Notice: This is an outdoor event and attendees are expected to dress for weather. Long pants and hiking boots are recommended!

Tom Rosburg to give a walking tour of the Kettlehole at Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve as well as discuss the ecology of native plant communities. The State Preserve overlooks the Little Sioux River Valley and is home to a diversity of high-quality habitats which support more than 360 vascular plants, 34 bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and numerous lichens. The natural communities here include the unique kettle wetland, dry gravel prairie to mesic prairie on the ridgetops and slopes, and wet mesic prairie and sedge meadow in the floodplain.

Dr. Thomas Rosburg has been a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Drake University since 1996. He has a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, a Masters in Plant Ecology, and a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Biology, all from Iowa State University. Early in his career, Tom worked as a wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming, the Fish and Wildlife Service in Colorado, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Tom grew up on a farm in western Iowa and was self-employed in sustainable agriculture from 1983 to 1986. Currently, he teaches ecology, botany, biological research and statistics, natural history, and nature photography. He regularly incorporates field trips and service projects into his classes.

Be introduced to the wildlife of the Little Sioux. Jim Pease has paddled over 2200 miles of Iowa's rivers for the Iowa Water Trails Program. The Little Sioux is one of his favorites. The prairies, savannas, and woodlands provide paddlers with opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife. Come learn about the wildlife in your lives!

A native of Burlington, Iowa, Jim has over 5 decades of experience as a front-line interpreter, professor of interpretation, and writer and consultant on many interpretive and environmental education projects. He has taught thousands, from youth through senior citizens, in formal and non-formal settings, written dozens of publications for professionals and lay people alike, and communicated by a regular statewide radio program, TV segments, podcasts, and websites. His experience includes teaching interpretation to undergraduate and graduate students for 24 years, research on impact of interpretive and education strategies, over two decades as an Extension Wildlife Specialist, director of Iowa’s NatureMapping and Master Conservationist programs, and fifteen years in youth development and natural resources. He has taught and conducted projects internationally in Costa Rica, Brazil, Panama, Russia, and Taiwan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Master Interpreter from the National Association for Interpretation, the Distinguished Science Teacher Award from the Iowa Academy of Science, and the Leopold Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2022 he received the Hagie Award from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for his volunteer work. Drake University named him one of the 2023 Nature Champions at the Iowa Nature Summit. He is now retired from Iowa State University, has emeritus status in the Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department at ISU and is active speaking, writing, consulting, and leading international wildlife trips to Central and South America and Africa. He helped design and conduct the Master River Stewards Program for Iowa Rivers Revival and has paddled over 2200 miles of Iowa rivers, conducting biological and interpretive surveys for the Iowa Water Trails program. Jim holds leadership positions with Story County Conservation Board and Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, and he can still be heard occasionally on Iowa Public Radio in his wildlife program on “Talk of Iowa”.

Notice: Watercraft will not be provided - attendees must bring their own watercraft to the start access.

Waterbottles and binoculars are also highly recommended!

Riverside Park Access to Prairie Heritage Center ~ 5.25 miles

This presentation will introduce you to the wildlife of the Little Sioux on the Little Sioux! Jim Pease has paddled over 2200 miles of Iowa's rivers for the Iowa Water Trails Program. The Little Sioux is one of his favorites. The prairies, savannas, and woodlands provide paddlers with opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife. Come learn about the wildlife while paddling the Little Sioux River!

Meet at the Riverside Park Access at 9:00AM to introduce yourself, sign waivers and drop gear before driving down to the Prairie Heritage Center and parking. A shuttle will be provide to attendees back to the start access to begin the float.

