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IWTA
Newsletter
Iowa Water Trails Association
September, 2015
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| PICK, CLICK and READ |
| Sep 6 Turkey River Paddle & Wadena Chicken Dinner | | Sep 9 VA TEE Tournament Vets Paddle Challenged to Recruit More Volunteers, Boats, Gear | | Sep 12 Annual Iowa River Cleanup, Sturgis to Hills | | Sep 12 & 13 Motor Mill Free Tours, Turkey River WT | | Sep 13 Pelican Festival, Coralville Lake, Swisher | | Sep 14-15 IDNR Canoe & Kayak School Sessions Resume | | Sep 19 Dragoon River Romp, Des Moines River, Boone County | | Sep 26 Upper Iowa River Cleanup, Chimney Rock Campground | | Sep 26 & 27 Motor Mill Free Tours, Turkey River WT | | "Owl-y Paddling" with Jim Pease--Help Solve the Mystery | | Goats Vs. Invasive Species Along Iowa Streams | | Oct Newsletter Will Feature Reports from Summer 2015 Events--Let us Hear from You! | | Oct 2 IEC Annual Conference, Early Bird Reg Ends Sep 4 | | October On-Water Events Offer Fall Colors | | Key Dates & Details for Statewide & Midwest Events | | Quick Look At the Weeks Ahead | | Answer to Where Is It? Quiz | | Answer to What Is It? Quiz | | Thanks to IWTA Readers |
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Todd Robertson, Glenn Harmon, and John Wenck, instructors in the Iowa DNR Canoe and Kayak Classes, recently updated their canoe instructor certifications for another 4 years. They and several others demonstrated their paddling and safety skills during a weekend session on the Winnebago and Shell Rock rivers (see photo below).
We encourage paddlers at all levels to include skills development in the mix with recreation, fishing, photography, adventure, or just having fun on the water. Whether it's taking some time to focus on improving your strokes, participating in an organized class, joining in winter pool sessions, learning basic rescue techniques, or attending spring refreshers, you will become a more efficient, confident, and safer paddler. You will also find yourself becoming a greater asset to your paddling group.
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Canoe instructor certification participants demonstrate rigging lines to unpin a boat caught against an obstruction in the river.
Photo by John Wenck.
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The busy calendar continues, with a variety of day paddling trips, cleanups, training sessions, family events, and volunteer opportunities. And note that WT paddling events are scheduled well into October.
Iowa weather seems to include one surprise after another, and 9 inches of rain in a watershed both is a surprise, and can cause additional surprises on area streams. As always -- Please be careful out there! Remember to wear your PFD, paddle with others, know your capabilities, and file a float plan.
We do our best to include all corrections, cancellations, and reschedules ASAP in our newsletters and other materials, but the most current info on events will probably always be the Events Calendar on the IWTA Website. Please contact us with your further additions or corrections:
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Where Is It? Quiz
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Make your best guess,
then click on:
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What Is It? Quiz
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What Is It? Make your best guess, then click on:
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Sep 6; Turkey River Paddle, Wadena Chicken Dinner with Sticks In the Water
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Nick Gaeta invites you to join Sticks In the Water Paddlers for a unique combo: A Sunday Turkey River Paddle followed by a Fireman's BBQ Chicken Dinner in Wadena (5:00-8:30 pm).
Nick plans to meet at 10:00 am, and hit the Turkey River somewhere around Elkader for a 14 mile paddle. Water levels will dictate the exact section, with a final call by Friday, Sep 4.
For more info, contact Nick Gaeta, nick.gaeta@live.com, 319-360-0220
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Sep 9; VA TEE Tournament Vets Paddle Lost Major Source of Support -- Will Need More Volunteers, Boats & Gear
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| | Blind veteran receiving basic instruction and foot peg adjustments. |
Organizers recently learned that Seatasea Watersports will close its doors on September 1, and will not be able to provide boats, paddles, and PFDs for this year's VA Vets Paddle in Riverside. Organizers are working to recruit even more volunteers, borrowed boats, and gear than usual.
This year's Vets Paddle will be held from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm on Wednesday, September 9, at the sand pit across Hwy 22 from Riverside Casino, Riverside, IA. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Gregg Stark in advance at greggpeggystark@yahoo.com.
While cool or wet weather can decrease Vet participation on the day of the event, the goal of organizers is to have approximately 25 volunteers and 50 boats on hand, along with adequate numbers of paddles and PFDs. Experienced paddlers generally prefer narrower touring boats, but the Veterans, who may experience balance issues, generally do better in wider recreation kayaks. The volunteer network has been able to increase the number of borrowed rec boats, often from supportive folks who cannot escape their day jobs on a Wednesday.
