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Gigs Rowland | profile | all galleries >> Older Galleries >> Iowa and USA photos >> Iowa Rivers >> Portage Trail tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Portage Trail

Work day to build a portage trail at the Boone Waterworks dam on the Des Moines River. The dam provides water for the city of Boone, and was built in 1932. The previous portage was about a half mile and not well marked. This portage is 500 feet, very well marked, and passes over a creek on a bridge that was constructed during our work session. 9/24/06

Photos of volunteers constructing a portage trail around a dam that claimed the life of a young university woman, Megan Pavelick, earlier this year. She lost hold of her inner tube as she went over the dam. This was very unfortunate because her two friends were able to get past the dam and were ok.

Her friends came out to help, as did many volunteers from the area. Her sorority (Kappa Alpha Theta)has been very interested in the portage trail and other efforts to make the dam safer.

There were paddlers on the river, some used the trail as we worked on it. It is one of the prettiest places in Iowa and this was one of the prettiest days we've had in a long time.

It was a productive day, and many lives will be spared because of the work we did. We had helpers from th city, from DNR, fro National Park Service, Iowa Whitewater Coalition (also provided funding for signs), Skunk River Paddlers, Central Iowa Paddlers, Boone County, and the local Happy Joe's brough pop and pizza. Boone Waterworks spent $10,000 for materials and signs and gave many hours to prepare the trail.


Gerry Rowland
Des Moines
Howl a Day Inn, blue skies and oceans of corn
Howl a Day Inn, blue skies and oceans of corn		 Boone Waterworks
Boone Waterworks		 High bluffs, E26 bridge over the Des Moines
High bluffs, E26 bridge over the Des Moines		 Lyle hauls
Lyle hauls
Right through the middle
Right through the middle		 A gorgeous place below the cottonwoods
A gorgeous place below the cottonwoods		 John Deere city
John Deere city		 Portage trail bridge and hard working volunteers
Portage trail bridge and hard working volunteers
Lift those timbers!
Lift those timbers!		 Working through the sadness
Working through the sadness		 Hard working woman
Hard working woman		 Grief therapy
Grief therapy
Bridge floor nearly completed
Bridge floor nearly completed		 Reporter and state trails coordinator
Reporter and state trails coordinator		 Lyle on the hammer
Lyle on the hammer		 We got the attention of the Iowa press
We got the attention of the Iowa press
No one will say they weren't warned
No one will say they weren't warned		 College students doing a great job
College students doing a great job		 Enjoying the river on a gorgeous fall day
Enjoying the river on a gorgeous fall day		 Work crew at upper access
Work crew at upper access
Working on the upper trail
Working on the upper trail		 Roy and family
Roy and family		 Making it better
Making it better		 Nate knows boulders
Nate knows boulders
Dave wields a mean shovel
Dave wields a mean shovel		 John has the momentum
John has the momentum		 Heroic work, driving those spikes
Heroic work, driving those spikes		 Portage ready
Portage ready
View from just above the dam
View from just above the dam		 A great spot for fishing
A great spot for fishing		 Orange ball demonstrates the dangerous conditions
Orange ball demonstrates the dangerous conditions		 A job well done
A job well done
Cottonwoods and clear blue skies
Cottonwoods and clear blue skies		 Working hard on the bridge handrails
Working hard on the bridge handrails		 Don't let this fool you
Don't let this fool you		 Portage trail take out
Portage trail take out
Fall colors on the Des Moines River bluffs at Boone Waterworks
Fall colors on the Des Moines River bluffs at Boone Waterworks		 Working on the berm
Working on the berm		 Go little Bobcat
Go little Bobcat		 Boulders mark the spot
Boulders mark the spot
Take out here
Take out here		 Packing it down
Packing it down		 Clearing the ground, bridge nearly done
Clearing the ground, bridge nearly done		 Putting up the portage trail signs below the dam
Putting up the portage trail signs below the dam
Getting dirty for a good cause
Getting dirty for a good cause		 View from the river
View from the river		 Slow down, guys and gals!
Slow down, guys and gals!		 Duck, dirt!
Duck, dirt!
On no
On no		 Smiles and sparkles
Smiles and sparkles		 Cool cat, good launch
Cool cat, good launch		 Prairie grass and PFDs
Prairie grass and PFDs
Canoes by the stack
Canoes by the stack		 Stacks of canoes
Stacks of canoes		 Volunteers worked hard
Volunteers worked hard		 Portage tools
Portage tools
More power
More power		 Checking it out
Checking it out		 Bridge crew caught in the act
Bridge crew caught in the act		 Finished bridge
Finished bridge
Rustic bridge, non-motorized
Rustic bridge, non-motorized

comment | share
Ann Cannon 13-Oct-2006 03:19
Hello!
I am one of the friends of the victim (and am in some of the photos above). I am working on a paper for my Science Communication class at Iowa State that I would like to get published about the dangers of low-head dams. I am also working on a speech for another class that I will consider giving at various council meetings. I am looking for someone to interview that is associated with this project. It probably would have been easier to do this on the day I volunteered, but it didn't occur to me until later-- I was also hesitant because Megan's death is still fresh in my mind. But I know that this project is important. I am also considering a career in public education (my majors are Animal Ecology-Interpretation and Spanish) so this may be a good way for me to get started.
So if anyone is interested in talking with me in person or via telephone, I would love to set up an interview. FYI- The paper is due October 27th, but I would still like to talk with anyone willing after the date as well. Feel free to pass on my name and contact information.
Thank you for your hard work and I hope to hear from you!

-Ann Cannon
Senior, Iowa State University
319-551-2418
amcannon@iastate.edu
Henry Rowland 25-Sep-2006 19:24
Great job...keep up your good work way out there in God's country. Adirondack Park needs that kind of citizen participation.
Love, Mom & Dad Rowland, TICONDEROGA N.Y.
Roy Martin 25-Sep-2006 16:31
Thanks to everyone who made this project work!!! It was great working with all of you.
Nate Hoogeveen 25-Sep-2006 13:41
These are super photos of the event, Gerry. Thanks VERY much for showing up, helping, and taking photographs.
Guest 25-Sep-2006 13:40
Thanks, Gerry, for some excellent photos!
Laura Milholland25-Sep-2006 04:27
A nice chronicling of a worthy event. Thanks for sharing these with us, Gigs.
Guest 25-Sep-2006 04:05
Thanks for sharing your photos Gerry, and thanks everyone for making this happen!
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