In 1917, the 37th General Assembly created the State Board of Conservation and its primary duties were to make recommendations for acquisition of land and administration for state parks. In 1935, the Board was renamed the Conservation Commission.
In July 1986, the Conservation Commission, the Department of Water, Air and Waste Management (RG 95), Geological Survey (RG 42) and the part of the Energy Policy Council (RG 33) were combined into the newly created Department of Natural Resources (RG 64). All of these former entities have separate record group designations.
The following is a partial list of records from the Conservation Commission in our holdings. A complete list of record series is available at the Research Center in Des Moines. Some or all of these records are available to search in the Iowa History Collections Catalog.
| Title | Date Span |
|---|---|
| Aerial Photos, Mississippi River, Great 1 and 2 Areas | 1955 |
| Cedar Rock (Walter Residence, Quasqueton) | 1945-1961 |
| Comprehensive Outdoor Plans and Projects | 1934-1973 |
| Construction Permits | 1964-1981 |
| Construction Project Files | 1917-1980 |
| Federal Cost Share Program, Land Acquisition Projects | 1941-1973 |
| Field Books (Engineering) | |
| Field Books (Survey Notes) | |
| Fisheries Proceedings/Investigations | 1948-1974 |
| Forest Management Plans | 1930s |
| Iowa Precipitation Studies | 1935 |
| Milldams (Original Low Head Dam Study Manuscript) | 1978 |
| Minutes - Board of Conservation | 1918-1935 |
| Minutes - Conservation Commission | 1935-1987 |
| Minutes - Fish and Game Commission | 1931-1935 |
| State Land Acquisitions | 1910-1933 |
| State Parks and Preserves | 1963-1977 |
| Upper Mississippi River Conservation Commission - Investigation Report | 1974 |
| Upper Mississippi River Conservation Commission - Proceedings | 1948-1973 |
| Waterways and Lakes - Lakes and Reservoirs History File/Sovereign Land Jurisdiction | 1910-1954 |