Discover the secrets to Louisa County's distant past!  Joe Artz, a Geoarchaeologist with Earthview Environmental, Inc., will be presenting on the geology of the area and how it was affected by glaciers and the Iowa River. 

The presentation will be held at Chinkapin Bluffs Recreation Area due to its wonderful overlook of the Iowa River.  

This free, public event will be held from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm on Thursday, July 10, and preregistration is not required.  All ages are welcome. Info on this and other Louisa County Conservation events can be found at:  www.LouisaCountyConservation.org  or call 319-523-8381.

This program is an official Iowa River Water Trail event, cosponsored by Louisa County Conservation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

Spend a delightful day on the river learning about the geology of the river and the fossils found along the way. This trip will start at Sturgis Ferry Park in Iowa City at 9:00 am, and end nine river miles downstream at Hills Access, just outside of Hills, Iowa around 3:00 pm. Participants will leisurely paddle down the river, stopping at sand and rock bars along the way, looking for evidence of past marine inhabitants of Iowa found in the fossils washed down the river. 

Shuttle and boats (if needed) will be provided. All ages and experience levels are welcome; ages 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult

This event is free, but all participants must be registered in advance. There is a limit of 20 boats for this trip, so get registered early!

Registration information: Please call (319)-523-8381 or email btiller@lccb.org to reserve canoes or kayaks, to register your own boat, or to reserve a spot on the shuttle!

Online Registration Coming Soon.  Download Information Packet

Find information on this and other Louisa CCB programs at www.LouisaCountyConservation.org .

This trip is an official Iowa River Water Trail event, cosponsored by Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Johnson County Conservation and Louisa County Conservation.

Spend a delightful day on the Des Moines River learning about the creatures that live there from wildlife biologist Dr. Jim Pease. The paddle will be held Saturday, July 12, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM beginning at the Keosauqua Boat Ramp and ending at the Bentonsport Boat Ramp. The event is free but pre-registration is required and participation is limited to 20 boats.

Pease, a Burlington native who has paddled southeast Iowa rivers since the age of 12, is now a wildlife and interpretive specialist who will provide an entertaining and educational experience on the leisurely 9-mile paddle. From birds and mammals to trees and shrubs, Jim knows them, and knows how to help you understand their relationship with the watershed.  

Pease brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a teacher, interpreter, writer, consultant, director of the Master Conservationist program, developer of Iowa's new Master River Stewards program, and a regular guest on Iowa Public Radio's "Talk of Iowa" program.

A limited number of canoes and kayaks are available at no charge for participants who don't have their own. The paddle is open to everyone but children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration and additional information are available at www.desmoinesriverWT.com or by calling (641) 472-6177. A packet of detailed information about the trip, including a map and shuttling instructions is available for download on the website.

Note: Pease will also give an indoor presentation titled "Wet and Wild: Critters on Iowa Rivers" on Friday, July 11, 7:00 PM at the Stone House in Bentonsport. The program is free and suitable for all ages.

The Lower Des Moines River Water Trail is one of 19 designated water trails in Iowa. This paddling trip is cosponsored by Pathfinders RC&D and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Project AWARE, which stands for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition, is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) annual volunteer river cleanup event. In addition to muscling trash out of the river, participants learn about watersheds, water quality, recycling & other natural resource topics.

Volunteers participate by paddling down the river in canoes and cleaning up r

iver trash along the way. Opportunities for land-based volunteers are also available. While the expedition lasts a week, volunteers may stay and help for as little or as long as they like.  Project AWARE is family-friendly and provides the opportunity to experience a different river each year.  

This year's expedition marks AWARE's 12th year. This year's event is unique in that the Iowa DNR and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks will team up to focus efforts on the Big Sioux River, which borders both states. 

In the past 11 years, more than 2,800 AWARE volunteers from across the state have cleaned up more than 877 river miles, removing 277 tons of trash - 72 percent of which has been recycled - from rivers all across Iowa.  For more information on this event, visit www.iowaprojectaware.com .

The Turkey River Corridor TRI-P Triathlon has been rescheduled to Sunday, July 13.  (The original June date was cancelled  due to flooding on the Turkey River in Fayette County.)  You can register to participate online at www.turkeyrivercorridor.com or get more info by calling Program Director Robin Bostrom at 563.422.1083.

What is the "twist" in the TRI-P Triathlon?  Two-person teams will canoe/kayak the Turkey River, bike the TRRC trail, and play 9 holes of golf at Pleasant Valley Sports Club! 

