Iowa River Water Trail Dedication Float Trip Postponed to August 6

Fast currents and cold water have led organizers to reschedule the Iowa River Water Trail Dedication and Float Trip to August 6, 2011. The paddle and ceremony were to be held in Johnson County this Saturday, May 7. The schedule of events will remain the same for the August date.

“Safety is always our first concern,” says Todd Robertson, Rivers Program Outreach Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “The combination of cold and fast moving water can be very dangerous, especially with the inexperienced paddlers and children we often have on these trips.”

While the dedication ceremony will be put off until summer, information about paddling the Iowa River Trail is available now. Signage is also in place to help paddlers locate accesses in Johnson and Louisa counties. This segment of the Iowa River Water Trail begins in Iowa City and continues to the confluence with the Mississippi River, a total of 72 river miles unobstructed by dams. For more information about the trail, visit www.IowaRiverWaterTrail.com or call 319-523-8381 to receive a brochure/map by mail.

The Iowa River Water Trail project is a collaborative effort led by Tri-Rivers Conservation Foundation, Louisa County Conservation and Johnson County Conservation Board. Other partners include the cities of Iowa City and Wapello, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Louisa Development Group. Additional sponsors for the dedication float are Iowa Valley RC&D, Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County and Hills Bank & Trust.