The TEE Tournament draws approximately 200 veterans, each accompanied by a support person. Participation in the Vets Paddle is limited to 50 Vets, and this year will be split between two morning and one afternoon sessions. Volunteers assist with PFD-fitting and launching/recovery on shore, or partner and coach Vets on the water, providing encouragement and a safety presence in both areas. VA medical staff members assist the transport of mobility-impaired individuals, ensure proper hydration, and provide other support as needed.
The Vets Paddle is an "alternative activity," (others include bowling and horseback riding) to expand the variety of experiences offered to the participating Veterans beyond golf. The VA introduced paddling in 2009, with equipment contracted from out of state. Beginning in 2010, the event became a totally volunteer effort, combining the resources of Seatasea Watersports and members of the Saukenuk and Sticks In the Water paddler groups. Volunteers are now compromised of paddlers from many parts of Iowa, linked via email, recruiting friends to maintain the "pool."
The TEE Tournament provides eligible Veterans with an opportunity to participate in therapeutic adaptive sporting activities which demonstrate that having a visual or physical disability need not be an obstacle to an active, rewarding life. The first TEE Tournament was held in June 1994 in Nauvoo, Illinois, at the Great River Bend Golf Course. The inaugural event drew 36 legally blind Veterans from six Midwestern states. The event was moved to the Iowa City area in 1995 and has been held there ever since. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) endorsed this event in 2008 and it became one of VA's six national rehabilitation programs for Veterans. The event has expanded to include not only Veterans who are legally blind, but also amputees, those who use wheelchairs, and Veterans with other disabilities. For Veterans from coast to coast, this event continues to grow in both level of involvement and popularity each year.
More info about the TEE Tournament can be found at:http://www1,.va.gov/opa/speceven/tee/index.asp
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Sep 12; Annual Iowa River Cleanup, Sturgis to Hills, Seeking Volunteers on Water & Land
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Volunteers are being sought for the annual Iowa River Cleanup, in which participants in canoes and on riverbanks will haul trash out of a 9.5 mile section from Iowa City to Hills.
Volunteers who have their own canoes are invited to register and join the launch at 7:30 am at Sturgis Boat Ferry on South Riverside Drive, just south of Hwy 6 in Iowa City. A limited number of canoes will also be available to loan to volunteers who register and request a canoe before September 5.
Volunteers are also needed to work on land the day of the cleanup, helping to clear trash from riverbanks, offload junk from canoes, and sort collected materials for recycling. Land volunteers should meet at Noon at Hills Access, a rural park on the river, half a miles east of Hills on 520th St.
Register at http://www.iarvcp.org/
Event info available via Carol Sweeting carol-sweeting@iowa-city.org or 319-541-2385, or via Dan Ceynar, dlceynar@engineering.uiowa.edu
Photo courtesy of event organizers.
Return to Top
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Sep 12 & 13; Free Tours of Motor Mill, Turkey River WT
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| | Photo of iconic Motor Mill by Larry Stone. |
Enjoy these opportunities to combine a paddle on the beautiful Turkey River WT with a tour of the historic 1860's Motor Mill, related buildings, and town site. Free tours are available Noon - 5:00 pm on scheduled weekends during May-September, or group tours by appointment. Scheduled open weekends for 2015 are listed on the website. Motor Mill Historic Site is located on Galaxy Road, Elkader, IA 52043. For more information about Motor Mill or the tours, call: 563-245-1516 or visit: www.motormill.org
Paddling Elkader (Access 39B) to Motor Mill (Access 32)
Visitors are drawn to Elkader's unique history, eclectic shops, ethnic restaurants, performances at the Elkader Opera House, campgrounds, B&Bs, and multi-use trails. This 6.5 mile scenic Water Trail section of river is accessed from historic downtown Elkader (#39B), below the dam. The river is relatively straight until you pass the mouth of Robert's Creek, where it begins to meander between the wooded bluffs of a narrow valley, offering occasional riffles. Rounding a bend, you will encounter the iconic stone Motor Mill. Takeout #32 will be just past the mill, on your left. Beyond the Motor Mill Access, the next take-out point is 12.4 miles downstream at Garber (#20). Find more info about the Turkey River WT, order hard-copy maps, or download pdf maps at: http://northeastiowarcd.org/publications/water-trail-maps-guides/
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Sep 13; Coralville Lake Pelican Festival, Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Swisher
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| Photo of Pelicans at Coralville Lake
by Lois Albrecht. |
(Info courtesy of Iowa Audubon.)