Registration will be held from Noon-1:30 pm at Pleasant Valley Sports Club, Canoe Road, Clermont, Iowa.  The Race will begin at 2:00 pm.   Registration fee is $25/person or $50/team, and includes an event t-shirt, green fees, and a meal coupon.  Forms are available at Pleasant Valley Sports Club or by calling 563-422-1083.   Enter TODAY for your chance to win cash & prizes!

Additional information can be found at www.turkeyrivercorridor.com. 

The "Dare to Discover" Mobile Museum is on the road, delivering a unique look at the history and culture of Iowa. Some of its major stops this summer include:

• July 17-18: The Mobile Museum will be at the Winnebago "Out of this World" Grand National Rally in Forest City, Iowa, to show off our incredible museum in a 'Bago! To learn more about this exciting annual tradition, please visit the Grand National Rally homepage.
• July 19-26: The Mobile Museum and Team Archaeology from the Office of the State Archaeologist will ride along for RAGBRAI XLII. We will be along for stops in Rock Valley, Okoboji, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Mason City, Waverly, Independence, and Guttenburg. Keep your eyes peeled for us!
• August 7-17: The Mobile Museum will be located just inside Gate 11, at the West end of Grand Avenue, during the Iowa State Fair. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter accounts for updates on our hours, activities and giveaways each day!

The public is invited to a special "River Critters & Wildlife" program and hike, beginning at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 19 at the Delaware County Nature Center, 2379 Jefferson Road, Manchester, IA, 52057.

Dr. Jim Pease will tell tales about the unique critters and wild life that live in and along the Maquoketa River in Delaware County.  Jim has paddled Iowa's rivers since age 12, and is a wildlife and interpretive specialist who will help you find and understand the critters that call the Maquoketa River and surrounding area their home. 

Now retired from Iowa State University, Jim consults on a variety of projects, leads international trips, and can be heard monthly on Iowa Public Radio's "Talk of Iowa" program.  Jim has over 3 decades of experience as a front-line interpreter, 24 years as a professor of interpretation to undergraduate and graduate students, two decades as an Extension Wildlife Specialist, fifteen years in youth development and natural resources, and served as director of Iowa's Nature Mapping and Master Conservationist programs. He helped design and coordinate Iowa's new Master River Stewards Program with Iowa Rivers Revival.

Following the presentation there will be a hike along the nature trail to see if Jim can conjure up some critters.  We recommend that you bring or wear:  Tennis shoes or hiking boots, bug spray, water, sun glasses, jacket, and anything else you may need to be comfortable in the woods, plus an adventuresome attitude!

This program is free of charge, but space is limited to 25 participants, so preregistration is required.

Click on the link below to register online:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=oqgqe6jab&oeidk=a07e9eylzqw62598694 

Online registration will be open through July 11.  After that date, please contact Mary Hyland, (641) 373-6302.

For more information about Delaware County Conservation go to:  

http://co.delaware.ia.us/offices/conservation/index.htm

For more information about the city of Manchester go to:

http://www.manchester-ia.org

This event is cosponsored by Delaware County Conservation, Manchester Iowa Good to Great, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

As part of ongoing efforts to connect the public with the Upper Iowa River valley, Northeast Iowa RC&D is sponsoring a free prairie hike to learn more about the insects and plants which can be found on an area of prairie along the Upper Iowa.  This prairie is being reconstructed by MJ Hatfield, who will discuss the work and the dream she had over 14 years ago, when she began the project.  She will share her knowledge about prairie reconstruction "do's and don'ts," the plants and insects found in her prairie, and the importance of native riparian plants to the health of the Upper Iowa River.

The hike will be held from 10:00 am-Noon, and will begin in the prairie.  Those who wish to stick around are welcome to join in an optional walk through her oak forest.  Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the beauty of the Upper Iowa River valley in the summer.  Participants are encouraged to bring drinking water, sun protection, and insect repellent. 

Preregistration is not required, but would be appreciated; contact Josh Dansdill, 563-864-7112 or email  josh@northeastiowarcd.org

For more info and a map to the event, visit the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/743393669057142/

This event is cosponsored by Northeast Iowa RC&D and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Emmet County Conservation will offer a special "Archaeology & Cultural History Float," on the West Fork of the Des Moines River Water Trail, from 9:00 am--1:00 pm on Saturday, July 19.  This will be a half day guided paddle from the North Trailhead Access to the City of Estherville.

During the float, Archaeologist Cherie Haury-Artz will explain the rich cultural history of the Des Moines River and the surrounding area.  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. 

