SIW NEWS BULLETIN
"STICKS IN THE WATER" PADDLERS
May 1, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE:
= How to report a fish kill or spill.
= Solving the “mysteries” of Iowa Full Moons.
= CanoePam’s annual Upper Iowa River trip May 4-6.
= Iowa Children’s Water Festival seeking volunteers for May 10.
= “Summer of Paddling” events up & down the Mississippi River.
= Spots still available for Grand Canyon rafting opportunity June 4-10.
= Wapsi River Cleanup with Linn County Conservation June 16.
= Charles City Challenge coming June 15-17.
= Report on April 22 Jones County Earth Day Fair & SIW exhibit.
= Report on April 21 CVP Float on North Fork Maquoketa.
= Decorah eagles triplets growing fast!!!
= 2012 SIW Paddler Planning Calendar needs your additions/corrections.
= Iowa Outdoors Calendar: Neotropical birds return, bluebirds hatch, Backbone dedicated 1920.
= Astronomy: Full moon May 5, partial solar eclipse May 20.
= Buy-Sell-Trade sites.
= Links to websites, newsletters, cleanups, & other great "paddling stuff."
= CanoePam’s guide to joining the Sticksinthewater Yahoo! Group email exchange.

IT’S MAY--BIRDS RETURN TO IOWA, PADDLERS RETURN TO THE WATER!  
Mother Nature gifted us with an unusually warm spring, now she is providing adequate-but-not-excessive rainfall to provide good paddling levels in our area rivers.  Early wildflowers are blooming, and even the reticent oak trees have revealed fresh new leaves.  The extended spring weather has benefitted those homeowners trying to grow new lawns or fill in the bare spots.  On the negative side, I do have to note that our arch enemy, garlic mustard, is among those plants now in full bloom.

It’s a wonderful spring to be a paddler, but please remember that paddling safety is always “in season.”  Water temperatures, air temperatures, and wind can still conspire to create a threat of hypothermia.  The usual spring/fall paddling cautions should be exercised, including a float plan, proper gear and clothing, changes of clothing, energy foods, and paddling with friends.

Frequently overlooked, the float plan is an easy way for family, friends, or law enforcement to find you in case of an emergency.  Simply list the date & approx times, access points for entry and exit, description of your vehicle & license plate number, and names & phone numbers of yourself & other paddlers.  To make it even easier, save the format and list of paddling friends/phones, etc. on your computer in Word or Excel.  When you’re ready to go paddling, simply update the info and print.  Add a copy of the appropriate page from the Guide to Iowa Paddling, and the volunteer searchers will be really impressed!

While preparing the list of full moons for our 2012 paddling season, I encountered a couple of mysteries.  Check out the “Solving the Mysteries of Iowa Full Moons” in this issue.

Special thanks to Nick Gaeta and his crew of volunteers (Joe, Fred, Jenny, Mary Jean and Maureen), who staffed a SIW exhibit at the Jones County Earth Day Fair.  We appreciate their efforts to “get out the word” about SIW, promote our sport, & encourage safe paddling.  It appears that at least two paddlers have already signed up for our SIW News Bulletins as a result of the event.

Tom Sabotta and I enjoyed sharing a slide show of last summer’s paddle and portage across Isle Royale as part of the CIP Armchair Paddlers series in Des Moines on April 10.  Joe Trumm, the third member of our crew, was unable to attend due to work commitments.  It was our first presentation of this nature, so it was nice to hear the questions, comments, and compliments. 

A Linn County Wapsi River Cleanup has been set for June 16, and I hope that many of you will circle that date on your calendar.  This beautiful local river needs a little love and support.  Plans & publicity are currently being finalized. I’ll forward more info ASAP.

Madison County (yes, the one with the famous bridges) has scheduled a Middle River Cleanup for June 2.  The registration link doesn’t seem to be activated, but keep checking for info at http://www.madisoncountyparks.org/.

State funding for dam projects was just cut from the developing budget, but perhaps cooler heads and brighter minds may still prevail (with your encouragement) as legislators continue their negotiations.  More info: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120430/NEWS/304300013/Iowa-fu....

