Spring 2015 Central Iowa Group Newsletter

Central IowaGroup Directory

(See directory in Chapter newsletter forstate and national information)

Chair, Karen Tigges 274-0545Secretary, Sandy Simmons 288-1811Vice Chair, Debbie Neustadt 263-0297Treasurer, Ginger Soelberg 253-0232Membership Chair, Phyllis Goodman 274-4319Conservation Chair, Jane Clark 223-5047

& Ginger Soelberg 253-0232Fundraising Chair, Lori Reilly 457-8730Other ExCom members: Donna Balzer 285-7787

Virginia Folsom 371-2568Managing Editor, Phyllis Goodman 274-4319Calendar Editor, Jane Clark 223-5047Layout Editor, Lori Reilly 457-8730

http://iowa.sierraclub.org/ciagWebmaster, Mary Ann Hynes

Webmaster@centraliowasierra.com

Hunting SeasonBy Mark S. Edwards

On my trying-to-stay-healthy walk down the road, Icame over the hill to find three mature Bald Eagles sittingon the gravel shoulder. Two of them immediately lifted

into the air and disappeared. I plopped down to watch theremaining one. It was clear this was no ordinary bird. Itcouldn’t stay balanced and kept leaning, pushing its wingsout like a crutch. I thought it had been hit by a car, as itkept righting itself as only a drunk can. Finally it fell overand started flopping around, trying to get back up. I stoodat attention, the closest I had ever been to an eagle.

A copper-green staining covered its white tailfeathers. Its breathing was labored and erratic. It finallyclimbed up on its feet and then lifted its gaze into thedistance as if willing itself to fly but not being able to. Iknew that I was witnessing its demise. An autopsyconfirmed that it was suffering from lead poisoning.

What an incredible story we wrote in this countrywhen we quit using certain chemicals (DDT) that nearlywiped out the eagles. While lead shot was banned forwaterfowl hunting in 1991, it is still used extensively forupland hunting, shooting sports, and fishing tackle.Exposure to lead is harmful and lead does not deteriorate,thus remaining toxic. We have stopped using it in gasolineand paints as well as restricting imports of productscontaining lead. In clinical trials, 200 milligrams of

lead—one #4 pellet, the size of a big BB—was found tobe the lethal dose for a Bald Eagle. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility(PEER) is a national nonprofit alliance of local, state, andfederal scientists, law enforcement officers, landmanagers, and other professionals dedicated to upholdingenvironmental laws and values. They state:

“Bald eagles, endangered condors,and more than 130 other species of wildlifeare needlessly poisoned or killed by leadleft in the wild.

“In the United States, an estimated3,000 tons of lead are shot into theenvironment by hunting every year, another80,000 tons are released at shooting ranges,and 4,000 tons are lost in ponds and streamsas fishing lures and sinkers — while asmany as 20 million birds and other animalsdie each year from subsequent leadpoisoning.

“Lead ammunition also poses healthrisks to people. Lead bullets explode andfragment into minute particles in shot gameand can spread throughout meat thathumans eat. Studies using radiographsshow that numerous, imperceptible, dust-sized particles of lead can infect meat uptoa foot and a half away from the bulletwound, causing a greater health risk tohumans who consume lead-shot game thanpreviously thought.”

Hunters shoot roughly 20 million Mourning Dovesa year, but evidence suggests that nearly that many diefrom eating lead shot. A study at the James A. ReedMemorial Wildlife Area in Missouri revealed that 728dove hunters had deposited 348,037 lead pellets per acre.No one knows how many raptors are killed each year fromingesting lead when eating fish or a game animal carcassor gut pile.

The Quad-City Times has reported that “researchersworking at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlifeand Fish Refuge recently conducted autopsies on 168 dead

bald eagles found in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, andWisconsin. According to their tests, nearly half the birdshad detectable levels of lead in their livers. Worse, 21percent of the eagles most likely died from exposure tothe toxic metal.” Most showed physical signs of leadexposure.

