Red Rock Lake Association

To all active members of the Red Rock Lake Association: there are two board seats open.  If you have a love of the lake and would like to get involved, please let us know of your intention to run for the board. Prospective board members should  submit a short biography via email at mdkiss65@hotmail.com and what you would like to accomplish on the board.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A four-member panel of experts in dam and hydroelectric project design and construction has given its approval to construction work thus far at the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project, located on the Des Moines River near Pella, Iowa.

An Independent External Peer Review (IEPR) Panel was on site at the project Jan. 14-15 to review reports, tour the facilities, observe construction activities, and examine various construction elements.

The IEPR Panel’s job is to meet the Safety Assurance Review (SAR) requirements of the Water Resource Development Act of 2007. SARs are conducted to ensure that good science, sound engineering, and public health, safety, and welfare are the most important factors in guiding the engineering design and implementation of the project. SARs are used to inform the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Chief of Engineers of the adequacy, appropriateness, and acceptability of the design and construction activities for the purpose of assuring public health, safety, and welfare.

Representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the project’s design engineering firm – MWH Americas, the project’s general contractor – Ames Construction, and Missouri River Energy Services joined the IEPR Panel for the meeting and review.

The Panel noted that “the quality of the work by the contractor and the control of the construction being maintained by MWH and the owner are commendable.” The panel also said that, after examining test sections of elements of the project, work could proceed on remaining elements following the means, methods, and procedures used in the test sections.

Work on the project began in August 2014 and is expected to be completed by early 2018. When complete, the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project will produce 36.4 megawatts of electricity – enough to meet the needs of about 18,000 homes

Red Rock Balloon Fest is growing to be one of the areas most exciting summer happenings.

For a complete listing of events please visit:  redrocklakeballoonfest.com                                                                                             

This is the first of a series of articles written by the Red Rock Lake Association’s “Save the Lake Committee”, by Mark Thompson

When European settlers first arrived in what is now Iowa, they encountered a vast sea of grasses and flowers, with scattered woodlands bordering the many streams and rivers.  The north-central part was dotted with numerous wetlands, holdovers from the last glacial event in the state.  Over 85% of the state was a prairie landscape that was described as a place rich in form, life, and color, and a mecca for wildlife.  The first settlers assumed that if the majority of the land was too poor to grow trees, it was surely too poor to grow much in the way of crops. For a long time, homes were built in the wooded areas and the forests were laboriously cleared as they were back in Europe.  They failed to see that trees grew on the prairie’s poorest soils, a thin veneer of fertility that would erode over time when there were no longer trees to stabilize it.  In central Iowa, as late as 1847, prairie was selling for $3 to $10 per acre while timberland sold for $30 to $50. Continue reading →

The Red Rock Trail at Lake Red Rock, Knoxville, Iowa, has officially been
designated as a National Water Trail by the National Park Service. Joining the
Red Rock Trail is The Island Loop Route Water Trail in Michigan and The Missouri
National Recreation River Water Trail that flows through South Dakota, Nebraska
and Iowa. These three trails join 11 previously dedicated water trails across
the country.

“These national water trails provide exemplary close-to-home
places for people to explore and enjoy,” said National Park Service Director
Jonathan B. Jarvis. “And I am particularly happy to have these trails added to
the system. They are cooperatively supported and sustained through the efforts
of community, state and federal partners.”

The Red Rock Water Trail is a
36-mile loop on scenic Lake Red Rock. Boaters and paddlers can see rocky cliffs
and bluffs, a variety of wildlife, a sea cave and much more. Also along the
trail are many historical landmarks, and sites of historical events.  There are
eight access points that are conveniently located near the campgrounds at Lake
Red Rock.

“Paddlers are treated to spectacular views of bluffs, hardwood
forests, a multitude of wildlife and Iowa’s largest lake,” said Park Ranger
Tracy Spry.  “Amazingly, paddlers are found using the water trail during all
months of the year, as long as the lake isn’t frozen.”

The trail is
managed by Lake Red Rock in partnership with the Red Rock Lake Association, who
is a cooperating association.

National Water Trails are designated by the
Secretary of the Interior and are part of the National Trails System,
administered by the National Park Service in partnership with a wide range of
federal agencies. Designation of national water trails helps to strengthen local
efforts for recreation, conservation and restoration of America’s waterways and
surrounding lands.

National water trails are the pathways of rivers,
lakes and bays, providing a connection for current and future generations to the
nature, history and adventure that can be found on the water.