To clarify the current nature of SIW for new and old members, SIW is more of a network than a club.  SIW has no dues, no committees, no elected leaders, does not organize events, and does not take “official” positions on issues.  We rely on individuals to step forward and “initiate” efforts or paddling events which we can publicize to the “members” through the SIW network.

For a variety of reasons, SIW members have been reluctant to initiate planned events.  If you are looking for paddling opportunities, and especially if you are new to the sport, I encourage you to join the SIW Yahoo Group email exchange.  Read the “Interested in a More Interactive SIW Experience?” item in this SIW News Bulletin & follow the instructions at the end of the bulletin.

I continue to rely on all of you to inform me of paddling events you would like to have  added to the 2012 SIW Paddler Planning Calendar & publicized in your SIW News Bulletin.  The deadline is 2 or 3 days before the end of the month for the news bulletin, but info is welcome as soon as your plans are firm.  Contact me at sticksinthewater@yahoo.com. 

BR
Gregg

INTERESTED IN A MORE INTERACTIVE SIW EXPERIENCE?
Then please consider joining the Sticksinthewater Yahoo! Email Discussion Group, which facilitates the email exchange of info, paddling invitations, last minute plans, etc. between participating members. To join in the fun, just follow the steps in Canoe Pam’s guide to joining the group, always included at the end of each SIW News Bulletin.

HOW TO REPORT A FISH KILLOR SPILL:
With nicer weather, and more paddlers on the water, we can all play an active role in protecting our Iowa waterways.  Reporting a fish kill or manure release as soon as you discover it can help the DNR respond quickly and work to reduce the impact on water. 
Report fish kills and spills to the DNR 24-hour spill hotline at 515-281-8694. 
During normal business hours you can report to your local DNR field offices at Manchester 563-927-2640 and Washington 319-653-2135.

SOLVING THE MYSTERIES OF IOWA FULL MOONS:
While working up a schedule of possible full moon paddles for 2012, discrepancies in dates appeared between astronomical websites, national calendars, and the IDNR Iowa Outdoors calendar.  Full moons were listed on most sites/calendars as May 6, Aug 2, and Sep 30, while Iowa Outdoors listed May 5, Aug 1, and Sep 29.  An inquiry to John Pearson led to a referral to Brian Button, editor in chief for Iowa Outdoors, who easily explained those differences:

“Nationally produced calendars or websites are, yes, listing full moon dates, but cannot take into account longitudinal differences across the nation.  I double checked the three dates you cites.  The observatory date is recorded in universal time (UT).  The discrepancies are all for days when the full moon is at 3 hours and various minutes in UT.  To convert to central daylight time, one must subtract 5 hours, which changes the date.  (For comparison, if my job was at Hawaii Outdoors I would need to subtract 9 to 10 hours—and that could affect not only the three examples that you listed, but others as well.)

“Regardless, you should visit the United States Naval Observatory website, www.usno.navy.mil and click the astronomy tab at the top, then data services on the left column.  There you can find another highly useful set of date for paddlers—civil twilight.  While sunrise/sunset date is useful, civil twilight date for Iowa allows a paddler to know when darkness concludes for a morning paddle or when darkness begins for an evening paddle.  For example, on August first, the sun sets at 8:31 pm, but it doesn’t get dark until 9:03 pm DST.”

In next month’s SIW News Bulletin, we’ll take a look at the two full moons in August.  Is that second one a “blue moon” or not?  Are you sure?

CANOEPAM’S ANNUAL UPPER IOWA RIVER TRIP MAY 4-6:
From CanoePam:
CanoePam’s Annual Upper Iowa River Trip will be held the traditional weekend before Mother’s Day, May 4-6.  We’ll be camping at Hruska’s in Bluffton and they have sites for both tents and trailers.  Rentals (canoes & kayaks) are available, though the majority of paddlers will probably have their own canoes.  There will probably be a few different trips set up, depending on the weather and interests.  Shuttles will be run by the group, and they’ll begin probably about 8:30 on Saturday for the long trip from Kendallville.  Saturday night there will be a potluck dinner, probably beginning around 6:30.  There most surely will also be people who will do some paddling on Sunday. 

