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IWTA
Special Issue
Iowa Water Trails Association
March, 2015
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| Skunk River About to
Throw Off Its Blanket of Ice.
G.Stark photo. |
We like to limit the number of IWTA emails taking space in your inbox, but sometimes event changes or new events just may impact the plans or schedules of our readers.
The venue has changed for the March 21 NE Iowa PaddleFest in Cedar Falls. Whether you are registered, or just plan to show up, be advised it will now be held at Clarion Inn Hotel, 5826 University Ave, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Show hours are still 10:00-4:00. Note a couple of presentation adds in article below.
Plans for the April 18 "Crossing the Delaware" paddle have been announced. Brother and sister team Sam Childs and Hannah Childs invite you to paddle all, or any part, of the 43 river miles of the Maquoketa River within Delaware County. See article below for details and link.
Iowa City will begin a series of 4 Waterway Cleanups on March 29. Dates, details, and info link in the article below.
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Mar 21; NE Iowa PaddleFest in Cedar Falls -- CHANGE OF VENUE!
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 | Darin Siefkin of CrawDaddy Watersports
positions paddler during in-pool demo at
2014 NE Iowa PaddleFest. G.Stark photo. |
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THE NE IOWA PADDLEFEST:
Clarion Inn Hotel,
5826 University Ave,
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Black Hawk County Conservation invites you to join them for the Second Annual Northeast Iowa PaddleFest. The inaugural PaddleFest event was so successful, and so much fun, they just had to do it again!
The event will run 10:00 am -- 4:00 pm. Enjoy sessions on: - Kayaking in the heated pool.
- Crane Creek Kayaks unveiling the Styriggers with a product demo in pool.
- Planning an Expedition Canoe Trip.
- Taking Youth Groups in the Boundary Waters.
- Keynote Speaker: Gene Ott of Pack Sack Outfitters of Ely, MN.
- Manchester White Water Park.
- Making a DIY Wood Gasifier Stove.
- Low Head Dams with the Iowa Whitewater Coalition.
- Update on Paddlers Trails in Black Hawk County.
- Lunch will be served for those who pre-register.
$15 per person (pre-registered); $20 walk ins. More info & preregistration link at NE Iowa PaddleFest |
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Apr 18; "Crossing the Delaware" Paddle across Delaware County
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| Sam & Hannah Childs Paddling the
Maquoketa River in Delaware County
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3rd Annual "Crossing the Delaware"
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Hosted by brother and sister team Sam Childs and Hannah Childs:
"The rivers are flowing again and the weather and water is getting warmer, a perfect time to celebrate spring! Join us for a paddle across the majority of Delaware County on the Maquoketa River. We will be paddling 43 miles of the river all in one day. The river starts as a creek sized stream containing numerous log jams and strainers as it winds its way through timber lined banks (this upper section is water dependent), then widening through farmland, and riverside communities along the way.
"Participants who do not wish to tackle 43 miles all in one day are encouraged to please paddle any section of the Maquoketa River in Delaware County of their choosing and enjoy the river that day or all weekend. *Please note* The whitewater park in Manchester is under construction and likely to still be under construction April 18th. Open paddling in or through the park is strongly discouraged. Please do not paddle at the whitewater park while it is still under construction. There are access points above and below the whitewater park for easy portaging."
Put in: 7:00 am at Joy Springs Park west of Strawberry Point, IA
Length of paddle, take out, take out time?: As far as we can paddle down the Maquoketa River or Hoeger's Bridge (Pioneer Road Access) south of Delhi off Hwy 38, whichever comes first.
Approximate distance from Joy Springs to Hoeger's Bridge is 43 river miles.
*Current water level the day of the paddle will affect how far up we can put in. This will be determined the evening before the paddle as river levels fluctuate.
Plan A: Meet at the put in or any put in of your choice and paddle down the river. Set your own shuttle, bring your own lunch, no cost, just join us on the river!
Plan B: We will provide the shuttle and lunch on the river for $25.00 per person. Must have all your own paddling equipment.
Please let us know you're coming (Plan A or B) so we can get a general count of how many paddlers to expect. Plan B participants must RSVP by April 5th, so we can get the shuttle and food rounded up.
Questions and RSVP direct to hannah_rayj@yahoo.com
For more info, Find us on Facebook.
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Mar 29 Begin Series of Iowa City Waterway Cleanups
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Volunteers are needed to participate in any or all of 4 sessions to clean up the Iowa River Trail and Ralston Creek in Iowa City. Sessions will be held from Noon to 3:00 pm on Mar 29, and Apr 12, 19, & 26.
For the Mar 29 session, participants will meet in the Napoleon Park parking lot at 3800 Napoleon Lane to sign in and get work assignments. A variety of jobs are available to suit various age groups and skill levels. Cleanup start points for the other 3 sessions will be established based on cleanup progress.
For more info on signups, proper clothing, consent forms for those under age 18, etc. visit: Facebook.com/iowa.city.stormwater.volunteers and click on the events tab. You can also contact Carol Sweeting at 319-541-2385.
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In the Eddy: Quick Summary of Planning Items
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(Dates & Events Not in Newsletter Articles.)
Mar 20; Vernal Equinox, First Day of Spring.
Apr 4; Full Moon.
Apr 9; CrawDaddy Outdoors "season-opener" Free Kayak Demo Day, Ave of Saints Lake, Waverly. Full season schedule of demos, classes, trips at http://crawdaddyoutdoors.com/crawdaddy-events/
Apr 11; Canoesport Outfitter Free Demo Day, Lake Ahquabi, south of Indianola. Full schedule of events on new website http://www.canoesportoutfitters.com/calendar.php
Apr 18; Seatasea Season Opener Free "Discover Kayaking & Stand-Up Paddling," Cedar Rapids. http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-and-stand-paddleboarding-free-demos
Apr 22-23; Lyrids Meteor Shower Peaks.
Apr 22; Earth Day (45th).
Apr 24; Arbor Day.
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We Need YOU to Help Define IWTA's Future!
Please Share Your Opinions & Ideas.
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Are your needs met by receiving a newsletter and accessing a website? Or do you want something more interactive? Do WT developers/managers/volunteers have access to sufficient resources? Or do you need more opportunities to exchange info, network with others? Should the role of the IWTA be primarily info communication? Or should it include other activities such as WT tours, photo contests, or an annual conference?
The "Future of IWTA" Survey has no secret agenda, and there are no right or wrong answers. Only our subscribers can help define how the IWTA can best meet their wants and needs. . . and those of our Water Trails. Your investment of a few minutes to complete this survey would be greatly appreciated:
 The survey allows more than one response per email address, and all members of your household are encouraged to respond, but please limit yourselves to one response per person.
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We Hope That You Are Enjoying the IWTA Newsletter
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| Patience, Frosty.
Spring is Coming.
G.Stark photo. |
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. That is only possible with your support and participation.
Please continue to share your events, reports, ideas, quiz topics, and suggestions with us at iowawta@gmail.com. Thank you for your continuing support and encouragement.
If you are not one of the over 1,100 Iowans who
currently subscribe to this free, monthly email IWTA 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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