A PUBLICATION OF RIVER ACTION, INC.
Volume 7, Issue 1| February/March/April 2017
www.riveraction.org
Connecting people to the river
You can Bike ...and relax, tour, boat, hike, fish, play, celebrate, create, kayak, picnic, swim, learn, and explore the
Quad Cities in the Park The Great Mississippi River Park
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Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Montezuma, IA Permit No. 30
PUBLISHER’S LET TER
The Quad Cities are Cities in the Park—the Mississippi River Park February/March/April 2017 _______
Volume 7 Issue 1
KATHY WINE, Publisher / Executive Director BETH CLARK, Managing Editor, Milepost Ventures, LLC. JEFF VanECHAUTE/pi design, inc., Design BERNADETTE RODTS, Calendar Editor Contributing Writers ADAM BURKE, River Action Staff LAURA MORRIS, River Action Staff NOAH TRUESDELL, River Action Staff KATHY WINE, River Action Staff Contributing Photographers DREW HANSON CARRIE ROELF SARAH MCGEE QUAD CITY TIMES GREENSMITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADAM BURKE STOCK: INGIMAGE.com Printing Services SUTHERLAND PRINTING © eddy Magazine and River Action, Inc., all rights reserved, 2017. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express, written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding that neither it, nor River Action, Inc., its owners or managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, medical, technical, or any other advice, professional or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect the endorsement of any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement and there is written approval for such endorsement. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material to eddy Magazine for consideration should not send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a self addressed, postage paid envelope in return of materials is requested. Return of materials is not guaranteed. eddy Magazine is published quarterly by River Action, Inc., 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 and is direct mailed to approximately 6,000 area homes and businesses. eddy Magazine Published by River Action, Inc. 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 563-322-2969 www.riveraction.org To Advertise: Contact Beth Clark 309-269-3455 or contact Deb Girard at debgirard@hotmail.com. For rates, ad dimensions and deadline information email BethC@milepostventures.com
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ll cities have parks, but River Action likes to think of the Quad Cities differently. We are vibrant and prosperous cities centered in the healthy and resilient Mississippi River Park. Recognizing it as an asset of national significance, the QC strives to make it more natural, Kathy Wine more urban, better urban I should say, and more connected. Reaching beyond any one city or neighborhood, the river brings together our past, present and future and symbolizes a united Quad Cities joined by a river. Cities in a park, when designing the public and private realm, need to keep sustainability in mind. Simply planting plants with deep roots helps water quality. Green roofs, permeable allies, and bioswales do that, too. Taking seriously our responsibility to protect is the work of QC Wild Places. All 66 wilderness sites, totaling 133,000 acres, lie within a one hour drive of our metro area and promote outdoor education. There are 74 million Americans who hike every year and believe that trails are a critical legacy to leave future generations. We have 65 miles of riverfront trails connecting us with 25 more in the works; we have 30 miles of water trails linking us and pointing up our park surrounds. The Quad Cities has realized millions in capital projects and many exciting plans are ready for implementation such as The Bend in East Moline. Schweibert Park and Centennial Park are the result of city collaborations; on the drawing board is Veterans Park, and under study is more public green space on the Rock River and Hennepin Canal. Incorporating plans into Q2030 strategies (cool, connected, creative, and prosperous) takes into account changing populations in neighborhoods. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Today’s plans reflect the need to create a better urban 4 Mississippi River Park environment because so many downtown residents 4 Music in the Parks by Adam Burke want good access to trails, more walkable streets 5 Pigeon Creek – QC Wild Places and bike lanes, river festivals, in short, a better urban by Kathy Wine experience. 6 Highlighting Hydropower Cities in parks know that public art entertains as by Adam Burke well as educates. At the same time, special events 7 Henry Farnam Dinner – Play Ball! by Dr. Curtis Roseman marketing and venue development are keys to 8 Elton F. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge making vibrant cities. by Laura Morris Q2030 goals in 2017 ought to include: a Channel 9 Trailblazing in Dorrance Park by Noah Truesdell Cat below Lock and Dam 15, lighting of Lock and Dam 15 (the completed plan awaits funding), building 1 0 Bioreactor at Bald Eagle Days by Laura Morris First Bridge the Gateway to the West, installing floating fountains in all the cities celebrating clean 1 1 Conference Action Agenda by Adam Burke water. All would demonstrate we understand the 12 eddy Calendar: competitive advantage that environmental health and February, March, April, 2017 physical beauty give the Quad Cities in the national marketplace. Yes, we have parks in our cities, but let’s be aware that the Quad Cities are Cities in the Park, Our Mission: the Great River Park and tell the world! River Action strives to foster the environmental, ON THE COVER: READ MORE ABOUT FORC’S FROZEN FAT FONDO FEST ON PAGE 12. PHOTO BY DREW HANSON
economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region.
