RIVERSIDE

Spring has come early to Iowa this year, and one outdoor project is taking advantage of the good weather to cruise forward. The Riverside boat ramp is undergoing a major facelift and upgrade. Bowker Pinnacle is doing the work on the $130,000 project.

Trees and brush were cleared earlier in the area bordering the river. Allison Wagner of Axiom Consultants said that rock and rip-rap were hauled over the last few weeks while the company completed the engineering and surveying, and waited for equipment and the manholes to be delivered.

On Wednesday, March 13, with everything and everyone in place, the huge concrete structures were lifted by crane and eased into place.

Once the job of moving earth back in to cover up the concrete and giant tubes is finished, no one will ever see where the excavation took place, but the whole area will have been expanded for recreational use next to the river.

Bowker Pinnacle will also finish grading next to the ramp, lay down gravel and concrete rip-rap to hold the banks, and gravel the drive way access leading down to the water -- just in time for spring kayakers and canoers.

Part of the plan for this renovation is to become part of a river trail, a system of water avenues promoted by the DNR for recreation, Cole Smith, Riverside City Administrator explained. While that process may take some time to complete, it will lead to promotion on DNR websites and possible funding for signage and promotion as a recreational area.

Bob Yoder, Washington County Supervisor, has taken a keen interest in this project, encouraging the council to undertake improvements here.

“I think once it’s all in place, people will realize what a resource for it is for families and groups to use for kayaking and boating, and what a resource it will be for years to come,” he said.

Yoder hopes that Riverside not only maintains the ramp and riverbank as a natural resource area, but that volunteer groups might see it as a worthwhile project, where a few boats and chainsaws could be put to good use in keeping the channel open for clear water down to Stumptown on the Iowa River.

“That’s just a nice afternoon trip for a family or Kayak group,” he said.

For more information about water trails and their locations in Iowa, check the following websites:

https://www.iowadnr.gov/things-to-do/canoeing-kayaking/water-trail-development

https://www.iowadnr.gov/Things-to-Do/Canoeing-Kayaking/Water-Trail-Maps-Brochures