The annual Coralville Lake Pelican Festival will be held on September 13 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the DNR headquarters at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 2564 Amana Road N.W., Swisher, IA 52338.
The festival will center around large migratory flocks of American White Pelicans that stop to rest and forage for fish here on Coralville Lake. Interpreters from local birding groups will be present to help visitors view pelicans through binoculars and spotting scopes (provided).
Besides pelican viewing, from 12:30 to 3 PM, short talks will be presented, featuring subjects on pelicans, the fish of Coralville Lake, Ornate Box Turtles, and mussels (freshwater clams). At least 15 exhibitors will have displays about conservation and other topics about nature and the outdoors. Iowa Audubon will feature a silent auction of bird-related items, with proceeds going to the group's conservation projects.
Indian Creek Nature Center will feature a gift shop with many nature-related items for all ages. A local charitable organization food vendor will also offer lunch items, snacks and beverages for purchase, and kids can get free face paintings from Funny Face Designs.
This event is sponsored by Iowa Audubon, the Iowa City Bird Club, Cedar Rapids Audubon, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Iowa DNR.
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Sep 14-15; IDNR Canoe School, Final Session for 2015
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Canoe School participants navigating rapids
on the Boone River. Photo by Todd Robertson
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From Todd Robertson, IDNR River Programs Outreach Coordinator:
"The Iowa DNR 2-day Canoe/Kayak School courses are a great way to improve skills for people who help get others out on the water. You are expected to have some previous experience, but not expertise. The intent is to increase safety, lower stress, have fun, and pay knowledge forward, based on American Canoe Association instructional foundations. Time is divided between some classroom and hands-on experience on a lake environment and then a river.
"Participants from past schools rated the training extremely helpful. They were also surprised by how much there was to learn and how intensive this course is. The the two-day classes will be held along the Boone River at Briggs Woods, in Hamilton County. These classes will fill up fast."
Details about course content, accommodations, gear to bring, & registration forms for all classes:
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/CanoeingKayaking/PaddlerResources/InstructionSafety.aspx
For any questions, contact Todd Robertson at 515-979-9538 or 515-725-2960 or email: todd.robertson@dnr.iowa.gov
Sep 14-15; IDNR Canoe School for Naturalists & Trip Leaders. Briggs Woods Park, Boone River. Focus on skills, hazard ID, teaching & learning styles, risk management. Two days, for canoes only, ACA instructors, $25, limited space, preregistration required.
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Sep 19; 10th Annual Dragoon River Romp, Des Moines River, Boone County
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Saturday, September 19 is the date of the 10th Annual Dragoon River Romp on the Des Moines River in Boone County. The cleanup will cover the stretch from the E-57 boat ramp to the 210 boat ramp.
At the conclusion of the cleanup, all volunteers will be transported back to Seven Oaks for lunch and an awards presentation. Canoes and transportation to and from the river are provided. This event is free, with paddlers limited to 100, land based volunteers to 45.
For more info, visit the web site:
Or contact Lois Powers, Program Coordinator Phone: 515-433-0591
E-mail: kbcb@boonelandfill.org
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Sep 26; Annual Upper Iowa River Cleanup, Chimney Rock Campground
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Chimney Rock Campground will host its annual Upper Iowa River Cleanup on Saturday, September 26.
Meet for light breakfast & sack lunch at 8:00 am, then dispatch to an 8 mile river section. Volunteers receive one night free camping.
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Sep 26 & 27; Free Tours of Motor Mill, Turkey River WT
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| | Photo of iconic Motor Mill by Larry Stone. |
Enjoy these opportunities to combine a paddle on the beautiful Turkey River WT with a tour of the historic 1860's Motor Mill, related buildings, and town site. Free tours are available Noon - 5:00 pm on scheduled weekends during May-September, or group tours by appointment. Scheduled open weekends for 2015 are listed on the website. Motor Mill Historic Site is located on Galaxy Road, Elkader, IA 52043. For more information about Motor Mill or the tours, call: 563-245-1516 or visit: www.motormill.org
Paddling Elkader (Access 39B) to Motor Mill (Access 32)
Visitors are drawn to Elkader's unique history, eclectic shops, ethnic restaurants, performances at the Elkader Opera House, campgrounds, B&Bs, and multi-use trails. This 6.5 mile scenic Water Trail section of river is accessed from historic downtown Elkader (#39B), below the dam. The river is relatively straight until you pass the mouth of Robert's Creek, where it begins to meander between the wooded bluffs of a narrow valley, offering occasional riffles. Rounding a bend, you will encounter the iconic stone Motor Mill. Takeout #32 will be just past the mill, on your left. Beyond the Motor Mill Access, the next take-out point is 12.4 miles downstream at Garber (#20). Find more info about the Turkey River WT, order hard-copy maps, or download pdf maps at: http://northeastiowarcd.org/publications/water-trail-maps-guides/
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"Owl-y Paddling" & Request for Your Help from Jim Pease
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| | Great Horned Owl photo by Jim Pease |
"Owl-y Paddling from Jim Pease"
Over the past 2 paddling seasons, I've been doing interpretive and biological surveys for the Iowa Water Trails Program. I've now paddled over 1100 miles of 10 Iowa rivers and have observations and photos of many Iowa wildlife species. I've learned a tremendous amount about Iowa rivers and river critters, Some of the more curious have been the sightings of owls.
