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IWTA
Mid-Month
Reminders
Iowa Water Trails Association
August, 2013
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Greetings!
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With great weather forecast for the coming weekend, and a variety of WT events scheduled around Iowa, you just need to make a choice, get out there, and enjoy some WT fun! If you will be attending the Iowa State Fair, remember to stop by the Iowa DNR area for the latest info on Rivers Programs and Water Trails. This year's special Water Trail events about fish identification, river critters, mussels, and river history have caught the attention of an interested public. Most of the paddling events, with limited space, have filled quickly, leaving some folks disappointed. On the positive side, it is strong encouragement for WT organizers to plan more similar events in the near future. Enjoy the season! Enjoy your Water Trail! |
"Keep It Clean--Keep It Fun" Stickers Available From IDNR |
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Aug 17 "River Critters Cruise" with Dr. Jim Pease,
West Nishnabotna River WT,
Botna Bend Park near Hancock |  (NOTE: This event is filled, but you may want to check with Golden Hills RC&D about other coming events on the West Nishnabotna River Water Trail.) Join us at Botna Bend County Park before shuttling up to Avoca, where we'll hit the water with Dr. Jim Pease to explore the "critters" who live in, on or around the West Nishnabotna River. Meet at Botna Bend at 9:30 am, shuttle up to Avoca to start by 10:00 am. Remember to pack a lunch! A paddler of Iowa's rivers since the age of 12, Dr. Jim Pease is a wildlife and interpretive specialist who will help you find and understand the wildlife along Iowa's rivers. From birds and mammals to trees and shrubs, Jim knows them and knows how to help you understand them and their relationship with the river. Depending on the river, we'll paddle for approximately 3 hours, covering 8 miles, stopping frequently to watch and learn what the river has to teach us. Family groups are welcome. To ensure adequate safety and effective instruction, this paddling event will be limited to 20 boats. Participants may use their own boats or boats/paddles/PFDs will be provided. Follow the online registration instructions carefully to ensure that you are registering accurately for number of people and boats. There is no fee, but participation is limited to 20 boats, and preregistration is required for this event. Click on the link below to register: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=oqgqe6jab&oeidk=a07e7pws6acd1460aea ONLINE REGISTRATION has been closed, due to overwhelming interest in this event. For information about future events on the West Nishnabotna Water Trail, please contact Emily Haase at Golden Hills RC&D, 712-482-3029. This event is cosponsored by Golden Hills RC&D and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. For more information, contact Emily Haase at Golden Hills RC&D; 712-482-3029 or Emily@goldenhillsrcd.org |
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| Aug 17 Fourth Annual Great Iowa River Canoe & Kayak Race, Iowa City (rescheduled from Jun 8) | 
The Great Iowa River Canoe & Kayak Race with Company Challenge serves as a community and fundraising event for the Iowa Valley RC&D. The race is 9 miles from Sturgis Access in Iowa City to Hills Access in Hills. Divisions include canoe, kayak, racing, recreation, youth, company challenge, and more. The race is sanctioned by the United States Canoe Association.
Check in from 7:00-8:15 am at the Fin & Feather parking lot in Iowa City (including pre-registrants); race instructions at Sturgis Access at 8:30; race starts at 9:00. Average run time is about 1.5 hours. Free shuttle will be available.
A Pancake Breakfast will be available at Fin & Feather the morning of the race.
Find info about rules, T-shirts, and registration at http://www.ivrcd.org/projects-2/great-iowa-river-canoe-race.
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| Aug 17 Poker Run on Cedar River WT, Cedar Falls/Waterloo (rescheduled from Jun 15) | 
The 1st Annual "River of Dreams" Poker Run, benefiting Magical Mix Kids, will be held in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, after being postponed from June 15 to August 17, 2013 due to river conditions. Registration will be at Washington Park at 12:30 pm, with a first launch at 1:00 pm. This is not a race, but a fun-filled Poker Run for a great cause; all money raised goes to Magical Mix Kids.
The run will start at Washington Park and finish at the Waterloo Boat House, with stops along the way for refreshments, entertainment, and special programming. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and Last Place Poker Hands, music, food, and door prizes. If you don't want to float, you can drive to each poker stop.
Cedar River WT Course Description:
1. Washington Park-Cedar Falls Access: Registration, receive bottled water, t-shirt, safety information and 1st poker card.
2. George Wyth Park Access: Receive 2nd poker card, fresh water, Freshwater Mussel education program.
3. Cedar Bend Park Access: Receive 3rd card, Aquatic Insect Sampling and Identification education program.
4. San Souci Park: Receive 4th card, Fish Assemblage (electro-fishing) Demonstration.
5. Waterloo Boat House/Exchange Park Access: Receive last card, hand verifications, music, food and FUN! Waterloo Rowing Club Demonstration.
Limited to first 100 boats registered. For more info on event regulations, maps, and registration, visit www.935themix.com or call 319-277-1918.
Magical Mix Kids is a non-profit organization created to provide a worry-free vacation for chronically and terminally ill children of the Cedar Valley area. The "River of Dreams" Canoe/Kayak Poker Run is sponsored by The Mix 93.5, Cedar Valley Paddlers, Iowa DNR, Iowa Northland Regional Council Of Governments, Cruisin 1250 Real Oldies, The VGM Group, City of Waterloo, 1650 The Fan.