To Subscribe or become a member of River Action: call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org February/March/April 2017 | eddy Magazine
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QUAD CITIES IN THE PARK
Music in the parks — by Adam Burke
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Rock Island native Lissie entertains at Schwiebert Park. Photo by Carrie Roelf
he outdoor music festival season is just around the corner for the Quad Cities with great music ahead. Many QC parks have free music concerts all summer. Starting in June, Petersen Pavilion at LeClaire Park in Davenport hosts Sunday night free concerts. The exceptions are Monday, July 3, for Red, White and Boom! and during Bix Fest weekend in August. Lincoln Park and Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island and Bass Street Landing in Moline also host free outdoor concerts during the summer. Schwiebert and LeClaire Parks are two of the best spots for watching fireworks during Red, White and Boom! On Sept. 16-17, Davenport’s Lindsay Park will be the site of the 30th Annual Riverssance Festival of Fine Art. Also in September, Schwiebert Park starts the Thursday Night Groove Summer Concert Series. Before the spring and summer outdoor events season gets going, try Sean Moeller’s G.A.S. Fest (Feb. 16-18) or Daytrotter Downs (March 3-4) to get your fill of musical entertainment (albeit indoors). Otherwise you’ll have to wait on the stalwart QC music fests like Bix Fest (Aug. 3-5), Ya Maka My Weekend (TBA), and River Roots Live (Aug. 26-27).
The many sustainable programs and projects in the Quad Cities shape our identity as Cities in the Park: The Great Mississippi River Park.
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THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARK
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Pigeon Creek Park — by Kathy Wine
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ities in parks create public green space and connect neighborhoods. As leaders in high quality, sustainable urban design, some parks departments and QC Wild Places deserve special attention. Pigeon Creek Park is one of those. Off US 67, on the east edge of Bettendorf, is a natural area park on the Mississippi River known as Pigeon Creek Park, named after the two forks of the creek that merge there. Bettendorf’s soon to be completed eastern portion of Mississippi River Trail along US 67 will allow much better access for bikers and pedestrians as they travel from the Bettendorf to Riverdale trail. Twenty years ago, the City of Bettendorf created a 40 acre park to provide better river access for citizens. It includes a pavilion, trails, bridges, RiverWay signage, prairie plantings, a restroom, and good parking. In 2017, a recently acquired, five acre, former row-cropped field will be naturalized and turned into a woodland expanding the site to 45 acres. When the trail work is completed this spring, Steve Grimes, Parks and Recreation Director, plans new signage for both the park and Eagles Landing, a boat launch just downriver. River Action’s Adopt a Path will be expanding, too. We’re on the march to ensure our trails are clean and connected, and in the process, we’re finding a nice side benefit; we’re also building community. It is not unlike a community garden. You can be a part of this important movement by serving as a volunteer. We supply those who have adopted ½ mile of trail in the Quad Cities with gloves and bags and lots of thanks. You can also serve by making a donation for these supplies.
Pigeon Creek Park trail. Photo by River Action
On Earth Day, April 22, 2017, a River Action Clean up Day will take place 9-12 at Pigeon Creek Park. Plan to join us. Human beings are drawn to water—for recreation, for living, and for simple reflection. As well, water is life giving, and with that in mind, we work to find the places where those aspects are apparent. You will find these at Pigeon Creek Park and the many other QC Wild Places. Go to www.qcwildplaces.com.
Quad Cities in the Park February/March/April 2017 | eddy Magazine
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QUAD CITIES IN THE PARK
Highlighting Hydropower — by Adam Burke
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iver Action is developing a workshop on hydropower potential as an extension of the annual Upper Mississippi River Conference.
