Another calendar year is coming to a close. We hope it was enjoyable and successful for you, your friends and family, and of course your favorite Iowa Water Trails.

The December IWTA Newsletter is traditionally light on WT-related events, but check out the Kayak Pool Sessions, River Town Nominations, and upcoming paddler events in early 2018.

Iowa Water Trails and their friends, dam mitigation and water quality & quantity, did not fare well in the 2017 legislative session, and face even greater challenges in 2018. Check out the comments from IRR Executive Director Molly Hanson, also in the December IWTA Newsletter.

For 7 years, annual Iowa Trails Summits provided valuable presentations, partnerships, & networking re strategies, policies, & opportunities for all types of trails–water, hiking, biking, equestrian, snowmobile, off road, etc. Organizers skipped 2017 with the intent of returning “bigger & better” in 2018. Be sure to read Peter Komendowski’s explanation why the event’s return now may “need a miracle.”

QUICK REMINDERS:
Fly your flag on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Dec 7
(Fly the flag at half-staff, sunrise to sunset.)
Submit IRR “Iowa River Town of the Year” nominations by Dec 15.

There will be a lot of emphasis on the “holiday season” during the last few weeks of 2017, but this is also a good time to anticipate and plan for the challenges and opportunities welcoming us in 2018. It’s a good time to learn more about Iowa water quality and quantity issues, connect with groups like IEC, IRR, & watershed coalitions, join a “friends of the river” group, volunteer to assist your local county conservation organization, or contact your representative or senator. Now is the time to get involved.

If you are looking for 2018 event ideas, we suggest that you check out the IWTA Calendar and back issues of the IWTA Newsletter, both found on the IWTA Website.