The Skunk River Paddlers (a.k.a. SRP, the Skunks, or the 'Paddlers) are a loosely organized group of outdoor enthusiasts. The group formed in 2001 as an unofficial northern chapter of the Central Iowa Paddlers but rapidly evolved into an active team of paddling and river advocates.
Check out some of our activities in the photos below, subscribe to our listserv at Skunks.groups.io or contact us at skunkriverpaddlers@gmail.com.
Paddle at the Park: The Skunks meet at 7pm every Wednesday between Memorial Day and Labor Day to paddle and socialize at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Weekend plans are often made among the paddlers in attendance.
Paddling trips are often announced only days (and sometimes hours) in advance, but scheduled events include the Pancake Paddle, the Waffle Paddle and the South Skunk Spring Float.
The annual Pancake (March) and Waffle (December) events begin with breakfast at the Iowa Arboretum. Only rarely are our plans thwarted by weather or ice!
For many years the paddlers staffed the canoeing activity at Story County Conservation's Spring Festival, and we continue to assist scouts and other youth with what is often their first paddling experience. We do our best to give them a good experience - often while reliving that first-time feeling ourselves!
Trash Patrols: Paddlers dislike seeing things that don't belong in our rivers, and the Skunks are among the many avid paddlers and volunteers who routinely work to remove boat-loads of litter, discarded items and "legacy trash." The Skunks are well represented on Iowa Project AWARE, a week-long river cleanup held on a different river each year, and on locally sponsored cleanup events.
Adopt a Park and Stash the Trash: In April 2002 the Skunks were the first to "Adopt a Park" (the Sleepy Hollow Access) under Story County Conservation's new Adopt-a Park program, then participated in the inaugural Stash the Trash event.
River Safety: Knowledge and skill help keep a paddler safe. But as time and water levels allow, we attempt to clear just enough of a strainer or obstruction to allow safe passage, and sometimes work with local agencies and landowners to manage larger blockages.
(Woody debris provides important habitat for many aquatic organisms, large and small, so removal is not our goal.)
Water Trails: Our involvement in water trail development began with improvements to the E18 (Lekwa) Access in 2001. That project led to a federal trails grant which involved construction of "Small Footprint Water Accesses" and installation of water trail signage. The DNR's Water Trail Program has evolved since those early efforts and on the 24th of June, 2020, the South Skunk in Story County was officially designated as a State Water Trail!
GAAR: The Skunk River Paddlers were a co-organizer of the Great Ames Adventure Race (GAAR) beginning with the inaugural event in 2007, and have supported the Ames Jaycees since they took over the event in 2022. This amateur paddle/bike/run athletic event is designed for participation by individuals, groups, and families of all skill levels. Proceeds are donated to local nonprofits and community projects.
Pack the Park: In 2013 the Skunk River Paddlers teamed up with JAX Outdoor Gear to hold an event at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. The AWARE Race (named for the Project AWARE) involved loading a canoe with truck tubes and completing a course around the lake. Proceeds were donated to the Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park.
Environmental education: By definition, rivers are supposed to have water flowing through them, and for over 10,000 years the South Skunk was no exception. But due to changes in land use and the rapid conveyance of rainfall, the river is now known to be “flashy,” with rapidly fluctuating flows, damaging floods and destructive droughts. This photo of the Skunks by Diane Lowry (featured in an issue of the DNR's Iowa Outdoors magazine) demonstrates the loss of environmental and recreational opportunities.
Fall camp and paddle: As the end of the season approaches you may find the Skunks, families and friends on an annual fall camping and paddling weekend. The outing consists of day of paddling, a campfire, a midnight hike, more paddling and way too much food.
You may have noticed by now that food is often a focus of this group, and the annual winter meeting and potluck at the Story County Conservation Center is no exception.