*****LWRCP***** Est. 2006 LOWER WAPSIPINICON RIVER CLEANUP PROJECT

A grassroots effort, sponsored by Clinton County Conservation Board

August 24-26, 2007

The original plan was to clean the section between Allen's Grove near Donahue, IA and Walter's Landing in McCausland, IA. However, the month of August behaved more like May, and it rained...and rained...and rained... and the Wapsi rose...and rose...and rose... The week before the event, it was clear that we needed to change venues and clean up the Wapsi backwaters around Rock Creek Marina in Clinton County instead.

Base camp for Friday and Saturday nights was at the Marina campground. Tent camping was free; cabins and electrical sites are available at the participants' expense. Showers, flush toilets, and running water were available at the campground. The Friday night stay was optional.

The cleanup actually began early Saturday morning, August 25. The participants were shuttled to a creek near Camanche, and then they paddled down to Rock Creek Marina. On Sunday, the paddlers began and ended at the Marina.

On both Friday and Saturday evenings, the award-winning Clinton County Conservation Board naturalists offered GPS classes (with the option for the participants to then take a GPS unit in the canoe with them the following day) and eco-cruises aboard the Blue Heron pontoon boat.

Participants could bring their own food or pay for catered meals in advance with their registration. We offered all three meals on Saturday (including a complimentary fish boil Saturday night), and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Participants could choose any or all of the meals. There were 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 were on the river.

T-shirts were also offered for sale again this year. They were gray, with the new LWRCP logo on the front and a list of sponsors on the back.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved for a job well done!

Back to 2007 summary page

Contact info:
Melisa Jacobsen, Coordinator, coordinator-at-lowerwapsicleanup.org