Iowa wildlife rehabilitators began gathering leadpoisoning information on bald eagles in 2004. KayNeumann, who directs Saving Our Avian Resources, anorganization based in Dedham, Iowa, states, “The USFWS[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] mirrors our rehab dataalmost exactly.” Thirty-nine (63%) of the 62 tested forlead had lethal levels, while 7 others tested positive.

Up to one-fifth of the eagle population of the lower48 states spends its winters in Iowa, and this poisoningmortality could be significant. It is also preventable. Myquestion is, “Why don’t we use non-lead ammunition?”It is slightly more expensive, but for who?

More information and sources can be found athttp://www.soarraptors.org/HuntLeadFree.html.

The Northwest Passage in the Era ofClimate Change

Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m.Presented by David Thoreson

David Thoreson, a professional photographer andexplorer from Okoboji will present a program at 7 p.m.on April 23 at Plymouth Church, located at 4126 IngersollAvenue in Des Moines. His presentation combinesstunning visuals and story-telling about sailing in theArctic ice, lives of native hunters and scientists in theArctic and ultimately discovering and meeting the issue

of climate change face-to-face.This program is sponsored byHumanities Iowa, Central IowaSierra Group, Iowa InterfaithPower and Light and Citizens'Climate Lobby.

In 2007, David and thecrew of Cloud Nine became thefirst American sailors in historyto sail the Arctic’s NorthwestPassage from the east to the west.In 2009, sailing aboard thescientifically equipped, Ocean

Watch, David became the only American sailor to haveever sailed the Northwest Passage in both directions.

In 2010, David completed a 28,000-milecircumnavigation of the North and South Americancontinents on the 64-foot sailboat Ocean Watch,witnessing the changing Arctic and ocean environment.The mission of the expedition was designed to educateand inspire children and adults around the world tobecome more active and aware of issues involving the

health of our oceans and the interconnectedness of land,sea and people. David was the expedition photographerand videographer and sailed the entire voyage.

David's work has appeared across a broad spectrumof media from the National Park Service and Smithsonianto the Wall Street Journal and PBS. David premiered hisdocumentary in 2008, "Arctic Journey in a ChangingWorld," on PBS. His photo book, "One Island, OneOcean," about the Around the Americas voyage waspublished in late 2011. An hour-long documentary on thevoyage, produced with ABC affiliate KOMO (Seattle),was nominated for a 2012 Emmy award.

Volunteer Webmaster Needed

Central Iowa Sierra Group is in need of avolunteer to periodically update their website

which is transitioning to Drupal.

For more information or to volunteer, pleasecontact Phyllis Goodman at

goodmanph@mchsi.com

Page 2 Central Iowa Group Newsletter Spring 2015Turin PrairieBy Ginger Soelberg

The Turin Prairie Addition, adjoining the Loess HillsPreserve, is a 425 acre vital addition to a state preserveand wildlife management area.  It is in the heart of theLoess Hills, just north of Turin;   an expansive prairieremnant with an amazing vista of this unique landform.This creates an over 1000 acre protected wildlife habitat

which offers native prairie, mixed woodlands and bur oaksavannah.  This area will provide vital bird habitat alongthe Missouri River flyway and also serve to protect thisunique loess topography.  Volunteers from our Central

Iowa Sierra Group joined a large group of volunteers whohave taken part in the G.R.A.S.S.  (Great Race AgainstShrubs and Shade) effort to remove cedars from thisprairie remnant during the Loess Hills Seminar, which isheld every spring.  The Central Iowa Sierra Group is alsocontributing $1000.00 to support this great project,making us a major donor to the effort.

CCL Proposes Carbon Fee andDividendBy Stephen Biggs

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) aims to make acarbon fee and dividend into law. The law is designed toreduce domestic and worldwide emissions of greenhousegases, improve the domestic economy, and achievejustice. I note some basics of the proposal below.

