Brownells Supports Project to Protect Local Water Quality and Provide Better Hunting

In support of natural resource conservation and hunting, Montezuma, Iowa-based Brownells has helped to spearhead a significant expansion of the community’s premier outdoor recreation area, Diamond Lake Park.

The project, which is directed and managed by Iowa’s Poweshiek County Conservation Board, has raised $432,000 and resulted in the addition of 240 acres to Diamond Lake Park. This new area, located in the lake’s upstream watershed, is being planted with trees, shrubs and other permanent vegetation to control runoff and protect water quality. In addition, a wildlife management plan is being developed to provide recreational benefits for hunting and other outdoor activities.

Brownells, the world’s leading distributor of gunsmithing tools and accessories, was founded in Montezuma in 1939 and, according to Mark Vavroch, director of the Poweshiek County Conservation Board, “has long been a strong supporter of our activities. Their willingness to make an early commitment to the Diamond Lake Park expansion was very important to getting the project moving and helping our fund drive be successful.”

“Our business, our family and our employees all share a strong concern for maintaining the environmental quality of Diamond Lake Park and the lake the park surrounds, which is Montezuma's water supply,” said Frank Brownell, company president. “In addition, my Dad, Bob Brownell, was the mayor and driving force when the original Diamond Lake was built in 1950, so we all have great childhood memories and an enormous fondness for the lake and the park. It is very important to us and for the Brownell Family Foundation to strongly support this Diamond Lake Park expansion. We are also doing this for our customers, many of whom are hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.”

Brownell added, “It’s also important to note that many of our employees are members of conservation-oriented organizations whose contributions helped make this project possible. These include the Poweshiek County chapter of Pheasants Forever, Iowa Pheasants Forever Trust and the National Wild Turkey Federation. We are pleased to be a part of this project and proud to have been able to give our support.”

Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of factory gun parts, gunsmithing tools, equipment and firearms accessories. Since 1939, Brownells has been serving gunsmiths and firearms enthusiasts with the products they need to preserve, protect and accessorize their firearms. Today, Brownells stocks more than 29,000 items, and the company’s catalog, now available in print and online versions, is widely regarded as being the most comprehensive available. For more information, call 800-741-0015, Dept. #956.