President's Report - Summary of Annual Conference

South Dakota Game Fish and Parks is updating the old Big Sioux Water Trail - we heard about that at the conference - there are already some campsites in place and they are building an App for paddlers to find the sites- some can only be reached by the water

We've enjoyed the improved access points & look forward to making some overnight trips on the Big Sioux. Thank you GFP!

The Missouri National Recreation River offers interpretive trips on this historical stretch of river. They fill up fast so check their web site if you are interested.  Friends of the MNRR are also planning a picnic on Goat Island and more-watch for their events on SDCKA blog & Facebook.

SDCKA will have another movie night at Lake Pelican on July 29 - showing Creature from the Black Lagoon along with a moonlight paddle.

More trips are being planned for the Misssouri, with overnight stays on the river, in addition to a number of races.

So - just waiting for ice out!!

And I want to thank the board of SDCKA-including the members of the original SDCA - for making this yearly event a success!

Mary Finck

President, SDCKA

Here's a robust list of SDCKA scheduled events coming up this year:

February
12- Pool Session EmBe (Sioux Falls) 10 am to Noon
26- Pool Session EmBe (Sioux Falls) 10 am to Noon

March
14-15 Sioux Empire Water Fest USF Stewart Center 8 am-3 pm

April
27  – Thursday on the Plaatz (Vermillion)

May
6  –  Dam N Back (Yankton)
9  –  Big Sioux Water Festival (SDSU Brookings) 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
TBD  –  Greenway Clean-up ( Legacy Park 8-11 a.m.)
26-28 – SD Kayak Challenge (Yankton - S. Sioux City)

June
TBA - Big Sioux Water Trail (research trip)
11- Adaptive Paddling (Family Park, Sioux Falls) 9-noon
11 - Paddling Fair (Family Park, Sioux Falls) 1-4 pm
17 - Triathlon (Wall Lake) 7-10 am
24 - Friends of MNRR Picnic, Clay County Park and Goat Island, Vermillion area (time not yet set)

July
7-8  –  Fort to Field 50 (Fort Randall Dam, Springfield, SD) 7:30 am
29 – Lake Pelican Night Paddle & Movie (Watertown, SD) Dusk

August
5 – Outdoor University (The Outdoor Campus East, Sioux falls, SD) 10 am-3 pm
8-11 – MR340 Kansas City to St Charles (check website)
12 – Missouri National Recreational River Float (check website)
19 – Yankton Riverboat Days – 6 mile kayak race
19 – Sioux Falls River Fest – Canoe Rides at Cherapa Place 5 – 8 pm