The first Skunk River Water Trail public program will take place at Soper's Mill (56364 170th Street, Ames) on Sunday, September 16 at 1:30 p.m.
During the program, there will be a fishing demonstration and Dr. Jim Colbert, Associate Professor of Biology in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University will talk about the Skunk River Navy.
Since 1998, the Skunk River Navy has removed more than 63 tons of trash from the south Skunk River and its tributaries in and around Ames. SRN is a biological service learning project associated with a biology learning community at Iowa State University.
The process began in April to designate the South Skunk River in Story County as a state water trail. Designation would elevate the status of the river for recreation, increase eligibility for future funding of improvements, and provide an important link to stream and watershed restoration efforts in other areas of the state.
The designation process is locally-based and offers multiple opportunities for public participation. The project is a coordinated effort among Story County Conservation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources River Programs, and local paddlers. Ames landscape architect Mimi Wagner is leading the designation effort for the IDNR and hopes to conclude the designation and signage effort by early spring 2013.
Keep up to date with the project on its blog site (www.designatetheskunk.org) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/designatetheskunkriverwatertrail). Questions about the project can be directed to Wagner (wagner.mimiLA@gmail.com) or SCC Special Projects Ranger Carol Williams (cwilliams@storycounty.com).
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CONTACT:
Carol Williams
Story County Conservation
Phone 515-232-2516
Email: cwilliams@storycounty.com
www.storycountyowa.gov/conservation
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