Community Engagement & Educational Events are Being Planned

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The Bremer and Black Hawk County Steering Committees are busy identifying and organizing community events along the Cedar River in Bremer and Black Hawk County for the coming months.

These events will be open to the public (with a few age restrictions) and will require some local volunteers to make them successful.  Additional information will be provided once details are worked out. But please check out the Community Events page for a preliminary listing.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email cedarriverwatertrail@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Meeting Updates

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In case you haven’t seen, I have updated the “Meetings” tab with the most recent agendas and meeting notes for both Bremer County and Black Hawk County. We are working on identifying and working through the details of community events. Once we have a final list of these events, I will post them.  There will be opportunities for you to participate in some manner.

If you are interested in sitting on either of the steering committees, please let me know by sending an email (click here).

Iowa Water Trail Association

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Are you currently receiving the Iowa Water Trail Association Newsletter? If not, you don’t want to miss another issue! The newsletter is published every month, as well mid-month, so you don’t miss a thing.

The newsletter is free and is delivered right to your email inbox. It has informational articles, news from DNR, registration information for class/workshops, and a calendar of events across Iowa.

Click here to see the past issues, and click here to see the latest edition.

 

Cedar River Water Trail Project Continues to Move Forward

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As mentioned previously, the Cedar River Water Trail Project is a coordinated partnership between Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG), Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) River Programs, local stakeholders, landowners, and the general public. The end goal is to make the Cedar River a state designated water trail.

Many paddlers, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts already enjoy the Cedar River and its existing access points and public lands in both Black Hawk and Bremer County. Designation as a state water trail would elevate the status of the river for recreation, make the river eligible for future improvements funding, and provide important links with stream and watershed restoration efforts in other areas of the state. 

The Black Hawk and Bremer County section of the Cedar River was identified in Iowa’s state water trails plan, “Connecting People with Water and Resources,” as appropriate for consideration as a state water trail, particularly for various recreational experiences. 

The designation process is locally based and offers multiple opportunities for public participation.  Initial visioning meetings were held on April 17th and May 2nd.  Adjacent landowner listening sessions were held on June 5th and June 7th.  A Bremer County Law Enforcement and Emergency Personal Focus Group meeting has been scheduled for September 12th and one will be scheduled for Black Hawk County at a later date. Future community engagement events, public meetings, and steering (stakeholder) and focus group meetings will also be announced at later dates.

The project also includes technical assessment of the existing access points, signage for river-based amenities, and identification of potential enhancements.  Access assessments were conducted in July - with followup visits in September, and will guide water trail developers toward future enhancements that would broaden their use by people with various paddling and physical abilities. Signage plans will also include on-water and access signage for both counties.  A detailed project schedule will hopefully be announced in the coming weeks.

If you would like to serve on the steering (stakeholder) committee, please contact Colleen Simmons at cedarriverwatertrail@gmail.com.

Nominations for the “River Town of the Year” award

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Iowa Rivers Revival — an organization committed to protecting Iowa’s rivers and streams and watersheds — invites you to nominate your city for IRR’s River Town of the Year award.

The annual River Town of the Year award 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 November 1, 2012.   The award will be presented in January 2013 at a reception hosted by Iowa Rivers Revival in the River Town of the Year community.

For a detailed application, please go to www.iowarivers.org.  Previous “River Town” award recipients are Webster City, Elkader, Coon Rapids, Cedar Falls, and Charles City.   The web site has examples of towns’ applications for the award, IRR news releases, and news coverage.

The River Town of the Year award recognizes a city’s outstanding work to enhance connections to its river.  For example, Charles City was honored for responding to severe floods in 1999 and 2008 “by embracing the Cedar River with new ideas and bold projects,” including transforming a low-head dam into Iowa’s first whitewater kayak course and installing the state’s largest permeable paving system.   Applicants must demonstrate commitment to protecting and maintaining river water quality and promoting the river as an asset to the town. 

