quotation from JOHN N. MARTIN, Ada Hayden 1884-1950).

Education:
1904 -- Ames High School Graduate

1908 -- Iowa State College graduate -- Bachelor of Science degree in Botany

1910 -- Washington University (St. Louis) graduate -- Master of Science degree

1918 -- Iowa State College Graduate -- Doctor of Philosophy degree

First woman to receive a Ph.D. (and only the 4th of either gender) from Iowa State College.

Professional Life/Accomplishments

• 1910 to 1918 -- Instructor of Botany, Iowa State College
• 1919 -- Proposed setting aside prairie areas as preserves
• 1919 to 1950 -- Assistant Professor in Botany and Plant Pathology, Iowa State
• 1919 to 1950 -- Studied and inventoried native prairies throughout Iowa
• 1934 -- Hayden was appointed Research Assistant Professor on the Agricultural Experiment Station. (This appointment took her to the lake regions of Iowa to study the vegetation of lakes, marshes, and border areas in relation to the feeding and nesting of wild waterfowl and shore birds.)
• Hayden completed considerable research and published numerous papers. (Her special studies and teaching experience had made her familiar with the classification, structure, and habits of practically all groups of plants.)
• Authored or co-authored of 20 publications on Iowa's plants and ecology.
• By 1944 she had surveyed the best remaining prairies in Iowa and proposed 22 for purchase by the State
• 1947 -- Named Curator of the ISU Herbarium. (A herbarium is a plant library that contains dried and pressed plants.)
• During her time at ISU she added more than 40,000 specimens to the Herbarium.
• 1967 -- Inducted into the Iowa Conservation Hall of Fame.
• 1988 -- The Herbarium was named the "Ada Hayden Herbarium" in her honor.
• The Department of Natural Resources State Preserve System traces its legacy to her efforts.
• Hayden was instrumental in having 26 native prairie areas formally preserved by the State of Iowa.

More Information on Ada Hayden can be located on the following sites:

• www.reflectiveimages.com/AdaHayden.htm
• www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/wise/iws/hayden/hayden.html
• www.public.iastate.edu/`herbarium/adapage.htm

Park Background and Funding

The citizens of Ames approved a bond issue on November 6, 2001.  The funds were used to purchase 437 acres of land surrounding and including an abandoned rock quarry in north Ames. The lakes, which total 1.2 billion gallons of water, serve the community as a secondary water source during drought conditions. To ensure the water’s quality, wetlands were constructed and prairie grasses were planted to filter the water.

The total estimated cost of this project was $7,499,922; however, Ames was awarded a $1,500,000 Vision Iowa grant in 2001. In addition, Story County has pledged $1,030,000 of in-kind support, which reduces the amount for Ames residents to $4,970,000. This cost for a residential property owner with a $100,000 assessed valuation is approximately $21 per year for 12 years.

The park includes passive recreation features such as a fishing dock, a ramp for non-motorized boats, three miles of hard surface pathway, two miles of crushed-rock paths, a restroom, parking lot and a pedestrian bridge. 

Water Quality

The quality of the water in Ada Hayden Heritage Park is some of the best surface water remaining in Iowa. However, the surrounding land use and erosion of the shoreline is degrading the quality of the water. By protecting the 437 acres of land and lake, this water source will be secure and the area will be available for public access as an added benefit.

Problem

•  Hallett's Materials, Corp. mined sand and gravel since the 1950's creating two large lakes (130 acres/one billion gallons of water).
•  Lakes serve as an emergency water source for Ames (during droughts) and as an ad hoc center for wildlife recreation.
• Water quality in these lakes was degrading because of agricultural and urban runoff.
• Proposed high-density development would have exacerbated the problem and added two impaired water bodies to Iowa's lists.
• Intensive watershed planning and restoration was needed to protect water supplies and recreational resources.

Proponents and Process

• Coalition of government, citizens & private sector organizations worked proactively to protect a precious resource.  City of Ames * Story County Conservation Board * Story County Soil and Water Conservation District * Friends of Hallett's Quarry * Iowa State University * Natural Resources Conservation Service * Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit * Snyder & Associates * Bonestroo Rosene Anderlik & Associates
• A Master Plan was developed: 130 acres of water, and 307 acres of land needed to be purchased and transitioned into wetlands/prairie to serve as natural filters for area run-off.
• Project budged totaled $6.47 million.

