ICNC 3rd Annual Paddle Fest Sat, Jan 30, 2010, Cedar Rapids

GStarkCR · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 389 Location: Cedar Rapids

This year's Paddle Fest will focus on paddling and fishing opportunities in Eastern Iowa. Hope you can join us!

INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER 3rd ANNUAL PADDLE FEST:
1:00 PM, Saturday, January 30, 2010
Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids.
Admission $10. $7 for ICNC or SIW members.
Doors Open at Noon. Come early to register & visit with the exhibitors.

Door Prizes, Info Displays, 3 Great Presentations:

1:00-2:00 pm “Paddling the Rivers of Eastern Iowa”
KCRG Sports Director John Campbell will share video & commentary about area paddling, including the Yellow, Upper Iowa, & Maquoketa Rivers, & Whitewater Creek. John will also recount trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area with his wife & canoe partner Mary, & their dog “Strider.” John began his career at WBAY-TV in Green Bay, & has been the KCRG-TV9 Sports Director since 1979. He is widely known for his “Great Outdoors” segments & “John’s Big Ol’ Fish.”

2:15-3:15 pm “Kayak & Canoe Fishing in Eastern Iowa”
Iowa DNR Fishery Biologist Paul Sleeper will provide suggestions on locations particularly suited to fishing from muscle-powered watercraft, drawing from his many years of experience as a biologist & successful angler in Eastern Iowa. Paul will also discuss the unique fishing & paddling opportunities to become available when Cedar Rapids opens the Cedar Valley Lake Urban Fishery to the public in 2010.

3:15-4:00 pm “Developing a Cedar River Water Trail”
Indian Creek Nature Center Director Rich Patterson & Sticks In the Water Coordinator Gregg Stark will lead an informal discussion exploring a potential water trail along the Cedar River, Since 2008, Iowans have created 400 miles of water trails, with another 1,000 miles under development. What defines a water trail? How do you develop a water trail? Bring your questions, share your ideas.

Exhibits and Information Displays will include: “Commander,” a kayak-canoe hybrid from Seatasea Watersports, Water Trails & Dam Safety by the Iowa DNR Rivers Program, Sticks In the Water paddlers group, paddling program information from several area County Conservation Departments & area canoe & kayak outfitters/liveries.

Sponsored by Indian Creek Nature Center (http://www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/ ), Seatasea Watersports (http://www.seatasea.com/ ) , & Sticks In the Water paddlers (email sticksinthewater@yahoo.com ).

GStarkCR · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 389 Location: Cedar Rapids

WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!
Contact me for an event poster!

Sticks In the Water paddling group is helping publicize and promote the 3rd Annual Indian Creek Nature Center Paddle Fest in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, January 30. Our friends at ICNC provided the use of their facility for our initial SIW member meeting, and we appreciate their ongoing support and encouragement.

The 3rd Annual ICNC Paddle Fest will be a great opportunity for paddlers to learn about Eastern Iowa paddling and fishing opportunities, visit with exhibitors, meet other paddlers, and plan for warmer days.

A copy of the event poster is now available in Word and pdf formats. I would be happy to email the poster to anyone who can assist us with posting or otherwise sharing it with interested paddlers and fisherman. Just drop me a pm with an email address or email sticksinthewater@yahoo.com

Exhibits and Information Displays will include: “Commander,” a kayak-canoe hybrid from Seatasea Watersports, Water Trails & Dam Safety by the Iowa DNR Rivers Program, Iowa Rivers Revival, Sticks In the Water paddlers group, paddling program information from several area County Conservation Departments and area canoe & kayak outfitters/liveries.

Directions to the Indian Creek Nature Center can be found on their website: http://www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Gregg

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

Hi GS!

Hey, I'll be coming over and setting up/manning the IDNR booth. Looking forward to it.

Will you guys already have tables to use? I'll be setting up the model dam on it's stand but will need a table for all the material I am bringing plus the picture viewer. I can bring one if you do not have one available.

Let me know either at the DNR or just shoot me an email or post here if there is anything else you'd like me to do.

Peace,
Todd
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Paddle Plannage(next 20): Beaver Creek 8-4 (Polk County), Rathbun, Middle Raccoon (Coon Rapids), South Raccoon Overnighter (2nd week August)

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

Sweet, we are getting close. Looking forward to meeting some paddlers from PI that I have yet to meet in person!!