The workshop, planned for summer 2017, will bring together federal and municipal governments with utilities and developers. The U.S. Department of Energy's current Water Power Program is committed to developing and deploying a portfolio of innovative, low-impact technologies
and market solutions for clean, domestic power generation involving existing water infrastructure across the United States. Local hydroelectric heroes in Keokuk (who have been harnessing hydropower for over one hundred years) and a low-impact project in Quincy are candidates for the conversation to create a collaborative catalyst and find ways to use the steady current of the river to produce a different kind of current, one that powers communities. Hydropower could be considered America’s first renewable electricity source. The first hydroelectric plant was built in 1882 in Appleton, Wisconsin, and today the Midwest has the opportunity to lead the nation in this field by powering up more dams in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.
Centennial Bridge and Lock and Dam 15. Photo by Sarah McGee
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THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARK
The 2017 Henry Farnam Dinner
— by Dr. Curtis Roseman
MARCH 16 AT THE ROGALSKI CENTER, ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY, DAVENPORT, IOWA
The two featured guest speakers will be Tom Shieber and Tim Rask. Shieber is Senior Curator at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. He is the lead curator of “We Are Baseball,” a traveling exhibit produced by the Hall of Fame and partners. Among other projects he curated is “The Rivalry,” a temporary exhibit opening in late March of 2017 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. It details the long and intertwined histories of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. Shieber received his B.A. in Physics from Reed College and worked for the University of California at Los Angeles from 1986 - 1998. In his current capacity, Shieber researches artifacts, creates exhibits, and interprets baseball history for the over 250,000 visitors to the Hall of Fame. His research interests include the early game, the evolution of rules and practices, and baseball in still and moving pictures. Shieber
has authored numerous articles on baseball history. Rask grew up north of the Quad Cities in Maquoketa, Iowa. Educated at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Iowa, he developed an interest in baseball history in the early 1990’s and became a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). He currently serves as the “Umpire-in-Chief” (aka Chairman) of SABR’s Iowa chapter. He has written numerous baseball articles and the 2004 book, Baseball at Davenport’s John O’Donnell Stadium. Also on the program is Dave Heller, president and CEO of Main Street Baseball, LLC, owner of the Quad City River Bandits. The Farnam Dinner is Thursday, March 16 and will cost $40 per person. Invitations will be mailed in mid-February to those already on the mailing list. It is also possible to register at the www. riveraction.org or call River Action at 563 322 2969.
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QUAD CITIES IN THE PARK
Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge — By Laura Morris
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hen Elton Fawks (1908-1989), a resident of East Moline, a Quad City car parts dealer, and an avid birdwatcher, began noticing a decline of young bald eagles on the Mississippi River, he organized groups to study the eagles from nine different states. These groups would later form the national Audubon Society. Fawks and these groups collected data on the amount of immature bald eagle sightings along the Mississippi River for many years. From the data collected, it was determined that the bald eagle population was suffering from the pesticide DDT.