Cherie Haury-Artz works in education and outreach at the UI Office of the State Archaeologist.  She holds a BA and MA in Anthropology, and recently wrote "A River of Unrivaled Advantages: Life Along the Lower Des Moines River."

This event is free, but participation is limited to 20 boats, so preregistration is required. Call Jenna Pollock at Emmet County Conservation, 712-209-4829.

This event is cosponsored by Emmet County Conservation, Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission, the UI Office of the State Archaeologist, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

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Learn about the powerful forces which shaped the O'Brien County we see today. Joe Artz, a Geoarchaeologist with Earthview Environmental, Inc., will discuss the impact of glaciers, lakes, wind & rivers on the geology of the area.

This free, public event will be held at 7:00 pm on July 25 at the Prairie Heritage Center, 4931 Yellow Ave, Peterson, IA 51047.  Please call Charlene Elyea, O'Brien County Naturalist, at 712-295-7200 to register.

This program is cosponsored by Northwest Iowa Planning & Development Commission, O'Brien County Conservation, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

Clay County Conservation will offer a special presentation on "Freshwater Mussels" from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sunday, July 26 at the Prairie Flower, west of Fostoria, 1760 290th St.  A one hour presentation will be followed by an interactive part of the presentation on the water.

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 can be found in many rivers and streams in Iowa.  They are valuable components of freshwater biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, and help keep the water clean by acting as Mother Nature's water filters.  For something that looks like a living rock, they have a unique life cycle and interesting adaptations to the environment in which they live.  Come learn more!

Jennifer 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 an MS in Ecology & Environmental Science from the U of Maine.  She works on streams which are listed as impaired for aquatic life, referring to 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 event is free, but preregistration is requested.  Call Stacie Young with Clay County Conservation at 712-262-2187.

This program is cosponsored by Northwest Iowa Planning & Development Commission, Clay County Conservation, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

Webster County Conservation will host a special "Archaeology & Cultural History Float" on the Des Moines River south of Lehigh at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 26.

During the float, Archaeologist Mark Anderson will explain the rich cultural history of the Des Moines River valley. 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. Mark Anderson is a Research Specialist at the UI Office of the State Archaeologist, with over 26 years experiencing conducting archaeological investigations across the state. One of his many research specialties is experiments in ancient technologies (projectile point manufacturing, atlatls and darts, fire starting, etc.).

Put-in will be at Deception Hollow, located approx. 2 miles south of Lehigh from P73, and 2 miles east toward the river. It will take several hours to paddle to Skillet Creek Access, the take-out point. Participants should register, even if they have their own vessels. A limited number of kayaks will be available for public use; first-come, first-served.

This event is free, but participation is limited to 20 boats, so preregistration is required. Call or email Karen Hansen at (515) 576-4258 or khansen@webstercountyia.org

This event is cosponsored by Webster County Conservation, the UI Office of the State Archaeologist, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

On June 7, a scheduled Archaeology Presentation & Float was limited to just the "presentation" portion by high river levels.  Efforts are currently underway to reschedule the "float" portion, hopefully on July 26.  Watch for updates.

Original plans for the float included:

Enjoy a float on the West Nish on Saturday, July 26 at 9:00 am, as Archaeologist Cherie Haury-Artz explains the rich cultural history along the West Nishnabotna River.  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.  Cherie Haury-Artz works in education and outreach at the UI Office of the State Archaeologist.  She holds a BA and MA in Anthropology, and recently wrote "A River of Unrivaled Advantages: Life Along the Lower Des Moines River."

We will meet at the river access in Oakland, located in Chautauqua City Park, to leave our vehicles and shuttle up to Botna Bend Park in Hancock to begin our paddle by 10:30 am. We will finish in Oakland at our vehicles and be free to leave. Please pack a sack lunch as we will stop during our float to enjoy it on a sandbar. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get muddy and wet. Children and families are welcome to participate.

The float time will depend upon water levels, but we hope to be done by 4:00 pm, covering 8 miles of river. Be prepared to possibly go longer or shorter. We will be able to better read the river closer to the day of the event.

This event is free, but to ensure adequate safety and effective instruction, the float will be limited to 20 boats, so preregistration is required.  Participants may use their own boats or boats/paddles/PFDs will be provided.  

Watch for updates on Float plans via IWTA emails or contact Golden Hills RC&D at 712-482-3029.

This event is cosponsored by Golden Hills RC&D, the UI Office of the State Archaeologist, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

The Iowa DNR Canoe & Kayak School has a few openings in the final Canoe School session of  2014.  While the Aug 20-21 Kayak School appears to be filled, you might ask to be put on a standby list.

