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Boat Registrations Due
by April 30
DES MOINES - Boat and personal
watercraft owners are required to renew the registration of their
vessels by April 30. Boat registrations are now good for three
years, which is new. The registrations had been good for two
years.
Registration fees vary depending
on the size of the vessel and are paid to the county recorder in
the county where the owner resides. Failure to display current
registration is a simple misdemeanor.
Iowa's recreational boating
activities continue to grow each year. Registration fees are used
to support Iowa's boating enforcement and safety program.
Annual River Cleanup Event
Targets Raccoon River
DES MOINES - DNR officials are
calling upon adventuresome volunteers to take part in the 5th
annual Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition)
river cleanup and water quality monitoring initiative.
This year's river cleanup
expedition will tackle 112 miles of both the Middle and North
Raccoon rivers from June 16 - 23. Volunteers participate by
floating the river by way of kayak or canoe and clean up river
trash along the way. While the expedition lasts an entire week,
volunteers may stay and help for as little or as long as they
like.
Past participants have said that
AWARE is one of the greatest ways for someone to not only make a
connection with nature, but also to make a difference in
protecting it. And a definite impact has been made.
In the four-year history of
Project AWARE, the expedition has sported an impressive track
record enlisting 610 volunteers across 282 river miles and in 4
different lakes with an area totaling 1,622 acres. Across this
distance their efforts have yielded 670 cubic yards of trash, 85
percent of which was made recyclable.
While the work can be tough and
dirty, the expedition is really one of a kind.
"Project AWARE is hands-down, one
of the filthiest yet most personally-rewarding summertime
activities in the Midwest," said Merry Rankin, a four-year Project
AWARE veteran.
Project AWARE is an initiative of
the DNR's IOWATER Program, a volunteer initiative dedicated to
improving Iowa's rivers and watersheds. The best-value
registration deadline is June 1, after which an additional $10
will be applied.
For more information on this
year's event and to download the registration materials, please
visit www.iowaprojectaware.com or contact Brian Soenen at (515)
205-8587 or at Brian.Soenen@dnr.state.ia.us.
Shelby Residents Should Notify
Authorities if They Smell Gas
SHELBY - Following the discovery
of a gasoline sheen on a creek and noticeable gasoline odors in
Shelby sewer lines, the DNR is asking residents to call if they
smell gasoline in their homes.
Residents should call the local
fire department at 911 and the city hall at (712) 544-2404. They
are also asked to report gasoline odor to the Atlantic DNR field
office during working hours at (712) 243-1934 or the DNR emergency
response line at (515) 281-8694 after hours and on weekends.
"Vapors can collect in basements
and crawl spaces and could possibly cause an explosion," said Matt
Rhodes, an environmental specialist at the Atlantic DNR field
office. "I don't want to unduly alarm people, but if they smell
gasoline, they need to report it."
DNR environmental specialists who
were in Shelby for a well investigation Wednesday confirmed that
petroleum vapors were present and also found a sheen on a creek
leading to the Middle Silver Creek.
There is no estimate of the
amount of petroleum released or the source of the problem. The DNR
is considering doing a vapor study, using a machine that detects
petroleum vapors to track the extent of the problem.
Cold-weather Paddling Can Be
Fun, But Use Proper Skills and Gear
Iowa's bluff-country rivers and
lakes, typically covered in thick cloaks of vegetation, are laid
bare for surprising vistas. Frozen ground is held in place and
algae cannot bloom, so even muddy rivers can run clear as mountain
streams. Bald eagles congregate at stretches of open water,
offering inspiration to canoeists and kayakers. When cabin fever
sets in, the draw of water can be tempting, even under frigid
conditions.
Because of the allure, sometimes
paddlers test the waters without proper preparation, skills,
clothing, and gear. Cold weather affects different people
differently, but a rule of thumb is that when the water
temperature plus air temperature do not total more than 120, that
hypothermia is a serious threat. Cold water (70 degrees or under)
can also lead to hypothermia no matter what the air temperature
is, if someone is in the water long enough.
