Upper
Iowa River
What's
so special about the Upper Iowa River?
The Upper Iowa River is a relatively short river and small watershed.
It starts in southern Minnesota and then winds through three northeast
Iowa counties (Howard, Winneshiek, and Allamakee) before entering
the Mississippi River. So what makes it so special?
The
Natural Features
photo
by Tom Scherer
Much of the Upper Iowa River is incised into steep limestone hills.
Limestone features such as sinkholes, caves, and cold air slopes
form the underlying geology of the surrounding agricultural and
forested landscape.
The river bank terrain varies greatly, from flat fertile field
benches, to bottom and upland forests, to vertical limestone bluffs
of up to 200 feet by Bluffton. The variety of features throughout
the riverway includes small goat prairies, Native American effigy
mounds, and hosts of plant and wildlife species.
One of the differences between this river and others anywhere
in the Midwest are the cold water streams that feed into it. These
streams support trout and other aquatic species. For information
on the Upper Iowa River Watershed Project, sponsored by Northeast
Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, visit www.northeastiowarcd.org.
Recreational
features
 The Upper Iowa River is Iowa's
only river eligible for designation as a national Wild and Scenic
River. It is a mecca for canoeists. This river falls at an average
rate of over 16 feet per mile, a significantly faster flow than
many other Iowa rivers. One section in particular, between the
towns of Kendallville and Bluffton, draws hundreds of thousands
of canoeists (plus folks floating on inner tubes) each year.
At the stretch just upstream from Bluffton, everyone gets out
cameras. As they pass through the majestic limestone palisades
and chimney rock formations, framed by wooded hillsides, they
try to capture the moment. INHF and the private landowners have
now protected this stretch of chimney-like palisades (pictured
above). The story of that protection is included within the context
of INHF's Upper Iowa River projects.
How
can I experience the Upper Iowa River? 
photo
by Jim Riggs
The Upper
Iowa River passes through a lovely part of Iowa with many services
for visitors-from dining, lodging and shopping to canoe and inner
tube rentals, trails and parks. To help you plan your trip, INHF
has created a lengthy links page of attractions
and services near the Upper Iowa River. Though INHF is not
necessarily endorsing a given company by including their link
on this page, we endorse a trip to this beautiful place!
We also co-sponsored maps of the Upper Iowa River. Designed for
canoeists, the maps show river features while providing lots of
information about area attractions. This map is free if you pick
it up in our office. Or send in $1.50 for postage and handling
to INHF at 505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 to
have one mailed to you.
What's
INHF doing to protect this area?
 photo by Mary Ellen
Leicht
This photo of a parent
and baby bald eagle on its nest was taken on an INHF project site
along the Upper Iowa River. To learn more about eagles and follow
their lives on this nest through great photos and text, visit
our Eagle Nest Diaries.
The Iowa Natural
Heritage Foundation has protected hundreds of acres along and
near the Upper Iowa River. Some, like Chimney Rocks and the Upper
Iowa River Palisades, are among the area's most scenic treasures.
Others, though less spectacular to look at, are equally important
for their value in protecting the area's wildlife, water quality
and other natural values. For details, visit our list and description
of INHF projects along the
Upper Iowa.
How
can I help?
 Unlike some popular rivers in other
states, the land along the Upper Iowa River is not a designated
preserve. It won't be protected by government decree. Voluntary
action is key to protecting the upper Iowa River, and the Iowa
Natural Heritage Foundation is key to getting that voluntary action.
INHF's recent work along the Upper Iowa River has gotten many
other landowners interested in permanent protection. But we can't
get it all done without funding for staff time, appraisals, stewardship
expenses, land payments, etc. So we're conducting a campaign and
we'd love to have you join us. Here's
how you can help.
For more information,
e-mail Cathy Engstrom,
director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.
© Copyright 2010 Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
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