Pam would appreciate notice by email (canoepam@yahoo.com) if people decide to come, just to keep track of how many boats and shuttle vehicles we’ll need.  This trip will also be announced on the Canoe Country Bulletin Board, and it generally has a nice combination of adults and children.  Note the Upper Iowa River is generally suited to novices, but it can also be very challenging at high water levels.  Please watch the river gauge at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/uv?site_no=05387440 and feel free to contact Pam if you have any questions about the water levels.

IOWATER SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR IOWA CHILDREN’S WATER FESTIVAL MAY 10:
The Children’s Water Festival will be held May 10 at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, IA.  Approximately 2,000 fifth graders are expected for the day-long event, along with 60 presenters and 200 volunteers.  The event is in its 16th year of educating Iowa students about the importance of water.

Volunteers are needed in the roles of class guide, presenter assistant, and lunch helper.
The volunteering target was April 27, so if you’re interested, please respond ASAP. 
Contact Diana Wilson, Diana.Wilson@wdmww.com, 515-273-0730.  Find more info about the festival at http://www.iowachildrenswaterfestival.org/AboutTheFestival.aspx.

“SUMMER OF PADDLING” EVENTS UP & DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER:
Chuck Jacobsen and Clinton County Conservation brought this to our attention, but only recently have we realized the scope of this promotion.  Clinton County hosted a backwater trip on April 28, and will have additional events in June, August, & October.

The “Summer of Paddling” promotion includes, however, numerous paddling events along the Mississippi from the headwaters in Minnesota to the mouth in Lousiana.  Several are in Iowa and adjoining states, but maybe you’d like to paddle somewhere really different?  Check it all out at
http://www.sop2012.org/EventCalendar.aspx.

Chuck and Clinton County Conservation welcome involvement by SIW members as volunteer assistants with safety and paddling instruction sessions or simply participation in the events. Please step forward if you feel the urge and let your interest be heard.  Contact Chuck Jacobsen, Clinton County Conservation Naturalist, 563-357-0759 / 563-847-7202.

OPENINGS STILL AVAILABLE--GRAND CANYON RAFTING OPPORTUNITY JUNE 4-10:
Kata McCarville, Associate Professor of Geosciences at Upper Iowa University, informs us that a few openings are still available for this river adventure.  We have carried detailed info on the trip in the last couple of SIW News Bulletins, but the bottom line is that Upper Iowa University and the Association of Women Geoscientists are co-sponsoring a geology raft trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, June 4-10, 2012. 

Please contact Kata McCarville, mccarvillek@uiu.edu, 563-425-5233, for more information or to register for the trip.  The mailing address is Kata McCarville, Upper Iowa University, P.O. Box 1857, Fayette IA 52142.  Full payment will be required by May 1, 2012.

WAPSI RIVER CLEANUP, LINN COUNTY CONSERVATION, JUNE 16:
Aaron Batchelder reports that plans & publicity are being finalized by the Linn County Conservation Department and Green Iowa Americorps for a Wapsipinicon River Cleanup on Saturday, June 16.  Tentative plans include providing volunteers with free canoe rental, free camping, & free shuttles to address the section from Troy Mills to Pinicon Ridge.  Details for schedule, locations, poster, & website signup will be available shortly, and will be forwarded to all SIW members ASAP.

“CHARLES CITY CHALLENGE: WHITEWATER WEEKEND” JUNE 15-17:
Kathy Stevens informs us that the June 15-17 inaugural whitewater event in Charles City now has an official name: “Charles City Challenge: WhiteWater Weekend.”  Held at Riverfront Park, the event will include kayak and stand-up-paddling competition in free style, downriver sprints, attainment, best trick, etc.  In addition to participating or watching the paddling action, plan to enjoy the music, food, beverages, prizes, and as they say, fun for everyone!  More info, posters, etc. coming at www.CCWhiteWater.com.