A native of Burlington, Iowa, Jim has over 5 decades of experience as a front-line interpreter, professor of interpretation, and writer and consultant on many interpretive and environmental education projects. He has taught thousands, from youth through senior citizens, in formal and non-formal settings, written dozens of publications for professionals and lay people alike, and communicated by a regular statewide radio program, TV segments, podcasts, and websites. His experience includes teaching interpretation to undergraduate and graduate students for 24 years, research on impact of interpretive and education strategies, over two decades as an Extension Wildlife Specialist, director of Iowa’s NatureMapping and Master Conservationist programs, and fifteen years in youth development and natural resources. He has taught and conducted projects internationally in Costa Rica, Brazil, Panama, Russia, and Taiwan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Master Interpreter from the National Association for Interpretation, the Distinguished Science Teacher Award from the Iowa Academy of Science, and the Leopold Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2022 he received the Hagie Award from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for his volunteer work. Drake University named him one of the 2023 Nature Champions at the Iowa Nature Summit. He is now retired from Iowa State University, has emeritus status in the Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department at ISU and is active speaking, writing, consulting, and leading international wildlife trips to Central and South America and Africa. He helped design and conduct the Master River Stewards Program for Iowa Rivers Revival and has paddled over 2200 miles of Iowa rivers, conducting biological and interpretive surveys for the Iowa Water Trails program. Jim holds leadership positions with Story County Conservation Board and Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, and he can still be heard occasionally on Iowa Public Radio in his wildlife program on “Talk of Iowa”.

Be introduced to the wildlife of the Little Sioux. Jim Pease has paddled over 2200 miles of Iowa's rivers for the Iowa Water Trails Program. The Little Sioux is one of his favorites. The prairies, savannas, and woodlands provide paddlers with opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife. Come learn about the wildlife in your lives!

A native of Burlington, Iowa, Jim has over 5 decades of experience as a front-line interpreter, professor of interpretation, and writer and consultant on many interpretive and environmental education projects. He has taught thousands, from youth through senior citizens, in formal and non-formal settings, written dozens of publications for professionals and lay people alike, and communicated by a regular statewide radio program, TV segments, podcasts, and websites. His experience includes teaching interpretation to undergraduate and graduate students for 24 years, research on impact of interpretive and education strategies, over two decades as an Extension Wildlife Specialist, director of Iowa’s NatureMapping and Master Conservationist programs, and fifteen years in youth development and natural resources. He has taught and conducted projects internationally in Costa Rica, Brazil, Panama, Russia, and Taiwan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Master Interpreter from the National Association for Interpretation, the Distinguished Science Teacher Award from the Iowa Academy of Science, and the Leopold Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2022 he received the Hagie Award from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for his volunteer work. Drake University named him one of the 2023 Nature Champions at the Iowa Nature Summit. He is now retired from Iowa State University, has emeritus status in the Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department at ISU and is active speaking, writing, consulting, and leading international wildlife trips to Central and South America and Africa. He helped design and conduct the Master River Stewards Program for Iowa Rivers Revival and has paddled over 2200 miles of Iowa rivers, conducting biological and interpretive surveys for the Iowa Water Trails program. Jim holds leadership positions with Story County Conservation Board and Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, and he can still be heard occasionally on Iowa Public Radio in his wildlife program on “Talk of Iowa”.

Curious about Water Quality along the Little Sioux?

In this presentation you will hear about water quality records from the past 20 years of monitoring along the Little Sioux River. You will learn how genetic techniques can be used to tell us about the sources of fecal material in the water and the diversity of aquatic species present. Samples collected last fall show high levels of E. coli indicator bacteria downstream of Spencer, and most samples were dominated by human and cattle wastes. Additional monitoring is planned for summer of 2025.

Claire Hruby joined Drake University's Department of Environmental Science and Sustainability in 2023 after 20 years working for the Iowa DNR. She has worked on projects ranging from PFAS assessment in drinking water, mapping of livestock operations, manure on frozen ground rules, stream mitigation assessment, hydrogeologic evaluations in karst, pathogen assessment at public beaches, and ambient groundwater monitoring. Dr. Hruby and her students are currently working in multiple watersheds around the state to identify sources of fecal pollution, evaluate risks, and target solutions.

Alex Colby is a junior in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Department at Drake University. She is currently lab manager of Dr. Hruby's Soil and Water Assessment lab. Alex is investigating the use of genetic and microscope techniques for documenting the diversity of microorganisms in aquatic environments. Her favorite aquatic environments are fens!

Notice: Watercraft will not be provided - attendees must bring their own watercraft to the start access.

Waterbottles and binoculars are also highly recommended!

