Des Moines And Raccoon River Dams Are Focus Of Panel Discussion Tied To Regional Water Trails Study

DES MOINES, IA. -- Four regional open houses and The Dam Debate III have been scheduled for Oct. 17-19 for the public to learn about the findings of the Water Trails Engineering Study and give feedback to the engineering teams.

The Water Trails Engineering Study is the first phase of implementation of the Greater Des Moines Water Trails and Greenways Master Plan, a regional road map for developing a network of recreational corridors along 150 miles of rivers and creeks in central Iowa. While the master plan lays out a broad vision, the engineering study is examining the recommended projects more closely to determine their feasibility.

The Dam Debate III will start with a short presentation to be followed by a panel discussion. The event will primarily focus on recommendations for mitigating the low-head dams on the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in downtown Des Moines, although a brief overview of other regional projects will be provided.

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The presentation and panel discussion will be from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in the Des Moines Register Community Room, 400 Locust St., Des Moines.

Regional open houses will be held in four cities throughout the metro area, offering people a chance to learn about the concepts and feasibility for recommended projects throughout the region. There is no formal presentation; information will be presented via poster boards.

• Johnston: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway.
• West Des Moines: 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, the Lodge at Walnut Woods State Park, 3155 S.E. Walnut Woods Drive.
• Pleasant Hill: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, Riley Resource Group, 4400 E. University Ave.
• Des Moines: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, Des Moines Register Community Room, 400 Locust St.

The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has engaged the services of two teams to accomplish the Engineering Study. One team, ISG Engineering and Architecture, is working on the proposed projects throughout the region. The McLaughlin Whitewater Group, with local subcontractors RDG and HDR, will tackle the unique and challenging constraints of the water trail recommendations for downtown Des Moines.

The Water Trails Engineering Study is expected to be complete by early 2018. For information visit dmampo.org/water-trails/, call 515-334-0075 or email info@dmampo.org.

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