REPORT ON APRIL 21 CVP FLOAT ON NORTH FORK MAQUOKETA:
Combining reports from Pam Wolter and Larry Gullett, it appears that about 20 paddlers from all over eastern Iowa and Des Moines enjoyed a great outing on the North Fork.  Larry noted the visits to Searyls Cave and the native prairie at the Ozark Area, indicating that he had a fantastic day with all of the great people who went on the trip.  Pam thanked Larry for leading the float on this amazing river.  Pam had a tally of 16 boats and 19 paddlers, including tandem canoes from Bettendorf and Cedar Rapids (was that you, Woody?).  Recent rain apparently brought the river up to a perfect level for paddling.

Cedar Valley Paddlers is planning a return to the North Fork for a Fall Leaf Paddle on October 13.  Contact Pam Wolter at cedarvalleypaddlers@gmail.com.  Check out CVP at www.cedarvalleypaddlers.webs.com.

REPORT ON APRIL 22 JONES COUNTY EARTH DAY FAIR & SIW EXHIBIT:
Report from Nick Gaeta:
I would like to send my most sincere THANK YOU; to Joe, Fred, Jenny, Mary Jean and Maureen, for suiting up, showing up & helping with the SIW booth we had @ this event. It was made possible through their efforts, that SIW was able to make an impression on those who enjoyed this Jones County Yearly event. THANK YOU!
We had some interest in what we're about & the hopes are we'll be getting a few new members out of this. I'm proposing that we: SIW shall attend/be present and have our spring ICE-BREAKING event in conjunction with the Jones County EARTH day Fair as an annual event.

We can be put on the event’s poster/schedule & make an even greater impact with a great number of our membership being present. There's breakfast, it's formally organized, with public notification & is located in close proximity to two rivers, one major creek & one Central Park Lake that we can easily get to & out on after the 1 PM closing of the FAIR. All those in favor say "Aye".

Afterwards, Joe, Maureen & myself went to Burlingham RD, 11 creek miles & .5 m of River, upstream from the Anamosa boat ramp. It was a sunny clear sky, 55 degree, 5-15 MPH wind day. The Prairieburg/Buffalo creek gage read ~6.12' / 343 CFS: which was ample in my book. We put in @ 2:35 PM, enjoying the day.  The only issue we had was ~6 barred wire fences we encountered up to Fredmont RD. They were at varying degrees of difficulty to pass, but were negotiated well enough without "incident."  After Fredmont Rd, we enjoyed the wooded & bluffed banks that provided us a more relaxed float, after passing "cattle & agricultural" lands the top half of the Creek.  Passing geese nests, turtles & waking a few deer, we entered the river to arrive at the boat ramp by 6 PM. "Another fine day you picked out" as quoted by Joe.

We'll hopefully have a greater membership involvement & assistance in next years' Earth Day Fair at the Jones County Community Center. It'll be on my calendar.

DECORAH EAGLES AGAIN HAVE 3 EAGLETS, CONTINUING TO GROW:
The Decorah eagles have 3 eaglets again this year.  The first egg hatched on March 27, the second on March 28, and the third March 31.  The egg arrival dates and the hatch dates are all approx. one week ahead of 2011.  The 2012 eagle family has had its weather challenges, mostly wind, but the eaglets appear to be growing and developing just fine.  If this brood is successful, the eagle pair will have raised a total of 14 chicks in five years. 

Video quality is even better for the millions of viewers around the world.  To access the site, go to www.raptorresource.org and click on “bird cams” at the top of the page, or go to http://www.farmyou.com/falcon_cams/index.html or www.ustream.tv/channel/decorah-eagles.

