eddy magazine - february 2015

More Inside:: : First Bridge Design : : Community Revitalization: : Design with Nature: : eddy Calendar

Design of a reconstructed span of the First Bridge.

C o n n e c t i n g p e o p l e t o t h e r i v e r

Volume 5, Issue 1 | February/March/April 2015 A P U B L I C A T I O N O F R I V E R A C T I O N , I N C . w w w . r i v e r a c t i o n . o r g

Non Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDMontezuma, IAPermit No. 30

TRANSIT MOVES THE QUAD CITIES FORWARD.

DOLLARS AND SENSE.Businesses want to be near public transportation because it connectsthem with top talent. In fact, every dollar invested in public transit generates four dollars in economic activity.

$1 $4National Association of Realtors and the American Public Transportation Association. “The New Real Estate Mantra: Location Near Public Transportation.” March 2013

Design Matters You know when you redecorate your living room, you start to notice

other living rooms? It is the same with city design. You really look at views, surroundings, parks, and architecture once you start planning.

In this issue, we ask you to really look at city design whether it is a large swath of shoreline frontage with multiple acres, or just a few, and ask what is the right mix of uses here?

Admittedly, it is a challenge to work with civic leaders, private interests, design professionals and the community to find good solutions, but environmental aspects as well as cultural and commercial ones while avoiding cookie-cutter approaches must be respected. Also, look to see if developments are authentic to our area. All design looks through the history of the past and takes into account how sensitive it is to the water.

It is not just how it looks both day and night, but also how it functions to be sustainable. Good, public design can improve livability, make communities pedestrian friendly, and influence the quality of life, all the time designing on a human scale, providing choices in housing, shopping, recreation, and transportation. Varied building types and land uses create vibrant and diverse cities. Preserving urban centers by restoring, revitalizing, and infilling takes advantage of existing streets, services and buildings while avoiding urban sprawl.

Plans should not relegated to a shelf. Renew Moline, Renaissance Rock Island, Redeem East Moline, Downtown Davenport Partnership all are hives of expertise that have taken plans to the street. Likewise, master plans for ecosystems such as Nahant Marsh, Duck Creek and Rock River Ravines were implemented with a community planning process that defined buffer zones, interconnected trails, viewing stations for limited public access, and at Nahant, an education center.

In 1996, area planners and River Action wanted to preserve and protect our most vital common thread, the river. To accomplish this, the “RiverWay Design Principles” were developed with The Lakota Group, Chicago, and adopted in 1999 to provide standards to protect the ’sensitive balance’ between our economic engine and ecological resource. The four components were: respect for the river, river access, river corridor design, and river interpretation. They can be viewed at www.riveraction.org; click on RiverWay Design Principles.

In this issue, we take stock of past efforts and look at parks and recreation, neighborhood revitalization, urban infill, floodplains, ecological restoration, and innovation in design. We conclude with a lessons from Steve Jobs; if you build it well, people will pay for it. This message is for all of us designers wanting to create markets in beautiful cities and on sustainable riverfronts.

February/March/April 2015 Volume 5 Issue 1

_______

KATHY WINE, Publisher / Executive DirectorBETH CLARK, Managing Editor, Milepost Ventures, Inc. JEFF VanECHAUTE/pi design, inc., DesignEILEEN SIPES, Calendar EditorContributing Writers

TIM CHAMBERS, River Action Staff JESSICA FLONDRO, River Action Staff TIM GILLMAN, River Action StaffEILEEN SIPES, River Action StaffKATHY WINE, River Action Staff

Contributing Photographers/PhotographsARMY CORP OF ENGINEERSRDG PLANNING • DESIGNROCK ISLAND URBAN GARDEN CONSORTIUMSMITH GROUP / JJRBLDD ARCHITECTSBRAD KEENEY, CITY OF DAVENPORTMIK HOLGERSSONJESSICA FLONDROLAURA KLAVITTERJEFF VanECHAUTE TIM GILLMAN AMY LOVING

© eddy Magazine and River Action, Inc., all rights reserved, 2015. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express, written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding that neither it, nor River Action, Inc., its owners or managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, medical, technical, or any other advice, professional or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect the endorsement of any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement and there is written approval for such endorsement. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material to eddy Magazine for consideration should not send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a self addressed, postage paid envelope in return of materials is requested. Return of materials is not guaranteed. eddy Magazine is published quarterly by River Action, Inc., 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 and is direct mailed to approximately 6,000 area homes and businesses.

eddy MagazinePublished by River Action, Inc.822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803563-322-2969www.riveraction.org

To Advertise: Contact Beth Clark 309-269-3455 or contact Deb Girard at [email protected]. For rates, ad dimensions and deadline information email [email protected]

To Subscribe or become a member of River Action: call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org

Kathy Wine

February/March/April 2015 | eddy Magazine 3

O u r M i s s i o n :River Action strives to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region.

