Mammoth Days Are 15k Years In The Making

The Mammoth 5k had many new obstacles for the adventurous among us.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The discovery of mammoth bones in Mahaska County has been exciting for scientists, and conservationists. For the residents of Mahaska County, the discovery has brought along a sense of wonderment and pride.

On Sunday afternoon, shortly after the flag raising ceremony at the Mahaska County Freedom Rock, over 30 runners took off on a 5k adventure on the grounds of Caldwell Park.

So, as runners slogged through the frog pond, and took a leap of faith down the old train embankment into a cool creek before exiting its slippery banks, others learned more about the giant, elephant-like creatures that used to call Mahaska County home.

The Friends of Mahaska County Conservation helped to facilitate the acquisition of the mammoth bones for the residents of the county. They also were the primary drivers behind the festivities on Sunday.

Mammoth bones and other fossils were available for people to inspect and ask questions about.

“The cooperation for this first year event has been tremendous”, said Dave Sedevic, Mahaska County Conservation Director. Sedevic said that the run helped to bring in a different age group of individuals to the conservation area.

Capitalizing on the discovery of the mammoth bones benefited not only the conservation department, but the economy of the county as well. This is something that the organizers hoped for. The new environmental learning center will be home to the mammoth bones.

No digging took place at the mammoth bones discovery site, and the multi-year agreement between the landowner and the county has elapsed. Sedevic said that discussions are ongoing between the landowner, University of Iowa, and the county about what the future of the dig site may be.

One of those useful tools in locating potential bones at the site is a ground penetrating radar. Currently, those devices are being utilized to help scientists understand and warn people about potential land and mudslides in fire ravaged areas of the Western United States.

The park will be the home to the new environmental learning center, if a tax measure is passed by rural residents in November.

Sedevic said that if the measure passes, architectural drawings can be completed and the bid letting process can begin late winter or early spring.

If all goes quickly, Sedevic said he hopes to see ground break on the project in late spring or early summer of 2017.