New telephone numbers, with a 725 prefix, were activated for staff at the Iowa DNR Des Moines central office on Nov 24.  Update your contact info for Nate, John, Todd, and other River Programs staffers with the new prefix; balance of numbers remain unchanged.

• Main DNR phone number will be 515-725-8200
• Main fax will be 515-725-8201
• Complete listing of new numbers is on DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/contacts
• DNR 24-hour spill hotline will remain (515-281-8694) thru June 30, 2015, changing to 725-8694 on July 1, 2015.
• The Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline will remain 800-532-2020.

The Iowa Communication Network (ICN) is upgrading current 242/281 prefixes numbers with 725 numbers.  ICN plans to eventually switch all Des Moines state departments to 725 numbers.

Iowa's Water and Land Legacy (IWILL) is a diverse group of organizations, agencies, and individuals working together in coalition to fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The Trust Fund will provide a much-needed, permanent, and constitutionally protected funding source for conserving and enhancing water quality and natural areas in this state, including agricultural soils, fish and wildlife habitat, parks, and trails. The coalition's past efforts secured the passage of a constitutional amendment, supported by 63% of Iowa's voters, to create the trust fund. 

In preparation for efforts to secure funding of the trust fund in the 2012 legislative session, IWILL has scheduled two training sessions for individuals interested in supporting the effort.  The sessions will help participants understand how they can help achieve funding of the trust fund, how to encourage legislator support, and how to become engaged with the coalition.  

Sessions will be held:

Tue, Dec 9, 6:30-7:30 pm at Metro Waste Authority, 300 E. Locust Suite 100. Des Moines, IA

Wed, Dec 10, 6:30-7:30 pm, Wickip Hill Learning Center, Classroom A, Toddville, IA (near Cedar Rapids)

Please RSVP by emailing ddonaghu@ls2group.com 

For more info, contact Marian Riggs Gelb, Public Policy Director, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Des Moines, Phone: 515.288.1846, Ext. 26.  

Visit the INHF at www.inhf.org

Iowa Rivers Revival is accepting applications for the annual River Town of the Year award.  Each year IRR recognizes an Iowa town or city for outstanding efforts to reclaim river-fronts as anchors for economic development, recreation, and good ecological practices.  Cities are invited to apply for the award, or citizens may nominate their town. 

 
Applications are due by December 13, 2014.   Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to protecting and maintaining river water quality and promoting the river as an asset to the town. The award will be presented in early 2015 at a reception hosted by Iowa Rivers Revival in the River Town of the Year community.
 
For a detailed application, more information about the award or Iowa Rivers Revival, please go to www.iowarivers.org . 

Examples of award criteria include, but are not limited to these activities: 
* River tourism efforts;
* Historic and cultural preservation;
* Providing river access (programs, trails, portages, guide info);

Catfish Creek, part of the Mines of Spain WT, helped Dubuque earn a 2013 IRR award.

* Annual or seasonal river clean-up or event;

* Partnerships to protect and enhance local river or stream;

* Dam mitigation and/or safety awareness;

* Promoting commerce that accommodates river enthusiasts (commercial establishments - - e.g., bed & breakfasts, bait/fish shops, restaurants, canoe boat/rentals).
   

Contact Rosalyn Lehman, Executive Director, Iowa Rivers Revival, 515-724-4093, rlehman@iowarivers.org  |  www.iowarivers.org 

How to Contact Your Legislator

Information about identifying and contacting Iowa legislators has not yet been updated from the 85th General Assembly (2013-2014) to the 86th (2015-2016).

Watch for updates for the 86th General Assembly at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find 

Tentative Timetable for 2015 Session of the 86th Iowa General Assembly
This timetable for the 2015 Session of the 86th Iowa General Assembly is tentative, subject to any changes in legislative rules.

JAN 12; First day of session.

FEB 13; Final day for individual Senator and Representative requests for bill drafts to the Legislative Services Agency.

MAR 6; Final date for Senate bills to be reported out of Senate committees and House bills out of House committees.

MAR 16 - 20; Senate only considers Senate bills and unfinished business; House considers only House bills and unfinished business.

MAR 23 - APR 3; Debate not limited by rule.

APR 3; Final date for Senate bills to be reported out of House committees and House bills out of Senate committees.

APR 6 - 10; Senate considers only House bills and unfinished business; House considers only Senate bills and unfinished business.