Other activities might include:  dam-safety efforts, river-oriented tourism efforts, river clean-up projects, Water Trail designation projects, innovative storm water and river protection projects, walking trails along the river, education and advocacy by local river or watershed groups, and efforts for river use and appreciation (restaurants, bed & breakfasts, bait shops, boat rentals), etc.

For more information, please go to the web site — www.iowarivers.org, or contact: Rosalyn Lehman, IRR Executive Director:  rlehman@iowarivers.org,  515-724-4093.

Iowa’s Rivers & Streams Usage Patterns

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In November of 2009, 10,000 randomly selected Iowans were mailed surveys, “Iowa Rivers and River Corridors Survey,” to collect information about their usage patterns and preferences of river and stream recreation. The survey received a 49% response rate and was conducted by the Iowa State University Department of Economics and Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, with funding from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Below are some key survey findings, outlined in the Fact Sheet: Iowa Rivers and River Corridors Survey 2009:

  • Approximately 48% of respondents reported taking a trip to at least one of the 73 identified river/stream segments, and only 8% of the trips reported were longer than one day.
  • The average number of trips reported was about six per person.
  • The most visited included segments of the Mississippi, Des Monies, and Cedar Rivers. Other popular segments include portions of the Missouri, Iowa, and Wapsipinicon.
  • Usage varies notably by demographic groups. The heaviest usage was reported by younger, more educated, and higher-income individuals, and men reported more visits than did women.
  • The most popular activities reported were relaxation, fishing, trail-related activities, and wildlife viewing, although there was variation across river segments and demographic groups.
  • Proximity to home was the single most important consideration in selecting a river to visit, with water quality and habitat being the second most important factor.
  • The most negative factors influencing river/stream choice were related to water quality issues, with the top three being: abundant algae, possible sediment and nutrient contamination, and possible bacterial contamination.
  • The positive factors influencing river/stream choice were: water quality safe for human contact, natural setting dominating river banks (such as forest, prairie, etc), and abundant game fish.

The complete survey report, as well as a report on Economic Impacts of River Trail Recreation in Iowa, can be found here. There is also an interactive map with activities, trips, and spending data based on river/stream segments in Iowa.

Clean up the Cedar River in Waverly – August 18th from 8am – 1pm

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Waverly’s Hazard Mitigation & River Use Commission and Angry Cedar Brewing Company are sponsoring 2012 Cedar River Clean-up on Saturday, August 18th.   Interested volunteers are needed to pick-up trash to improve the river ecosystem and to make boating safer in the Waverly area.   Interested volunteers should check-in between 8AM and 9AM on August 18th, at the shelter at the South Riverside
Park (1st ST SW).  Volunteers will be assembled into 6-8 groups to paddle the river and/or walk the public access parts of the river.  The groups will work to clean up the river from the northern city limits to the southern city limits.

Please wear work gloves and clothes appropriate to the conditions.  You may bring your own kayak, canoe or boat to float in to clean-up the river and shore line.  Don’t have any of these, come walk the banks along the public accesses along the river and help clean up the shores.   Trash bags and dumpsters will be available to the place trash in.  A lunch will be provided after the cleanup at 12 noon, in the South Riverside Park shelter.  Also, Scott Hammerlink of Angry Cedar Brewing Company will be on hand to discuss why he named his company Angry Cedar Brewing and allow some sampling of his libations for the volunteers. 

Volunteers are encouraged to RSVP by calling  Chris Triplitt at (319) 352-1433 or emailing.  Please provide your name, how many people you will have volunteering, the organization you are with(if any), and whether you have a kayak, canoe or boat you will be using.

2nd Annual Cedar River Rocks!

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Join Iowa Rivers Revival and Iowa Senator Bill Dotzler for the 2nd year of Cedar River Rocks!, a pure river celebration, on Saturday, August 18th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Participants will enjoy a picnic and program at 11 a.m. before we float from Senator Dotzler’s property in Waterloo (2837 Cedar Terrace Drive, Waterloo) to Gilbertville Park (south of D38 (Washburn Rd.) bridge).