Funding

• State of Iowa:  A $1.5 million Vision Iowa CAT Grant was awarded to the City of Ames
• Ames residents passed a bond referendum for $4.97 million (86% support).
• Story County Conservation Board offered $1 million in "in-kind" services, to restore native vegetation.
• Story County Soil and Water Conservation District obtained a watershed grant to address agricultural runoff and provide information to urban residents.

 

Recreational Opportunities

• 3 mile hard surface trail (adjacent to the lake) for walking and biking
• 2 miles of crushed stone pathways
• Boat ramp for canoes, small sailboats, rowboats, and boats with electric motors only
• Pedestrian bridge between the lakes
• Fishing 
• Picnic areas 
• Bird and wildlife viewing
• Restroom
• 2 grills

Wildlife and educational area

Much of the area has been restored as prairie and wetlands. The extensive root systems of prairie plants provide soil stabilization and allow rainwater to soak into the soil, protecting against water pollution and soil erosion. The prairie, wetland and woodland restoration is a haven for wildlife. The area is currently used as a resting place by many migrating birds. Rare species, such as loons, sand hill cranes and bald eagles have been sighted at Ada Hayden Heritage Park.

This site serves as a premier outdoor teaching lab for all ages.

Park Rules & Regulations

City ordinances have been adopted to afford users a safe and enjoyable experience

PARK HOURS: 6 am to 10:30 pm

BOATING: Electric Motors Only: No boat motors fueled by gasoline are allowed on park premises

FISHING:

• No fishing from the bridge
• No dumping of live bait
• No fish cleaning at this site
• State of Iowa Fishing Regulations apply

SWIMMING:  It is unlawful to swim at this park.

MOTORIZED VEHICLES: Confined to hard surface roads and parking lots 

SNOWMOBILES, ATVs, CAMPING, FIREARMS, HORSES: Not Allowed

FIRES: In grills only

PETS: Cats and dogs must be leashed

KEG BEER and LIQUOR: Not allowed

PARK WATCH: If you see anyone violating these laws please telephone the Ames Police Department at 239-5133.

  Thanks and have a great outing!  

WETLANDS:  THE ROLE THEY PLAY

The 130-acre lake is an ecologically and economically important feature located at the northern city limits of Ames and serves as a central focus of the newly established Ada Hayden Heritage Park (AHHP).  The lake is used for a variety of recreational purposes, including fishing and boating.  Additionally, the lake functions as a secondary water supply for the City of Ames during drought periods.

Because water contained in the lake is of realized or potential importance to more than 50,000 central Iowa residents, maintenance of high water quality in the lake is essential.  However, this water quality is threatened by land use practices in the surrounding landscape.  The region surrounding AHHP is rapidly becoming urbanized due to an expanding human population, and much of the remaining land is used for agriculture.  Many pollutants associated with urbanization and agricultural activities enter streams and storm sewers and eventually drain into the lake.  Among pollutants capable of degrading lake water quality include nutrients originating from fertilizers, and sediments derived from soil erosion.

In October 2003, three wetlands were constructed in the AHHP drainage basin for purposes of intercepting and removing pollutants contained in surface water flowing toward the lake.  Each wetland consists of a series of 3-4 ponds separated by concrete weirs.  Stream flow is the primary mode of water entry to wetlands, and inflow is concentrated at the pond located the greatest distance from the lake.  Under normal conditions when wetlands are full of water, water entering the first pond slowly flows into and out of the remaining ponds before entering the lake through a spillway.

If the wetlands function properly, a combination of chemical, physical and biological mechanisms should operate to remove pollutants before water enters the lake.  For example, reduced water flow velocity caused by weirs promotes settling of sediments and organic matter onto the wetland bed.  Additionally, nutrients contributed by stream water adsorb to sediment particles that are deposited on the wetland bed, or are absorbed by algae or plants that require them for growth and reproduction.  Physical structure created by plants further promotes sedimentation by reducing water flow rates.  Finally, many nutrients sequestered by algae and plants become incorporated into other components of the food web, including invertebrates and waterfowl that consume algae and plants.