Kindlespire Wildlife Area to Sioux Rapids ~ 12 miles

Experience the Geology of the Little Sioux River on the Little Sioux River!

Meet at the Kindlespire Access at 9:00AM to introduce yourself, sign waivers and drop gear before driving down to Sioux Rapids and parking. A shuttle will be provided to attendees back to the start access to begin the float.

Pete is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology Management (NREM) at Iowa State University, where he leads the Applied Geomorphology Laboratory. He received a B.A. in Geology from Carleton College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Geology from Iowa State. During his graduate and postdoctoral years, his research focus was glaciology and glacial sediment transport in ancient and modern glaciers around the northern hemisphere. Since joining NREM in 2013, most of Pete’s research has focused on the science and management of rivers and floodplains. He is particularly interested in issues of erosion and sediment transport in river corridors and how sediment affects aquatic ecosystems and water resources. He is currently engaged in several projects aimed at improving the practice and value of river restoration in Iowa. In addition to his research, Pete teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation and Ecology, Environmental Science, and Geology. Pete lives in Ames with his wife Lisa and their two teenage boys.

Buena Vista County Conservation director Greg Johnson to host a riverside chat and community discussion on the Linn Grove Dam. The talk will include a short history of the Dam and surrounding property as well as the archaeology site found during the campground development. Johnson will talk about the flood events of 2018/2019 and 2024 and what has happened with FEMA since 2019. Johnson will also talk about the long term plan for the dam and how it would be beneficial to the public and wildlife/fisheries.

Greg Johnson was born and raised in Cherokee, Iowa along the Little Sioux River.  This is where he gained his passion for the natural and cultural resources of the river valley. Johnson graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Environmental Science then obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from South Dakota State University in Rangeland Ecology and Habitat Management. Greg worked for Cherokee County Conservation Board for 5 years as a Conservation Technician after college, mainly working on habitat restoration projects and maintaining the parks that the County controlled. Johnson has been the Director of the Buena Vista County Conservation Board since 2015, where he has continued to promote and help improve the natural and cultural resources of the Little Sioux River Valley.

Mark Anderson is to present on the Philip and Anna Parrish Kirchner Log House, a historic building located north of Peterson.

The Kirchners moved from the Albany, New York area to southwest Clay County in 1867, and built this log house the same year. It is located on part of the property that his older brother A.J. "Gust" Kirchner claimed in 1856. They were among the first Caucasian settlers in the county. The Kirchners lived here until they built a two-story frame house nearby in 1882. The property remained in the family until at least the 1990s, and housed a display of family artifacts. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Mark Anderson is the archaeologist at the Sanford Museum. Mark worked for the Office of the State Archaeologist at the University of Iowa for over thirty years and after retiring from that position moved to Storm Lake, IA. Mark works with the Sanford museum’s gradiometer and will be available to do contract work for individuals or groups that need that technology.  He leads the Northwest Chapter of Iowa Archaeology Society meetings as well as editing the Chapter’s newsletters.

Notice: Watercraft will not be provided - attendees must bring their own watercraft to the start access.

Waterbottles and binoculars are also highly recommended!

Clay County Inkpaduta Water Trail – Little Sioux WMA to Kindlespire Wildlife Area ~ 12 miles

Experience a dozen miles of the Little Sioux River as it winds its way along the stretch of the Water Trail between Spencer and Sioux Rapids. The river meanders through a mix of woodland and open countryside, and offers great wildlife watching. This section of the Water Trail is within one of only a few state-designated Protected Waters Areas, recognized for its intact natural features. Paddlers will need to navigate around some deadfalls and along riffles, and should have some paddling experience.

Meet at the Little Sioux WMA Access at 9:00AM to introduce yourself, sign waivers and drop gear before driving down to the Kindlespire Wildlife Area and parking. A shuttle will be provided to attendees back to the start access to begin the float.

Dan Cohen is a writer, photographer, advocate, and naturalist, and provides coonsulting through his Nature Communication business. He previously served as the long-time Buchanan County Conservation Board Executive Director before retiring in 2023. Dan has worked on many Iowa DNR Water Trail projects, and In 2023 and 2024 he provided river reconnaissance exploration and reporting on the Little Sioux River. Dan’s stories and photography are published on his Nature Communications Substack PAGE.

