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Okoboji
2 to Emmetsburg
Water Trails understanding of our state’s Water Trails. Iowa
DNR WT Coordinator John Wenck explained
Emmet and Palo Alto counties are home that, “The events developed out of a need to en-
to the West Fork Des Moines River. This is the gage local communities in the projects, but have
northernmost extent of the Des Moines River in a direct benefit of inspiring interest and apprecia-
Iowa, the longest river in the state. North of our tion for the resource.”
capitol city, this river traverses through what is
known geologically as the Des Moines Lobe or The University of Iowa Office of the State
the Prairie Pothole Region where the receding Archaeologist is excited to be a partner in the
glacier left behind thousands of shallow wetlands Water Trail Program along with the Iowa DNR
known as potholes or kettle lakes. Much of this and the Iowa Water Trails Association. Presen-
vast network of interconnected swamps was his- tations offered by our archaeologists include
torically drained as farmland. Yet, the West Fork statewide community lectures and half to full-
is flanked by wooded bluffs, rolling terrain, and day interpretive paddle trips. Lectures focus on
ridges, as well as farmland, which gives its visi- an introduction to Iowa’s archaeological past, a
tors a sense of the landscape across time. chronology of Iowa’s cultural history, and the
importance of Iowa’s water trails to people
Beginning in 2013, the Iowa DNR Water Trail throughout time, with added content applicable
Program initiated free educational presentations to each community or water trail. The guided
paddle trips also highlight local archaeological
to support and expand sites, and participants learn to “think like an ar-
public awareness and chaeologist” by examining landform features and
exposed cut banks.
Thebes projectile
point found near For more information on Iowa’s water trails
Emmetsburg at or to check out a schedule of upcoming pro-
site 13PL118 grams, visit the Iowa Water Trails Association
website: iowawatertrails.org.
