Floatzilla, the largest paddle event on the Mississippi, is set to make a grand return on August 19th, marking its 14th year of celebration. This eagerly anticipated gathering takes place in the picturesque Quad Cities region, drawing paddling enthusiasts from across the nation for an exhilarating day on the mighty Mississippi River.With over a thousand participants and exclusive river closure to other watercraft, Floatzilla provides an exceptional opportunity to immerse oneself in the area's awe-inspiring natural beauty. Whether you possess seasoned paddling skills or are venturing into this exciting activity for the first time, Floatzilla caters to everyone's preferences. The launch sites have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate individuals of all skill levels, offering a range of options. From a leisurely half-mile paddle originating at Credit Island to an adrenaline-fueled eleven-mile launch from Empire Park, an adventure awaits everyone.Even after a thrilling day on the water, the festivities continue at Floatzilla's post-paddle event. Here, participants can unwind and forge connections with fellow paddling enthusiasts while reveling in live music performances and tantalizing offerings from various food vendors. It's an excellent opportunity to relax, share stories, and bask in the camaraderie that comes from sharing a mutual love for the water.One notable highlight of this year's Floatzilla is the ambitious aim to shatter the world record for the largest raft of canoes and kayaks, with an impressive target of 3,151 participants. Achieving this feat would be a momentous accomplishment, made possible through the collective support and dedication of the Quad Cities community.Beyond the thrill and excitement, Floatzilla also seeks to introduce community members to the joys of the Mississippi River while raising awareness for River Action and its vision of promoting the river's environmental, economic, and cultural vitality and riverfront in the Quad Cities region.Floatzilla embodies a vibrant community of water enthusiasts who cherish the adventures and experiences that rivers bring. By joining Floatzilla, you become a valued member of this close-knit family, united by a shared passion for paddling and an unwavering love for the water. So, mark your calendars, gather your gear, and prepare to be part of Floatzilla 2023—an event that promises unforgettable memories and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the Mississippi River.

Recently everyone in the Midwest has been talking about the smoky haze that has settled onto our communities from the Canadian wildfires. Wildfires have been a natural part of many ecosystems for thousands of years. Some tree cones need to be heated before they open and release their seeds. Wildfires also help keep ecosystems healthy. They can kill insects and diseases that harm trees. By clearing underbrush, and weak trees, fires can make way for new grasses, herbs, and shrubs that provide food and habitat for animals and birds. At low intensity, flames can clean up debris and underbrush on the forest floor, add nutrients to the soil, and open up space to let sunlight through to the ground. That sunlight can nourish smaller plants and give larger trees room to grow and flourish. Climate change has been responsible for warmer temperatures which intensify drought and dry out forests, making fires more likely to become very destructive and hard to control. So far the 2023 Canadian fire season has burnt around 24.7 million acres shattering all previous records. For comparison 40 years ago the 1983 season only burnt 2.5 million acres of land. Although wildfires are a natural process, high-intensity fires have been making more frequent appearances due to climate change.It may come as a surprise that these wildfires have appeared at the same time as other extreme climate and weather events across the world, but that isnt very unreasonable. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as of July 11, 2023, of the lower 48 states, 12 are in an excessive drought. From South Florida to Northern Nevada more than 100 million Americans are under heat alerts this week, with temperatures in the southwest well over 100 degrees daily. Just a week prior to countless heat records being shattered, Vermont experienced historical catastrophic flooding. Widespread rainfall of six to eight inches was observed up the spine of Vermont, with isolated pockets of over nine inches in places like Plymouth. This is only the beginning of extreme weather. As we further enter a climate crisis, extreme weather is more likely to happen each year around the globe.So why should we care? Well, the most direct answer is that it clearly affects our everyday life. Whether that be air quality or flood damage to houses, extreme weather is harmful to health. Not just human health, but other species as well. The consequences include habitat loss; shifts in climatic conditions and in habitats that surpass migrational capabilities. This puts many plant and animal species at risk, including some of the crop species that our diet relies on. This was Lazlow with River Action, thanks for listening!

This summer’s Explore the River Series has been very memorable to say the least! We had our first Channel Cat Talk that was geared towards kids, and it went well. We had many students from the Bettendorf School District on the first Channel Cat Talk, many who had never been out on the Mississippi River before! It was a great first river experience with many birds and sightings along the way.On our Raptors Along the River Channel Cat Talk, we saw a family of eagles in the tree line along the river in Bettendorf. Two adults and their juvenile child, who still had brown feathers! Dave Murcia with the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center did a great job spotting for us even from far away.We have heard from many great speakers like Karen Anderson who spoke at the Steam Boating Along the Upper Mississippi River Channel Cat Talk and Matt Johnson who spoke at the Infrastructure Along Pool 15.If you have not already had the chance, you need to experience the Explore the River Series for yourself! We have our Saving Monarch Butterflies Riverine Walk this week on July 12th from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM and July 15th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM. This week’s Riverine Walk will take place at Nahant Marsh Education Center, and you will hear from Paige Burke who is the co-founder of the Quad City Monarch Rescue Team about what their team does to help the declining Monarch Butterfly population. You will even hunt for some Monarch eggs and caterpillars in the prairie around the marsh on Saturday morning!If butterflies aren’t your thing, we have plenty of other lectures that may peak your interest like River Landscape Mosaic, given by Dr. Norm Moline and Dr. Reuben Heine on August 1st and 3rd from 8:45 AM – 10:45 AM. At this Channel Cat Talk, river processes and different environmental issues will be discussed with two very knowledgeable professors from Augustana College. There is also Creepy Quad Cities on August 30th from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM and September 2nd from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM for our spookier audiences. This Riverine Walk will be given by Michael McCarty who is the co-author of “Eerie Quad Cities” and “Ghosts of the Quad Cities”. You will get to hear all about the creepy tales from the Quad Cities that are featured in Michael’s books.We have so many different lectures, there is something for everyone! You can check out more of River Action’s Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks at our website, riveraction.org/education. You do not want to miss out so sign up soon!