If you have questions or want to become involvedin CCL, please visit citizensclimatelobby.org or email meat biggstephen@gmail.com.

What is the carbon fee? Companies would pay a feefor extracting fossil fuels. The fee would start at $15 permetric ton of CO2 that would be released if the extractedfossil fuel were actually used as fuel. It would increase$10 per metric ton annually.

What would the fee accomplish? Because the feewould become part of the cost of producing energy, itwould make producing energy through dirtier sources(such as coal, oil, and natural gas) more expensive thanproducing energy through cleaner sources (such as wind,solar, and biofuels). Consequently, market forces wouldcompel us to switch to clean renewables, and within 20years domestic emissions of greenhouse gases would beless than half of what they were in 1990.

What is the dividend? The money collected throughthe fee would be returned to U.S. households throughmonthly dividend checks. Each household would receiveone share for each adult and one half share for each child(up to two children). The dividend would start out smallbecause the fee would start out small. But it would risesteadily, becoming a significant source of personalincome. In 20 years, the dividend would be over $375 permonth for a family of four.

What would the dividend accomplish? Over the first20 years, the fee would increase the cost of living by about2 percent. The dividend would allow consumers to handlethat rise. In fact, the dividend checks would more than

cover the increase in bills for most people, especially thosewho spend the least. Spending from the dividend wouldthen create jobs, over 2.5 million of them within 20 years.

CCL’s proposal also includes a mechanism thatsimultaneously ensures that U.S. manufacturers aren'tdisadvantaged by the increasing cost of energy andincentivizes the rest of the world to follow our lead. Thelaw, moreover, would advance justice, forcing companiesthat presently pay nothing for the harm caused by theirproducts to pay in proportion to the harm their productscause.

My Favorite Iowa PlaceIn this issue, Chris Schneider shows two boys awonderful Iowa location. We would love to learn aboutyour favorite Iowa location. You can send submissionsto goodmanph@mchsi.com.

Sweet WondermentBy Chris Schneider

Adventure pack?Check. Bug house? Check.Flashlight? Check.  Twin4-year -olds Ayden andBryce were ready to exploreJester Park and the HighTrestle Bridge!

Jester Park is a gem,welcoming families withmany outdoor possibilitieson its 1,675 acres. It sits

along the western shore of Saylorville Lake. Somestandouts include the discovery pond, wildlife viewingincluding elk and bison herds, and hiking trails thatmeander through the woods.  Ayden and Bryce crossedcreeks, caught bugs, and explored a tepee on the HickoryRidge Trail. Their curiosity made the natural playscape ahighlight. What a find! You can roll down hills, scrambleup rocks, dam up water, and hide in the tall grass at thisnew and innovative natural playscape.

Time out for our picnic lunch, and then we're off toexperience the High Trestle Bridge. The bridge is a blendof art and history, it is magnificent!  Des Moines Riverbetween Madrid and Woodward. The bridge is on the HighTrestle Trail, a former railroad bed that ambles for 25miles. It is a favorite for biking or a casual stroll.

The bridge overlooks an expansive valley, sparkingthe imagination! As an eagle soared above us, Ayden andI followed its movements from the bridge, mirroring itsflight motion. Bryce was in awe of his newly found animalkingdom.

We protect what we love. The boys deepened theirunderstanding of and relationship with the natural worldtoday. This is important because they are the stewards ofour future.

River TaleBy Phyllis Goodman

This winter, there has been a spotlight on the nitrogenload in Iowa’s rivers. However, we know that nitrogenis only one of many problems with our waters. It is costlyto keep nature clean after we bend it toward human uses.When I was a kid, the solution to pollution was dilution.