Paddling alone, I've been privileged to see hundreds of owls. Paddling quietly and alone, they flush from the shoreline as I round a corner or come within their view. Some have been barred owls, Strix varia. They are the most diurnal (day-dwelling) and the most aquatic of Iowa's owl species. The vast majority, however, have been great horned owls, Bubo virginianus. Twice I observed them carrying snakes in their talons, indicating that they had been actively hunting-in the daytime! And mostly they flush not from the trees but rather from the banks, often only 3-5 feet above the water level. Curious, to be sure, for a supposedly nocturnal, arboreal owl,
I have developed some ideas about just why I am seeing so many great horned owls and why they are so common along our rivers. But, I'd like to hear about other paddlers' observations first. Please tell me about any that you have seen while paddling. On what rivers have you seen them? What time of day or night? What kind of numbers are you seeing, in say, owls per river mile paddled? What species have you been seeing? Be as specific as possible BUT I'll also be happy to receive any anecdotal information and stories. Please send them to me as soon as possible at: jlpease@iastate.edu
Thanks for your help. More on this topic later in this space!
Jim Pease
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Goats Proving A Valuable Tool Against Invasive Species Along Iowa Streams
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Grazing Goats
Thanks to Joe Wilkinson
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
No doubt about it; 60 grazing goats make a huge dent in an overgrown creek corridor. Two weeks after being turned loose in Ensign Hollow state wildlife area, they have chewed their way through over three acres of giant ragweed, stinging nettles, wild parsnip, poison ivy and just about anything else a land manager does NOT want to see.
It's opening the eyes of public and private landowners.
"How could a landowner NOT like this? It has too many positives!" queried Eric Boehm, who owns land near Bear Creek, another Clayton County trout stream.
Boehm and other landowners, USDA workers and DNR biologists recently checked the progress of the goat experiment.
The results are impressive. On one side of a temporary electric fence, nettles, ragweed and other thick vegetation stood head-high. On the goats' side, it looked like a heavily grazed farm timber. Larger trees had not been on the menu, and much of the grass had been ignored. In between, though, the undesirable woody vegetation-willow shoots, box elder, buckthorn-was pretty well chewed on...and just stems remained of broadleaf stands; particularly nettles and ragweed.
"You really don't want to walk through all that stuff," said DNR fisheries supervisor Mike Steuck; who led the informal tour. "We are trying to open up this area, so folks who want to fish, hunt, trap, bird watch or hike can get through more effectively." The area is best known among trout anglers. Rolling through with 60 degree water on this 85 degree summer afternoon, Hewitt Creek is a catch and release, artificial lure only stream. It's a little out of the way, but that isolation-and 18-inch trout which show up on stream surveys-make it attractive to dedicated anglers. IF they can get to it.
Pine Hill Farms owns the goats, two guard donkeys and the electric fence that keeps them inside. The agreement includes a 'second helping' later this season, to keep the vegetation knocked back. The DNR is paying $2,000 for the trial project. Steuck says that compares pretty well to the cost of bringing in equipment and a crew for a few days.
The goats were moved across the stream after a week or so, to chomp their way through the other side of the seven acre wildlife area. They watched the tour quietly from a wooded area. Occasionally one would walk out-with a mouthful of green-to look things over.
Though still early, the Ensign Hollow experiment suggests a lot of options. "This could be another tool in our tool box; to keep areas in prairie, versus having succession go to woody vegetation and trees that we cannot actively manage without a lot of manpower," offers Steuck. "We might use them in areas with hard access; steep banks, rocky shorelines. Goats are sure-footed and can climb up and down that stuff. People can't."