APR 13; Amendments need not be filed on the day preceding floor debate.

APR 13; Only limited types of bills are eligible for consideration.

MAY 1; 110th calendar day of the session [Per diem expenses end].

 Check for any session timetable updates at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/ 

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The Iowa League of Women Voters identified 6 key issues which will be their legislative priorities for the 2015 session.  They include voter registration modernization, water quality, justice reforms, violence against women, health care, and mental health.

Specific Points Relating to Water Quality

• Protect Iowa's water resources by providing additional funding for the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and ensure transparency in reporting.
• Reinstate the vetoed funding for REAP (Resource Enhancement And Protection).
• Expand Iowa's historic Bottle Bill legislation to include additional containers.

Background Relating to Water Quality

Many Iowa cities are facing high nitrate levels in their drinking water. Cities like Charles City have created whitewater trails, and many others are considering some type of canoe or kayak friendly waterways as a boost local economies.  Iowa's waterways (and our drinking water) are an important component of the state's economic development, attracting both tourists and businesses that want to offer workers a high quality of life. Iowa's nutrient reduction strategy continues to grow, and progress was made in adding more dollars to this important voluntary program, but the Governor's recent veto of additional REAP (Resource Enhancement And Protection) program took away valuable resources that would have improved water quality in the state.

Suggested Questions for Legislators Relating to Water Quality

• What do you think is the next step in cleaning up Iowa's waterways?
• Will you pledge to support at least $20 million for REAP?
• How would you build upon Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy?

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues. Many LWV chapters have already scheduled local legislative forums and other events around the state. Learn more at http://www.lwvia.org/ 

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The Partnership for River Restoration and Science in the Upper Midwest will host its 6th annual Upper Midwest Stream Restoration Symposium (UMSRS) on February 8-11, 2015 in Dubuque. With stream restoration gaining traction in the Iowa legislature, this will be a unique and convenient opportunity to network with practitioners in our "neighborhood." 

The UMSRS will bring together regional stream restoration practitioners to share experiences and expertise with colleagues working within similar environmental and land-use areas.  Attendees from multi-disciplinary backgrounds will hear about innovative restoration designs and approaches as well as have the opportunity to network with the region's leading stream restoration practitioners. The symposium will include both oral and poster presentations related to stream restoration, including design and related analyses, alternatives analysis, implementation, and monitoring, as well as the planning, regulation, and funding. 

Presentations and presenters for the single-track symposium are being finalized, and all event details will be available shortly at http://www.prrsum.org/  

Learn more about PRRSUM at  http://www.prrsum.org/content/home 

Great River Rumble (GRR), the annual weeklong paddling event associated with the Mississippi River, has announced that its 2015 event will run July 25 thru August 1, beginning on the Turkey River in northeast Iowa.  Tentative plans call for the GRR to begin at Elkader, run down to the mouth of the Turkey, then continue on the Mississippi to Savanna, IL.

The 2014 GRR, covering 110 miles down the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, drew approximately 185 paddlers, with up to 132 boats on the water at any point in time.  At least 51 Iowans participated, along with many folks from the Midwest, and some from as far away as Georgia and California.

The Great River Rumble is an annual weeklong paddling and camping event which began in 1995. Almost all of the trips have been totally or partially on the Mississippi River. Covering up to 150 miles in whatever wind and weather Mother Nature delivers, this is definitely a paddle, not a float.  It's a mix of colorful canoes and kayaks, and an even more colorful cast of characters!

GRR operates as a nonprofit organization, with no paid staff. Volunteers handle the planning, logistics, and support. Volunteer "Landing Chairpersons" coordinate access, camping, sanitation, and meals at each overnight stop. Participants pay a fee to cover the cost of campground rental, shuttle busses, and the trucks which transport the camping gear from one overnight stop to the next. Evening and morning meals are available for purchase, paddlers are responsible for their own lunches.  

Watch for more details about Great River Rumble 2015 at: http://www.riverrumble.org/index.htm  

View a lot more photos of Great River Rumble 2014 at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126844562@N07/collections/72157646660866511/ 

When the Polk CCB "OWLS" group hosts Dr. Jim Pease for a "River Critters & Wild Life" program on December 2, the 2014 season of Iowa DNR WT Education Programs will have drawn over 800 participants to 38 varied events and experiences across the state.  