P U B L I S H E R ’ S L E T T E R

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4 Design Issue

4 First Bridge Adopts Original Design by Kathy Wine

5 Design By and For the Community by Tim Chambers

6 A Space for Storytelling and Healing by Tim Gillman

7 Revitalize Through Design by Tim Chambers

8 Riverwatch Place by Kathy Wine

9 Re-Design Moline’s Downtown by Tim Gillman

10 Ernie’s Paver Layer by Tim Chambers

10 Design Plan – Green Valley Wetland by Jessica Flondro

11 Design Plan – Hennepin Canal by Jessica Flondro

12 Design with Nature by Eileen Sipes

12 Lake Odessa by Tim Chambers

13 eddy Calendar: February, March, April — by Eileen Sipes

4 eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org

DESIGN: COMMUNIT Y

First Bridge Adopts Original Design — By Kathy Wine, River Action Staff

0 15’ 30’ 60’

Coneptual Plan

November 17, 2014

Davenport River Drive Pedestrian Bridge

Potential Connection to Adjacent Development

Ramps from Bridge Plaza to East River Drive

Interpretive Shelter and Markers

Bridge Plaza

Stairs from Bridge Plaza to East River Drive

Expanded East River Drive Pedestrian Zone

EAST 4TH STREET

EAST RIV

ER DRIV

E

FEDERAL STREET

RAILROAD

Connections to Future Development

Pedestrian Bridge

Stone Abutments

Trail Peninsula from Bridge to Park

Heritage Park Interpretive High Point

Ramp and Stair Systems

River Action’s project, First Bridge, designed to link us to the Mississippi River, our heritage, and our future, has over a 150-year connection

to the community and the nation. On the corner of River Drive and Federal Street, Davenport, hidden for years behind trees, lies the original embankment for the first railroad bridge across the river. One rail still stretches out toward the bridge’s other end along the shore of Rock Island.

By the 1850’s, the crossing from Rock Island to Davenport had been identified as the best place to design this important bridge. It was directly west of Chicago, and the island acted as a stepping stone across this section of the river with its limestone riverbed. In addition, the rapids and navigation channel here had been mapped by Robert E. Lee in 1837.

After design and two years of construction, the bridge opened to great fanfare April 21, 1856. The achievement of spanning the river had resulted in an impressive wooden Howe truss bridge over 1,500 feet long and painted white. There were five spans distinguished by Burr truss arches and a 286-foot swing span which allowed passage through the draw. Imagine what it must have looked like to a pilot coming around the bend – each span between the piers was 250 feet.

Using these historical specifications, River Action proposes to reconstruct one complete span identical to the first. It would rest on the original embankment with limestone to replicate the piers. When completed, the recreation bridge will link the new Family Y with River Heritage Park and riverfront trails.

Two weeks after the first crossing, the steamboat “Effie Afton” struck a pier and caught fire. The subsequent lawsuit became a defining chapter in the nation’s development. Steamboat interests argued the bridge was an obstruction to navigation, while the railroads, and one of their lawyers – a young Abraham Lincoln – argued that one person has as much right to cross the river as another had to sail up and down it. The Supreme Court ultimately agreed, the bridge remained, and the transcontinental railroad became a reality.

“If I was asked to pick the symbol, to put my thumb on a map of where that connection between East and West began, it was not at the arch in St. Louis – that’s for Lewis and Clark history. The real beginning of connecting east and west was the bridge that connected Rock Island, Illinois with Davenport, Iowa.” Douglas Brinkley, Author, Historian.

Ten years after the fire, the first bridge was replaced on the same embankment and piers. In 1872, it was replaced by a new bridge downstream where the current government bridge now stands.

Noted author and planner, Kevin Lynch, wrote, “A desirable image is one that celebrates and enlarges the present while making connections with past and future.” What Time is This Place, 1972. When reconstructed, First Bridge will serve as a gateway to downtown and a destination for tourists interested in heritage travel. Its design brings history to life while embracing modern urban redevelopment and gives Quad Citians one more reason to be proud of this unique stretch of the Mississippi River.

A proposed vision of the site plan for First Bridge.

localenvironmentalnews


DESIGN: COMMUNIT Y

Design By and For the Community — by Tim Chambers

Throughout this issue of the Eddy we are introduced to a myriad of design concepts from environmental to architectural design, including a reconstructive pedestrian bridge linking people to the riverfront and their cultural history, and design to revitalize our urban centers.

Let’s not forget those grass root designs that continue to change the appearance and functionality of our landscape on shoe string budgets. Community gardens and rain gardens are two examples that have profound effects on our communities and the urban environment.

Community Gardens: Neighborhood, communal or community

gardens, call them what you will, all are designations of gardens designed for and by a community. As a result, each garden is different from the other. Design is dictated by the needs and wants of each community, cultural background of the gardeners, and physical location. These gardens might be spaces strictly dedicated to the production of fresh vegetables and herbs or simply to the practice of horticulture. Garden layouts may reflect a communal approach to garden management, whereas others may be divided into plots, each worked by an individual or household.

Whether located on a vacant city lot down the block from your home, in your neighbor’s backyard, or in a city park, community gardens offer opportunities for physical activity, urban beautification, cultural expression, and social interaction. They provide access to healthy foods and habitat for urban wildlife, while at the same time capture and filter stormwater and reduce air pollution.

