Iowa River Friends is arranging a float/paddle on an interesting stretch of the Iowa River on Saturday, July 18, starting at 10:00 am at Hills Access.  The trip will go down river to historic River Junction, with naturalists travelling with us to deepen our knowledge of the river, its flora and fauna, and the riparian area.  Among the naturalists coming along is Brad Friedhoff, Conservation Program Manager for Johnson County.  Participants should come away with enjoyment of the Iowa River and its life, and awareness of the challenges we have in its improvement.  (And paddling is fun!)

The trip is open to the public and families are encouraged.  People are invited to bring their own canoes or kayaks, and a limited number of canoes will be available for those without a boat.

People are encouraged to pack a lunch (in a waterproof bag, of course) for a picnic at River Junction park. The usual advisories about life jackets, water bottles and hydration, hats and sunscreen are in effect.  There is no cost but people are asked to register by July 15 by contacting John Christenson at jdchris36@gmail.com, giving name(s), email, need for a boat or have one to loan.  In case of inclement weather or other need for cancellation, news will be posted on the Iowa River Friends website, www.iowariverfriends.org.   For more information contact Bob Sessions at 471-0517 or sessions.bob@gmail.com. 

The "Tri-P--Triathlon With a Twist" was rescheduled due to unsafe water levels.

This unique triathlon combines a 3.1 mi canoe/kayak race, 3.4 mi bike ride, and 9 hole 2-person best shot golf round. The TRI-P is held annually at the Pleasant Valley Sports Club in Clermont. 

Registration will be open from 7:30 am-8:45 am, and the race begins 9:00 am. Participants must be 18 or older, wear a PFD on the water, and provide their own equipment (rentals available for additional fee). Register early to receive event t-shirt. 

Find event details and registration at 

http://www.turkeyrivercorridor.com/turkey-river-tri-p-triathlon/

Event will be held 6:00-8:00 pm. Meet at launch site, Prospect Rd between MLK Parkway and Hickman Rd. Trip leader and speaker will be John Wenck, Iowa DNR Water Trails Coordinator.

As it passes through Iowa's capitol city, the Des Moines River trades a bit of its natural beauty for some history and culture. The city grew up along the banks of the river. Her residents depended on the river for sustenance and recreation, yet at the same time the river was a barrier to be bridged or forded.  Listen to the stories of how past residents of the city were connected to this important resource over the past 150 years.

After meeting at the launch site and shuttling cars to Birdland, we will float down to the Curt Systma & Ellen King Huntoon House to enjoy refreshments and a tour of the century old house they lovingly restored to its original Victorian grandeur. There is a white sand beach below this house where we can land our paddle craft, then climb the steep stairs to this beautiful Victorian home.

Dress for the weather, consider protection from the sun, and rain gear if appropriate. If you wish to bring personal items such as wallet, cell phone, camera and keys, a dry bag is recommended.  While this is considered a safe route, being on the river always poses some risk. Life jackets are required. We recommend that new paddlers come with a more experienced paddler and share a canoe. Event co-sponsored with the Department of Natural Resources.

Special Note: This event will include the same content as the July 30th Pontoon History Float, however participants will paddle at this event. Because of limited space, we ask that participants who are capable of paddling sign up for this day, rather than the 30th.

Space is limited, so reserve your spot: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wFMwK_cG6YuZ3gma0dNIMp9APPrX-DXnYoDX59zxyF4/viewform?c=0&w=1 

For more info about this event, or efforts to create a Des Moines Area Water Trails Master Plan, visit http://dmampo.org/water-trails/ 

Floatilla "Locking Through" on the Mississippi River during Great River Rumble 2014. G.Stark photo.

Approximately 185 paddlers were involved in the 2014 GRR weeklong paddling and camping adventure covering 110 miles from Prairie duSac, Wisconsin, down the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers to Guttenberg, Iowa, 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 a few from as far away as Colorado and California.

The 2015 Great River Rumble, covering 106 miles, will originate in Iowa, ending in Illinois, with the following intinerary: 

Event will be held 6:00-8:00 pm. Meet at launch site, Prospect Rd between MLK Parkway and Hickman Rd. Trip leader and speaker will be John Wenck, Iowa DNR Water Trails Coordinator.