Join us at the Sanford Museum & Planetarium to learn about paddling the Little Sioux River from naturalist Dan Cohen.

Dan Cohen has paddled nearly the entire stretch of the Little Sioux River, from Dickinson to Woodbury counties. This presentation features descriptions of the various paddling segments to be designated as part of the Inkpaduta Water Trail, including the accesses, landmarks, potential hazards, dominant plant species, and wildlife.

Dan Cohen is a writer, photographer, advocate, and naturalist, and provides coonsulting through his Nature Communication business. He previously served as the long-time Buchanan County Conservation Board Executive Director before retiring in 2023. Dan has worked on many Iowa DNR Water Trail projects, and In 2023 and 2024 he provided river reconnaissance exploration and reporting on the Little Sioux River. Dan’s stories and photography are published on his Nature Communications Substack PAGE.

Notice: Watercraft will not be provided - attendees must bring their own watercraft to the start access.

Waterbottles and binoculars are also highly recommended!

Washta Access to Little Sioux Park ~ 10 miles

Woodbury and Ida Counties Inkpaduta Water Trail – Washta Access to Little Sioux Park. This trip takes paddlers along a ten-mile stretch of the Little Sioux River between Washta and south of Correctionville. Paddlers will travel through a mix of woodland and agricultural lands, including some straightaways and hairpin curves. The river offers many glimpses of wildlife and flows under a variety of bridges (old and new). Paddlers should expect to have to navigate around some deadfalls.

Meet at the Washta Access at 9:00AM to introduce yourself, sign waivers and drop gear before driving down to Little Sioux Park and parking. A shuttle will be provided to attendees back to the start access to begin the float.

Dan Cohen is a writer, photographer, advocate, and naturalist, and provides coonsulting through his Nature Communication business. He previously served as the long-time Buchanan County Conservation Board Executive Director before retiring in 2023. Dan has worked on many Iowa DNR Water Trail projects, and In 2023 and 2024 he provided river reconnaissance exploration and reporting on the Little Sioux River. Dan’s stories and photography are published on his Nature Communications Substack PAGE.

Kevin Mason to host Dakota Members at The Prairie Heritage Center, Peterson.

Kevin Mason is a rural and environmental historian of the American Midwest. After earning his PhD at Iowa State University, he served as an Associate Professor of History at Waldorf University. Mason will join the University of Northern Iowa in fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor of History. Mason also runs the digital humanities project Notes on Iowa, serves on the Board of Directors for Humanities Iowa, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the State Historical Society of Iowa. An award-winning author, Mason's forthcoming book Fields of Change: The 1st United States Dragoons and Iowa's Environmental Transformation is due out on Michigan State University Press in 2026.

Discover the Little Sioux River as a living thread connecting centuries of Dakota presence, environmental stewardship, and contested frontier memories. This talk unpacks the deeper story behind the Spirit Lake events of 1857, revealing how sustained Indigenous land management, broken treaties, and ecological upheaval converged to shape a complex legacy far beyond the simplistic “attack” narrative. You’ll journey through Dakota concepts like “wita” (places of refuge), learn how Inkpaduta’s leadership embodied both resilience and tragedy amid environmental collapse, and see how settler expansion remade landscapes and lives. By tracing these intertwined ecological and cultural histories, the presentation invites audiences to confront difficult truths and to reimagine the Inkpaduta Canoe trail not just as recreation but as a vessel for honest remembrance.

Kevin Mason is a rural and environmental historian of the American Midwest. After earning his PhD at Iowa State University, he served as an Associate Professor of History at Waldorf University. Mason will join the University of Northern Iowa in fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor of History. Mason also runs the digital humanities project Notes on Iowa, serves on the Board of Directors for Humanities Iowa, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the State Historical Society of Iowa. An award-winning author, Mason's forthcoming book Fields of Change: The 1st United States Dragoons and Iowa's Environmental Transformation is due out on Michigan State University Press in 2026.

