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IWTA
Late-Month
Reminders
Iowa Water Trails Association
May, 2014
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 | Dr. Jim Pease answers a youngster's
questions during a 2013 Iowa River float
in search of "River Critters & Wild Life.
Photo by GStark |
In the midst of the Memorial Day Holiday, graduation celebrations, cook-outs, and a short week, you could overlook opportunities to enjoy special events on Iowa Water Trails, and we absolutely, positively do not want that to happen.
So, this special issue highlights 4 WT events in the next few days. You still have time to preregister, so make the most of some great weather.
Watch for our June 1 IWTA Newsletter, highlighting over 15 WT-related events scheduled in June.
We're already aware of a dozen WT events scheduled in July, so it looks like a busy and enjoyable summer on our Iowa Water Trails.
Please remember to:
Keep It Clean.
Keep It Fun.
For Everyone!
Let the Water Trail fun begin!
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In the Eddy: Quick Summary of Collected Planning Items
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PLANNING CALENDAR:
May 29; "Freshwater Mussels Program," 6 pm at Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton. Presenter IDNR Biologist Jennifer Kurth. (See article in this issue.)
May 31; "Archaeology & Cultural History Program," Noon at Calkins Nature Area Interpretive Center, Hardin County. Presenter Archaeologist Elizabeth Reetz. (See article in this issue.)
May 31; "Aquatic Insect Program," 3:30 pm in South Tailwater Recreation Area at Lake Red Rock. Presenter Jackie Gautsch. (See article in this issue.)
June 5; June 5; "Aquatic Insect Program," 6:30 pm in Chautaqua Park, Sac City. Presenter Jackie Gautsch.(See article in this issue.)
EVENTS FIRST FULL WEEKEND OF JUNE:
June 6-8; Charles City Challenge: WhiteWater Weekend, on Cedar River. Kayak & SUP competition, music, food, beverages, prizes.
June 7; Archaeology Classroom & Float," West Nishnabotna River WT, Cherie Haury-Artz.
June 7; "Geologic Story Behind the Red Rocks," 1:00 pm at Lake Red Rock. Indoor presentation & outdoor exploration. Geologist Robert M. McKay.
June 7; 4th Annual Forest City Adventure Race, Forest City on Winnebago River WT. Paddling, cycling, running race with variety of individual and group classes.
June 7; Annual Middle River Cleanup, 9 miles Pammel Park Ford to Middle River County Park. Meet at 7:30 am, bring own lunch. Warm meal & concert provided after cleanup. Free, but preregistration required, 515-462-3536.
FULL MOON SCHEDULE 2014:
(Iowa 2014 dates, all times Central Daylight Savings Time at Cedar Rapids.)
June 12, Thu Sunrise 5:31, Sunset 8:43, Moonrise 8:14
July 12, Sat Sunrise 5:42, Sunset 8:42, Moonrise 8:43
August 10, Sun Sunrise 6:09, Sunset 8:14, Moonrise 8:00
September 8, Mon Sunrise 6:40, Sunset 7:28, Moonrise 7:08
October 8, Wed Sunrise 7:11, Sunset 6:36, Moonrise 6:52
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May 29; "Freshwater Mussels Program," Hillview Recreation Area Near Hinton, SIMPCO
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 | | Photo of pile of mussels by Robin Fortney. |
The Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO) will offer a special indoor program on "Freshwater Mussels" beginning at 6:00 pm on Thursday, May 29 at Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton.
Join Iowa DNR Biologist Jennifer Kurth for a closer look at these "one-footed" wonders roaming the many rivers and streams of our state. Freshwater mussels play an important role in the health of freshwater ecosystems and help keep water clean by acting as natural water filters. For creatures that look like living rocks, mussels have unique life cycles and interesting adaptations to survive in their environment. Come learn more!
Jennifer Kurth is a Natural Resources Biologist in the Watershed Improvement Section of the Iowa DNR. She has a BA in Theatre and a BS in Biology from the U of Minnesota, and a MS in Ecology & Environmental Science from the U of Maine. She works on streams which are listed as impaired for aquatic life use, and explains it as "environmental CSI." She is currently in the midst of a six-year , statewide survey of freshwater mussels in Iowa rivers and streams.
This program is free of charge, but preregistration is requested.
Click on the link below to register online:
140529a FW Mussels SIMPCO
Find more information about SIMPCO at http://www.simpco.org/
This event is cosponsored by SIMPCO and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
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May 31; "Archaeology & Cultural History WT Program," Calkins Nature Area Interpretive Center, Hardin CCB
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Join us at the Calkins Nature Area Interpretive Center on Saturday, May 31 from Noon-approx. 4:30 pm as Archaeologist Elizabeth Reetz explains the rich cultural history along the Iowa River Water Trail.
