We organized a canoe trip to clean up 22 miles of the Wapsi, the majority of it in Clinton County, from Walnut Grove Park in Toronto, Iowa, to Allen's Grove Park north of Donahue, Iowa.
Base camp was at Sherman Park in Clinton County. The Friday night stay was optional. The cleanup actually began early Saturday morning, August 26.
Saturday we paddled 14 miles from Walnut Grove Park to Sherman Park, with extra trash dropoff points at Mule Creek (4 river miles from Walnut Grove) and Syracuse Wildlife Area (8 river miles from Walnut Grove). We ran shuttles from Syracuse to Sherman Park for anyone who wished to end their day at that point.
Saturday evening, Chuck Jacobsen, Clinton County Conservation Board naturalist, offered and interesting, fun, and free environmental education program about the river and the land around it.
Showers were available at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center across the river from Sherman Park.Sunday we paddled 8 miles from Sherman Park to Allen's Grove Park.
Participants brought their own food, or paid for catered meals in advance with their registration. We offered all three meals on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Participants could choose any or all of the meals. There are also convenience stores and restaurants in the surrounding towns that they could drive to in the evenings.
A limited number of canoes, paddles, and orange "keyhole" PFDs were provided free for those who didn't have or didn't want to use their own. PFDs were required to be worn at all times while participants are on the river.
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This project was funded in part by a CLEAR |