The Des Moines river loses a bit of its natural beauty as it passes through the city, but what it loses in natural beauty it gains in history and culture. The city grew up along the banks of the river. Her residents depended on the river for sustenance and recreation, yet at the same time the river was a barrier to be bridged or forded.  Listen to the stories of how past residents of the city were connected to this important resource over the past 150 years.

After meeting at the launch site at Prospect Park we will motor down to the Curt Systma & Ellen King Huntoon House to enjoy refreshments and a tour of the century old house they lovingly restored to its original Victorian grandeur. There is a white sand beach below this house where we will disembark, then climb the steep stairs to this beautiful Victorian home. Dress for the weather, consider protection from the sun, and bring rain gear if appropriate. Event co-sponsored with the Department of Natural Resources.

Special Note: This event will include the same content as the July 23rd History Float, however participants will ride on a pontoon. Because of limited space, we ask that participants who are capable of paddling consider the July 23rd event.

Space is limited, so reserve your spot https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19a3TgGURa-v8chZqS9BmZo79MZdsARaRzPH9SkgJkK4/viewform?c=0&w=1 

For more info about this event, or efforts to create a Des Moines Area Water Trails Master Plan, visit http://dmampo.org/water-trails/

Photo courtesy of Louisa CCB

By the light of full moon we will explore the calm waters of the Odessa Wildlife Complex, learning about the animals of the night during this educational paddle. Our round trip will start and end at Snively Campground on the Odessa Water Trail. Participants will leisurely paddle around Odessa, stopping along the way to hear various stories of the nocturnal animals found at Odessa. 

Registration is required for this event, and participation is limited to twenty boats.  Canoes and kayaks are available for rent. The canoe rental fee is $20 while the kayak rental fee is $15. If participants are bringing their own boat, the registration fee is $5. Participants should pay the night of the event with cash or check. 

The paddle is open to everyone but, due to the darkness, is not recommended for young children or those with little paddling experience. Children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 

More info and online registration at: 

http://www.louisacountyconservation.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=79:full-moon-float&Itemid=528

Clean Water for Iowa will be showcased in a new partnership between Iowa Rivers Revival (IRR) and the Hinterland Music Festival. Hinterland Music Festival is a weekend of great blue grass and folk music under the Midwest stars and backdrop of the Des Moines skyline - located in Water Works Park, a 1,500-acre oasis in the center of the city.

The inaugural festival features a lineup handpicked by First Fleet Concerts' Sam Summers, including Old Crow Medicine Show, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, TV on the Radio, Future Islands, Brandi Carlile, Yonder Mountain String Band and more.

Roz Lehman, executive director of IRR, said, "The festival provides an excellent opportunity to connect Iowans to important issues that affect Iowa's water quality and natural resources.  We look forward to this opportunity to build awareness and support for these important issues."

Hinterland Festival will feature IRR's "River Village" to provide an educational and interactive forum for kids and adults, and raise awareness about Iowa's water quality problems and opportunities for improvement. IRR is championing a statewide river restoration program to improve, protect and enhance Iowa's rivers for years to come.  Natural river restoration provides a low-cost, sustainable approach to help improve water quality, reduce flood damage, protect land and infrastructure (bridges, trails, roads), and enhance wildlife and the environment. The Festival's "River Village" will include a large collaborative art installation, hands-on activities at the Iowa State University "Water Rocks!" Conservation Station, "Clean Water" interactive displays and activities for all ages, plus information and maps about Iowa's 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Festival Tickets are $75/2-day or $45/day (camping is additional). River Village volunteers are needed, and volunteers will receive a festival ticket for a four-hour shift. Volunteers should contact IRR at: rlehman@iowarivers.org or 515.724.4093.

More details about the Hinterland Festival, including tickets and camping information, can be found at:

www.hinterlandiowa.com/   or www.cleanwaterfest.org   or www.iowarivers.org

Oct 2; Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) Annual Conference, Des Moines.