That turned out not to work very well. Many of us areaware of the Cuyahoga River catching fire—severaltimes—due to human uses. The river has improved, butit took a lot of money and political effort. This winter, I went on a visit to Chiapas, Mexico.Chiapas is the most southern of Mexico’s states. It is abeautiful land of mountains, rain forests, and lots ofhuman use. We went down the beautiful SumideroCanyon. Majestic walls of rock towered above our littleboat. A gorgeous waterfall called The Christmas Treeformed . . . well, a Christmas tree of mosses and ferns. The Grijalva River flows through the canyon. It is thefifth most polluted river in Mexico. Our boat passed raftsof garbage islands swirling on its water. A crocodilebasked on a bed of plastic debris. The federal governmentsays that cleaning up the river is the responsibility of themunicipalities. The municipalities, however, don’t havethe money to install needed water treatment or landfillfacilities. So the crocodile just sits on the trash. As discussions on the future of Iowa’s rivers progress,let’s continue to actively support the health of our waters.

Volunteers Needed for Earth Day Celebration

We need volunteers to help table on April 18. The SierraClub is planning to help celebrate Earth Day at thebeautiful, recently improved Des Moines BotanicalCenter. If you would like to help us celebrate or wouldlike more information, please contact Donna Balzer at(515) 285-7787.

The Grijalva River. Let's keep working for cleaning upIowa's Rivers so we don't have this happen here.

Chris and Friends

My First Year with SolarBy Sandra Simmons

Solar panels have always been part of my “dreamhome” planning. I’d never had a home that couldaccommodate them . . . until buying my current one. Itwas time to start turning the solar plan into reality. First things first: I had to save the money, as lendersfor solar projects can be difficult to find. So I saved andafter a few years, it was time to find a solar contractor tohelp plan the system. After a bit of a search, I was lucky to find Tim Kruseof Green Light Renewable Services. He entered my yardwith a siting device to find the best possible location forthe array. It was my intent to build a ground-mount,southerly system, but my yard did not want to cooperate.The ideal location would be blocked by a neighboring treeduring the afternoon. A second south-facing site wouldn’tbe feasible due to its close proximity to the back door. Mynew solar array would thus be going up on the roof. The sunniest side of my roof faces east, so we selectedthat side. Since the site would not be able to takeadvantage of all-day southern sun, I purchased 3additional panels to collect the eastern sun. Years ago,the purchase of extra panels might have significantlyincreased the system’s cost. Not anymore—the cost ofpanels has dropped in recent years, allowing moreflexibility with design. Along with site planning, my contractor sought thenecessary city permits, discussed the project with the localutility company, and arranged for any requiredinspections. I definitely benefitted from working with a

certified solar contractor rather than winging it on my ownor with the assistance of an inexperienced electrician. Finally, the time arrived! The panels had come infrom Oregon and were waiting in the garage forinstallation. Then, as luck would have it, snow and frigidtemperatures made any hope of installation futile. Whenthe weather finally cleared, Tim and his crew got started.A solar array requires a reverse meter, so that the wattagein and out can be tallied. For safety’s sake, we also broughtmy breaker box and wiring up to current code. At theconclusion of the installation a final inspection occurredwith my utility company. It was a “truth” test that assuredthat if the utility’s grid went down for any reason, mypanels would not send power to the grid. At the successfulconclusion of this test, my panels came on line. It has been great watching my kilowatt hours tally up.My investment in solar will pay for itself in eight years.Of course, state and federal tax credits have helped withthe payoff, too (15% state and 30% federal). I don’t thinkmy solar system is quite complete yet, however. Downthe road, a battery backup and a hot water system mightbe feasible. A totally resilient solar home would be ideal.I’d better keep saving.

The solar array on Sandy’s roof.

Spring 2015 Central Iowa Group Newsletter Page 3

CENTRAL IOWA SIERRA CLUB SPRING 2015 CALENDARPLEASE CALL THE OUTING LEADER IF YOU PLAN TO GO ON ANY OUTINGS. This helps the outing leader plan and alerts you to possible changes. Everyone, includingnon-members, is welcome to attend programs and outings. Children are also welcome to attend with their parents or caretakers unless otherwise indicated by the outing leader.In order to participate in an outing, you (or your parent or guardian if under 18) will need to sign a liability waiver. To read a copy of the waiver, please call 415-977-5630.Carpooling on outings is encouraged but is strictly a private arrangement among participants, and participants assume all risks associated with such travel. All telephone numbersin this listing are area code 515 unless otherwise indicated.