SIW 2012 PADDLER PLANNING CALENDAR:
Please forward corrections or updates to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com.
April 5; First Free Kayak Demo Day, CrawDaddy Outdoors, 6:00—8:00 pm, Avenue of the Saints Lake, Waverly; full schedule at www.Crawdaddyoutdoors.com.  
April 14; Spring Demofest by Canoesport Outfitters, Lake Ahquabi, south of Indianola, IA; http://www.canoesportoutfitters.com/index.htm.
April 17; Federal income tax filing deadline (Iowa state filing deadline April 30).
April 21; CVP Float on North Fork Maquoketa, SIW members invited, 16 mile float, prairie hike, Pam Wolter at cedarvalleypaddlers@gmail.com.  CVP at www.cedarvalleypaddlers.webs.com.
April 21; Eco-Fest, 3rd St., Cedar Rapids, environmental booths, 5K race, bike rides.
April 22; Jones County Pancake Fundraiser & Earth Day Fair, 8:00 am—1:00 pm, exhibits, food, Lawrence Community Center, Anamosa.
April 22, 2012; Earth Day, 42nd anniversary of the first Earth Day; http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2012. 
April 27; Arbor Day.
CANCEL: April 29—May 5; Prairie State Canoeists’ Week In Iowa, annual event paddling smaller, more challenging streams in NE Iowa, intermediate paddling skills required; Al Donaldson; 319-277-3194, alandonaldson@cfu.net.
April 30; First Free Kayak Demo of the season, Seatasea Watersports, 4:30-7:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
May 4-6; CanoePam’s Annual Upper Iowa River Trip, weekend of paddling, camping, cooking, coordinated shuttles, Pam Stalnaker; canoepam@yahoo.com.
May 7 & 21; Free Kayak Demo, Seatasea Watersports, 4:30-7:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
May 12; Free Kayak Demo, Seatasea Watersports, special extended Saturday session,
10:00 am—3:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
May 13; Mothers Day.
May 19; Armed Forces Day.
May 30; Memorial Day (observed May 28).
June 1-3; IDNR Free Fishing Days, many local fishing derbies for kids http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/FishingLicensesLaws/AdditionalRegulations....
June 4 & 18; Free Kayak Demo, Seatasea Watersports, 4:30-7:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
June 9; 3rd Annual Great Iowa River Canoe & Kayak Race, Iowa City; registration begins April 1; Iowa Valley RC&D; www.ivrcd.org.
June 9-13; 24th Annual Disorganized Cedar River Canoe Float, Otranto to Janesville (+/- 66 miles), coordinated group vehicle transport, campsite fees and meals by individuals, some SIW members participate annually; email Jlhughes@myclearwave.net.
June 14; Flag Day.
June 15-17; Charles City Challenge: WhiteWater Weekend, kayak & SUP competition, music, food, beverages, prizes; info at www.CCWhiteWater.com.
June 15-16; Iowa Trails Summit, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, presentations, exhibits, & activities relating to all types of Iowa trails—water, hiking, biking, equestrian, snowmobile; http://www.iowadot.gov/iowabikes/trailsummit.html.
June 16; Wapsi River Cleanup Day, Linn County Conservation Dept.
June 16; Intro to Kayaking, Beginners Kayaking Course, Seatasea Watersports, Pleasant Creek Lake or Prairie Park Fishery; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/intro-kayaking-course.
June 17; Father’s Day.
June 20; Summer Solstice, 1st Day of Summer.
July 2, 16, & 30; Free Kayak Demo, Seatasea Watersports, 4:30-7:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
July 4; Independence Day.
July 7-14; DNR Project AWARE, annual week-long cleanup, Iowa River Watershed.  http://www.iowaprojectaware.com/ 
July 21; Intro to Kayaking, Beginners Kayaking Course, Seatasea Watersports, Pleasant Creek Lake or Prairie Park Fishery; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/intro-kayaking-course.
July 28-Aug 4; Great River Rumble, Missouri River from Jefferson City to Mississippi River; coordinated meals, campsites, transportation of gear, some SIW members participate annually; http://www.riverrumble.org/. 
August 6 & 20; Free Kayak Demo, Seatasea Watersports, 4:30-7:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
August 9-19; Iowa State Fair, visit IDNR building, Rivers Program & Project Aware displays.
August 18; Intro to Kayaking, Beginners Kayaking Course, Seatasea Watersports, Pleasant Creek Lake or Prairie Park Fishery; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/intro-kayaking-course.
August 18; 3rd Annual Floatzilla, floats, training sessions, food, live music, tee shirts, world record attempt for largest flotilla of kayaks & canoes, Quad Cities; http://www.floatzilla.org/. 
September 5; Labor Day.
September 10; Free Kayak Demo, Seatasea Watersports, 4:30-7:00 pm, Robins Lake in Cedar Rapids; http://www.seatasea.com/courses/discover-kayaking-kayak-demos. 
September 12; Disabled Veteran Kayaking/Canoeing event; in conjunction with VA National TEE Tournament, Wednesday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm, across Hwy 92 from Riverside Casino, Riverside, IA; info at http://www1,.va.gov/opa/speceven/tee/index.asp.  Volunteers please contact Gregg Stark, greggpeggystark@yahoo.com or Leigh Butler tigrred@aol.com.
September 22; Autumnal Equinox, 1st Day of Autumn.
September ??; 13th Annual Upper Iowa River Cleanup, Chimney Rock Campground, http://www.chimneyrocks.com/events.html.
September ??; Annual Lower Wapsi Cleanup, Jungletown Access to Walnut Grove Access, Melisa Jacobsen 309-737-9016, http://www.lowerwapsicleanup.org.
October ??; Annual Jones County Conservation Dept “Fall Colors Float”, route & date tbd.
November 4; Daylight Savings Ends.
November 6; Election Day.
November 11; Veterans Day.
December 21; Winter Solstice, 1st day of Winter.

