A river story: 12/14/01

I took my new (ok, slightly used) GMC Jimmy out for a spin on the river Saturday. Where the Mazda van was really pushing it, the Jimmy is right at home. The tow car was barely felt as I drove along, so my comfort level getting to and from the river was much enhanced. I chose a stretch that starts about 10 miles north of Saylorville (near Madrid) which is one of the most isolated and remote areas of the river, being underwater for about 8 months of the year. It is also challenging because there's not a lot of current and the river meanders in and out of wetlands and along high sandstone bluffs.

The downstream point is at a county park, Jester Park. The road to the boat ramp is new, and the signage is great. I noted fire pits right near the river, great for overnighters. I left the Saturn there, but noted wind and waves would be contrary and challenging. On to Madrid, where I put in at about 11:30. Wind and waves were variable, and I made my way around islands and hugged the shore to stay in calmer water, but I averaged about 2 mph. It was a hard paddle, maybe the hardest I've done. For 6 hours I was fighting wind and waves. When I paused for even a few seconds, I was blown upstream. I took one 10 minute break, otherwise continuous hard paddling. As I came into the lake just at sunset, the big rollers started breaking over my bow, so I got in close to shore and stayed there until I made it to the boat ramp.

It was a glorious day. Coming into the lake, three bald eagles circled me and flew along. To have open water in the middle of December is wonderful. A full trip along a stretch that has been more that I wanted to tackle is just the best. My new super light paddles were just the thing for this kind of challenge. The GPS is my constant companion, and I keep it tucked into the pocket of the new life vest. All in all, it's what I live for.   Happy holidays to all, and I think I'll just go outside and jump for joy.


Saturday, 12/1/01, was a great day for a paddle from Birdland Marina to the Botanical Center and back.  The idea of putting a bypass around Center St. dam was on my mind.  One solution might be to move the dam upstream to just below the Botanical Center, and then put access ramps upstream and downstream, thus allowing access to the downtown part of the river.  We also need access ramps above and below Scott Ave. dam to allow passage down to the SE 14th St. access.

As of 11/15/01, the eagles are back.   I got in a paddle on Gray's Lake on Sunday, 11/25 to give the winter gear a test run.  Thanks to Fox 17 for showing some scenic kayak video.

The run from Carlson Recreation to Fraser (10/6/01) had some low water, but also hills ablaze with color, eagles and herons, deer in the water, and the big steam locomotive of the Scenic Valley Railroad.

Thanks to Dallas County Conservation for the Geology float on Sept 29.  It was most interesting to hear about the 300 million year old sandstone cliffs and then float past them on clear water over the sandy river bottom.   Our shuttle was a school bus driven by naturalist Chris Adkins.  That take-out at Cottonwood needs a little help from the Marine Fuel Tax, however. 

Our August 25 trip from SE 14th St. to Yellowbanks Park was great fun, especially the stops along the sandbars.  There is a trash problem at the put-in and below the watewater treatment plant.  We saw several bald eagles.

In 2001, the River Ripple was August 11.  You could request a boat from an outfitter, see a map, and view photos from last year at www.riverripple.com.   This was a wonderful event, well-organized by lots of enthusiastic people.   It is especially neat that this year  the co-organizers were the YMCA and the Wapello County Conservation Board, with help from many corporate sponsors.  This seems like a natural for other communities.  I enjoyed visiting the Swiftwater Festival (just a Gator ride away)  and the 1830's Encampment.  Check out the cool logo.  This was another great event, with 126 boats and 222 people.  Good job, organizers.

The 2000 Canoe Van Buren trip was also  a wonderful event  (cool photos available).  .  See the  Canoe Van Buren web site for outfitters and information.  The river was running moderately as of 7/16/01.  At Keosauqua it was running about 17,000 cfs, which made for a good ride but a tricky landing.    In 2001, Canoe Van Buren was July 14-15, with  115 paddlers in more than 60 boats that experienced the river from Selma to Farmington  A big thank you to Stacey Glandon and the volunteers who made Canoe Van Buren 2001 so enjoyable (photos and video clips available).