(Incidentally, "OWLS" is an acronym for "Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors, a group which meets the first Tuesday of each month to get out of the house, make new friends, enjoy a good meal, and learn about the world of nature.  For more info, call Patti Petersen-Keys at 515.323.5300.)

Weather and river levels challenged the execution of many scheduled events, particularly those with an on-water component, and a couple succumbed to staff changes or low registrations.  Of the 38 events completed, 6 were rescheduled from an earlier date.  An additional 8 events were canceled, and could not be rescheduled.

In 2013, the first full year for the WT Education Program, organizers drew 650 participants to 24 events.

The DNR-funded events were supported and executed locally by a wide range of cosponsors, including 9 County Conservation Boards, 7 area planning agencies or RC&Ds, and at least one paddling group.  IWTA assisted with event tracking and publicity, and in many cases, with online registrations.

Following are the topics and key presenters for 2014. Plans for 2015 will be announced soon. To be added to the contact list for WT Education Programming for 2015, contact Todd Robertson, Outreach Coordinator for DNR River Programs, at 515-979-9538 or todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov . 

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

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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While Mother Nature has delivered freezing temps much earlier than normal, and many lakes and rivers have a covering of ice, be advised that most of that ice is still not ready to support anglers, hunters, snowmobilers or their equipment. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of ice for fishing and a minimum of five inches of ice for ATVs or snowmobiles.  That thickness should be verified with caution and plenty of test holes.

The DNR suggests that ice fishermen include ice picks, a PFD, and at least 50' of rope with their fishing gear.  Even without a lid, a 5 gallon bucket can be inverted to serve as a float until help arrives. A plastic jug with a lid and some nylon rope makes an inexpensive throw line to provide floatation and pull someone to shore; the rope can be stored inside the jug until needed.

From a recent DNR news release: "An angler alone, who falls through the ice, must try to get herself out. Two minutes in cold water is long enough to make hands too stiff to use. On average, a person can survive in cold water only twenty to thirty minutes before hypothermia overcomes him. Grasp the edge of the ice in the direction of shore or safe ice and, if it breaks, keep going until you find solid ice. Use your legs to get your torso out on the ice. Roll to safety."

Paddlers all have a PFD, and many have a throw bag.  Why not store those in your car trunk for the winter, next to your ice-scraper, shovel, sleeping bag, and jug of sand?  

You might get the chance to save someone's life.

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Many of you already subscribe to the Iowa Outdoors magazine, but this is the time of year to keep it in mind as a holiday gift.  Articles on outdoor recreation, all forms of trails, flora, fauna, food, and places to explore around the state ensure that it will be enjoyed by just about anyone, and a great resource for kids and grandkids.  Whether that person on your list likes to hunt for a trophy buck, a record crappie, the elusive mushroom, or the perfect photo, the magazine provides ideas and examples to improve their success.

Iowa Outdoors magazine is entertaining, educational, and a great holiday gift!

https://programs.iowadnr.gov/epay/subscription/  

Planned WW features becoming reality.

Put Manchester on your destination list for 2015!

Tentative timeline for the Manchester WW Park:

• September 2014; Construction has started on features.
• May 2015; Construction to be completed on features.
• Summer 2015; Construction on river bank takes place.

More discussion, photos, and a live feed on the Manchester White Water Park can be found at

https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterWhiteWaterPark 

Find more info on the Manchester White Water Park plan at

http://www.manchester-ia.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0690C4A4-0234-4DFE-AC31-04C360F75996}&DE={53618D7D-599C-486D-9B40-00755BD93618} 

Panoramic view of the developing Manchester White Water Park; Marion Street bridge at upper right, water flows right to left.

Photos by Hannah Childs 

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This could be an article about:

• Your upcoming WT recreation, education, or cleanup event.
• Your upcoming WT organizing or stakeholder event. 
• The valuable contributions of your WT volunteers.
• The oldest or youngest users of your WT.
• Your most unique WT programming of 2014.
• Your most successful WT program ideas.
• What you learned from a less-than-successful WT event.
• What you believe to be the most valuable contributions of WTs to Iowa.
• Your request for assistance on how to address a WT challenge, create a WT opportunity,                or solve a WT problem.

Whatever you are proud of, concerned for, or wondering about, your WT community is here to provide support. Just tap in to your resources.

Contact us at iowawta@gmail.com