River
Loops
Day Tripping on the Upper Miss
Exploring
the Upper Mississippi is easy for people
who like to travel in a circle and get back where they started
by bedtime. Major crossings are about 30 miles apart, so it’s easy to go down one side,
cross the river and come back on the other. It’s also easy
to spend a day exploring any of these stretches. In each of our
new “River Loops” columns we’ll prowl a stretch
of the river for interesting places and things
to do.
The Quad Cities
to Muscatine, Iowa
 Our first loop describes
what to see and do along the road from
the Quad Cities to Muscatine, Iowa, and
back.
Links:
Rock Island, Ill.
Muscatine, Iowa
Moline, Ill.
Davenport, Iowa
Bettendorf, Iowa
Figge Art Museum
Putnam Museum
Know Your River
Forecasting
Water Levels
Answering a high-stakes question:
How high is the water now, and how
much is coming?
Links:
Water
levels of rivers and lakes:
www.rivergage.com
North Central river forecast
center:
www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc
To read these and other stories,
order this issue or check out
one of these outlets. |
Features
Atrazine
Atrazine shows up in the Mississippi River
in increasing concentrations as you move
downstream. Some legislators in Minnesota
would like to ban its use in the state,
and Iowa and Wisconsin already restrict
it in some areas.
Links:
Tyrone
Hayes' Atrazine Lovers Site
U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency's Atrazine Reregistration
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, Pesticide Monitoring
Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture's Atrazine Use in Minnesota
Wisconsin
Dept. Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Atrazine
Weaver
Dunes
Photo Essay by Gary Rodock
Pasqueflowers
come out in April, but every season has
its beauty at the Weaver dunes. Come early
and visit often.
Links:
Weaver
Dunes, Nature Conservancy
Weaver
Dunes, DNR
Experience
the Pearl Button Era
The award-winning Muscatine
History and Industry Center takes visitors into the
lives of people who created the pearl button boom.
Counting
an Uncommon Bird — the Golden Eagle
The “other
eagles” visit the Upper Mississippi every
winter, but you have to find them to count them.
Links: |