 I enjoyed a run from SE 14th St. to Yellow Banks park on Saturday, July 7.  Except for a lot of trash at the start, the river was in good shape.  I made about 6 mph with the current.  A great blue heron flew with me.  There were 2 eagles, a mature and an immature bald eagle about a half mile north of the old power plant off Vandalia Rd   (the site of the new power plant on SE 45th)  I also saw what looked to be an eagle nest on the south bank.   My tow car got its back window knocked out by a flying kayak, so I rode my bike back 9 miles along Vandalia Rd.  Hey, let's get MidAmerican to spruce up the river (bike trail, pedestrian bridge, etc.) while we make sure they don't hurt the eagles.

The June 16, 2001 16 mile paddle (see photos of a pretty place on the river) from Runnells Bridge to the Boxcar Bend near Lake Red Rock was cancelled due to high water over the access points, but I put in and paddled on the lake by the boat ramp waiting to see if anyone didn't get the word. 

The ice was out of Saylorville, and I enjoyed a quiet paddle on 4/14/01.   The March 2001 Newsletter, with a calendar of events and lots of interesting articles, is available online.

See a picture of  folks getting splashed at the Saylorville spillway.  I had a great paddle on Saturday, May 19 from Sycamore to Birdland.  The water was running really fast, and I got up to 18 mph in one set of rapids...  See photos of high water conditions above and below the dam.  Plus, bonus photos of the improvements at Grays Lake. 

Adventures in January, 2001. . . Adventures in February, including video clips of a paddle at E. 14th St. and the Central Iowa Paddlers Planning Party . . .March 2001 started with a bang with a presentation at Pioneer Ridge Nature Center in Ottumwa.  Thanks to Wapello County Conservation and guests who made the day very enjoyable.  I also enjoyed a day taking pictures of eagles, pelicans, and a paddler. . . I got out for a paddle up to Saylorville Dam (from Sycamore Access) on Saturday, 3/10/01.  The current was pretty fast, and it took me 2 hours up and back, but there were 6 pelicans, 5 eagles, and hundreds of ducks and geese.  I've paddled every month since 4/97.

Fall of 2000 trip reports.   I had 4 good outings in October and November.  I'm sad to report that Saylorville and the river north are iced in as of 11/27/00.  There was great paddling near Bentonsport, and lots of eagles in early December.  I got to experience an icy river (up to my chest) near Keokuk on 12/9/00.  I did get some unusual views of the ice.  Thanks to the Des Moines Register for printing my Bentonsport story as a "Further Reflections" editorial on 12/13/00. . . . Humboldt County has been working on improvements to Rutland Dam park and other access points along the West Fork for several years.  See the appealing results.  The Humboldt County canoe float is July 14, 2001.

Thank you to the Iowa Sierra Club  for honoring me with a "Grass Roots Conservationist" Award.  I also appreciated the opportunity to make a presentation about the Des Moines River Trail at the November meeting of the Central Iowa Sierra Club.  I now have a slide projector, and I'll do a river program for you (preferrably on the weekend or in the evening).

The  big event of the summer  was the River Ripple in Ottumwa on August 12.  You can print out a registration form, see a map, and view photos from last year at www.riverripple.com.   This is a wonderful event, well-organized by lots of enthusiastic people.   More than 300 paddlers participated.  In 2001, the River Ripple is August 11.

Iowa's Pass the Paddle event was held Sunday, July 23rd.  Some 30 people and 20 boats put in at Wiscotta and paddled down to  the Middle Raccoon River Bridge on Highway P58 in Dallas County.  Michelle Wilson of the DNR had driven to Wisconsin to get the paddle for our event, and Robin Fortney signed it on behalf of the Central Iowa Paddlers.    The paddle will go on to other states, and eventually make its way back to the President in commeration of Rivers 2000.  It's been quite a year for river events.

Many thanks to Bill Leonard and the Des Moines Register for the wonderful editorial (7/25/00) on getting back to the rivers, and especially for encouraging readers to participate in the River Ripple.   I have just a few things to add...the actual letter to the editor that appeared Aug. 2 left out some important points but said much of what needed to be said.