River Action has launched its 2025 Explore the River Series season.
The summer education program invites the public to learn about the history, ecology and current events along the Mississippi River and surrounding watershed in the Quad-Cities area. Participants can cruise the Mississippi River on the Channel Cat Water Taxi or take a Riverine Walk led by expert guides presenting topics ranging from local river wildlife to early Quad-Cities history.
Registration for the summer’s Explore the River Series events is open until Labor Day.
Channel Cat Talks cost $20 per person and run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m. at Riverbend Commons in Moline, Illinois. Riverine Walks cost $10 per person and are free for volunteers. They are held on Wednesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9-10:30 a.m. at various sites in the Quad-Cities. The full education schedule is available online at www.riveraction.org/education.
New this year:
On Aug. 19 and 21 Bob Bohannon, a water quality chemist, is presenting a Channel Cat Talk about the Water Quality Cycle. He will discuss how human activities influence the Mississippi River, drinking water and wastewater management, impacting the health of the river and communities. Mr. Bohannon will also discuss actions citizens can take to improve water quality.
On July 16 and 19, a new Riverine Walk at Tapestry Farms will feature Ann McGlynn, executive director of Tapestry Farms, and Alison Niebuhr, farm manager. Guests will learn about the importance of sustainable farming for building soil health and feeding communities. They will discuss methods like crop rotation, tarping and cover crops.
A day tour of the Bee Branch watershed in Dubuque, Iowa. The $249 million watershed project is designed to eliminate flooding in historic neighborhoods, improve water quality and enhance quality of life. The tour is July 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A bus departs at 8:30 a.m. from the River Action office, 822 E. River Drive, Davenport. Tickets are $30, $25 for members.
2025 Channel Cat Talks
- June 10, 12 – Raptors Along the River with Dave Murcia, director of Wapsi River Environmental Education Center.
- June 17, 19 – RiverCurrents Tour with Ben Schwind, Common Chord education manager.
- June 24,26 – Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife with Jon Duyvejonck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist.
- July 8 and 10 – WEDG and Our Mississippi River with Kathy Wine, executive director of River Action.
- July 15, 17 – Channel Cat – Behind the Scenes with Jennifer Hirsch, manager of administration, and Jake Cassidy, director of maintenance.
- July 22, 24 – Our Unique River Landscape with Professor Norm Moline, Augustana College.
- July 29, 31 – Bix and Friends with Josh Duffee, musician/jazz historian.
- Aug. 5, 7 – Living Lands and Waters – Helping Our River and Community with Andrew Layer, programs manager of Living Lands and Waters.
- