River Action's Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks -- August 1 through September 2.
Channel Cat Talks: Tuesday, August 1, through Thursday, August 31
Riverbend Commons Dock, 2951 East River Drive, Moline IL
Riverine Walks: Wednesday, August 2, through Saturday September 2
Various Quad Cities Locations
Delivering a blend of local history, environmental issues, education, entertainment, and fresh air, Davenport's River Action will again present a series of outdoor presentations in the third and final collection of the annual Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks: weekly programs that, from August 1 through September 2, will address such topics as plastic pollution, commercial fishing, Nahant Marsh, and the "creepiness" of the Quad Cities.
Channel Cat Talk participants tour the Mississippi River aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi, with boarding taking place at Moline's Riverbend Commons Dock. Experts will provide narration on the themed surroundings, with the Channel Cat Talks for August including: "River Landscape Mosaic" (August 1 and 3), in which Dr. Reuben Heine and Dr. Norm Moline discuss why the river flows east to-west here, what river processes are, and how humans have changed them; "U.S. Coast Guard of the Mississippi River" (August 8 and 10), with Evan Bledsoe of the U.S. Coast Guard explaining how the guard patrols the inland waterways and rivers in the U.S., including the Mississippi River, and how its inspections and investigations help ensure the safety of everyone using the river; "Plastic Pollution on the Mighty Mississippi" (August 15 and 17), featuring information, delivered by Lori McCollum, PACG-EF, on how we can help keep the QC waters clear of plastic waste; "Lock and Dam 15 Improvements" (August 22 and 24), a locked-through voyage with civil engineer Anthony Huddlesten discussing why Lock & Dam 15, the first lock constructed for the 9-foot channel system in the 193'0s, was built; and "Commercial Fishing" (August 29 and 31), in which Mike Schafer of Schafer Fisheries explains how he makes a living on the Mississippi River, with a fresh-caught snack provided after the tour.
Riverine Walk participants explore the Quad Cities through a series of guided strolls through various area locales, with the August and September Riverine Walks series featuring: "Future Project Under the new I-74 Bridge" (August 2 and 5), with Jason Manfull of Bettendorf Public Works explaining the urban park being built under the new I-74 Bridge and how it will connect and beautify the downtown area; "Mercado on 5th" (August 9 and 12), which finds Mercade on 5th president Maria Ontiveros providing an overview of how the non-profit serves as a resource for many minority owned businesses in the Quad Cities; "Expanding Nahant Marsh" (August 16 and 19), an opportunity to learn about Nahant Marsh's plans for its newly acquired 60 acres of land from Education Center Executive Director Brian Ritter; "Connecting Neighborhoods to History: Floreciente to Sylvan" (August 23 and 26), with Augustana College's Dr. Norm Moline and River Action's Kathy Wine discussing the planned trail from the Mississippi River to Moline’s Floreciente neighborhood; and finally, "Creepy Quad Cities" (August 30 and September 2), a spooky treat in which Michael McCarty, co-author of Eerie Quad Cities and Ghosts of the Quad Cities, discusses all the creepy tales featured in his books.
Channel Cat Talks take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. and are $20 per person, while Riverine Walks are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m., with admission $10 per person. For more information on these “Explore the River Series” presentations, call (563)322-2969 and visit RiverAction.org.