Each one or two-day course will cover skills, hazard and river feature identification, teaching to different learning styles, and risk management. All courses will be taught at Briggs Woods, along the Boone River in Hamilton County. Each paddling school is limited to 10 students, and is taught by two American Canoe Association certified canoe instructors--Glenn Harmon, Todd Robertson, John Wenck or Nate Hoogeveen. 

To register or get more information, contact Todd Robertson, DNR River Programs, 515-979-9538 or email todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov. 

• Aug. 20-21, Kayak School - FILLED!
• Sept. 17-18 Canoe School

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Summertime WT Education presentations and floats are obviously in full swing, keeping both local organizers and expert presenters busy across the state.  Please keep in mind that most of the 2014 topics can be enjoyed as indoor presentations during the fall and winter. Contact Todd Robertson, Outreach Coordinator for DNR River Programs, at 515-979-9538 or todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov . 

Fish Assemblage & Sampling; Biologists with IDNR Watershed Improvement or Water Monitoring Sections.

Observe electro fishing techniques & learn the unique features of each fish species & their role in the river ecosystem.

Aquatic Insects; Jacklyn Gautsch, Biologist with IDNR Watershed Monitoring & Assessment Section.

Discover the interesting adaptations & life cycle of aquatic invertebrates which dwell below the water surface.

Freshwater Mussels; Jennifer Kurth, Natural Resources Biologist in IDNR Watershed Improvement Section.

Meet these valuable components of freshwater biodiversity-Mother Nature's water filters.

Geologic History of Iowa River Valleys; Geologists from IDNR Geology & Groundwater Section.

Learn about the origin & evolution of Iowa's river valleys & the surrounding upland landscape.

River Critters & Wild Life; Wildlife and Interpretive Specialist Dr. Jim Pease.

Find & understand the wide variety of interconnected wildlife along Iowa's rivers, from birds & mammals to trees & shrubs.

Riparian Plant Program; IDNR Botanist John Pearson.

Learn to recognize the trees, shrubs, & wildflowers which inhabit our waterways, lakeshores, riverbanks & floodplains. 

Iowa's Archaeological Past, A History of Iowa Cultural History; OSA Staff Cherie Haury-Artz & Elizabeth Reetz.

Reflect on the importance of Iowa's water trails to various people and cultures through time.

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This is a view of the 1899 iron bridge over the Turkey River WT at Eldorado in Fayette County.  The bridge is now open only to foot traffic.

Description of the "Eldorado Bridge" from the Historic Bridges website

(http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=iowa/eldorado/ ):

"Located in Eldorado, this medium-span truss carries an unpaved county road over the Turkey River;. Known locally as the Eldorado Bridge, the structure consists of a single pin-connected Camelback through truss, supported by stone abutments. The Eldorado Bridge was constructed by contractor J.G. Ratcliff of Waukon, Iowa, under contract with the Fayette County Board of Supervisors. Completed in March 1899, it has functioned in place since, in essentially unaltered condition.

"Straight-chorded Pratt through trusses were used extensively throughout Iowa for medium-span crossings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For longer crossings after the turn of the century, however, bridge companies could develop greater efficiency with polygonal-chorded Pratt variants--primarily Parker, Pennsylvania and Camelback trusses. With its distinctive five-faceted upper chords, the Camelback configuration was disdained by some engineers (including the venerable J.A.L. Waddell, who called it "uncompromisingly ugly") for its tendency under certain conditions to reverse compressive and tensile forces acting on their individual members. As a result, Camelback trusses have never received widespread acceptance. Relatively few were ever built on Iowa's roads, and only a handful has been identified as extant by the bridge inventory. The Eldorado Bridge is thus technologically significant as a well-preserved example of this uncommon structural type [adapted from Fraser 1992]."

Description of Eldorado from "Past and Present of Fayette County, Iowa;" B. F. Bowen & Company; Indianapolis, Indiana 1910.  (Read more at: http://history.rays-place.com/ia/fay-dover.htm ):

Turkey River looking downstream from Eldorado Bridge

"The Eldorado mills are still in operation, and have been improved to meet the requirements of the times, though the volume of business done is much less than in earlier days. Eldorado is a flourishing village with two stores, mechanical shops and minor industries. Its natural surroundings are extremely beautiful."  From: Past and Present of Fayette County, Iowa; B. F. Bowen & Company; Indianapolis, Indiana 1910.  Read more at: http://history.rays-place.com/ia/fay-dover.htm

Find a map and info about the Turkey River WT: http://turkeyriver.org/map/ 

Photos by G.Stark