Sunday's weather was lame, but ...

P1000718
Originally uploaded by Iron Bieso

More than a dozen folks came out and played about at Lake Alvin Sunday. Air and water temps were both in the high 50s, but no one seemed to care, and a number of new paddlers got out and tried their hands on the lake.

Jay Heath's blog, http://southdakotakayak.blogspot.com/ has a great account of the event.

There were folks ready to put-in there at 11 a.m. when we got started, and some were still trying other boats around 3 p.m. when we took off. The weather did not lead to outright enthusiasm, but a good time? It was had.

More photos on the way.

Don't forget June 20 is the planned SDCA event in Pierre. Members there welcome any and all South Dakota paddlers to join them for a few options on the Missouri River in the state's historic capital.

Details on that event are beginning to take shape and are open to ideas. Visit member Pat Wellner's blog at http://www.piratesofthemissouri.com/ to get ideas on the next organized event, or contact him with specific questions via his e-mail link on his Web site.

About that early bird ...

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Originally uploaded by Iron Bieso

While the christening event for the Missouri River was postponed due to Saturday morning's weather, several members of the SDCA did kayak the state's biggest river last weekend, and we stayed dry, had fun, and saw some eagles.





John Adler and Pat Wellner from Pierre made the trip to Vermillion as well, and they actually ran the route that was planned. Jim, Laura and I just did High Lines to Clay County. But by sleeping in, we met with good conditions.

As soon as the kick-off event is rescheduled, we will have information here.

Missouri River trip not happening Saturday

The organizers and staff of the Missouri National Recreational River (MNRR) Water Trail kickoff event, scheduled for Saturday morning near Vermillion, have postponed the event until sometime later this summer.

Biking the Beaver Island trail, trying to beat approaching thunderstorms
Originally uploaded by TedSher

Why? Weather. There are thunderstorm warnings and the winds are supposed to be unfriendly.

On the bright side, more than 100 paddlers were due to turn out, and this event will happen, only on a better day.

The organization's Web site is located at http://www.mnrrwatertrail.org/ if the trip is news to you. No date has been set for the make-up date.

Sunday was the proposed backup date, but it's out as the weather all weekend down there is questionable.



But the SDCA paddling fair on Sunday at 11 a.m. is on. We'll post if the weather prevents the event, but we'll be out with boats.




Current Lake Alvin forecast says there's a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday, with mostly cloudy and a high of 65.

That event is, I say again, a go.

As soon as the Missouri River kickoff event is rescheduled, we'll have information here.

The May 2009 Prairie Paddler

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One week to the paddling fair at Lake Alvin

P6010252
Originally uploaded by Iron Bieso

Don't forget that a week from Sunday, on June 7, the club will have a paddling fair for all comers to try their hands at kayaking and canoeing.

There are details in the new newsletter that is going out today.

The event begins at 11 a.m. Take the SW entrance to the lake - no fee to pay - and you'll see where to park. There's a vault toilet there, and there will be plenty of SDCA members.

We'll put a news release out with the Argus Leader today but send the word far and wide to anyone who wants to give paddling a try. Last year we had a great turnout, in part due to the stellar weather.

Looking forward to seeing YOU there.

Water quality meeting Thursday night

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Originally uploaded by Iron Bieso

A public open house to discuss the Big Sioux River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study currently in progress is set for Thursday, May 28, 2009, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Kuehn Community Center, located at 2801 South Valley View Road, Sioux Falls.

The presentation will begin at 5:45 p.m. and includes an overview of the project followed by a question and answer session. There will also be examples of equipment being used to assess the water quality within the project area.

This link: http://www.siouxfalls.org/PublicWorks/environmental/tmdl_project has information on the project and updates.

The TMDL study is under way on the Big Sioux River in the Sioux Falls area, looking primarily at sediment (total suspended solids) and bacteria (fecal coliform.)

The levels of these two are now, or have historically been, above the target threshold levels for full beneficial use of the water. Both impact recreational use of the river: High TSS adversely impacts the fishery, and elevated bacteria counts pose human health risks under certain conditions.

There is more information from the 2008 Integrated Report at this link: http://denr.sd.gov/documents/08IRFinal.pdf, which has replaced the old 303(d) listing under the Clean Water Act.

The study is not looking at organic compounds such as herbicides, as there are no known impairments attributable to these substances.

SDCA members are encouraged to attend, especially if they wish to get information on how to contribute to the efforts to keep an eye on pollution in our rivers.

Gung-ho group gets good Skunk Creek

Corey (1)
Originally uploaded by Iron Bieso

Seven early-riser paddlers took part in the Jerry Foy-led cruise on the Skunk Creek in western Sioux Falls Saturday morning.



The waterway is described well on Jay Heath's blog, he was a participant. It looks and sounds like the Skunk has something to offer for paddlers.

Only two weeks until the June 6 Missouri River cruise in Vermillion and the SDCA paddling fair on June 7 at Lake Alvin.

Nice work, crew. Looks like a good way to start a Saturday. Envy!