Community gardens make great outdoor classrooms, where knowledge is shared and experimentation is the norm. The proliferation of these gardens in the Quad Cities is the result of the dedication and hard work of grass root organizations such as the Rock Island Urban Garden Consortium, The Garden Growers, and the pioneering successes of various community efforts. As Laura Klavitter from the Tremont Garden Project put it, “Whatever you put in, you get out”. The Possibilities are endless.Rain Gardens:

Rain gardens have become very popular in the home landscape and are gaining popularity with schools and private businesses. As cities continue to grow and replace natural habitats and agricultural lands with imperious surfaces, increased stormwater runoff causes urban flooding and lowered water quality in

Birds-eye view Tremont Garden Project. Photo: Laura Klavitter

A Rock Island Community Garden. Photo: Rock Island Urban Garden Consortium

A Rock Island Rain garden. Photo: Mik Holgersson

waterways due to urban pollutants. In many cases these issues lead to costly improvements to municipal stormwater treatment structures.

By design, rain gardens take advantage of rainfall and stormwater. Typically small in size, these gardens are depressions in the landscape planted, ideally, with native perennials and shrubs located strategically to capture runoff from roofs and imperious surfaces. Superficially, a rain garden might look like any other attractive garden, but as water enters the garden it is both infiltrated and cleaned.

Both the City of Rock Island and the Partnership for Scott County Watersheds manage programs that subsidize the cost of installing rain gardens on private property. Rock Island will reimburse homeowners $4 per square foot up to $3,000, and since the program’s inception in 2005 the City has seen the installation of 246 rain gardens. While an individual rain garden may seem insignificant, a network of gardens will provide substantial environmental benefits.

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Space for Storytelling & Healing: Veterans Memorial Park — By Tim Gillman

The City of Davenport not only wants to make public parkland a priority, but they want it to be dedicated to the heroes that have

served our country. One of Davenport’s newest planned parks is Veterans Memorial Park. Lying just west of Centennial Park along the banks

of the Mississippi, the land is set to be shaped into a well-designed memorial to those who have served. The memorial will be designed not simply as a local park, but a destination drawing veterans and civilians from across the midwest. The eastern portion of the park is slated to be completed within the next five years.

Instead of a normal park with a single monument, the entire site will be dedicated as a memorial to veterans. It will be centered around a dramatic monument, with paths radiating outward for meditation, contemplation, and healing. Instead of straight lines, the paths will follow organic curves - imitating nature’s own design.

As with many public spaces in the Quad Cities, the entire park will connect with the river, drawing inspiration from it. Walking paths will connect with Centennial Park and LeClaire Park in the east, while the RiverWay bicycle/pedestrian path will link the Park with Credit Island to the west.

Because the park will be built in the floodplain, special consideration is given to the power of the river. Instead of attempting to make the park accessible during flood events, the designers want to make the space easily maintainable and resilient after a flood – a testament to its mission of healing and regrowth.

Veterans Memorial Park will be a place of remembrance and optimism, telling the story of our nation’s greatest heroes with a symbolic eternal flame.

DESIGN: COMMUNIT Y


The masterplan for the park and memorial. Credit: Smith Group/JJR


Revitalization through Design — By Tim Chambers

As a newcomer to the Quad Cities my intrigue is renewed every time I walk through urban Rock Island. With its historical districts and position on the mighty Mississippi, it seems as though I can almost re-live the City’s rich history – Saukenuk, Fort Armstrong, the first railroad bridge, Looney, and prohibition era speakeasies. Although urban Rock Island has experienced decline since its peak in the 1960’s, its future potential is undeniable.

Recognizing its own potential, the City embarked on a public planning process in 2012, building on previous planning efforts to reverse long-term trends in urban decline, to develop a revitalization plan for the Arsenal Gateway. The area of focus incorporates sections of several urban neighborhoods – the Broadway Historic District, Downtown district, and the Greenbush neighborhood – located proximally to one of the Quad Cities’ major employers, the Arsenal. Adopted by Rock Island in July 2013, the plan considers the complexity of the urban community and the interaction of social, economic, and environmental forces. Recommendations include designs to increase access to the riverfront, expand greenspace, and improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety. They also include the redesign of

DESIGN: REVITALIZE

Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave, Rock Island. Photo Tim Gillman

streetscapes and the inclusion of public art to enhance aesthetic, infill of vacant lots, and opportunities and strategies to direct both public and private investment.

While planning and design documents are essential in informing effective long-term redevelopment and revitalization, they are also great at collecting dust on municipal bookshelves. It is ultimately the community – residents, development non-profits, transit districts, government and local businesses – acting together that drive change. In 2014 Arsenal Gateway saw the opening of the Locks – a transit oriented housing development and a new transit transfer station that fulfills transit system needs and improves rider safety. Both are examples of successful collaborations between the growth, MetroLINK and the City. Meanwhile, local businesses, like Rozz-tox on 3rd Ave and 21st Street, are changing the social and economic landscape. Through its original social design, Rozz-tox has created a dynamic space welcoming of expression that attracts a diversity of artists to the Arsenal Gateway.

To see the Arsenal Gateway Revitalization Plan, visit http://www.rigov.org/documentcenter/view/5611

DESIGN: REVITALIZE


In September, Downtown Davenport Partnership announced the demolition and redevelopment of the former Howard

Johnson hotel site at 227 LeClaire Street, a key eastern gateway to downtown Davenport, Iowa. The $25M proposed development, known as Riverwatch Place, is a six-story, mixed-use office building that includes first floor commercial/retail use and restaurant space with Mississippi River views. The building is 60,000 SF (10,000 SF per floor), will feature outdoor vista points on each floor, and a large

dining area on the top floor. Improving this site has long been a goal of

the selected developers. It “offers extraordinary river views… Our mission is to deliver a ‘trophy’ property worthy of the site,” said John G. Ruhl, President of NAI Ruhl Commercial Co. a developer along with Bush Construction.

The urban infill project on a property that has sat empty since 2009 will add to the Davenport skyline, both day and night, and provide a welcoming entrance to the

RiverWatch Place: River Views and Public Enjoyment

downtown. Kyle Carter, Executive Director, DDP. reports that demolition of the existing building is planned to begin the first of the year with construction of the new building to follow. Building design is by BLDD Architects. “It will be built knowing full-well that flooding is an issue that must be mitigated via design,” he adds. Property owner Demolition Davenport, through the Downtown Davenport Partnership, will continue to be the steward of the property until a final closing.

BLDD Architects, a member of the development team, is the building designer.

— Kathy Wine

Re-designing Moline’s Downtown — By Tim Gillman

R

30 groups in Scott Countyare making a difference

in the environmentby cleaning up.

Join them by adopting your spot today.

Find out how atwww.ilivehereqc.org.

Like many towns in the midwest, Moline and the rest of the Quad Cities fall into

what is known as The Rust Belt. With declining populations and loss of manufacturing jobs, towns like Moline have had to think outside the box when it comes to planning and economic development - to bring in new jobs and revenue while making the area an enjoyable place to live. Moline’s latest comprehensive plan updates provide strategies to fill its downtown area with well-thought-out designs. These updates focus on three downtown neighborhoods: Floreciente to the west, Moline Centre, and Edgewater in the east.

While the further-out areas of Moline are booming, especially along the John Deere corridor, the city recognizes the importance of a strong and diverse downtown as an alternative to urban sprawl. The city has distinguished itself by mixing completely new infill developments with reuse projects, showcasing historical architecture without being averse to modern building projects. This gives Moline’s downtown variety and depth. A city block acts as timeline with both older and contemporary designs. This can be seen with the historical redevelopment of the Washington Square apartments - originally rowhouses for John Deere executives in the 19th century, now just down the block from the very modern Kone Center. The new transit development - dubbed “The Q” will refurbish an existing warehouse with newly constructed additions housing the new Amtrak station, a hotel, and possible retail space.

Creative uses are being planned for existing and historical buildings in both the Floreciente and Edgewater neighborhoods. New infill developments would take advantage of relatively inexpensive land and open lots - providing an economic boost to the neighborhoods and taking advantage of available infrastructure. In Floreciente, this could mean a re-purposed theater or a pedestrianized

A birds-eye illustration of the long-term vision for downtown Moline, looking southwest. Credit: Lakota Group

An artist’s concept for a pedestrianized street on 4th Ave. at 7th St., looking east. Credit: Lakota Group

street - similar to traditional Latin-American plazas. Edgewater will benefit from it’s proximity to the new Western Illinois University campus, making it a perfect fit for college town cafes and shops. These developments would couple with re-designed streets to inject vitality into neighborhoods where it is most needed.

Moline has recognized that well-designed streets not only manage traffic, but also lead to more pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Since 2005, the city has outlined specific designs for improving streets - including benches, planters, unique crosswalks, and stylish lighting. The best example of this “streetscaping” is on 5th Avenue in Moline Centre. On any given day the street is filled with buzzing storefronts, cafes, and restaurants. Businesses and people alike are enjoying the slowed-down Main Street feel. The benefits are both aesthetic and economic. The city plans to expand it’s streetscaping plans into Floreciente and Edgewater, calming traffic along busy one-ways while making the neighborhoods more walkable and livable.

After demolition of the existing I-74 bridge, there will be many opportunities to open up and redevelop the riverfront area. Multiple plans have been outlined, all of which feature a new riverfront park. Mixed-use residential or commercial buildings will compliment the critical public parkland, connecting more of the downtown to the river. This public space could be seen as Moline Centre’s “front yard” along the Mississippi - providing area for outdoor activities, concerts, and festivals. The area will be planned around the new, modern I-74 bridge.

With more modern buildings being constructed along Moline’s riverfront, developers have drawn from a design pallet that takes into account other new and modern structures in town, contrasting nicely with the more traditional downtown urban core. While they are all distinctly different, projects like the Kone Center, iWireless Center, WIU Riverfront

Campus, and Riverbend Commons draw inspiration from one another - incorporating river themes, complimentary architecture, and environmentally-conscious features.

The planned improvements are great examples of revitalization through design - giving a genuine sense-of-place and pride to downtown Moline.

To see Moline’s comprehensive plan, visit http://moline.il.us/index.aspx?NID=304

DESIGN: REVITALIZE



In need of a solution to make the installation and repair of brick streets and alleys in historic districts more efficient and cost effective, the City

of Davenport began researching mechanisms, only available in Europe, that would do just that. The results were cost prohibitive and the inflexible design of available machinery was not adaptable to the needs of the City. Running out of options the Public Works Department turned to City Mechanic Ernie West for a solution.

After viewing a short video on June 7th describing brick laying technology, he was asked by his supervisors, “Can you build one?” Agreeing it would be possible, Ernie was given three weeks to complete the design and procure all of the necessary parts and materials.