Curious about Water Quality along the Little Sioux?

In this presentation you will hear about water quality records from the past 20 years of monitoring along the Little Sioux River. You will learn how genetic techniques can be used to tell us about the sources of fecal material in the water and the diversity of aquatic species present. Samples collected last fall show high levels of E. coli indicator bacteria downstream of Spencer, and most samples were dominated by human and cattle wastes. Additional monitoring is planned for summer of 2025.

Claire Hruby joined Drake University's Department of Environmental Science and Sustainability in 2023 after 20 years working for the Iowa DNR. She has worked on projects ranging from PFAS assessment in drinking water, mapping of livestock operations, manure on frozen ground rules, stream mitigation assessment, hydrogeologic evaluations in karst, pathogen assessment at public beaches, and ambient groundwater monitoring. Dr. Hruby and her students are currently working in multiple watersheds around the state to identify sources of fecal pollution, evaluate risks, and target solutions.

Alex Colby is a junior in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Department at Drake University. She is currently lab manager of Dr. Hruby's Soil and Water Assessment lab. Alex is investigating the use of genetic and microscope techniques for documenting the diversity of microorganisms in aquatic environments. Her favorite aquatic environments are fens!

Notice: This is an outdoor event and attendees are expected to dress for weather. Long pants and hiking boots are recommended!

Tom Rosburg to give a walking tour of the prairie and trails surrounding the Prairie Heritage Center as well as identify and discuss native plant communities of the Waterman Area. The Waterman area offers some of the most breath-taking views of nature in the area. Formed during the last ice age by the movement of glaciers, the Prairie Heritage Center is nestled near a geographical wonder known as a hanging valley. These glaciers carved the beautiful bluffs, valleys, rivers and lakes we see today. They also deposited some of the richest soil, known as till, in the world. In addition to the landscape, the Waterman Area offers a wide variety of flora and fauna, indigenous to the area for thousands of years. Much of the native prairie grasses, wildflowers and tree growth look the same today as they would have when the first native peoples inhabited this land. There are even plots of land in the vicinity that remain virgin prairie, untilled by human hands or machinery.

Dr. Thomas Rosburg has been a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Drake University since 1996. He has a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, a Masters in Plant Ecology, and a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Biology, all from Iowa State University. Early in his career, Tom worked as a wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming, the Fish and Wildlife Service in Colorado, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Tom grew up on a farm in western Iowa and was self-employed in sustainable agriculture from 1983 to 1986. Currently, he teaches ecology, botany, biological research and statistics, natural history, and nature photography. He regularly incorporates field trips and service projects into his classes.

Mark Anderson is to present on the Philip and Anna Parrish Kirchner Log House, a historic building located north of Peterson.

The Kirchners moved from the Albany, New York area to southwest Clay County in 1867, and built this log house the same year. It is located on part of the property that his older brother A.J. "Gust" Kirchner claimed in 1856. They were among the first Caucasian settlers in the county. The Kirchners lived here until they built a two-story frame house nearby in 1882. The property remained in the family until at least the 1990s, and housed a display of family artifacts. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Mark Anderson is the archaeologist at the Sanford Museum. Mark worked for the Office of the State Archaeologist at the University of Iowa for over thirty years and after retiring from that position moved to Storm Lake, IA. Mark works with the Sanford museum’s gradiometer and will be available to do contract work for individuals or groups that need that technology.  He leads the Northwest Chapter of Iowa Archaeology Society meetings as well as editing the Chapter’s newsletters.

Tom Rosburg to give a walking tour near Correctionville. Location - TBD.

A professor of ecology and botany at Drake University, Thomas Rosburg has served as president of the Iowa Academy of Science and as a member of the board of directors for the Iowa Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. Winner of the Sierra Club Environmental Educator Award, the Prairie Advocate Award, the Governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Award, and many other distinctions, he is also the photographer for many University of Iowa Press publications, including Trees in Your Pocket (2012) and Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie (2010). He has published over 360 images in a wide range of books, magazines, calendars, and brochures, including National Geographic, Sierra, The Iowan, and the American Journal of Botany.