The 3rd Annual Upper Iowa River Clean-up @ Chimney Rocks was a huge success: thanks to the + 74 volunteers. Last Saturday, there was enough volunteers; to divide up into cleaning up the two most popular stretches of the Upper Iowa: Kendalville to Chimney Rocks (12.6 miles) & Chimney Rocks to HWY 52 Bridge (20 miles.
Young & old, experienced & rookies; hit the river around 10:30 AM, with the mission of improving the watershed quality of the river. The Bluffton Gauge was reading +/- 3.98' & 266 CFS, throughout most of the day. This gave a very pleasant level for the "Project".
Being sent downriver; with KJ, Gregg & Keith, as my logging & support "team", we were instructed to "clear the river" of all hazardous strainers & log jams. Making it safe & trying to keep all the volunteers behind us; as not to loose track of anyone, if help was needed. Well, I could not have asked for a better "Logging Crew" than these three. All along the way, they would cut back farther & clear more strainers & logs than anybody else I've ever "Logged" with.
As always, the limestone bluffs were a pleasure to work around. Our first check point; was @ the Bluffton RD Bridge were on que, was Merry Rankin; from the DNR, in charge of trash recepticle & suppling volunteers with food & drink. After a debriefing with her, we headed of to our next strainer.
The wildlife; as seen on the river, is gratifying to see in their natural state. There was an otter that swam upstream past us.
We heard that the upper section had to have a couple of chainsaws to clear a major logjam or two.
I was busy clearing one of those; larger brushless fallen tree on the downstream side of a chute, one that always throws canoes into, with a bowsaw. I had lost my footing & landed in the chest deep swift current. Fortunately, Keith was there to grab me, preventing me from getting swepted away. At all times PFD'S are to be worn by all persons while out on the river. DON'T under estimate the FORCE of the current & over estimate one's ability to overcome it.
Working to clear the river; while floating gave us a satisfaction unequivocal to anything measurable. Knowing, that we were making it safer for the paddler that we'd never get to meet.
Checking in; again with Merry @ Bridge 10, she informed us, the "big" lagjam that really needed cleared was still ahead of us; between Bridge 11 & 12. We were planning on trying to clear the river down to Will Baker Park Access, but @ our current rate, we figured we'd best stop @ the Hwy 52 Bridge.
Arriving at the BIG JAM, we cut away this; full river blockage troublemaker. This was just upstream from "where the river seems to come to a T @ a bluff".
After this last major "Logging"; we(I) missed the right turn in the river & took to the left, into some backwaters. Be Careful that you don't make the same mistake; I'll bet you'll not be worried about getting to your takeout before dark.
Pushing to get to our takeout by 6:30 pm; as promised, Kj, Gregg & Keith went on. I just had to free one last overhanging tree, that was taking up +25' of river.
Arriving to see Chimney Rocks' shuttle crew, at the landing was a welcome sight. We got our boats loaded up & headed upriver to pickup more canoes & volunteers.
Back @ Chimney Rocks; we had gathered @ the Rec building for potlock dinner, swop clean-up stories & Door prizes.
Sunday morning; the Decorah paper, sent a reporter to do a story & gather pictures on this Project. Merry Rankin: The Trash Queen, as she's proudly crowned, gave the facts & assembled the few remaining volunteers, in front of the pickup; loaded with our treasures & around the loot, for a group picture.
Now as far as the FLOAT. This was for KJ, Gregg, Kieth & myself; a pleasurable work free float on Sunday.
Our "free" float took us to Lundy Bridge Access to Iverson Bridge Access (14 miles); via the most gravel roads for the shuttle I've ever taken. Of course, it included a lot of cross country roads just to get there.
The Upper Iowa Gauge @ Dorchester was consistant @ 8.41' & 850 CFS throughout our 12:30-4:15 PM float. The river bottom on this stretch; was a mix of sand & gravel with an increased number of mussel shells present. The scenery is distinctly differant than the Saturday float; besides not seeing the end of a saw in my hand.
We met a few differant fishermen, enjoying the quietness of this area. Without the numerous canoes that the other side of Decorah produces, especially on such a beautiful cloudless day we had all to ourselves.
Timing our trip, we looked for spot to take a lunch break, around 7.5 miles in. In the distance, I spotted another canoe rounding the left side of an island. We decided to take the right. Soon a "right sized" sandbar, was calling us to stop on it for lunch. Here we took some group shots & relaxed. After too much rest, we pushed off to find the other end of that 1/3 mile long island.
This is were KJ pointed out two deer @ the rivers' bank catching a refreshing drink. They stayed till we got too close for them. Shortly, after that Gregg spotted 5 immature bald eagles, leapfrogging in the trees ahead of us. Circling on the updrafts, was an adult bald eagle & another was perched on a tree.
Then, as we were rounding the bend; near the 11 mile mark, we saw these astonishing limestone bluffs, towering over grassy slopes. The very best looking bluffs of this river, we all agreed. I called them the "MT RUSHMORE" of Iowa. A treasured sight to be seen by a canoe/kayak, to do it justice. We just turned all of our boats around; to be able to keep looking @ this entire area, for as long as we could.
Shortly afterward, Iverson Bridge Access came into view & we knew all good things had to come to an end.
I think there was a conscences that we should have gotten an earlier start & took out @ Hwy 76; another 6 miles downriver. NEXT TIME!
LOL, as you know we couldn't have gotten on the river Sunday much earlier than we did. There was the safety factor concerning those of us with 3.5-hour drives home falling asleep at the wheel on the way back. Maybe next time.
To add to what Nick wrote, I just wanted to say that when we took out at Iverson I was nearly in tears at the thought of having to leave this beautiful area and head home. I sure wish I lived in NE Iowa. Those "Mt. Rushmore" bluffs Nick mentioned are definitely a "do not miss." What a wonderful time we had up there!