A shuttle will be provided at 10:00 a.m. at the take-out location (it does not accommodate boats). The program will include Sena…tor Dotzler, Cedar River Watershed Coalition activities, information about dam access and the Watershed Management Education Initiative by Black Hawk County Conservation Board Director Vern Fish and an update from Iowa Rivers Revival.

If interested, a group of paddlers can put it above the dam (new portage accesses have been constructed) and paddle to Senator Dotzler’s before lunch – please indicate interest in RSVP e-mail-details will be included in follow-up correspondence.

The cost to participate is $10 and includes food, drink, and insurance. Anyone is welcome to participate, register by contacting Iowa Rivers Revival Executive Director Rosalyn Lehman at rlehman@iowarivers.org or 515.724-4093. A limited number of canoes and kayaks are available at no additional cost. When those are reserved, additional boats will be available from Crawdaddy Outdoors at $30 per day for canoes and $20 per day for solo kayaks.

Cedar River Rocks! provides an opportunity for anyone to enjoy this scenic Iowa River and learn more about river issues.

Rosalyn Lehman
Executive Director
Iowa Rivers Revival
PO Box 72, Des Moines, IA 50301
515.724-4093
rlehman@iowarivers.org | www.iowarivers.org

25th Annual Cedar River Cleanup, Canoe/Kayak Float, and Festival

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The Cedar River Festival Group celebrates 25 years on the river in 2012. Volunteers, friends of the river and families interested in the outdoors are encouraged to take part in a fun-filled weekend of events centered on and around the Cedar River.

The Cedar River Festival Group is a local organization working to improve the quality of the Cedar River. The mission of the group is to educate the community about celebrating and preserving the beauty of the Cedar River as a local natural resource.

The 25th Annual Cedar River Cleanup and Canoe/Kayak Float will be Saturday, July 28th. As part of the weekend events, a festival of art, music and education celebrates the Cedar River Sunday, July 19th at the Rotary Reserve on Union Road, northwest of Cedar Falls.

The route for the 2012 cleanup and canoe/kayak float spans from Thunderwoman Park on the West Fork of the Cedar to Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls. Volunteers for the July 28th event are asked to arrive at Black Hawk Park no later than 8:30am for the free shuttle service. Canoes, paddles, and personal flotation devices (PFDs) will be provided for the first 50 participants. Refreshments provided by Cedar Valley Paddlers. The first 50 volunteers will also receive a free, commemorative stainless steel water bottle courtesy of Eagle View Partners.

The 25th Annual Cedar River Festival will feature performances and presentations by noted musicians and local artists. The lineup for Sunday, July 29th is below.

2012 Cedar River Festival Scheduled Performers:

1:00 – 1:30pm: Raldo & Friends
1:30 – 2:00pm: Raldo Schneider, Tom Avery, Jim Birkes, Denny Garcia, & Rush Cleveland
2:00 – 2:30pm: Uncle Chuck Finch
2:30 – 3:00pm: Mac Dervo
3:00 – 4:00pm: Larry Long & Eddie Allen
4:00 – 4:30pm: Prairie Rose Dancers
4:30 – 5:30pm: Soul Fusion
5:30 – 6:00pm: Dave Gibson, local author; 25th Anniversary Guitar Raffle
6:00 – 7:00pm: Checker & the Bluetones

All events are FREE to attend. Visit www.cfrgroup.org for more information or to register for the cleanup.
Also check out the Cedar River Festival Group on Facebook

A Call for Stakeholders

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We are currently looking for interested persons to sit on our Stakeholder Committee. Your input will assist in:

  • Determining the water trail goals,
  • Refining the project vision,
  • Determining an action plan,
  • Identifying programs, projects, events, and activities to develop community interest and engagement, and
  • Identifying maintenance and management needs.

If you are interested in serving, please contact us at cedarriverwatertrail@gmail.com