Several 'goat for hire' companies have arisen across Wisconsin and Iowa. The recurring question Tuesday was, 'how much will it cost, with more goats available?' For now, though, Hewitt Creek--an area purchased and maintained with fishing and hunting dollars---is open for business again.
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October IWTA Newsletter Will Feature Reports From Summer 2015 Events--Toot Your Horn!
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It's time to "toot your horn!"
Reports, results, lessons learned, and future plans, all based on the summer events of 2015, will be featured in the October IWTA Newsletter. With the noteworthy increase in all types of Water Trail-related events this year, newsletter space was devoted to looking ahead. October will give us a bit of a breather, and a chance to reflect back on the "busy season."
We look forward to sharing your successes, lessons-learned, and maybe some new ideas to improve your programming for 2016.
We have already received some event reports, and some events have been covered by the media, but we welcome emails summarizing your events from YOUR perspective.
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Oct 2; Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) Annual Conference, "Elevate," Des Moines
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Latest Event Updates!
Join more than 200 of Iowa's top environmental leaders at the Iowa Environmental Council's 2015 Annual Conference, "Elevate: Creating an Environment of Action," on Friday, October 2, 2015 at Drake University in Des Moines.
This year's conference, which also marks the Council's 20th anniversary, promises to be an informative and engaging day, featuring keynote speaker Chad Pregracke, 2013 CNN Hero of the Year and founder and president of Living Lands and Waters; a nonprofit river cleanup organization.
Seven sessions featuring a dynamic slate of speakers hailing from across Iowa, the Midwest and as far as Washington D.C. will take the stage to share their knowledge and expertise at the Iowa Environmental Council's 2015 Annual Conference, Elevate: Creating an Environment of Action, on Friday, October 2, 2015 at Drake University in Des Moines.
Learn about work being done in Iowa to elevate agricultural action on climate issues, be inspired by one man's quest to clean up our rivers one piece of garbage at a time, dive into the sociology of sustainability, engage in conversations about bridging the clean energy divide, and more!
As always, the conference will also feature networking opportunities, top-notch exhibitors and a delicious lunch featuring seasonal produce.
More info about speakers, session topics, exhibitor space, etc. at http://www.iaenvironment.org/ or contact Communications & Outreach Director Katy Heggen at 515-244-1194 x210.
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October On-Water Events Will Provide Fall Color Opportunities for Paddlers (& Photographers)
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| Fall paddling on the North Fork Maquoketa.
Photo by G.Stark |
On-water adventures will continue well into October with at least these four planned events, hoping to catch a bit of crisp air and both bright and subtle fall colors. Watch for full details in our upcoming "Mid-Mo" issue, coming to you around September 15.
Oct 3; "Shores of Clinton County Paddle," Meet at Gambrill Access, Old Hwy 61 South of DeWitt. Check in, ready to launch by 9:00 am. Enjoy fall colors, but prepare for cooler weather. Paddle 8 miles to McCausland Access, arriving around 4:00 pm. Optional camping on the river to continue trip in the morning. Some boats available for rent. Register at 563-259-1876. More info in the "Heron" newsletter http://www.clintoncounty-ia.gov/Page/Conservation.aspx Oct 4; "Shores of Clinton County Paddle," Meet at McCausland Access, McCausland. Check in, ready to launch by 9:00 am. Enjoy fall colors, but prepare for cooler weather. Paddle 10.5 miles through Upper Mississippi Wildlife & Fish Refuge, out the mouth of the Wapsi, up Hansen Slough into Sodus Slough, Shaft Creek, arriving at Rock Creek Park by 4:00 pm. Some boats available for rent. Register at 563-259-1876. More info in the "Heron" newsletter http://www.clintoncounty-ia.gov/Page/Conservation.aspx Oct 10; Annual Jones County Fall Colors Canoe Outing, North Fork Maquoketa River, Jones CCB. Plan to float 16 river miles, meet at D61 Whitewater Bridge for 8:00 am shuttle. Trip recommended for experienced paddlers only. Oct 15; Maquoketa River Midweek Paddle, Jackson CCB. Sign up for this midweek paddling trip to enjoy the fall colors along a beautiful stretch (Bridgeport to Iron Bridge) of the Maquoketa River on Thursday, Oct 15, starting at 4:00 pm. Canoes & kayaks available free on a first-come-first-serve basis. RSVP is required by Oct 12. Call Jackson CCB at Home 563-652-3783 or visit http://www.jacksonccb.com/ Oct 27; Full Moon. Sunrise 7:33, Sunset 6:08, Moonrise 6:38 CDT
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Key Dates & Details for 2015 Statewide & Midwest Events--Mark Your Calendar
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Oct 21-23; Iowa Tourism Conference, Bridge View Center in Ottumwa.