Riding on tracks off of a John Deere skid steer, powered by a 20 horsepower Honda engine, this strange looking contraption is both ingenious and versatile. Hydraulically operated with an auto leveling system, Ernie’s machine can lay bricks in widths ranging from five to eighteen feet allowing the city to resurface alleys, streets and sidewalks, in- house. Two people can do the work in half the time it would take

Ernie’s Paver Layer— By Tim Chambers

four to do the same job manually; saving tax payers money and city employees’ their backs.

Learning of this new machine from Brian Stineman, Natural Resource Manager with the City Public Works, River Action had to meet its creator. Ernie’s paver layer means a new day for stormwater management and water quality in Davenport. Completed on October 1st, this machine is capable of efficiently installing permeable pavers, important tools to manage stormwater in cities. Because of Ernie’s original design, the proliferation of permeable streets is sure to be in Davenport’s future.

Ernie West and his brick laying machine. Photo Credit: Brad Keeney, City of Davenport, Department of Public Works.

Green Valley Wetland Creation and Prairie Restoration Design Plan

DESIGN: NATURE

— By Jessica Flondro

Green Valley Nature Preserve at 60th St,

Moline, adjacent to the Rock River, is comprised of more than 250 acres of bottom-land forest, mesic prairie, and wet meadow. The 2015 design plan will result in the creation of approximately five acres of pothole wetlands and seven acres of native prairie restoration.

Pothole wetlands will be excavated to a depth of 12”-18.” Displaced soil will be spread and seeded to create a mesic prairie ecosystem, with attention to both infiltration potential and aesthetics. The seed mix will generate a seasonal color palate ranging from white and yellow, to blue and magenta and will likely include: big blue stem, Indian grass, prairie dropseed, black eyed susan, compass plant, rattle snakemaster, and blazing star.

Prairie Planting

Wetland Creation

Phase IWetland Creation

Walking PathWetland Creation

Rock River Bike Trail

60th St

John Deere Rd

Rock River0 460230 Feet ¯

Wetland Creation - 5.1 AcresPrairie Planting - 6.9 AcresWalking Path - 5,100 ft

Jessica Flondro, February 2015Design Credit - Mik Holgersson

The prairie potholes will be restored to native wet prairie, dominated by a mixture of grasses, sedges, and forbs, including: prairie cordgrass, Canada bluejoint grass, lake sedge, hop sedge, fox sedge, mountain mint, New England aster, angelica, marsh marigold, swamp thistle, swamp milkweed, and blue flag iris.

In addition to wetland creation and prairie restoration, a 5,100 foot mowed walking path will be created between the river and the wetlands to showcase the restoration, provide access for the general public and students, and promote connectivity within the preserve and the larger Rock River Trail.

DESIGN: INNOVATION

Lake Odessa: Upper Mississippi River Restoration— By Tim Chambers

Unbeknown to many, the Mississippi River is the only river in the United States to be recognized by Congress “… as a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant commercial navigation system”. To ensure that Congress’ vision remains a reality, the Army Corps of Engineers and its partners have been working through their Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (UMRR) to implement innovative and effective habitat restoration projects by combining cutting edge monitoring and research with pioneering environmental design. For over 25 years Corps designers have been refining construction techniques to improve habitats in ways never before imagined. To date, a total of 55 projects, benefiting more than 102,000 acres, have been completed through the UMRR program, with another 35 projects in either the construction or design phase.

A prime example of UMRR program’s work is the Lake Odessa Complex located 15 mile south of Muscatine in Louisa County, Iowa. This 6,788 acre backwater complex has been

Lake Odessa Restoration Map. Image courtesy of Army Corps of Engineers.

actively managed for wildlife since the 1950’s. With its 1,800 acres of open water, 1,700 acres of non-forested wetlands, and 2,900 acres of bottomland hardwood forests, Lake Odessa has long provided critical habitat for a multitude of wildlife species. However, a long history of floods and levee breeches has resulted in a reduction of quality habitat especially important for fish and migratory waterfowl.

In response to habitat degradation, the Corps set out in 2006 to restore and protect wetland, terrestrial, and aquatic habitat through the restoration of the existing perimeter levee system, spillway construction, dredging, the construction of new water control structures, seeding of sand prairie, and the planting of nut

bearing hardwood tree species. This project has gone a long way in reducing forest fragmentation, increasing hardwood tree diversity and native grassland, expanding and enhancing wildlife habitat, and protecting archeological features within the complex. Lake Odessa, open to visitors, is managed jointly by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Iowa DNR and supports 240 species of birds and 96 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and fish. The design of appropriate restoration and management of lands, such as Lake Odessa, is imperative to the ecological sustainability of the Upper Mississippi River System.

DESIGN: NATURE

M uscatine Slough

Big MallardPond

GoosePond

SwarmsPond

BebeePond

Unit 2

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Bay & Channel

Existing Outlet StructureExisting Outlet Structure

SpillwaySpillwayBeaver Pond

Heidelbaugh Pond

IDNRMSU

Lake Odessa

Yankee Chute

Sand Run

Mississippi River

L/D

17

FishNursery

FishNursery

MichaelCreek

Hail Island

FWS Spillway

Prairie Pocket

Fox Pond

Turkey IslandTurkey Island

Turkey Chute

Field 4 & 5

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Sand Prairie

Planting

Field 21

LittleGoosePond

Iow

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Wing Dam

MSU20

Burris DitchBurris Ditch

Blackhawk C

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Existing Inlet Structure

Mast Tree Planting

Restore Primeter Levee Excavate Channel/Deep Holes

Archeological Site Protetction

Replace / New Water Control Stucture

Portable Pump and/or Pad

Dredged Material Placement Site

Hydraulic Dredging Borrow Site

LEGEND

New Pump Station

0 1/2 mile 1mile

Scale



DESIGN: NATURE

David A. Johnson, D.D.S.

