SDCKA Annual Conference: 2014

The Annual South Dakota Canoe/Kayak Conference was held yesterday at the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls.  This event is always held at mid-winter and sets the stage for the approach of the paddling season in a couple of months.

Fifth-one paddlers gathered in the auditorium of the Outdoor Campus after an hour of socializing and networking in the lobby.  President Steven Dahlmeier opened the conference with a look at the activities of the association over the past year.  He provided the continuity for the conference as a variety of presentations were offered over the next four hours.

Kayak Outfitted for Adaptive Paddling

The first presentation offered a review of the adaptive paddling activities provided for people with disabilities who wanted to stretch themselves through kayaking.  Cory Diedrick, board member of the SDCKA, was a key figure in this process, and he was accompanied during the presentation by paddlers who were able to take advantage of this opportunity as well as others who helped bring this plan to fruition.

Presentations were offered on the health and future of the Big Sioux River, both within the Sioux Falls area and on the upper river watershed from Summit to Brookings.  In addition, a representative of the Iowa DNR presented a review of the demolition of the Klondike Dam and how that affects the river flow on the Big Sioux River in that stretch between SD and Iowa.

Several South Dakota paddlers and a support team participated in the MR 340 this past summer.  This event took paddlers 340 miles down the Missouri River between Kansas City and St. Charles in 88 hours.  Kati Albers, David Mays, and Pat Wellner offered their photos and recollections of that major accomplishment.

A group of SDCKA members offered some tips for paddlers regarding choice of paddles, safety equipment, and gear for cruising.

Pete Larson, long time SDCKA board member, presented his slides and story of a 14-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon this past summer.

Jarett Bies and Steven Dahlmeier discussed the South Dakota Kayak Challenge (https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Dakota-Kayak-Challenge/74472547629?ref=br_tf) race between Yankton and Sioux City and plans for next summer.  In addition, Jartett presented the first look at a new 50-mile race along the Missouri River from Fort Randall to Pickstown.  Details of this race can be found on a dedicated Facebook page at the following URL:

https://www.facebook.com/50fortTofield?ref=br_tf

For many of us at the conference, this gathering was the first time we had chatted since mid-November when the waters in the Sioux Falls area iced up for the long winter.  We laughed it up for a few hours and began to anticipate our first cruises of the season.  Now, we just watch the daylight hours lengthen, the sun continue to strengthen, and the snow and ice to gradually melt.  Normally, we are able to get out on the water in April, and that means just another 8 or 9 weeks to go.

Big Sioux River Clean-Up: September 2013

Clearing debris from the Big Sioux River as it flows through Sioux Falls is one of the public service activities of the South Dakota Canoe/Kayak Association.  In the past two weeks, members gathered twice with their kayaks and canoes to pick up debris from the stream and along the banks.  On each occasion, about 400 pounds of litter were gathered for pick up by the city.  The first section of the river clean-up was from 57^th Street to Tuthill Park.

Last night, members met at the canoe launch area along 26^th Street to begin a sweep upstream to the bike trail bridge over the river, a round trip of about 2.5 miles.

The group was made up of 11 kayaks, a canoe, and others who remained to clean the launch area, the woodlands nearby, and the parking lot and trails.

Paddlers in the kayaks headed upstream to work the shoreline.  Most paddlers had attached a receptacle of some kind to their boat for refuse collected.

Often paddlers got out of their kayaks in shallow water to more effectively collect items along the shoreline.

The canoe moved upstream to collect full cargos of refuse from the kayaks and transport it back downstream to the launching point.  

Along the trip upstream in the canoe, we came across two deer that were in the woods between the bike trail and the river.  One crawfish was found among the debris in the bottom of one of the kayaks.

There was ample depth to the river as we all moved upstream.  The kayaks were able to get up to the rapids under the bike trail bridge, but the loaded canoe ground to a halt in the shallows about 50 yards from the rapids.

The kayaks set off upstream about 5:45 p.m. and the canoe followed about fifteen minutes later.  The job was finished at twilight, about 7:30 p.m., and the debris was stacked for pick up later by the city.

In addition to the public service, an event of this sort builds a narrative of shared experiences and reconnections among the SDCKA members.  The association holds only one general conference a year, in January at the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, so opportunities to build relationships take place on organized cruises and at public service events of this sort. We all get to know each other a little better through these reconnections.

Although we all got a bit dirty in the activity, it was also a beautiful early fall evening on the Big Sioux River.  

As we all packed up our boats and gear in the deepening darkness, it seemed to me that there was a general feeling of satisfaction with doing something good with our paddling friends on a fine evening.

A full set of the photographs from this clean-up cruise can be found on my Flickr page at the following URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayheath/sets/72157635899692614/

Wetlands Clean-Up in Sioux Falls: June 2013

The South Dakota Canoe/Kayak Association has taken on the responsibility of cleaning up the wetlands at the canoe launching point along the Big Sioux River near the intersection of 26^th Street and Southeastern Drive in Sioux Falls.  This means that at least twice a year SDCKA members gather to collect trash throughout this area for removal by the city.

 This evening six of us met in the parking lot at the launch site for our clean-up of the area.  We did a very thorough job last fall, and there was considerably less trash for us to gather this time.

 We roamed through the bush and tall grass and along the riverbank with our plastic bags and “grabbers” or pointed sticks. 

While we were there a kayak and canoe arrived from upstream around 57^th Street and reported little debris in the stream, although they also said that one of the boats got hung up on the rocks but did not tip over in the rapids under the bridge over the bicycle trail.

So, this evening was one of the several public services performed by the SDCKA each year: the paddling fair, river clean-up, the wetlands clean-up, and water sampling from area lakes and streams.  