Annual educational and networking event for tourism professionals.
Oct 25-28; Mid America Trails & Greenways (MATAG) Conference in Des Moines--Save the Dates.
MATAG is a regional event held every other year, bringing together trail and greenway interests from
 IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH and WI. The conference is intended to showcase great projects, share ideas, and network. Iowa is hosting the event this year for the first time.
Outdoor activities and field trips will include the new Water Works Park plans and paddles, Des Moines River walks, High Trestle Trail rides, Jester Park equestrian rides, and possibly OHV/snowmobile activities as well as indoor presentations in the areas of funding, maintenance, design, and health. The conference will be headquartered at Embassy Suites Des Moines and central Iowa trails. Preliminary info has been posted on their website, and details will be added as finalized: http://www.matag.org/
Nov 9-10; Iowa Nonprofit Summit 2015, Ames. Biennial conference offering learning opportunities and resources for Iowa nonprofit & volunteer management professionals; keynote presentations, break-out sessions, networking, and exhibitors. For the latest conference news, follow #IAnpsummit online, or visit www.regonline.com/npsummit2015 where you can join an event e-mail list. If you have questions, or need more information, contact the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service at icvs@iowa.gov, or 515.725.3094 (toll-free: 800.308.5987).
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PLANNING CALENDAR: A Quick Look at the Weeks Ahead
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Aug 29; Full Moon. Sunrise 6:29, Sunset 7:46, Moonrise 7:41 CDT
Sep 6; Combine a 14 mile paddle on the Turkey River with a half chicken Dinner at the Wadena Fire Station. Meet at 10:00 am for shuttle, dinner starts at 5:00 pm. Exact paddle route is water level dependent and will be posted by Sep 4 on the Sticks In the Water section of the Iowa Paddler Forum at http://iowapaddling.prophpbb.com/forum11.html?sid=2c8c14b1866bf58f17c89599fc3a5679 For more info, contact Nick Gaeta, nick.gaeta@live.com, 319-360-0220 (c)
Sep 9; Disabled Veteran Kayaking/Canoeing event at Riverside. In conjunction with VA National TEE Tournament, Riverside Casino, Riverside, IA; infoabout TEE Tournament at http://www1,.va.gov/opa/speceven/tee/index.asp. Volunteers & boats needed; contact Gregg Stark, greggpeggystark@yahoo.com
Sep 12; Annual Iowa River Cleanup, Sturgis to Hills. Registration at at http://www.iarvcp.org/. Event info available via Carol Sweeting carol-sweeting@iowa-city.org or 319-541-2385, or via Dan Ceynar, dlceynar@engineering.uiowa.edu
Sep 12 & 13; Motor Mill Free Tours, Turkey River WT. Enjoy a tour of the historic 1860's Motor Mill, related buildings, and town site. Consider combining the tour with a paddle on the beautiful Turkey River WT. Free tours are available Noon - 5:00 pm on scheduled weekends during May-September, or group tours by appointment. Motor Mill Historic Site, Galaxy Road,
Elkader. For more info about Motor Mill or the tours, call: 563-245-1516 or visit:
Sep 13; Coralville Lake Pelican Festival, Hawkeye Wildlife Area, Swisher. Will be held 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the DNR headquarters at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 2564 Amana Road N.W., Swisher, IA 52338. Viewing area, telescopes, exhibitors. Iowa Audubon event hosted with the Iowa DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iowa City Bird Club and Cedar Rapids Audubon Society. Website: http://www.coralvillelake.org
Sep 14-15 (was 15-16); IDNR Canoe School for Naturalists & Trip Leaders. Briggs Woods Park, Boone River. Focus on skills, hazard ID, teaching & learning styles, risk management. Two days, for canoes only, ACA instructors, $25, limited space, preregistration required. Details & reg forms at
Sep 17-19; Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards Fall Conference, Cedar Rapids. Tours, exhibits, demonstrations, presentations. http://mycountyparks.weebly.com/2015-fall-conference.html Sep 19; 10th Annual Dragoon River Romp, Des Moines River, Boone County. River cleanup from the E-57 boat ramp to the 210 boat ramp. At the conclusion of the cleanup, all volunteers will be transported back to Seven Oaks for lunch and awards presentation. Canoes and transportation to and from the river are provided. Event is free, paddlers limited to 100, land based volunteers to 45. Web site: http://www.boonecounty.iowa.gov/index.aspx?page=373 Or contact Lois Powers, Program Coordinator Phone: 515-433-0591 E-mail: kbcb@boonelandfill.org http://www.boonecounty.iowa.gov/landfill