3512 Jersey Ridge Road Davenport, IA 52807

(563) 359-3494

Design with Nature— By Eileen Sipes

I take my title from designer Ian McHarg’s Design with Nature. He states, "It contains a gradient of meaning. It can be interpreted as simply descriptive of a planning method, deferential to places and peoples, it can invoke the Grand Design, it can emphasize the conjunction with and, finally it can be read as an imperative.” Ian L. McHarg, September, 1991

Classroom and lab facilities at the Education Center are available for K-12 field trips and educational research. However, due to programming growth, it has been difficult to meet needs. In December, 2013, the Nahant Marsh Board of Directors began fundraising to expand the current building. Ground breaking took place November 20, 2014, on a 1,600 square feet addition to the current building that

will include a classroom capable of seating 100 people, more bathrooms, and much needed storage space.

Design Features – To stay above the floodplain, the new addition will be raised 18 inches. A second septic system will be added to serve the new addition. Renewable energy, part of a class project through Eastern Iowa Community College, will benefit the new space and lower utility costs. A parking lot expansion will be equivalent to the present lot plus 50 additional feet. The project, designed in an environmentally responsible way with the least amount of impact on the wetlands, is expected to be completed in spring, 2015.

The Ecological Importance – Nahant Marsh is one of the last remaining urban wetlands of its size on the upper Mississippi River. It offers a wide variety of environmental education for people of all ages on wetland

ecosystems, water quality, and biodiversity. From the 1960s to 1996, the land was used for skeet and trap shooting leaving Nahant contaminated with lead shot. Today, the 513 acre area encompasses different wetland community types including bottomland forest, open-water habitat, and marshland. It provides habitat to more than 150 species of birds, plants, fish, insects, mammals, and rare species such as the Leopard Frog and Blanding’s Turtle.

Hennepin Canal Environmental Park Restoration Design Plan — By Jessica Flondro

The Hennepin Canal Environmental Park at the Steel Dam and Lock 30 in Milan is comprised of mesic

prairie and woodland edge. The 2015 restoration and design plan includes improvements to the walking path and removal of vegetation at the portage, which will connect visitors to the portage site and the Rock River.

Restoration plans also include the removal of invasive and encroaching vegetation from historic Lock 30 infrastructure and the installation of new interpretive signage by the IL DNR to showcase historic canal features at the site. The DNR will also dredge the canal above and below Lock 30 and stock native fish species to promote kid’s fishing days.

Additionally, the design plan includes the repair of two existing park benches, the trimming of a large silver maple which will provide shade for visitors and a picnic table, and the restoration of 1.5 acres of mesic prairie in the wildlife area along the canal. The seed mix will likely include

little blue stem, wild rye, milk weed, mountain mint, pale coneflowers, and Culver’s root. Prairie restoration will increase biodiversity onsite and provide an aesthetic backdrop for the canal and Rock River site.

To showcase restoration efforts at the Hennepin Canal, River Action, with assistance from the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, will offer environmental education programs for 180 students from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in the spring of 2015. Education programming and restoration efforts will make the park a safe and accessible place for families to enjoy nature and experience the historic aspects of the Hennepin Canal that have been hidden.

Silver Maple

Lock 30 Historic Infrastructure

Hennepin Canal

To Portage

Jessica Flondro, February 2015Design Credit - Mik Holgersson

¯0 100 20050 Feet

Walking Path - 201 linear ft.

Debris Removal - 5,490 sq. ft.

Prairie Restoration - 1.5 acres

Nahant Marsh Education Center (Photo by Amy Loving, Nahant Marsh Education Coordinator)

FebruaryInaugural Frozen Fat Fondo FestSaturday, February 7, 11am-2pm, Credit Island Park, DavenportJoin FORC in a fat biking challenge ride along the banks of the mighty Mississippi on Credit Island. Ride solo or as a 3-person relay team. See who can crank out the most laps in 3 hours around a challenge filled course. Stick around after the main event for a healthy dose of shenanigans! www.qcforc.org

Earth ExplorersFeb 5-Oct 29, every other Wednesday, 4-5pm, Nahant Marsh Education Center, DavenportOur Earth Explorers after-school program allows children ages 11-14 years-old to explore innovative technologies and scientific concepts through creative outdoor activities and experiments. For more informa-tion and to register please visit www.nahantmarsh.org.

$5. (includes presentation & continental breakfast, cof-fee, and juice) To register please call 563-323-5196 or by going to www.nahantmarsh.org.