Explore the
entire National Water Trails System online through a dynamic collection of
videos, stories and pictures at http://www.nps.gov/watertrails/

###

  (photo by Diane Michaud Lowry)

As the weather starts to warm up, we’re all anxious to get outside and enjoy the
sunshine. Families and friends gather together to enjoy the outdoors, travel on
vacation and spend time on the water – boating, fishing, sailing, and more. It’s
important to remember the safety precautions to take during all of these
recreational water activities.

But, with approximately 500 people
drowning each year from recreational boating accidents, it is imperative to push
the message of “Wear It!”: wear your life jacket at all times while you are on
the water.
Throughout the boating season, the National Safe Boating Council is working with
their partner organizations to encourage safe and responsible boating, including
the practice of always wearing a life jacket, and being alert and aware while on
the water.

“Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and
put on a stowed life jacket,” said Virgil Chambers, executive director of the
National Safe Boating Council. “It’s important that everyone wears a life jacket
while on the water. There’s no reason why you, your family and friends, can’t
have fun on the water while also choosing to always wear a life
jacket.”

Here are a few boating safety tips to keep in mind this boating
season:

1. No matter what activity you have planned – boating, fishing
sailing, etc. – always remember to wear a life jacket every time you are on the
water.

2. Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard-approved and
properly fits. Double check that your life jacket is appropriate for your
favorite boating activities.

3. Life jackets meant for adults do not work
for children. If you are boating with children, make sure they are wearing
properly fitted, child-sized life jackets. Do not buy a life jacket for your
child to “grow into.”

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was
the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities
in 2010, and that 88 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
That’s why boating safety advocates continue to push for increased and
consistent life jacket wear on the water.

“A life jacket can’t save your
life unless you “Wear It!,” continued Chambers. “With today’s variety of
comfortable, stylish life jackets, there’s a life jacket for everyone – even our
four-legged friends! No matter the water activity or life jacket style chosen -
and always remember to ‘Wear It!’”

The Army Corp of Engineers would like your input concerning ideas and future plans for the Red Rock Lake area. Please view the Focus Areas below and visit www.lakeredrock.org for more information and to send your input. Due to image sizes the pages may load slowly so please be patient.

HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT                                                                                              Healthy Environment Overview                                                                                                    What is an ESA                                                                                                                                    MP ESA Red Rock 11×17 Map 1 of 2 11-2012
MP ESA Red Rock 11×17 Map 2 of 2 11-20-12
Healthy Environment Eliminate Invasive Species map
Healthy Environment Main Invaders
Healthy Environment Goal 4
Healthy Environment Public Hunting Acres
Healthy Environment Water Quality and Fisheries
A NATURAL PLACE TO PLAY
A Natural Place to Play Overview
A Natural Place to Play Natural Feel
A Natural Place to Play Volksweg Trail
A Natural Place to Play Water Trail
A Natural Place to Play Marina
A Natural Place to Play Archery
A Natural Place to Play Horse Trails
A Natural Place to Play Soft Trails
A Natural Place to Play Cordova

CONNECTIONS
 Connections Overview
Connections Habitat Fragmentation
Connections Trail Connections USACE
Connections Surrounding Communities trails
Connections Wayfinding Intersections
Connections Natural Playscapes
Connections Watchable Wildlife
Connections Access

Be “in the know” on lake events
Improve Red Rock’s recreation
Promote Red Rock’s natural resources

Greetings! As a special perk of your support, we’re providing you this sneak peek at the next “Ask the Corps” article (to be published in the Pella Chronicle and Knoxville Journal-Express).
The Corps just received a new three dimensional model of the dam showing how it will look once the proposed hydropower plant is completed. Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), the company developing the facility, provided the model to help lake users visualize the project. It will also be used as a teaching aid for agency staff to explain the construction and operation of the new facility. Continue reading →

How was your visit to Lake Red Rock? Let us know! With your input, the Corps of Engineers will strive to improve the quality of information, facilities, and services at Lake Red Rock. To fill out the questionnaire please click here.

Get your questions answered! Submit your question under the “Ask the Corps” heading and the Army Corps. at Lake Red Rock may answer.  Your question could end up in the newspaper!

How do droughts affect Lake Red Rock?

With the flood events of recent years, people are more familiar with high lake levels and dam outflows at Red Rock; however, the lake and dam have an important job to do during drought conditions as well. To read more, click here.