Sep 23; Autumnal Equinox, 1st Day of Autumn. Sep 26; Annual Upper Iowa River Cleanup, Chimney Rock Campground. Volunteers receive one night free camping. Meet for light breakfast & sack lunch at 8:00 am, dispatch to 8 mile river section. http://www.chimneyrocks.com/events.html
Sep 26 & 27; Motor Mill Free Tours, Turkey River WT. Enjoy a tour of the historic 1860's Motor Mill, related buildings, and town site. Consider combining the tour with a paddle on the beautiful Turkey River WT. Free tours are available Noon - 5:00 pm on scheduled weekends during May-September, or group tours by appointment. Motor Mill Historic Site, Galaxy Road, Elkader. For more info about Motor Mill or the tours, call: 563-245-1516 or visit: www.motormill.org
Sep 27; Full Moon. Sunrise 6:59, Sunset 6:56, Moonrise 6:49 CDT
Oct 2; Iowa Environmental Council Annual Conference, Drake University, Des Moines. Join more than 200 of Iowa's top environmental leaders at the Iowa Environmental Council's 2015 Annual Conference, "Elevate: Creating an Environment of Action," on Friday, October 2, 2015 at Drake University in Des Moines. This year's conference, which also marks the Council's 20th anniversary, promises to be an informative and engaging day, featuring keynote speaker Chad Pregracke, 2013 CNN Hero of the Year and founder and president of Living Lands and Waters; a nonprofit river cleanup organization. Early-bird registration ends September 4: http://iaenvironment.org/conference/2015/register.php More info about speakers, session topics, exhibitor space, and registration at http://www.iaenvironment.org/ or contact Communications & Outreach Director Katy Heggen at 515-244-1194 x210.
Oct 3; "Shores of Clinton County Paddle," Meet at Gambrill Access, Old Hwy 61 South of DeWitt. Check in, ready to launch by 9:00 am. Enjoy fall colors, but prepare for cooler weather. Paddle 8 miles to McCausland Access, arriving around 4:00 pm. Optional camping on the river to continue trip in the morning. Some boats available for rent. Register at 563-259-1876. More info in the "Heron" newsletter http://www.clintoncounty-ia.gov/Page/Conservation.aspx
Oct 4; "Shores of Clinton County Paddle," Meet at McCausland Access, McCausland. Check in, ready to launch by 9:00 am. Enjoy fall colors, but prepare for cooler weather. Paddle 10.5 miles through Upper Mississippi Wildlife & Fish Refuge, out the mouth of the Wapsi, up Hansen Slough into Sodus Slough, Shaft Creek, arriving at Rock Creek Park by 4:00 pm. Some boats available for rent. Register at 563-259-1876. More info in the "Heron" newsletter http://www.clintoncounty-ia.gov/Page/Conservation.aspx
Oct 10; Annual Jones County Fall Colors Canoe Outing, Jones CCB. Plan to float North Fork Maquoketa River, 16 river miles, 8:00 am shuttle. Trip recommended for experienced paddlers only.
Oct 15; Maquoketa River Midweek Paddle, Jackson CCB. Sign up for this midweek paddling trip to enjoy the fall colors along a beautiful stretch (Bridgeport to Iron Bridge) of the Maquoketa River on Thursday, Oct 15, starting at 4:00 pm. Canoes & kayaks available free on a first-come-first-serve basis. RSVP is required by Oct 12. Call Jackson CCB at Home 563-652-3783 or visit http://www.jacksonccb.com/
Oct 21-23; Iowa Tourism Conference, Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. Annual educational and networking event for tourism professionals. Registration opens June 23. http://www.traveliowa.com/conference
Oct 25-28; Mid America Trails and Greenways (MATAG) Conference in Des Moines. Indoor presentations, outdoor activities to showcase great projects, share ideas, and network with participants from eight Midwestern states. Details and registration at: http://www.matag.org/
Oct 27; Full Moon. Sunrise 7:33, Sunset 6:08, Moonrise 6:38 CDT
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Where Is It? Quiz ANSWER
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| Grandsons (and Grandaughters) are great reasons
to get out and explore the unique areas of Iowa. |
The above photo is a shot looking upstream on the Des Moines River, taken from the High Trestle Trail Bridge. At 13 stories above the valley floor, the bridge provides a wide and deep long of the broad Des Moines River valley.