FULL MOON SCHEDULE 2012:
(Iowa dates, all times Daylight Savings Time at Cedar Rapids, updated for 2012.)
April 6, Fri,                   Sunrise 6:40, Sunset 7:38, Moonrise 7:59
May 5, Sat,                   Sunrise 5:57, Sunset 8:10, Moonrise 8:04
June 4, Mon,                 Sunrise 5:32, Sunset 8:38, Moonrise 9:08
July 3, Tue,                  Sunrise 5:36, Sunset 8:45, Moonrise 8:39
August 1, Wed,             Sunrise 6:01, Sunset 8:25, Moonrise 7:54
August 31, Fri,              Sunrise 6:32, Sunset 7:41, Moonrise 7:26
September 29, Sun,      Sunrise 7:02, Sunset 6:51, Moonrise 6:23
October 29, Mon,          Sunrise 7:36, Sunset 6:04, Moonrise 5:55

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE IDNR IOWA OUTDOORS CALENDAR:
To learn more about the IDNR Iowa Outdoor magazine, visit http://www.iowadnr.gov/magazine/index.html or call 1-800-361-8072.
Here are a few of the calendar notes for this month:
May 2: Huge meteorite strikes 11 miles NW of Forest City, 1890.
May 4+: Peak neo-tropical bird migration—hummingbirds, warblers, orioles, etc.
May 5: Walleye season opens on Iowa Great Lakes.
May 8+/-: Watch water areas for beaver kits.
May 16+/-: Bluebirds hatch first of two broods.
May 18+/-: Bobolinks return from Argentina.
May 23+/-: Pheasant hatch begins.
May 28: Backbone dedicated as Iowa’s first state park, 1920.

ASTRONOMY FOR PADDLERS:
Expect a Full Moon on May 5, New Moon on May 20.
May 5-6: Eta Aquands meteor shower, light shower, only approx. 10/hour at peak, all but brightest meteors will be washed out by the full moon.
May 20: Annular Solar Eclipse will begin in southern China, partial eclipse will be visible throughout most of North America.