Elton Fawks’ efforts in conservation contributed to the ban of DDT. He also protected one of the important roosting locations for bald eagles along the Mississippi River, which was dedicated to Fawks in 1989. Photo courtesy of The Quad City Times
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Gaining popularity after World War II, DDT was applied to farm fields as an insecticide. The DDT would run off of farm fields into the Mississippi River, where it was ingested by fish that were eaten by eagles. The DDT was weakening and thinning their egg shells, causing a decline in successful bald eagle hatchings. Fawks’ research and perseverance contributed to the ban of DDT, which is a major reason bald eagles are not extinct today. Mary Lou Petersen is the owner of Pete’s Bird Shop in East Moline. “Elton remembered seeing larger quantities of birds when he was younger and needed to figure out the reason their populations were shrinking. He went after DDT” she said. He dedicated decades of his life to saving the bald eagles. Fawks continued his advocacy work by opposing the development of a wooded bluff area, formally known as Oak Valley, to protect the many bald eagles that perched there. This site is located near Illiniwek Forest Preserve in Hampton, IL. His efforts in conservation preserved one of the most important bald eagle roosting locations along the Mississippi River, with about 120 birds landing there every year. In 1989 these 173.6 acres were renamed the Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge in memory of his diligent conservation of bald eagles. This QC Wild Place overlooks Lock and Dam 14, an important winter feeding area for bald eagles. While the primary purpose of the refuge is to protect and maintain habitats for bald eagles, biodiversity of this area is quite high. The Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge contains oaks, sugar maples, shagbark hickories, black cherry, and many more species. It is now protected and owned by the IL Department of Natural Resources. The refuge is closed to visitors between October 1 and April 1 to prevent disturbance to the large eagle population. To learn more about the Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge please visit www. qcwildplaces.org.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARK
Trailblazing in Dorrance Park
This is a bend in the newly constructed trail at Dorrance Park. FORC members volunteer their time to build new mountain biking trails around the Quad Cities. Photo by Drew Hanson
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riends of Off-Road Cycling (FORC) is a group of over 200 mountain biking enthusiasts in the Quad Cities. FORC was established in order to maintain local mountain biking trails, but it also improves and constructs new paths. The most recent trail project was at Dorrance Park in Port Byron, Illinois. Construction of the trail began in 2016 and is now nearing completion. FORC members have been building a 33 foot bridge that, once installed, will finish the one mile loop at the park. Dorrance Park was an ideal place for a new mountain biking trail. “The park has been untouched for the past 40-50 years. There aren’t many places like that anymore,” said Drew Hanson, a FORC member who has been working on the trail. In addition to the pristine condition of the park, there are good hills and scenic views that made it a perfect location for a trail. The hopes are for high traffic on the trail due to its proximity to downtown. Two other one-mile loops are planned at the park, with the first getting started in 2017. In addition to building trails, FORC also hosts its own events. On February 11th there will be a Fat Bike race at Credit Island. Fat Bikes are mountain bikes with extra wide tires, perfect for winter weather. The third annual Frozen Fat Fondo Fest is a race
— by Noah Truesdell
FORC volunteers building up the trail at Dorrance Park. Photo by Drew Hanson
where there is a time limit, and the winner is the person or team who completed the most laps in the allotted time. You can compete individually or in a three person team. After the race there will be a party with other events such as a Wheelie Contest, Beer Potluck and the esteemed Shenanigan Awards.
If you’re thinking about getting into mountain biking, you can sign up to be a member of FORC on their website at www. qcforc.org. They hold Mountain Biking 101 classes a few times a year where you can learn some techniques before you hit the trails. They will also teach participants trail maintenance and simple bike repairs.
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BALD EAGLE DAYS
Bioreactor at Bald Eagle Days — by Laura Morris
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iver Action hosted a booth at the 50th Annual Bald Eagle Days, January 6-8 at the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island, IL to discuss bioreactors and the importance of sustainable agriculture. The denitrification model was loaned from Iowa State University and is a working replica of a bioreactor, which had water flowing throughout. Bioreactors clean water by rerouting agricultural tile into a pit filled with woodchips. These woodchips contain naturally occurring bacteria, called denitrifiers, that use the nitrates found in the water to respire. They then breathe out nitrogen gas, cleaning up to sixty percent of nitrates found in agricultural waters. Denitrification bioreactors are 100125 feet long and 10-25 feet wide. These edge-of-field tools do not affect crop yield or improve soil health, but they can treat
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Laura Morris, River Action Program Manager, explains the bioreactor to spectators at Bald Eagle Days. Photo by Adam Burke
up to 80 acres of agricultural land’s tiled water. Currently there are no agricultural bioreactors in Scott and Rock Island counties. We know that there is a need for farmers to apply fertilizers to increase crop yield, but this application can contribute to Gulf Hypoxia. Fertilizer leeches into the farm tile system, which then flows into the waterway. Water quality of local streams, rivers, and lakes is negatively impacted by nitrates in tile drainage commonly found in agricultural fields. In order to combat high amounts of nitrates in the water, farmers can install a simple piece of equipment called a bioreactor. Bioreactors last for 15-20 years; then, the woodchips need to be replaced. At Bald Eagle Days, many participants wanted
to know the cost and any incentives that may be available to purchase a bioreactor. Bioreactors typically cost between $7,000-10,000; cost-sharing is available through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program for about half of the installation cost of this practice. Many people also wondered about woodchip type. Bioreactor woodchips need to be 1/4-1 inch in size and should not be treated or preserved wood. The denitrifiers eat the carbon off the chips, so it is important to have the proper food and environment for them. River Action’s booth at Bald Eagle Days highlighted the model and explained the positive outcomes associated with the implementation of this edge of field tool.