The High Trestle Trail runs for 25 miles through five towns (Ankeny Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward), and through Polk, Story, Boone and Dallas counties. The trail has a paved (concrete and asphalt) surface.
Info about accessing and enjoying the High Trestle Trail:
Need a map to find Madrid and the High Trestle Trail?
The design of the bridge incorporates elements which symbolize the history and culture of the area, provide striking photo subjects, and create a unique identity (read "marketing") for the bridge and trail. Four 42' tall white concrete towers include dark bands to represent the area's coal veins. The 41 steel frames represent the timber cribbing used in the coal mines. Many of the frames are lit at night; more will be as funding is secured. More details on artwork: http://rdgusa.com/high_trestle_trail/latest_news/components.html
Photos by G.Stark
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| In this view downstream from the High Trestle Trail Bridge, the Des Moines River calls to paddlers
to join it for a winding journey through its broad valley. |
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| What Is It? Quiz ANSWER |  Pokeweed catches our attention with a large, colorful stalk, large leaves, and bright berries, but it is important that we (and our children) are aware of the plant's significant safety risk.
Information from Wikipedia:
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), or simply pokeweed, is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 8 feet in height. It is native to the eastern United States and has significant toxicity.
It is considered a major pest species by farmers. Its significant toxicity and its risks to human and animal health are consistently reported, with the whole of the plant toxic and increasing in toxicity through the year. Children are at particular risk of its poisonous purple-red ripe fruit, which supports arguments for eradication.
Even so, it is used as an ornamental in horticulture, and it provokes interest for the variety of its natural products (toxins and other classes), for its ecological role, its historical role in traditional medicine, and for some utility in biomedical research. In the wild, it is easily found growing in pastures, recently cleared areas, and woodland openings, edge habitats such as along fence rows, and in waste places.
Information from Iowa State University Extension Service:
Pokeweed, also called pokeberry or inkberry, is a tall, simple perennial herb, growing from a thick, fleshy root. Pokeweed grows from the crown of the thick fleshy root, but reproduces only by seed. Pokeweed is found from Maine to Minnesota and southward, and is fairly common in southern and southeastern Iowa. Usually, it grows in rich pasture lands, in recently cleared areas, along fencerows, and in waste places and open spots in woodlands. Pokeweed has a stout, smooth, somewhat purplish stem that is extensively branched and attains a height of 2 to 8 feet. The fruit develops into a 10-celled fleshy berry with beautiful crimson juice. The seeds are large, lens shaped, glossy, and black. Birds eat the berries and scatter the seeds. This probably accounts for single, isolated plants in areas where pokeweed has never been noticed before.
The entire pokeweed plant contains a poisonous substance similar to saponin. The alkaloid phytolaccine also occurs in small amounts. Most authorities regard the plant as poisonous. Birds are apparently immune to this poison. Animals usually do not eat the plant because of its bitter taste. Humans have been poisoned by eating parts of the root, which is the most poisonous part of the plant. Children are often attracted by the bright crimson juice of the berries and can be poisoned by eating the berries.
Indians used the juice for staining feathers, arrowshafts, and garments. Indians and early settlers used the root in poultices and certain drugs for skin diseases and rheumatism.
From another Wikipedia reference:
The cultural significance of poke sallet, the cooked greens-like dish made from pokeweed, and the rural poverty reflected in its history, is indicated by the popularity of the 1969 hit swamp rock song " Polk Salad Annie", written and first performed by Tony Joe White. The opening lyrics run:
If some of ya'll never been down south too much
I'm gonna tell you a little bit about this
So that you'll understand what I'm talkin' about
Down there we have a plant that grows out in the woods
And in the fields looks somethin' like a turnip green
And everybody calls it polk salad, polk salad
Used to know a girl lived down there
And she'd go out in the evenings and pick her a mess of it
Carry it home and cook it for supper'
Cause that's about all they had to eat, but they did all right....
While it may be part of some American cultures, IWTA recommends that you avoid consuming anything containing any part of the Pokeweed plant.
Photos by G.Stark
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We Hope That You Are Enjoying the "Award-Winning" IWTA Newsletter
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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. Thank you for your continuing support and encouragement.
- Readers who forwarded info about WT-related events around Iowa.
- Readers who provided updates to the IWTA 2015 Planning Calendar.
- Readers who shared items they are reading, or otherwise found interesting.
- Other groups who have added our IWTA Website link to their own website; we like to network!
Please continue to share your events, reports, ideas, quiz topics, and suggestions with us
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Sincerely,
Gregg Stark
Editor, Iowa Water Trails Association Newsletter
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