One of the most exciting accomplishments of the water trail task force is a very attractive river trail logo that can be used along all of Iowa's water trails, rivers and lakes. The DNR's Canoe Guide is now available on the web and is being revised and enhanced. The Central Iowa Paddlers have volunteered to provide updated information on all of Iowa's rivers in order to make the Canoe Guide as complete and accurate as possible. The DNR and the county conservation boards have been key players in the preservation of the river valley and the development of access and facilities. They built the river trail, I was the lucky person who recognized the totality of what had gone unrecognized.
People are out on Iowa's rivers in great numbers.
There are more than 20,000 registered canoes and kayaks in Iowa. The River Ripple and Canoe Van Buren events attract hundreds, as do float trips on the Cedar River and the Mississippi. The Central Iowa Paddlers group has more than 150 members, and has several dozen float trips either done or planned this year. The national Pass the Paddle event was held in Iowa on the Middle Raccoon River at the end of July, with more than 30 participants from Central Iowa Paddlers. Our leader, Robin Fortney, was given the honor of signing one of the paddles that will be part of the Rivers 2000 display in the Clinton presidential library.