Water Trail Task Force. To accomplish this goal, all levels of government and various business, civic, and media organizations formed the Des Moines River Water Trail Task Force. The task force plans to erect signs and publish a map-brochure by June 1, 2000, with a dedication ceremony afterwards. This date coordinates with a national program focusing on rivers in the year 2000.

River Trail Map. Our map will show eight counties on one side and 11 on the other. We will show access points, distances between access points, campgrounds, dams, and bridges. We will also show related business, civic, and historic organizations. They will input river information via their POCs.

Trail Dedication.  A national program promoting rivers plans to paddle from the Atlantic to the Pacific by “passing the paddle.” Our task force will coordinate with this national effort. Please input your ideas on how to tie in to this promotion.

Federal Legislation. Federal Des Moines River Recreational Greenbelt legislation covers a 200-mile middle section of the river. Where possible, the task force will “piggyback” on the experience and expertise of the middle section.

Getting the Word out.  To keep others informed of our goals and our progress, we established the Des Moines River Water Trail News.  Dick LeCroy, Larry Arnold, and Gerry Rowland will produce it.  Jim Mills will disseminate it. Dave Kramer, editor of the Ottumwa Courier,, will keep the media informed. Gerry Rowland will inform computer users via his web site. Corrine Lombert, Des Moines Rowing Club, plans to work up possible logos.

County Control. Each county POC will need to identify its own business, civic, and historic organizations.  Each county will establish its own recreational, educational, historical, and tourism objectives.

Next Meeting. The task force next meets December 3 at the Iowa DNR’s Wallace Building in Des Moines at 9:30 AM.  The task force  will meet in conjunction with the Des Moines River Recreational Greenbelt Committee. The meeting will focus on the Des Moines River Water Trail.

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The Water Trail Defined.  Our Des Moines River extends 404 miles from our Northern Iowa border with Minnesota to our southern border with Missouri.  These 404 miles of river flow through 19 Iowa counties.  Most of these counties signed resolutions designating the Des Moines River as a water trail for recreational, educational and historical purposes.

Water Trail Task Force.  To accomplish this goal, all levels of government and various business, civic, and media organizations formed the Des Moines River Water Trail Task Force.    The task force plans to erect signs and publish a map-brochure by June 1, 2000, with a dedication ceremony afterwards.  This date coordinates with a national program focusing on rivers in the year 2000. 

Water Trail Map.   Our map will show 19 counties on one side and supporting information on the other.  We will show access points, distances between access points, campgrounds, dams, bridges and other information to facilitate year-round trail usage.  We will also show related business, civic and historic organizations.   They will input river information through their Points of Contact.

Getting the Word out.  To keep others informed of our goals and our progress, we established the Des Moines River Water trail News.  Dick LeCroy, Larry Arnold and Gerry Rowland will produce it.  Dave Kraemer, editor of the Ottumwa Courier, will keep the local newspapers informed.  Gerry Rowland will inform computer users via web site www.desmoinesriver.org.

December 3 Meeting.  We met at the Wallace Building in Des Moines in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the Des Moines Recreational River Greenbelt Committee.

Jim Mills (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) presented flow charts of the water trail project.  He also asked for the names and addresses of each interested group the project would affect.

Michelle Wilson (Iowa DNR) commented positively on our progress so far.  (She also mentioned that we still had much to do.)

Dick LeCroy (Highland Park Business Club) chaired the meeting with input from numerous interested parties.

Corrinne Lambert (Des Moines Rowing Club) presented several preliminary logo sketches for our consideration.

Stu Turner (Metropolitan Planning Organization) spoke briefly on computerized map-making techniques.

Suz Welch (Campfire Boys and Girls) shared some of her experiences in organizing overnight canoe trips.  She stressed the importance of campgrounds and access point maintenance.  She also reported that the ever-changing water level presents a constant challenge.

Tom Dunbar (Dunbar/Jones Architects) gave a brief overview of the Iowa Trail Plan 2000.  Nancy Burns (Iowa DOT) and Lisa Hein (Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation) helped answer some questions about the plan.

Next Meeting.  Our Task Force next meets January 21, 2000 at the Y2K compatible Red Rock Dam at 9:30 am.

County Control.  Each county Point of Contact will need to identify the county's business, civic, and historic organizations.  Each county will establish its own recreational, educational, historical, and tourism objectives.