It was also a time to laugh it up with paddling companions and plan new trips for the coming days. 

SDCKA Paddling Fair: June 2013

The South Dakota Canoe/Kayak Association again hosted its annual paddling fair at Family Lake, a body of water on the western edge of Sioux Falls near the intersection of the Tea/Ellis Road and West 12^th Street.

Unlike last year when about 250 people came by to try their hand at paddling a canoe or kayak during a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, this year the skies were grey and totally overcast, a stiff wind was blowing out of the northwest, and the temperature was in the low 60s. It had been raining nearly continuously for 24 hours, but we had a few rain-free hours this afternoon for the event.

About 75 people came by Family Lake to try out a canoe or kayak this afternoon.  Many people were taking their first cruise in a kayak or canoe, while others had some limited experience.  The focus of this event was to introduce interested people to our paddling sport. 

SDCKA members brought kayaks and canoes for people to try out; Sun and Fun, a local outdoor outfitter store along 41^st Avenue, also brought several boats to add to the fleet.  Members served as coaches to get people into the boats and out onto the water.

Other members, including me, were out on the lake in their craft with red flags attached to the hull signifying their role as safety monitors who could also render assistance if needed.

There were tandem kayaks for people who wanted to work together on their voyage of discovery. 

Many people tried out various solo kayaks.  Some of the paddlers were young people taking their first cruise.

Canoes were popular with families out to share a new experience.

Mishaps were few today, although some boats had to be towed back to the launching point because of difficulty dealing with the winds across or down the lake.  On these few occasions, SDCKA monitors in their boats passed over a line and towed the boats back to the dock.

These events are always well received.  People seem appreciative of the opportunity to try out a boat for no cost to see if paddling is really something they would like to pursue as a hobby or sport.  Seasoned paddlers also have a chance to try out a different boat, usually one that is a bit different than what they have been using.

This is also where networking among paddlers is developed. Collegiality of the paddle is enhanced at these SDCKA events.  In fact, I solidified arrangements to go paddling tomorrow with two of the members there.

The full set of photographs that I took today for this event can be accessed in my Flickr account at the following URL:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayheath/sets/72157634035690406/

  

Water Sampling Project at Lake Alvin

Over the past few years, members of the South Dakota Canoe/Kayak Association have assisted Dakota Water Watch with a water-sampling project of area lakes. This is an effort to develop a base line and interval data to record trends in our area waterways. This year, we gathered at Lake Alvin to receive directions from the Dakota Water Watch representative, and about five teams set out in kayaks to predetermined locations around the lake to record observations and take water samples for laboratory analysis.

We recorded observations regarding visible and actual depth of the water, clarity, water temperature, and color. In addition, we made meteorology observations of conditions that might have an impact upon our data. We also collected samples of water at our assigned sites that were bagged and taken for laboratory analysis.

A water sampling activity undertaken by a fleet of kayaks that spreads out over the lake surface doesn’t take long. Most participants also get in a little bit of a cruise as well.

As my partner and I set out, we came across two young guys in an inflatable kayak. The older of the two told me that he bought the kayak recently at a rummage sale in Harrisburg for $60, including the paddles. They were having a great time fishing; I noticed that their anchor was a small bar bell weight secured by a rope. The guy who bought the boat told me that it was deflated at the rummage sale, but he was assured that it held air, and it did. This was their second cruise. So, for a $60 investment, they are able to go out on area waterways. As I looked at the high freeboard of the inflatable, though, I knew that it would be tough to deal with windy conditions.

The day continued at Lake Alvin with the annual canoe/kayak fair where people could try out various boats. It was a great opportunity for people who wanted to give kayaking a low risk try. This year, however, I was not able to stay for the fair. There were, however, many boats available and plenty of skilled SDCKA members to serve as coaches.

Water Sampling at Diamond Lake 2009

This year, as it did last year, the South Dakota Canoe Association took part in monitoring an area waterway through the collection of water samples and making observations under the direction of Dakota Water Watch. A fleet of seven kayaks and three canoes gathered at the public access area for Diamond Lake for an orientation to the mission. In teams, the boats set out to designated spots on the lake to collect samples, determine water depth, clarity of the water, weather conditions, and make other observations of the lake. The data will be analyzed by Dakota Water Watch to provide baseline information that should facilitate the ongoing monitoring of water conditions on the lake.


Each team was equipped with a depth-sounding device to determine both depth and clarity of the water. Each team also collected samples of water at assigned positions on the lake.

This lake is fed by a creek at the northern end and ends in a dam at the south end. The dam is wide enough to handle vehicle traffic including farm equipment. Diamond Lake is a popular spot in the area for fishing, and there were fishermen on the dam as well as in boats.

As always in an event of this nature, solitude is replaced with camaraderie, and there was a sense of fellowship among the paddlers as they moved about the lake.

When I set out from Sioux Falls this morning, the winds were calm and the temperature was in the high 50s. On the lake, the wind came up a little and was blowing about 10 miles an hour – just enough to produce some small waves. Such a large crowd on the water must have discouraged the pelicans. The island at the south end of the lake where they tend to hang out was deserted.

This was a pleasant morning, a good time to laugh it up with paddling pals. It was also a good public service project that keeps the SDCA engaged in doing good works.

Upcoming Service Project: This Wednesday, July 22, in the late afternoon, the SDCA will be engaged in a river “clean-up” project along the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls. Details of this project can be found on the SDCA web site: http://sdcka.blogspot.com. For those who can get away for an hour or so, this is a good opportunity to contribute toward this public service event.