Central Iowa SIERRANSubmissions

The Central Iowa Sierran is published three times ayear. We invite submissions of letters, articles,photographs and illustrations. Deadlines are March5 for the Spring/Summer issue: July 5 for theAutumn/Winter issue; and November 5 for theWinter issue. Preference will be given to articlesrelating to the Central Iowa Group. The editorsreserve the right to edit for clarity, space and for libelreasons. All submissions must have name, address,and phone number. Submissions may be sent toPhyllis Goodman. Call 274-4319 for submissionaddress. Electronic submission of articles ispreferred: goodmanph@mchsi.com. Hard copysubmissions should be written neatly or doublespaced typed.

APRIL EVENTSWeekly Monday Hikes BeginCentral Iowa Sierra Group hikes resume on April 13.  Mosthikes will be on Monday nights this year and will be held ata different location each week around the Greater Des MoinesArea, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and ending around 8 p.m. Thisis a great way to get to know hiking areas you may have nevervisited, or to revisit old favorite trails.  For all hikes, pleasecontact the hike leader to sign up each week so you canget directions and be notified if there is any change in plans.You may request to be placed on an email list to be notifiedof each week's hike and any changes by contacting Jane atjrclark@radiks.net . Difficulty level is usually easy tomoderate. Hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes arerecommended, as are light weight long pants, mosquitorepellent and water. Bring rain gear whenever the weathersuggests a chance of rain. If temperatures are very hot or thereis lightning or threatening storms the event may be cancelledso please contact the hike leader. Dogs must be leashed.

MONDAY, APRIL 13: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Trestle-to-TrestleMeet at the paved parking lot near the old Bob Lenc Nurseryon Lower Beaver along the Trestle-to-Trestle Trail. Fromthere we’ll drive to a spot a few minutes away for a flat,moderate walk east of Beaver Drive but just north of BeaverCreek--the trail is known as the Sycamore Trail. It willeventually offer a spectacular vista of the Des Moines Riverafter passing a long stretch of wildflowers. The hike will be90 minutes and boots are necessary. Difficulty: Moderatelevel. No RSVP necessary, but contact George at 745-7563with questions

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15Northwest Community Center, 7:00 PMEarth Day CelebrationJoin us as we celebrate Earth Day and learn about the workof Central Iowa Sierra Group and several other environmentaland social justice organizations from around the area.Participants will have the opportunity to visit each exhibit andhear about all the good work that is being done in Iowa.Central Iowa Sierra public programs are held at NorthwestCommunity Center, 51st Street and Franklin Avenue in DesMoines. Contact Jane at 223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.net formore information about the event. Exhibitors include: IowaWomen in Natural Resources, Polk County Conservation,Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Rivers Revival, Iowa InterfaithPower and Light, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, IowaPrairie Network, Iowa Native Plant Society, Citizens' ClimateLobby, Des Moines Audubon Society, Oxfam, AlaskaWilderness League, Trout Unlimited

SATURDAY, APRIL 18: HIKE, 10:00 A.M.Woodland Mounds State PreserveMeet in the southwest corner of the Hy-Vee parking lot atFleur and McKinley in Des Moines at 10 a.m. -- look for thered conversion van. We’ll travel to Woodland Mounds StatePreserve in Warren County. The steep, timbered hills of thearea are predominantly forested with oak and hickory, withmany wildflowers in the understory. The preserve wasdedicated as an archaeological preserve in 1983. ContactDonna at 285-7787 to RSVP and for questions.