Locally, you can check for special events (or regular events) on the Cedar Amateur Astronomers website, http://www.cedar-astronomers.org/.
Astronomical info at: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2012.html 

OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY, SELL, OR TRADE PADDLING GEAR:
Your new ride may be lurking on one of these websites:
Craigslist Cedar Rapids, http://cedarrapids.craigslist.org/
Paddling Iowa Classifieds, http://www.paddlingiowa..com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=5
Paddling.Net Classifieds, http://www.paddling.net/Classifieds/forSale.html   
Seatasea Watersports, Cedar Rapids, http://www.seatasea.com/BoatInventory.htm
CanoeSport Outfitters, Indianola, http://www.canoesportoutfitters.com/Deals.htm 
CrawDaddy Outdoors,Waverly, http://www.crawdaddyoutdoors.com/demo_days.htm

CENTRALIZED LINK TO COUNTY CONSERVATION SITES, NEWSLETTERS, & EVENTS:
County CCD newsletters are gold mines of outdoor activities for all ages. Even CCDs without a newsletter often provide a calendar of events.  Use this convenient, centralized website to access conservation department information & websites for all 99 Iowa counties: www.mycountyparks.com. 

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT UNUSUAL BIRDS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?:
The official website of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union is a terrific resource for serious birders or those of us who just have a beginner's question or a bit of curiosity. The site includes reports on rare (at least to Iowa) sightings, bird photos and checklists, distribution maps, quizzes, news items, and info on how to report your sightings. Check it out: http://www.iowabirds.org/ 

LOTS OF LINKS TO GREAT IOWA PADDLING INFO:
Real Time Levels and Flow Rates for Iowa Rivers, USGS, http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt
"Paddling.Net" national paddlers website providing access to boat data, test reports, classified ads, and advice about paddling and paddling activities from around the country: http://www.paddling.net/.
"PaddlingIowa" the mother of all Iowa paddling info, including paddling opportunities, trip reports, classified ads (click on “forums”): http://www.paddlingiowa.com/
"Sticks In the Water" email site at sticksinthewater@yahoo.
"Sticks In the Water" group site at http://groups.yahoo.com.
"Sticks In the Water" topic section on paddlingiowa.com under Community/Forums at at http://www.paddlingiowa.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=24&sid=1ce9cee0d339a2a... 7aee.
Central Iowa Paddlers, based in Central Iowa, broad participation http://www.paddleiowa.org/..
Saukenuk Paddlers Canoe and Kayak Club, Quad Cities http://www.rivers-end.org/saukenuk/.
Cedar Valley Paddlers, http://cedarvalleypaddlers.webs.com/
Skunk River Paddlers, http://www.skunkriverpaddlers.org/ 
Iowa Whitewater Coalition, based in Central Iowa http://www.iowawhitewater.org/.
Iowa Rivers Revival, statewide organization promoting the importance of our rivers, and the many economic, environmental and recreational resources they provide for our state.  To sign up to receive Iowa Rivers Revival’s e-News, contact rlehman@iowarivers.org or for more information about IRR visit www.iowarivers.org/. 
Iowa DNR home page: http://www.iowadnr.gov/index..html/ 
Iowa DNR publications: http://www.iowadnr..com/pub..html/
http://www.iowadnr.gov/magazine/index.html
Iowa DNR, Iowa Water Trails: http://www.iowadnr.gov/riverprograms/index.html/
Iowa DNR, Water Trails Development Manual,  http://www.iowadnr.gov/riverprograms/watertrails.html
Iowa DNR, Iowa Water Trail Construction Volunteer Email Advisory: email Luke Wright at lukewright60@yahoo.com.
Iowa DNR/ACA "Smart Start for Safe Paddling" brochure http://www.iowadnr.gov/riverprograms/files/smart_start.pdf/ 
Iowa DNR, Fishing Reports: http://www..iowadnr.com/news/currentfish.html
Iowa Ornithologists’ Union, bird info, sightings, etc.:: http://www.iowabirds.org/
Iowa DNR guidelines for display of registration decals and numbers, other legal requirements: http://www.boat-ed.com/ia/handbook/register.htm#more/
IOWATER-sponsored cleanup events across the state: http://www..iowater.net/StreamCleanupEvents.htm.
Sea & Sky; monthly astronomical events, meteors, moon phases, etc. http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy_calendar_2010.html/ 
US Naval Observatory; sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, moon phases, etc. http://aa.usno.navy.mil/. 
Star Date Online; solar system, planets, comets, meteor showers, etc., http://stardate.org/.