Hypothermia is a condition that
occurs when your core body temperature is lowered. Early phases
can be mild and include grouchiness or disorientation, but those
symptoms can quickly progress to life-threatening situations
requiring emergency warm-up measures.
Prepare For a Swim
During Iowa's cold season, the water is always cold, even on an
unseasonably warm day. The risk of capsizing is always present.
Dress as if it will happen. At minimum, cold-season paddlers
should wear wetsuits, which allows the body's warmth to insulate a
thin layer of water next to the skin, underneath a windbreak
layer. An increasing number of serious paddlers use newer and more
expensive dry suits, which can keep you entirely dry inside in
case of a swim. Wearing a life jacket is even more critical at
this time of year as it can buy you time to get you rescued and
add insulation. Make sure to have dry clothes (warm-when-wet
fabric like wool or wicking synthetics are best) waiting for you
either a dry bag or a sealed compartment. Raingear during a storm
is also needed to keep you warm, even if you do not capsize.
Know When NOT To Go
It may sound obvious, but water turns to ice in the winter. If you
want to paddle in the winter, you need to learn to watch for this
transition. Drive over road bridges, and scan for ice or slush on
the water. Ice or slush on rivers can accumulate into "jams" on
certain bends and sweep paddlers below the ice. If the temperature
drops throughout the day, the channel may even freeze in around
you. If you do not feel confident the water will not be open for
your whole trip, don't go. Also check for wind advisories - on
large bodies of water, such as reservoirs, the Mississippi River
pools, or northern Iowa's natural lakes, large waves can develop
surprisingly quickly.
Develop Self-rescue
Skills
During the warm season, learning how to re-enter a canoe or kayak
is important for anticipating cold-season fun. Be aware that if
you venture too far from shore in a canoe, that re-entering cannot
be easily done without the aid of a second canoe. Kayakers need to
first learn how to get out of the kayak, which involves popping
off a spray skirt and successfully pushing out while under water.
Re-entering the kayak can involve an inexpensive piece of gear
called a paddle float, or learning the series of steps that allow
you to quickly roll the kayak upright. Skills can be learned
informally from local or regional clubs. Several paddle shops and
some county conservation boards offer classes.
The Buddy System
Finally, using the buddy system - always advisable - is especially
critical during the cold season. You may venture to areas where
professional rescuers may need more time to get to you than you
have available to save your life. Getting someone into dry clothes
as quickly as possible can often avert a dangerous situation.
Bringing an emergency rescue blanket does not take much space, but
can help enclose warmth in an emergency. Simply huddling your
group together to share body warmth is also a life saving
technique. Such simple steps require little study or training,
although having someone trained in rescue skills can be a real
asset.
Iowa's Cold-weather
Hotspots
- Upper Iowa River:
Spring fed, the exceedingly scenic Upper Iowa often flows
ice-free sooner than other rivers at the same latitude.
- Maquoketa River:
Vegetated cliffs and canyons appear more austere and dramatic at
this time of the year.
- Downstream of large
reservoirs: Areas below Red Rock,
Saylorville, and Coralville have become popular winter paddling
spots, as water released is somewhat warmer and sections remain
ice-free for more of the season.
- Lake Red Rock:
Lake Red Rock has become a magnet for sea kayakers who love
challenges and want to train for coastal experiences while
paddling along sheer sandstone bluffs and rugged beaches.
Cold-season paddling in wind and large waves can approximate
what a kayaker might encounter on a trip to Lake Superior or the
Pacific Northwest.
- Southeast Iowa
streams: The growing season is longer
here, and the ice season is shorter. The Skunk River, Des Moines
River, and Big Cedar Creek can often be paddled earlier or later
in the year than other Iowa streams.
Nate Hoogeveen is an American
Canoe Association certified instructor, author of the guidebook
Paddling Iowa, and river programs coordinator for the Iowa DNR.
For more information, contact
Hoogeveen at 515-281-3134.
