On Friday,
Decorah will be honored as the “River Town of the Year,” the Iowa Rivers Revival said today, for demonstrating a commitment “to reclaiming the waterfront as an anchor for economic development, recreation and ecological practices, as well as addressing some of the challenges and solutions related to water quality.”
Iowa Rivers Revival, a nonprofit advocacy group, said residents in Decorah and the Upper Iowa River valley have been passionate in their efforts to protect the Upper Iowa River, share it and improve it. Among the projects the group points to:
– Connecting the valley through
Trout Run Trail, a link between Decorah to the Decorah Fish Hatchery and the second largest spring in Iowa.
– Maintaining an impressive park system and hiking and mountain bike trails, featuring the “Elvelopet” river run and “Kanolopet” river race at the community’s Nordic Fest.
– Engaging local stakeholders in mapping plans for the river corridor and protecting its heritage. The corridor has Iowa’s strongest “Keep it Clean, Keep it Fun” campaign, to ensure that river users have a “culture of respect” for the river and property along the river.