I am adding info to the "Iowa Paddler" blog and will have that on the front page by morning. Maybe that will spark a few more local paddlers(central Iowa) to drive over.
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Paddle Plannage(next 20): Beaver Creek 8-4 (Polk County), Rathbun, Middle Raccoon (Coon Rapids), South Raccoon Overnighter (2nd week August)

GStarkCR · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 389 Location: Cedar Rapids

Thanks for any promotion of the Paddle Fest event, Gut. We'll try to ensure that you meet a whole bunch of Eastern Iowa Paddlers.

Hope that you get a lot of questions about water trails and dam safety at the IDNR booth.

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

GStarkCR · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 389 Location: Cedar Rapids

Just wanted to issue another reminder to Eastern Iowa Paddlers, or those who want to paddle in Eastern Iowa, the PADDLE FEST IS TOMORROW!

In addition to the presentations, exhibits, and door prizes, you'll get a chance to meet and visit with "Gut" at the DNR exhibit. You'll also find some familiar faces at the IRR exhibit.

See you there!

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

Not much time to post here and now, but what an AWESOME day at the Indian Creek Nature Center in CR!! Met PI paddlers, new paddlers, old paddlers and saw some regulars. For most of the day it was standing room only for the fine presentations! GREAT JOB everyone!! More later.
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Paddle Plannage(next 20): Beaver Creek 8-4 (Polk County), Rathbun, Middle Raccoon (Coon Rapids), South Raccoon Overnighter (2nd week August)

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

I was bummed to realize that canoepam got away before I could meet her!

Who is the contact for the Delaware Coutny Kayakers group? Failed to meet them as well but the sweatshirts and t's they were wearing were sweet and I want one or two. That green t rocked. Would like to provide some info in the DSM Register paddling blog if possible and give them (the club) a plug.
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Paddle Plannage(next 20): Beaver Creek 8-4 (Polk County), Rathbun, Middle Raccoon (Coon Rapids), South Raccoon Overnighter (2nd week August)

CanoePam · Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 287 Location: Marion, IA

Gutwrencher · Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 1813 Location: central Iowa

bikenjoe · Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 127 Location: Cedar Rapids

Yes the shack is a good place for a mid-float stop, since you need to get out there toportage arround the roller dam. On weekends and evenings it is also a popular stop for the local cycling crowd. I have also been known to put in there and paddle upstream to watch the downtown July 4th fireworks. (I hear they are returning to downtown this year) after the fireworks I can have the boat loaded and be home before the downtown crowd can get to their cars.
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Joe
I follow the paddlers diet, "Live on water"

GStarkCR · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 389 Location: Cedar Rapids

REPORT ON 3rd ANNUAL ICNC PADDLE FEST, CEDAR RAPIDS:

Over 80 people attended the 3rd Annual Indian Creek Nature Center Paddle Fest January 30 in Cedar Rapids.

KCRG Sports Director John Campbell shared some beautiful video & interesting commentary about area paddling, including trips on the Yellow, Upper Iowa, & Maquoketa Rivers , & Whitewater Creek. John also devoted part of his time slot to whetting our appetites for paddling in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as he & his wife have done for many years.

Iowa DNR Fishery Biologist Paul Sleeper provided insight into Eastern Iowa locations particularly suited to fishing from muscle-powered watercraft, drawing from his many years of experience as a biologist & successful angler in Eastern Iowa . Paul also discussed the fishing & paddling opportunities to become available when Cedar Rapids opens the Cedar Valley Lake Urban Fishery to the public in 2010, along with some other unique and relatively unknown “fishing holes.”

Indian Creek Nature Center Director Rich Patterson & Sticks In the Water Coordinator Gregg Stark led approximately 30 people in an informal discussion exploring potential water trail development in Eastern Iowa . Since 2008, Iowans have created 400 miles of DNR-designated water trails, with another 1,000 miles under development. Participants discussed what attributes define a water trail and how to develop a water trail. A highlight was the sharing of information by several groups currently involved in developing water trails in Jones County , Benton County , and other areas of Eastern Iowa .

Exhibits and information displays included: “Commander,” a kayak-canoe hybrid from Seatasea Watersports, Water Trails & Dam Safety by the Iowa DNR Rivers Program, Iowa Rivers Revival, Iowa Valley RC&D, & Sticks In the Water paddlers.

Our thanks go out to ICNC’s Rich Patterson and Jan Aiels for their commitment to this annual paddling-related event, to John Campbell and Paul Sleeper for excellent presentations, to the exhibitors for their time and effort, and to our SIW volunteers for helping things run smoothly. The Paddle Fest was sponsored by Indian Creek Nature Center, Seatasea Watersports, & Sticks In the Water paddlers.

See you next year!