Toddler TalesSecond Tuesday of each month, 10-11am, 2-3pm, Nahant Marsh Education Center, DavenportEven if we cannot see animals, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. We will learn about ways to identify animals without seeing them. Ages: 3-5. Cost $5 per youth. Register online at www.nahantmarsh.org

Muddy Boots Every other Wednesday, 4-5pm, Nahant Marsh Education Center, DavenportThe purpose of Muddy Boots Nature Club is to provide youth with the opportunities to learn while exploring nature. Muddy Boots engages children with hands-on activities like monarch butterfly tagging, gardening, bike riding, hiking, eco-crafts, and more. Ages: 6-10. For more information and to register please visit www.nahantmarsh.org

Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Show 2015Thursday through Sunday, February 12–15, QCCA Expo CenterFrom boats and tackle to decoys and gear, it’s an Outdoors Show with seminars and presentations from big name fishing professionals. Bring the family to Kids Kamp with a real trout pond, minnow races, and archery. Adults $7, Children 6 yrs-16 yrs $1, under 6 yrs Free.

Sierra Club Treehugger TriviaFri, February 13, 6– 9pm, Freight House Farmers Market, 421 W River Dr, Davenport Reception Hall at Freight House. Doors open at 6pm, trivia starts at 7pm. Teams of 8 should register by emailing Jodi at [email protected]. Not on a team? Seats will be available for walk-ins. http://sierraclubevg.wordpress.com/

Valentine Indoor Music and Moonlight WalkSat., Feb. 14, 6:30-8:30pm, Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island. Featuring a stroll outside on a luminary-lit trail. Too cold outside for the walk, come into the Lodge and keep warm by the fire with fresh donuts and cider or hot

cocoa. Music will be provided by Just4Fun. Drew Nagle will call the contra-dancing. FREE. Singles, couples & family friendly. (309-788-9536) or www.blackhawkpark.org. This event is sponsored by Black Hawk State Historic Site in cooperation with Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation—education outreach for Black Hawk State Historic Site since 1972.

Mardi Gras Rajun Cajun FestTuesday, February 17, 5:30-8pm, $25 per person in advance, $30 at the doorThe taste of New Orleans is coming back to the Quad Cities on Fat Tuesday! Local chefs will be set up in the lobby of the Figge Art Museum where guests can sample each chef’s Cajun creation. All proceeds ben-efit the outreach programs of the Figge Art Museum. Tickets purchased in advance online or over the phone (563.326.7804 x2046) will reserve your spot. Name and identification required for entry. Doors open at 5 p.m

Skating at Riverside Park LagoonSkating at Riverside Park Lagoon, Ice skating is permit-ted as weather allows at Riverside Park Lagoon located at 2750 5th Avenue. The lagoon has a warming house and public restrooms that are open seasonally when conditions are favorable for ice skating. Ice conditions vary based on changing weather conditions so please obey posted signs that indicate if ice conditions are appropriate for skating. Hours of Operation are 6am-11pm, daily. Public session admission is $5, skate rental $3, all sessions are 2.5 hours. For more information call 309-524-2424.

River Action’s Environmental Book ClubTuesday, February 24, 7pm, River Action office, DavenportDiscuss The Big Year by Mark Obmascik. Meetings are open to the public and meet at the River Action office, 822 E. River Dr, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info, please call 563-322-2969.

Friends of Nahant Marsh MeetingLast Wed of each month, 6pm, Nahant Marsh Education Center, DavenportAre you looking to get more involved at Nahant? Then join us at our monthly Friends Meeting. For more infor-mation, call 563-323-5196.

Breakfast with the BirdsFirst Friday of each month, 8-9am, Nahant Marsh Education Center, DavenportJoin us for an informative breakfast about our feathered friends. The class will meet in the first Friday of every month beginning in October and continuing until spring. Each session will cover a group of birds from dabbling ducks to raptors to songbirds. Depending on weather, there may also be a short hike to our bird blind. The trail to the bird blind is ADA accessible. Cost:

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e d d y C A L E N D A R

eddy Calendar


DAVEY ® TREE & SHRUB EXPERTS SINCE 1880

Phone: (563) 355-0701

(309) 788-8733

Fax: (563) 355-8465

JASON HOUSWORTH District Manager

I.S.A. Certified Arborist # IL4228A

THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT COMPANY 133 12th Street ● Bettendorf, IA 52722 ● www.davey.com

EASY TO FIND. HARD TO RESIST.

W W W . H U N G R Y H O B O . C O M


Quad City Audubon Society Field TripSaturday, February 28, 7am, Wildcat Den, near Muscatine, IATrip will travel from Buffalo Shores birding as we go to Wildcat Den and Fairport Fish Hatchery. Be prepared to hike the beautiful Wildcat Den State Park in winter. There is an optional stop for lunch in Buffalo. Meet at Buffalo Shores (one mile past Buffalo, IA, Hwy 22). [email protected] for more information.

MarchA Photographer’s Feast Saturday, March 7, 9am-2pm, Western IL University Quad Cities, $5 fee payable at the door.Whether you are an amateur or a seasoned photo enthusiast, come out and hear a talented experienced group of photographers offer their tips. River Action and Western IL University are co-sponsoring the work-shop. Visit www.riveraction.org for more information, and to register.

Mississippi River Geotourism QC meetingMonday & Tuesday, March 9 & 10, watch for detailsThis is a series of four Project Planning and Orientation meetings to inform partners about this project; goals, process and benefits, and to highlight the roles of stakeholders and determine next steps towards imple-menting the Mississippi River Geotourism.

