| Why water trails? I am (with the support and blessing of my sweet wife, Margaret Jane) an avid kayaker. I've paddled on the Iowa River, the Cedar River, the Raccoon River, the Middle River and the Des Moines River in Iowa, as well as on Lake of the Three Fires, Gray's Lake, Storm Lake, and Easter Lake. I've also paddled on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and on Lake George in New York. I paddle year round. I've been out on a river or lake at least once in every month since April of 1997, including several outings in December of 2001 and January of 2002. I love the cold, clear winter river, with the golden light on the sandy river bottom and the fields of multi-color pebbles. My reward for having to wear the bulky wet suit is the sight of a dozen eagles swooping over head, wheeling and breaking just in front of me, following me downstream, then soaring and circling thousands of feet overhead. Most of my kayaking time is spent on the Des Moines River. Since I bought my sit-on-top kayak from Boulevard Sports in 1996, I've gone out paddling on the Des Moines at least 150 times, with most trips lasting 8-10 hours. I have perfected a self-shuttle system that allows me to leave a tow car downstream and then spend the day on the river. In high water, I make 15-20 miles in a day. Low water trips usually run about 10 miles, so I choose my trips accordingly. I also enjoy going out with the Central Iowa Paddlers and on the theme trips sponsored by Dallas County Conservation Board staff. I especially delight in the big organized floats in Ottumwa and in Van Buren County, which attract several hundred paddlers annually. I've paddled the length of the Des Moines River (404 miles from Estherville to Keokuk) twice, and many sections I have done a half dozen times. After I completed the first run in December of 1998, the river spirits with whom I commune moved me to speak out for the establishment of a water trail. My friends in many river towns encouraged me to get moving, and I was amazed at the positive response. There are so many good reasons to do this that the 17 counties along the Des Moines signed a resolution of support, and the DNR and the Greenbelt Commission concurred. There was a trail dedication in June of 2000, but little has been done since then to move our Des Moines River project along, mostly due to a lack of funding. Why water trails? Why not just let people drag their boats through the mud and scramble down steep embankments? There are roughly 25,000 canoes and kayaks in Iowa. The people who own those boats deserve well planned, well marked facilities so that they can enjoy their recreation just as much as those who enjoy walking trails or bike trails. Most disturbing, I have seen some of my favorite river places spoiled or put off limits due to abuse or neglect. This need not happen. Water trails are recognized by the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP), and thus they are included in the Iowa Trails Plan 2000. By establishing water trails on the 3,000 miles of rivers and streams in Iowa, we recognize their value as a recreational resource. We make a positive statement that these waterways are a precious natural resource, not drainage ditches. By posting attractive signs with the Iowa water trail logo on major highways and at every intersection right down to each access point, we raise awareness about the availability of water recreation and we invite paddlers and other boaters to appreciate the scenic beauty of our rivers. I am a recent appointee to the federal RTP grant advisory committee. I was asked to serve on the committee as a water trail user so that I could stimulate public agencies to apply for grant money to establish water trails. These water trails will have appropriate signage to get people to the river and safely down the river. With help from the DOT, we'll have signs on all bridges that cross our rivers designating the highway or road to help boaters (motorized and non-motorized) navigate the river. We will make the boat ramps accessible to all, with adequate comfort facilities. There will be an abundant supply of maps and brochures that show the course of the river, the access points, all roads leading to the boat ramps, directions, and attractions near and along the river. There will be adequate supervision of the river and the access points so that all will feel safe and comfortable being on the river. Where possible, new boat ramps and facilities will be developed to shorten the distance between access points. How will river recreation be different once water trails are established? I believe that a lot more people will be out on the water. This will have an economic impact on towns all along our rivers, and will mean a great improvement in the quality of life in Iowa. There will be more outfitters, more campgrounds, more tourists, and more people who will be outraged if something is not done to save our rivers and streams. Who will make this happen? I see our County Conservation Boards as the lead agencies. Union and Marshall counties have led the way in water trail development along the Iowa River, and the Des Moines River counties are not far behind. To assist in the development of our water trails, I am organizing the Iowa Water Trail Association. We meet in February at the Legion Hall in Indianola as part of the Paddlesport Expo. The association will support the development of water trails and assist in fund raising. I have been so moved as I've watched paddlers on river clean-ups and educational floats put in and take out on muddy hillsides. People love the river so much, and they deserve better facilities. I've had people ask me over and over for directions to remote and scenic areas such as the Boxcars Access at Lake Red Rock, and they deserve good signage. I've talked to dozens of groups and hundreds of Iowans who have no idea that there was a Civil War battle at Croton in 1861, or that there are remains of an extensive lock and dam system in Van Buren County. But most of all, I love the rivers of Iowa with all my heart, I have found such peace and so many adventures out on the river. I want all of Iowa to see, to experience, and to treasure our rivers and streams. Iowa is the beautiful land, and our rivers are the most beautiful places of all. Please join me in making Iowa water trails a reality. Gerry Rowland |