Participants will be introduced to Iowa's archaeological past, a chronology of Iowa's cultural history, and the importance of Iowa's water trails to people throughout time. A classroom presentation will be followed by an optional float on the Iowa River, 4.8 miles from Alden River Access to Weaver's Cove in Iowa Falls.
Elizabeth Reetz is the Education Director at the UI Office of the State Archaeologist. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota and an MA in Landscape Archaeology from the National University of Ireland. She is particularly interested in late prehistoric cultures of the Midwest, pottery analysis, and community-based archaeology. Her work experience has included time as an archaeologist in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
This event is free, but preregistration is required. To register, contact Chris Barber at calkinsnatureareahccb@gmail.com or (641) 648-9878.
This event is cosponsored by Hardin County Conservation, UI Office of the State Archaeologist, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Find more information about Hardin County Conservation and Calkins Nature Center, at: http://hardincountyconservation.com
Find more information about the Iowa River Greenbelt Water Trail at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/riverprograms/Iowa%20River,%20Hamilton%20Co.pdf?amp;tabid=868
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May 31; "Aquatic Insect Program," Lake Red Rock, US Army Corps of Engineers
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will offer a special program on "Aquatic Insects (Invertebrates)," beginning at 3:30 pm on Saturday, May 31 in the South Tailwater Recreation Area at Lake Red Rock. Participants should gather in the parking lot next to the large shelter, and dress appropriately for walking a wetland.
Join Iowa DNR Biologist Jackie Gautsch to explore the fascinating diversity of life that dwells beneath the surface of the water. Participants will use dip nets to collect and investigate the aquatic invertebrates that call water their home. Learn about their adaptations for life in the water, their interesting life cycles, and how they are used as bio-indicators for water quality.
Jackie Gautsch is a Biologist with the Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Section of the Iowa DNR. She holds a BS degree in biology and earth science from the University of Wisconsin, and has participated in projects as varied as herpetological studies, caddisfly research, and fish monitoring on the upper Mississippi.
This program is free of charge, and preregistration is not required. For more info:
South Tailwater Recreation Area:
http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/LakeRedRock/Recreation/SouthTailwaterRecreationArea.aspx.
Lake Red Rock US Army Corps of Engineers website: http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/LakeRedRock.aspx
Contact the Corps office at (641) 828-7522 or (641) 628-8690 or via email at lakeredrock@usace.army.mil.
This event is cosponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
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June 5; "Aquatic Insect WT Program," Chautauqua Park, Sac City, Sac County.
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Sac County Conservation will sponsor a program on "Aquatic Insects (Invertebrates)," beginning at 6:30 pm on Thursday, June 5 at Chautauqua Park in Sac City. Participants should gather in the parking lot next to the large shelter, and dress appropriately for walking a wetland.
Jackie Gautsch, Iowa DNR Biologist, will help participants to discover interesting adaptations and life cycles of the aquatic invertebrates which dwell below the water surface, and learn how they are used as bio-indicators for water quality.
Jackie Gautsch is a Biologist with the Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Section of the Iowa DNR, with a BS degree in biology and earth science from the University of Wisconsin. Jackie has participated in projects as varied as herpetological studies, caddisfly research, and fish monitoring on the upper Mississippi River.
The program is free of charge, but preregistration is requested.
Contact Rene Stroud at sccbnat@frontiernet.net or 712-662-4530.
This event is cosponsored by Sac County Conservation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
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We Hope That You Are Enjoying the IWTA Newsletter
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 | | We welcome your info and ideas! |
Special thanks to everyone who is working to deliver the WT Education Programs. It takes a lot of cooperation by the DNR, local organizers, and the presenters to plan, schedule, and execute the programs, but they have received extremely positive reviews from those who attend and participate.
The mission of the IWTA is to facilitate the exchange of information, ideas and encouragement among Iowans working to create, enhance, or utilize our water trails. We have grown to over 1000 subscribers, an indication of strong interest in our WTs, but the true success of the IWTA Newsletter will be measured by how much we share, how much we learn, and how much we contribute to improving the Water Trails experience across the state.
We hope that you will continue to share your events, reports, ideas, and suggestions with us at iowawta@gmail.com. Thank you for your continuing support and encouragement.
We thoroughly enjoy meeting with current and potential IWTA Newsletter subscribers when we have the opportunity to display information at events across the state. Please contact us if you are planning an event at which our display might be appropriate. Our next scheduled display apearance will be at the June 13 Iowa Trails Summit in Cedar Falls. Hope to see you there!
If you are not already a subscriber to this free, monthly email newsletter, please click on the convenient "Join Our Mailing List" button to get on board.
And, please share 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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