St Patrick’s Society Grand ParadeSaturday, March 14, 11:30-1pm, IL & IA Quad Cities parade routeStarts in Rock Island, crosses the Centennial Bridge and ends up in downtown Davenport. For more informa-tion on the parade visit www.stpatsqc.com

CanoecopiaMarch 13-15, Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, Madison, WICanoecopia is the largest paddlesports consumer event in the world, with over 250,000 square feet of kayaks, canoes, Stand Up Paddleboards, outdoor equipment and clothing. canoecopia.com

Sierra Club Program Meeting - Bald Eagles and Lead ShotMon, March 16, 7– 8:30pm, Moline Public Library, 3210 41st St, Moline, ILEd Britton, US Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss new research on the impacts of lead shot on bald eagle populations. Meet in the Bronze Room of the library. sierraclubevg.wordpress.com

Dyeing Eggs the Natural WaySat., March 21, 10 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Nahant Marsh, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, IA. The Nahant Marsh Education Center will present a class on the basics of natural dyes and using them to cre-ate colored eggs. There also will be a presentation on the history of natural dyes and tips for creating natural dyes at home. Participants should bring a dozen hard-boiled eggs and an apron or T-shirt that can get stained. There is a cost to participate and registration is required. (Ages 8 and up). Call 563-323-5196 to register.

River Action’s Environmental Book ClubTuesday, March 24, 7pm, River Action office, DavenportDiscuss Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations by David R. Montgomery. Meetings are open to the public and meet at the River Action office, 822 E. River Dr, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info call 563-322-2969.

Henry Farnam Dinner, 12th Annual Quad Cities Friday, March 27, Jumer’s Hotel & Casino, Rock Island, ILCocktails (cash bar) and displays 5pm, Dinner 6:30pm and Program 7:30pm. Tickets are $40 per person; reserved table of 10 is $375. Invitations will be mailed in early March to those who received invitations last year. For reservations, go to www.riveraction.org or for more information call River Action at 563-322-2969.

Environmental Film Fest, 10th Annual Eddy Award Winning Saturday, March 28, Olin Center, Augustana College, 733 35th St., Rock Island, ILAdmission is FREE although donations are accepted. Doors open at 11am. For film information and direc-tions, check out www.augustana.edu/environmental-filmfest. For more info about Eagle View Group, Sierra Club check out http://illinois.sierraclub.org/eagleview, or contact Kathryn Allen at [email protected]. The public is welcome to attend any or all of the films being screened at the festival. Refreshments will be available.

Quad City Audubon Society Field TripSaturday, March 28, 7am, Lock and Dam 13There will be many stops along the way searching for waterfowl and early spring migrants. This is a great trip to look for signs of spring! This trip will stop at Fulton for lunch; some may choose to continue birding after lunch. Meet at Brothers Restaurant in Hampton, IL, at 7am. [email protected] for more information.

Pick up a ‘Retain the Rain’ Rain Barrel for April showers!!! Rain Barrels hold 60 gallons, and come with a diverter, mosquito netting, and spigot, all for $75! River Action, 822 E River Dr, Davenport, or riveraction.org.

AprilQuad Cities Audubon Society Field TripSaturday, April 11, 7am, Cones Marsh, IAThis trip is to many the best of the year, with stunning views of many species of shorebirds, waterfowl, and other early spring migrants. Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, and many more, maybe a nesting Great Horned Owl, will be the highlights. Meet at Buffalo Shores (one mile past Buffalo IA, Hwy 22) at 7am. [email protected] for more information.

River Action’s Environmental Book ClubTuesday, April 28, 7pm, River Action office, DavenportDiscuss The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell. Meetings are open to the public and meet at the River Action office, 822 E. River Dr, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info, please call 563-322-2969.

River Action’s Fish & Fire Fundraiser and FriendraiserFriday, April 24, Watch Tower Lodge in Black Hawk State Park, Rock IslandThis annual catfish fry combines fundraising and friends. Bid on dozens of silent auction items, enjoy the dinner and entertainment, and be a part of the 16th Annual Eddy Awards Presentation – awards given to those in our community who go against the current to get things done. For more information or to register go to riveraction.org.

The 40th Stroll through SpringtimeSat., April 25, 7am-12noon, Watch Tower Lodge, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Ave (Blackhawk Rd), Rock Island7-9am, trail walks to identify both migrating & resi-dent birds (binoculars suggested), 9am, refreshments, including wild violet jelly, and a short program, and 10-12 trail walks to identify wildflowers. FREE (309) 788-9536, www.blackhawkpark.org

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GIFTS & ANTIQUES To place an ad email Deb at

[email protected]

Dr. Robert J.S. Ward Chiropractor

(By appointment)

Home: 563-386-9162 Office: 563-326-5583 Fax: 563-326-1590

1802 West Locust Street, Davenport, IA 52804

e d d y C A L E N D A R

For over 30 years River Action has been dedicated to connecting people to the river. Our supporters help us to improve the quality of water that flows down the river. They help us to instill a love of the river through encouraging participation in many activities that involve the river. Plus, River Action encourages educational programs that help our residents better understand river related issues and concerns.

A membership to River Action offers you an opportunity to really make a difference in our community. With each membership you will receive discounts on educational programs as well as your continued FREE subscription to eddy Magazine

Complete and mail in the form below to

822 E. River Drive Davenport, IA 52803 or go to: www.riveraction.org and click on membership!

JOIN TODAY AT www.riveraction.org

or send check to 822 E. River Drive

Davenport, IA 52803

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