Two Great Water Trails Opening on June 19

Iowa River Greenbelt Water Trail Dedication

The 52-mile Iowa River Greenbelt Water Trail will be officially dedicated at 10 a.m. June 19, with the Steamboat Rock Portage dedication, followed by the Water Trail and Alden Portage ceremony. A public paddle from the Alden Portage to Weavers Cove will be at 2:30 p.m.

Following the paddle, participants are invited to the Calkins Nature Center for a watershed presentation and complementary meal. The presentation and meal will begin at 6:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own canoe or kayak, although there will be a limited number of canoes and kayaks available to borrow. Contact Dave Sweeney - Southfork Watershed Alliance at dsweeney@iowatelecom.net or 641-373-4340 to reserve a canoe or kayak.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in addition to grants, supported the effort with guidance and advice from the DNR's River Programs team who worked with Hardin County Conservation and volunteer groups to ensure the river trail was developed according to DNR guidelines. The staff also provided physical labor for projects along the trail. The DNR's River Programs team constructed a new portage at the Steamboat Rock Dam in the fall of 2009 with final touches just being completed in the last few weeks.

"The Iowa River and its surrounding greenbelt have had a huge amount of support from the local communities over more than 60 years," said Nate Hoogeveen, River Programs coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "In many ways, this water trails project is a culmination of several generations of conservation and recreation work along the Iowa River in Hardin County."

The dedication is hosted by the Iowa River Greenbelt Resource Trust, Hardin County Conservation, the Iowa DNR and the Southfork Watershed Alliance.

West Nishnabotna Water Trail Grand Opening

A grand opening of the West Nishnabotna Water Trail will be held on Saturday, June 19, with a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m., in the Iowa Edgington Memorial Park in Avoca. The grand opening is hosted by the Pottawattamie Conservation Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Water Trails program.

This day-long event will include a river race, kid's games, a public float and a canoe and kayak demonstration by the DNR's Water Trails team. Avoca mayor Scott Pigsley and Macedonia mayor Terry Pullen will be a few of the speakers at the ribbon cutting.

The West Nishnabotna Water Trail will be a 27 mile segment running from Avoca to Macedonia with access points along the route allowing paddlers to paddle just a section of their choice or the entire trail.

"The Nishnabotna is within a short drive of a huge number of people," said Nate Hoogeveen, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources River Programs. "This river tells a great story of how a river that descends into poor quality can improve over time."

Go to Rubber Duck Outfitters for complete details and a schedule for the events.

Winnebago Water Trail Designation Set for June 13

Join fellow paddlers for a community float down the Winnebago River from Ambroson Park near Leland to Pammel park in Forest City. You can bring your own canoe or rent a kayak from CrawDaddy's for $10. CrawDaddy's phone number is 319-352-9129 and five dollars of that rental fee will be donated back to the Forest City Streamkeepers. The float will begin at 2:00 PM and should last about 2 hours.

Beginning at 4:00 PM, there will be music and a bonfire at Pammel Park. You are also invited to bring along your bike and enjoy the Hynes Spur Bike Trail, play a game of frisbee golf or some other outdoor game, and pack a picnic supper to enjoy at the park.

At 7:00 PM, there will be an official ribbon-cutting to dedicate the Winnebago River Water Trail! We hope you can join us for this day of outdoor fun in Forest City!

The 27-mile Winnebago Water Trail will be dedicated at 7 p.m., June 13, by the Winnebago County Conservation Board and the Iowa DNR. The water trail runs from Dahle Park just northwest of Lake Mills to Pammel Park in Forest City.

Paddlers will gather at 2 p.m. at the Ambroson Recreation Area, in Leland, and paddle 7 miles of the trail ending at Pammel Park. Pre-registration is required for this paddle event.

After the paddle, a bonfire, music, games and bike riding on the trails will take place at Pammel Park, in Forest City. Pack a picnic supper and take part in disc golf, horse shoes and other fun activities. The ceremony and dedication of the water trail will be at 7 p.m. in the park.

"The Winnebago's headwaters is in Winnebago County, and it will make a superb water trail for solitude and wildlife viewing experiences," said Nate Hoogeveen, director of River Programs for the Iowa DNR. "This is the first water trail we will designate that uses entirely local funds. We're happy to see the Forest City community touting all its virtues, and their connection of cycling and paddling sets an example I expect others will emulate."

Director of Winnebago Conservation, Robert Schwartz and Hoogeveen will be a few of the speakers that will help dedicate Iowa's newest water trail. For more information and to pre-register for the paddle portion of the event, visit http://www.winnebagoccb.com/

Come join us as we dedicate the new Winnebago River Trail!

Des Moines River Water Trail Campsite Dedication

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will designate a water trail campsite on the Des Moines River Water Trail at Yellow Banks County Park on October 2.

The Des Moines River in Polk County was designated as a state water trail earlier this spring, but the idea of a paddle-in/paddle-out campsite came as an addendum.

“It became apparent to us that there was a lack of suitable camping opportunities for paddlers along the Des Moines River between Saylorville and Red Rock,” said Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation natural resources specialist. “Yellow Banks seemed like an ideal place.”

The campsite is within 150 feet of the river and includes fire rings, picnic tables, and a shelter area. Reservations for this campsite will soon be available online through http://www.mycountyparks.com/.

The dedication will take place at 6 p.m. at the campsite. Robin Fortney, founder of Central Iowa Paddlers, will be leading a paddling excursion from Pleasant Hill Access (north side of river at Hwy. 65 and Vandalia Road) and arriving at the campsite in time for the dedication. If you are interested in floating this 4-mile stretch of the river, meet at the Pleasant Hill Access at 1 p.m. —you must have your own canoe or kayak.

“This is probably my favorite stretch of the water trail,” said Fortney. “It’s beyond the city limits and offers greater opportunities for wildlife viewing.”

“Primitive campsites accessible from the river are very popular amenities on our water trails,” said John Wenck, DNR river programs outreach coordinator. “It offers paddlers greater solitude and the opportunity for multi-day tripping without the need for daily shuttles.”

For more information on Iowa water trails, see www.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/.