THURSDAY, APRIL 23: 7:00 P.M.The Northwest Passage in the Era of ClimateChangePresented by David Thoreson at Plymouth Church4126 Ingersoll Avenue, Des MoinesDavid Thoreson, a professional photographer and explorerfrom Okoboji will present a program at 7 p.m. on April 23 atPlymouth Church in Des Moines.  His presentation combinesstunning visuals and an in-depth look at the science of climatechange with an emphasis on the Arctic. Using his uniquenorthern experiences of sailing in the Arctic ice, David sharesexperiences of native hunters and scientists in the Arctic andof ultimately discovering and meeting the issue of climatechange face-to-face.    Why is the Arctic considered theepicenter of the climate debate? What is the future of theNorthwest and Northeast Sea Passages? We will explore themany questions and have a lively discussion.  This programis sponsored by Humanities Iowa, Central Iowa Sierra Group,Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, Citizens' Climate Lobby andEnvironment Iowa.

MONDAY, APRIL 27: HIKE, 6:15 P.M.Easter Lake County ParkExplore the new recreation trail on the south side of EasterLake County Park. Meet at 6:15 p.m. at shelter #4, which canbe reached by turning left after the main entrance to the park.Shelter #4 is the last parking lot to the west on that side of the

lake and the trail can be reached from that shelter. Bring waterand dress for the weather conditions. After the hike, we’llcheck the lilacs at nearby Ewing Park. Contact Jackie at577-0375 with questions. Difficulty: easy.

MAY EVENTSMONDAY, MAY 4: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Margo Frankel Woods State ParkMargo Frankel Woods is a good place to find wildflowers andwelcome spring.  Follow NE 2nd Avenue (Hwy 415) about2 miles north of I-80/35. The park is located on the east sideof the road, just south of NW 66th Avenue between DesMoines and Ankeny.  We will meet in the parking lot.  ContactGinger at soelbergg@gmail.com or 253-0232..  Difficulty:moderate, hilly terrain.

MONDAY, MAY 11: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Glendale CemeteryGlendale Cemetery on May 11th. Meet at 6:30 p.m. in theGlendale Cemetery parking lot on University Avenue about50th Street across the street from Waveland Golf Course.This cemetery offers history lessons as well good birding ina beautiful setting and is right in the heart of Des Moines. Wewill spend some time in select areas during our hike, such asthe Jewish Sector, Veterans Section and the Tai Dam areaduring our walk. Difficulty level: moderate.  Contact Jackieat 577-0375 to let her know you're coming.

MONDAY, MAY 18: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Raccoon River Park, West Des MoinesThis park offers a super place for bird-spotting. The terrainwill be uneven, suggesting boots and moderate level ofdifficulty. Meet at the dog run area on the east end of the parknear the softball fields. You may enter the park from 63rd St.at a 4-way stoplight just south of Railroad Ave. or go out onGrand Avenue and enter the park there, turn left and proceedpast the Lodge.  This will be about a 60 to 80-minute hiketraveling in and around the wooded eastern half of the park.Long pants and good shoes/boots recommended as this willbe an off-trail trek.  Contact George at 745-7563 for moreinformation. Difficulty level: moderate.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20Northwest Community Center, 7:00 PMBill Stowe of Des Moines Water WorksBill Stowe, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines WaterWorks will be the speaker at our Wednesday, May 20 meeting.He will give us updates on water quality issues facing DesMoines Water Works and discuss how they work for betterstewardship of water resources and clean water initiativesthroughout Central Iowa. Central Iowa Sierra publicprograms are held at Northwest Community Center, 51stStreet and Franklin Avenue in Des Moines. Contact Jane at223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.net for more information aboutthe event.