EDITOR’S NOTES:
Thanks for the words of encouragement, calendar items, and story ideas; please keep them coming! We apologize in advance for any errors or omissions.
Email your SIW News Bulletin corrections, news items, and story ideas to "Attn: SIW Editor" at sticksinthewater@yahoo.com
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All other email address changes, subscription adds, or inquiries about "Sticks In the Water" paddlers should be emailed to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com.

BECOME A SIW MEMBER:
"Sticks In the Water" is a canoe and kayak paddling network, centered around Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties in Eastern Iowa, working to provide area paddlers with expanded opportunities to enjoy more time on the water, in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.  We respect your privacy and will not share your email address with any other organization or company. To become a member of SIW, email your regular name (first & last) and your email address to sticksinthewater@yahoo.com. 

SAFE PADDLING:
The Sticks In the Water paddling group embraces the "Common Adventure" philosophy, under which individual paddlers recognize that paddlesports & other outdoor activities inherently include some risk of injury or death, and assume responsibility for the safety of themselves & the members of their party. The "initiators" of SIW events are not necessarily outfitters, instructors, or paddling experts. That said, we strongly encourage all paddlers to wear PFD’s, avoid on-water alcohol, & utilize proper equipment, training, & procedures in pursuit of a safe & enjoyable paddling experience.
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How to Sign Up For The Sticksinthewater Yahoo! Email Discussion Group
By our resident "Groups Guru" CanoePam
.    If you already have a Yahoo! email address, sign in to your Yahoo! mail and go to Step B below.
.    If you do not have a Yahoo! email address, follow the following steps. You don’t need to use this email address for the group, but you need one at least temporarily.
.    Step A: Go to http://yahoo..com. You will see a "Sign up" item near the bottom on the right. Select it and follow the instructions to generate a Yahoo! id and email address. When you have finished filling it out, select the "Create My Account". You will get a "success" screen. Make sure you go to "Edit your marketing preference" and opt-out of the items you have no interest in (probably all of them!).. When you have edited your preferences, select the "Experience Yahoo" button. Don’t want to get email at this Yahoo! address? Don’t worry, you can change it soon... Now go to Step B below.
.    Step B: Go to http://groups.yahoo.com. In the center of the page you’ll see a Search box to "Find a Yahoo! Group". Enter "sticksinthewater" in the search box and press "Return". Select the sticksinthewater group. You should see a "Join this Group" message on the right side of the page... Click on that button. Fill in the form. If you want to use another email address to receive messages from the group, you add it here. Now is the time to decide what your message preferences are, so read the options carefully.. You can change them later if you like too. Make sure you tell us why you’re joining! After you finish filling in the form, select the "Join" button at the bottom.. This will generate an email to the Yahoo! group moderators to approve your application to join. We require these steps so we don’t get lots of spammers. Make sure you set your email spam filters to allow messages from the group; this is particularly important if you have an email account from Microsoft (hotmail or msn) because these domains frequently don’t allow Yahoo! messages without specific action from you.
.    In a day or so you should get a message in your email letting you know you’ve been approved. Follow the instructions to finalize your membership. If a couple of days go by and you don’t see anything, check your spam folder in case your mail server routed our message to that location.
.    Once you are a group member you can send messages to all the other members by sending mail to sticksinthewater@yahoogroups.com. All we ask is that you treat others as you would like to be treated; insults, personal attacks, obscene or foul language, or spamming will get your Sticksinthewater Yahoo! group membership cancelled without any second chances.
.    If you have any questions, send an email to canoepam@yahoo.com. I will reply in a day or so, usually less. Like the rest of the sticksinthewater crew, I’m a volunteer with a "day job" that sometimes gets in the way. Be patient; I will get back to you.