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| Aug 17 Webster County Adventure Race, Brushy Creek State Recreation Area | 
"The Webster County Adventure Race is designed to combine great outdoor activities and to test your endurance, but most importantly, we want you to have FUN!"
Participants will navigate through the beautiful Brushy Creek Recreation Area with only a map and their orienteering skills. Biking, Running, and Kayaking/Canoeing will be your primary modes of transportation as you find the various checkpoints throughout the park. Your passport will be stamped at each check point, and you will also encounter a variety of challenges along the course. The race should last 2-4 hours, all ability levels are welcome, and there are solo, team, and relay divisions.
Preregistration is required; no race day registrations will be accepted.
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| Aug 17 Floatzilla 2013, Quad Cities | 
Floats, training sessions, food, live music, tee shirts, world record attempt for largest flotilla of kayaks & canoes; Spend your morning experiencing Quad Cities Water Trails on the Mississippi River August 17 as you paddle from one of four launch sites to Lake Potter in Rock Island, IL, for Floatzilla 2013, River Action's annual paddlesports festival.
Head out early or put-in at Lake Potter at Sunset Park to enjoy food, music, and a paddlesports tradeshow. At 2 p.m., everyone will gather for the traditional group photo and the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest flotilla of canoes and kayaks. The current Guinness record is 1,902.
Intermediate paddlers can launch from either Ben Butterworth Parkway and portage on Sylvan Island, or launch from Marquette Street or Credit Island in Davenport, IA. All are welcome to put-in directly at Lake Potter.
Registration is $20 per paddler and includes one Floatzilla t-shirt, decal, free parking and shuttle to and from the on-site parking. Late registration after August 1 is $25. T-Shirts and decals are subject to availability after August 15.
Registration information is at http://www.floatzilla.org/.
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| Aug 20 Full Moon Paddle, Middle River WT Events, Madison County | 
Tuesday, August 20: Full Moon Paddle (location to be announced)
Most Middle River Water Trail events are free, but please register with Madison County Conservation by calling 515-462-3536 or email at madccb@madisoncountyparks.org. |
| Aug 25 Paddle Round the Big Bend-Archaeology & Geology on the Des Moines River WT | 
(NOTE: This paddle is FULL - it filled very quickly.
To get on the waiting list, contact Pathfinders RC&D at 641-472-6177.)
The Lower Des Moines River Valley has been inhabited by people for thousands of years. Learn about those people - from ancient times to more recent history - on a 6-mile float trip in southeast Iowa. Archaeologists Cherie Haury-Artz and Joe Artz will be the presenters along the way. Joe will also help us discover the geology of this beautiful stretch of the river that takes us by Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. Shuttle service from the ending point to the launch site will be provided before the paddle begins.
Date: Sunday, August 25, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM (be at launch ready to go by 1:00 PM, see shuttle times in registration packet)
Where: Austin County Park (Van Buren County) to Keosauqua Ramp (Keosauqua, Iowa)
Who: All ages & levels of paddling experience (kids ages 16 & under must be accompanied by adult)
Fee: FREE, thanks to funding from the Iowa DNR Rivers Program
Boats Available: A limited number of canoes & kayaks are available if you don't have your own boat; You will be able to reserve one (or more) during the registration process
Registration: Register online or call Pathfinders RC&D at 641-472-6177 (ask for Julie or Detra)
Registration deadline: Registration closes Aug 21 at NOON and participation is limited to 20 boats so sign up soon!
After you register, remember to DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION PACKET.
This official water trail event is co-sponsored by Pathfinders RC&D and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Rivers Program.
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| Sep 10-11 Iowa DNR Canoe School--Only 5 Openings Remain |
The August Kayak School is filled, but 5 openings remain in the Sep 10-11 Canoe School. Check out the schedule and registration forms on the IDNR website:
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/CanoeingKayaking/PaddlerResources/InstructionSafety.aspx
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Photo by Todd Robertson
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Each 2 day canoe class is targeted for specific groups, such as naturalists, trip leaders, outfitters, etc. and the cost is only $25. Two certified American Canoe Association/IDNR instructors teach the skills to guide a group safely downriver, along with paddling skills to share with your participants.
Each class includes classroom learning, flat-water skills, and then moving-water skills on the final day. You will learn a lot and have a blast doing it.
Contact instructor Todd Robertson with any questions: todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-979-9538.
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| We Hope That You Are Enjoying the IWTA Newsletter | 
Our thanks to everyone who is providing the event information, updates, and feedback which supports the IWTA Newsletter, along with the water trail movement in Iowa.
The IWTA mission is to facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and encouragement among Iowans working to create, enhance, or utilize our water trails. We measure the success of the IWTA Newsletter by how much our subscribers share about their efforts to improve the water trail experience across Iowa. Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.
If you are not a subscriber, please click on the "Join Our Mailing List" button to become one. And, we would appreciate your sharing the IWTA Newsletter with your friends via the "Forward this email" or "Share on Social Media" buttons.
Sincerely,
Gregg Stark
Editor, Iowa Water Trails Association Newsletter
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