JUNE EVENTSMONDAY, JUNE 8: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Des Moines RiverMeet at Yellow Banks County Park, just to the left inside theentrance and near the lot across from the park ranger’s house.From there we will travel a few minutes away on VandaliaRoad to the Polk County Boat Launch site. From there wewill hike for 60 minutes with views of the Des Moines River.No RSVP necessary but contact George at 745-7563 withquestions. Difficulty level: moderate

MONDAY, JUNE 15: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Crown Point, JohnstonMeet at Crown Point in Johnston to walk the trails, includingthe newly established "soft trails," through the Beaver CreekNatural Resource Area. Check out work on the Terra Parkrenovation, see wetland mitigations areas and nearby BeaverCreek, and enjoy the woodlands and grasslands of thelandscape. Crown Point Community Center is at 6300 PioneerParkway, west of Merle Hay Road in Johnston. ContactGinger at soelbergg@gmail.com or 253-0232 for information.Difficulty: uneven terrain

MONDAY, JUNE 22: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Five Bridges along Neal Smith TrailMeet at the Casey's on the south side of Polk City just east ofthe Mile Long Bridge. We will then travel to the entrance ofBig Creek State Park to a parking lot near the recreation trail,where there are 5 wooden bridges running along Big Creekand Saylorville Lakes. The trail is paved and mostly woodedand the hike will take about 90 minutes.     Contact Jackie

at 577-0375 to let her know you're coming.  Difficulty level:easy to moderate.

MONDAY, JUNE 29: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Deer Ridge Park on Raccoon River Valley TrailMeet at Deer Ridge Park, located behind Deerfield RetirementCommunity, 13731 Hickman Rd, Urbandale. Turn north intoDeerfield from Hickman Road, drive in and make a left turntoward the back of Deerfield and park in the last open parkinglot on the left and meet in the parking lot.  Walk into the parknear the play equipment for a moderate 60-80 minute hike onthe paved Raccoon River Valley Trail. We may see deer asthe trail winds through a heavily wooded area.  Deer Ridgeis a 14-acre park and the Raccoon River Valley Trail runsthrough the park. This part of the trail is fairly new and offershikers and bikers a walk-in park that is secluded with ridgedterrain but surrounded by a residential area mostly not visibleon the trail.  Contact Etta at 515-778-3495 orettalgeorge@msn.com for more information. Difficultylevel:   Easy to moderate

JULY EVENTSMONDAY, JULY 13: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Des Moines Water Works ParkWe will meet at the old footbridge over the Raccoon Riverwhich is along the main road through Des Moines WaterWorks Park. There is a small parking lot at the bridge. To getto the park take Fleur Drive and enter at the 4-way stoplightjust across from Gray's Lake, then travel through the park forapproximately a mile to the bridge.  Difficulty level: easy tomoderate for a hike of about 90 minutes. You may also enterfrom George Flagg Parkway.  Contact Jackie at 577-0375 forinformation or to confirm walk.

MONDAY, JULY 27: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Raccoon RiverMeet at 63d Street and Railroad Avenue for a hike east ofthere to the western edge of Bill Riley Trail. We will park atthe Qwik-Trip gas station, across from Valley Junction. Wecan reach the Raccoon River or possibly head toward WalnutCreek. Difficulty level: Moderate to intermediate; bootsneeded. No RSVP necessary but contact George at 745-7563with questions.

MONDAY, AUGUST 3: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Sand Hill Prairie Hike, Chichaqua BottomsSand Hill Prairie is part of the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt,which is a half-hour northeast of Des Moines near Elkhartand Bondurant. The Prairie entrance is located on 118thAvenue, west of 112th Street. To get there, travel out Highway65/330 past Bondurant and across the Skunk River and takethe first road on your left (NE 112th). Travel north to the firstroad on your left (less than a mile) and turn left on NE 118thAve. The parking lot for Sand Hill is one-half mile west on118th. Contact Ginger at soelbergg@gmail.com or 253-0232for information. Difficulty: Moderate, mowed trail.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17: HIKE, 6:30 P.M.Principal River WalkThe Principal River Walk features lighted, landscaped publicspaces, world-class public art and unique pedestrian bridgesand pathways with many focal points along the way. Meet atthe Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden parking lot locatedat 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, to walk downtownon the Riverwalk. Contact  Etta  at  778-3495 orettalgeorge@msn.com for more information.  Difficulty level:easy.