AC TION AGENDA
Conference ‘Action Agenda’ delivered to DC — By Adam Burke
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s the 115th United States Congress convened in Washington, D.C. in early January, an Upper Mississippi River Action Agenda was delivered to Capitol Hill. The report details the results gathered in October from the Upper Mississippi River Conference (UMRC) where over 200 people from 90 organizations gave input on multi-sector strategies. After the conference, organizers further distilled the list of over 100 actions into priority objectives to improve the river in a wide range of areas including energy, water quality, flood risk, recreation, and ecosystems. The report is now available at the River Action website. The Action Agenda was delivered to congressional representatives in early January by Mike Smith of GreenSmith Public Affairs and Dr. Heath Kelsey, the keynote speaker at the 2016 UMRC. Reps. Cheri Bustos and Dave Loebsack, who also attended the 2016 UMRC in Moline, both received the ‘Action Agenda’ personally from Dr. Kelsey, who was one of the primary authors of the 2015 America’s Water Initiative (AWI) Report Card and teaches at the nearby University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The paper focuses on solutions that will have the greatest impact in 1-5 years including: restoring and building resilience in riverine ecosystems; comprehensive planning for flood management; assessing and reducing nutrients from rural and urban sources; increasing awareness of opportunities for hydroelectric power and improving infrastructure that supports riverine transportation while also enhancing environmental conditions. In D.C., UMRC colleagues also met with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln, Nebraska, and visited with staffers from Rep. Ron Kind’s office. Fortenberry serves on the House Appropriations committee and leads the Energy and Water subcommittee. Congressman Kind chairs the Mississippi River Congressional Caucus and members of his staff were interested in using the Action Agenda during a river caucus meeting. His home office is in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. You can read the report at River Action’s website: www.RiverAction. org/UMRC. The next UMRC is scheduled for Oct. 11-12, 2017.
UMRC 2016 keynote speaker Dr. Heath Kelsey delivered the Upper Mississippi River Action Agenda to Reps. Cheri Bustos and Dave Loebsack at their Washington D.C. offices in early January 2017. Photos by GreenSmith Public Affairs
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eddy Calendar February
Eagle View Group: Winter Outing
Saturday, Feb 4, 1-4pm, Lost Grove Lake, Lincoln, IA 52748 Please join us on our winter hike through Lost Grove Lake. Level: Easy. More info can be found at http:// www.sierraclub.org/illinois/eagle-view. Event Organizer: Gerald Neff 563-332-5373 or gmne14r@gmail.com.
the fire. Enjoy freshly-made donuts (the crew made 1000 last year) and juice/cider or hot cocoa and music. This event is free to the public and is aimed at all ages, singles, couples and families. (309-788-9536) or www. blackhawkpark.org.
Nahant Marsh: Nature Hike
Saturday, Feb 11, 11:00am, Credit Island, Davenport Continue to make history and be a part of FORC's third annual Frozen Fat Fondo Festival! The FFFFestival will be held -- rain, shine, snow, or slime -- on the beautiful shores of the Mississippi River at the newly rebuilt Credit Island Lodge. Riders will test their mettle on a circuit featuring many technical challenges (b-lines available for each) through thick lowland forest and chunky river shoreline. For more info or to signup go to www.QCFORC.org.
Valentine Indoor Music and Moonlight Walk
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 6:30-8:30pm, Watch Tower Lodge at Black Hawk State Historic Site Take a leisurely self-guiding stroll outside on a luminary-lit path and nearly full moon. Too cold or snowy for the walk, come into the Lodge and keep warm by
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Thursday, Mar 2, 6:30pm, Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site As part of Davenport's Figge Art Museum Big Picture Outreach presentation Laura Dunn will present "Pigment of Your Imagination". This hands-on presentation demonstrates the real origins of making paint. (309-788-9536) www.blackhawkpark.org. Friday, Mar 3, 8-9am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport The craft of papermaking has been traced to 105AD. Over thousands of years, it has been made with a variety of plant material. In this class, participants will learn the history of papermaking and how to make handmade paper from recycled materials. This class will be a bit wet and messy, so come dressed appropriately. There is an additional $5 fee included for materials. This program will last approximately 90 minutes. $5 Members. $15 Non-members. Register online at www. nahantmarsh.orgor by phone at 563-336-3370.
