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January 2 ARC New Years Float
By Janice Lind
The weather was cold and a little windy as we launched our kayaks for the January 2, 2011 afternoon float. The group of 13 that met at the Arkansas River and Lincoln Street Bridge included Wally and Steve Seibel, Vince Marshall, Russ Icke, Ann Hughes, Mark Hughes, Pat Hughes,Will Williams, Nicole Olson, Mary Porter, Adolfo Hernandez, Randy Pulec and Rich and Janice Lind. The original plan was to put in near the Bitting Street Bridge on the Little Arkansas River (along 12th Street), but the river there was frozen over. We enjoyed a leisurely float from the dam just under the Lincoln Street bridge to Herman Hill Park, only occasionally having to pull our boats off of sand bars. With the river so low, it was a challenge sometimes to find the channel. A few eagle sightings were made and we disrupted lots of ducks and geese as we meandered down the river, enjoying the sunshine and brisk air. A KAKE TV photographer met us just as we arrived at the park for the take-out.

October 9 KDWP Employee Float
By Rich and Janice Lind

On October 9, ARC members Wally Seibel, Russ Icke, Mark Hughes, Tom Kneil, Russ Warnke, Rich and Janice Lind accompanied 29 Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) staff members and their families, including KDWP Secretary Mike Hayden and wife Patti, on a float that began at the Burden property off of Highway 55.

It was our first time on the Burden property and we were pulling the large trailer loaded with boats and we only made it about halfway down the narrow and hilly lane lined with trees before we came to a curve we could not negotiate. Wally and Russ, who had driven in behind us, and Mark, who walked back from the parking area, helped unload the boats, unhook the trailer and pull it off to the side. Because more cars had pulled in behind Wally and Russ, the job of bringing the unloaded boats the rest of the way fell to someone else.

The KDWP group arrived in their separate vehicles and the shuttle was started at 9:30 a.m. It was 10:30 before we launched in the glorious weather. We had 23 kayaks, 3 tandem kayaks and 3 canoes floating down the river. Russ and Tom launched early to get lunch set up on the sand bar; we were treated to freshly-grilled elk burgers, hot dogs, chips, cheese sausages and cookies provided by the KDWP.

Back on the water after lunch, we had increasing sun and wind but it was still a lovely float with only a little boat dragging because of the low water level. We took out at the Oxford city park around 3:30 p.m., tired but content.

Special thanks go to KDWP for the delicious elk burgers, Bill Cather for providing canoes and kayaks for this event and to James Christians for the loan of equipment.

September

The Arkansas River Coalition participated in the annual Play Day at Watson Park, which was sponsored by the Wichita Play Commission and Department of Park and Recreation, on September 18. It was a beautiful end of summer day and a lot of people celebrated the day at the park. The police estimated the attendance at 10,000 to 12,000, about double the participation last year. We gave out over 350 tickets for rides. In addition to lots of children and youth in kayaks there were family groups paddling tandem kayaks and canoes.

A big thanks goes to the following ARC members who gave up a gorgeous Saturday afternoon to make our participation happen: Kay Drennen, Randall Harris, Ann Hughes, Mark Hughes, Russ Icke, Janice & Rich Lind, Kathy & Vince Marshall, Roy Riggs and Alex Rusanowsky. We also want to thank the two volunteers provided by the organizers of the event who did a superb job of staffing the sign up table and handing out tickets.

JULY 31 FLOAT TRIP REPORT

Prepared for a hot Kansas scorcher with canteens of water and sunscreen, 28 people arrived at the Arkansas River Bridge west of Alden about 8:30 on Saturday, July 12. After unloading boats and gear, vehicles were shuttled in convoy to the take out at the K96 Highway Bridge south of Sterling. As a precaution a vehicle was left at the bridge west of Sterling because the high temperatures forecast. When finally launched, our flotilla consisted of 22 kayaks and two canoes occupied by paddlers ranging in age from 8 to 76. With the water level up some, a gentle breeze and the timber along the banks moderating the temperature, conditions were just right for the perfect float. After lunch on a gravely sandbar the group paddled on in more intense rays from the afternoon sun, some applying more sunscreen and some entering the water for a short swim to cool off. By the end of the 13 mile trip most were happy, tired, maybe a bit sunburned and ready to load up to go home.

July 22nd Twilight Float trip report
Submitted by Vince Marshall

37 paddlers appeared to enjoy this early evening float, even with the thermometer pushing the 100 degree mark.

We gathered at the McLean Blvd. bridge over the Arkansas River (near 21st and Amidon) and had our boats unloaded and the vehicle shuttle business out of the way by 6:30 p.m. Vince had his garden tractor and trailer at the launch site to facilitate transporting boats from the nearby N. Charles Street to the river bank.

Limited by a narrow and somewhat rough river bank launching site, we still had a timely start with boats eventually strung out for a mile or so on the river. Paddlers seemed to enjoy viewing the scenery along the river, visiting with others, taking photos and testing their paddling skills as we leisurely floated down the river.

The south breeze (sometimes, stronger winds) kept the temperature in a bearable range for most paddlers. The last 1/4 mile on the straightaway river course (past Century II and downtown) was more of a paddling challenge due to the strong south winds, but folks seemed to take that deterrent in stride.

Just before the sun set we successfully landed the last paddler at Gander Mountain. The culminating event was sampling a delicious homemade cookie (or two) provided by Janice Lind after everyone was back on dry land

ARC hosted kayak rides during the Wichita River Festival in 2010.  Although storms chased us away for a couple nights, we still had a wonderful time introducing over 500 festival-goers to the joys of water-based recreation.  Thank you to our very special volunteers who made the week-long event a wonderful success.  

ARC Member Hoyt Hillman leads efforts to restore Arkansas River watershed in Wichita area

The Arkansas River Watershed 

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

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