Quad City Audubon Society: Monthly Meeting
Frozen Fat Fondo Fest
Pigment of Your Imagination
Breakfast Nature Club: Papermaking
Saturday, Feb 4, 9-10am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Join a Naturalist for a guided hike along the trails at the Marsh. Hikes are offered on the first Saturday of the month and give visitors an opportunity to experience the environmental changes as the plants and wildlife adapt to the seasons. Whether you are a regular visitor or first-timer, there is always something to learn at experience at the Marsh. Suggested donation $5. Register online at www.nahantmarsh.org or by phone at 563-336-3370. Thursday, Feb 9, 7:00pm Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline Former Quad Cities Audubon President Dick Sayles will present a program on Birding in Panamá and the search for the Mythical Harpy Eagle. For more info visit http://www.quadcityaudubon.org.
March
Nahant Marsh: Winter Tree ID
Saturday, Feb 18, 10-11am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Trees are fairly easy to identify when their foliage is full force, but identifying them in winter can be a bit tricky! In this class, Dr. Romano, Biology professor from Western Illinois University, will teach you skills that will be sure to impress all your natureloving friends! $5 Members. $10 Nonmembers. Register online at www.nahantmarsh.org or by phone at 563-336-3370.
River Action’s Environmental Book Club
Tuesday, Feb 28, 7pm, River Action office, Davenport Discuss Flight Behavior: A Novel, by Barbara Kingsolver. Meetings are open to the public. Meet at the River Action office, 822 E. River Dr. between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info go to www.riveraction. org.
Nahant Marsh: Nature Hike
Saturday, Mar 4, 9-10am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Join a Naturalist for a guided hike along the trails at the Marsh. Hikes are offered on the first Saturday of the month and give visitors an opportunity to experience the environmental changes as the plants and wildlife adapt to the seasons. Whether you are a regular visitor or first-timer, there is always something to learn at experience at the Marsh. Suggested donation $5. Register online at www.nahantmarsh.org or by phone at 563-336-3370.
Quad City Audubon Society: Monthly Meeting
Thursday, Mar 9, 7:00pm Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline Dr. Steve Hager, Augustana College, will present a program on, “A photographic tour of the birds of Henry County, Illinois”. For almost 20 years, Steve Hager has been birding the preserves, parks, and waterways of Henry County, Illinois. During this time, he has accumulated a list of nearly 200 bird species. For more info visit http://www.quadcityaudubon.org.
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The Flower and Garden Show at the Quad City Expo Center
River Action’s Environmental Book Club
Nahant Marsh: March Madness Trivia Night
April
Friday, Saturday and Sunday Mar 24-26 , Rock Island Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park will have a booth and share information about spring wildflowers in the Black Hawk Park forest as well as the invasive plants such as garlic mustard, that they keep trying to control. Check the Facebook page, Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park, for dates of garlic mustard pulls.
The Environmental Film Fest, 12th Annual
Saturday, March 11, at the Olin Center at Augustana College. 733 – 35th St., Rock Island Admission is FREE although donations are accepted. Doors will open at 10:30 am, with the first movie rolling at 11. A fine selection of movies that will run throughout the day; guest speaker will be Ken Brower. Ken is the son of David Brower, the first executive director of the Sierra Club. Ken is an author of numerous books on national parks and the environment. For more info contact Kathryn Allen at kasavelie@aol.com or illinois.sierraclub.org/eagleview.
Saturday, Mar 25, 6-7pm, CASI - Center for Active Seniors, Inc., 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806 Trivia Night helps to raise funds for the Nahant Marsh Education Center and Friends of Nahant Marsh. Without community support, we would not be able to provide meaningful education programming to people of all ages, promote environmental stewardship or continue restoration efforts of the amazing treasure we have in Southwest Davenport. Nahant Marsh Members will receive one $10 discount when booking their table of eight people. Register online at www.nahantmarsh. org or by phone at 563-336-3370.
Tuesday, March 28, 7pm, River Action office, Davenport Discuss Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, Revised Edition by Marc Reisner. Meetings are open to the public and meet at the River Action office, 822 E. River Dr, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info call 563-322-2969.
Nahant Marsh: Nature Hike
Saturday, April 1, 9-10am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Join a Naturalist for a guided hike along the trails at the Marsh. Hikes are offered on the first Saturday of the month and give visitors an opportunity to experience the environmental changes as the plants and wildlife adapt to the seasons. Whether you are a regular visitor or first-timer, there is always something to learn at experience at the Marsh. Suggested donation $5. . Register online at www.nahantmarsh.org or by phone at 563-336-3370.
Breakfast Nature Club: Water Quality Testing
Friday, April 7, 8-9 am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport There are many parameters when it comes to determining water quality. In this session, participants will learn about and test for pH, nitrates, turbidity, phosphates and dissolved oxygen. $5 Members. $10 Non-members. Register online at www.nahantmarsh.org or by phone at 563-336-3370. April, continued on page 14 >
Canoecopia
March 10-12, Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI Canoecopia is the largest paddlesports consumer event in the world, with more than 250,000 square feet of kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, outdoor equipment and clothing, all at the best prices of the season! Over 110 seminars and clinics make Canoecopia an educational event where you can learn about the perfect gear for your style of paddling, develop skills to get you where you want to go, and discover some of the many places to paddle, both near and far. River Action will host a Floatzilla booth offering selfies with Zoar! For more info visit http://www. canoecopia.com.
Toddler Tales: Track that Scat
Tuesday, March 14, 10-11am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Even if we cannot see animals, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. We will learn about ways to identify animals without seeing them. Ages: 3-5. Cost $5 per child or $3 with membership. Register online at www. nahantmarsh.org
Quad Cities Henry Farnam Dinner, Celebrating Quad Cities Place in Baseball History Thursday, March 16, Rogalski Center, St. Ambrose University, Davenport Speakers are Tom Shieber, Senior Curator of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Tim Rask, author, Baseball at Davenport’s John O’Donnell Stadium. For more information, go to www.riveraction.org, or call 322-2969,
St Patrick’s Society Grand Parade
Saturday, March 18, 11:30am-1pm, IL & IA Quad Cities Starts in Rock Island, crosses the Centennial Bridge and ends up in downtown Davenport. For more information on the parade visit www.stpatsqc.com.
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< April, continued from page 13
Retain the Rain
Don’t forget to buy a ‘Retain the Rain’ Rain Barrel for April showers!!! Rain Barrels hold 60 gallons, and come with a diverter, mosquito netting, and spigot for a hose! $75 which includes a standard sized diverter, or $80 for a large diverter at River Action, 822 E River Drive, Davenport, or online at www.riveraction.org.
Toddler Tales: Nocturnal Animals
Tuesday, April 11, 10am-11am, 2-3pm, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Did you know that when you go to bed, there are many animals that are just waking up? We will learn about the amazing traits that help these animals live in the dark! Ages: 3-5 with accompanying adult. Cost: $5 per child, $3 per child if member. To register please call 563-323-5196 or e-mail nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.
Earth Day—River Action Day
Saturday, April 22, 9-12pm, Pigeon Creek Park Clean-Up, 7001 Shutter Lane, Bettendorf, IA. Volunteer with River Action on Earth Day as we clean up Pigeon Creek Park in Bettendorf, IA. Help by cleaning up trash in the forty acre park and celebrating the earth with families and friends! For more info please call 563-3222969 or visit www.riveraction.org
River Action’s Environmental Book Club
Tuesday, April 25, 7pm, River Action office, Davenport Discuss The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, by Charles Fishman Meetings are open to the public and meet at the River Action office, 822 E. River Dr, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info please call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org.
River Action’s Fish & Fire Fundraiser and Friendraiser
Friday, April 28, Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport This annual catfish fry combines fundraising and friends. Bid on dozens of silent auction items, enjoy the dinner and entertainment, and be a part of the 18th Annual Eddy Awards Presentation – awards given to those in our community who go against the current to get things done on the river. For more info, please call River Action at 563-322-2969 or go online at www.riveraction.org.
14 eddy Magazine
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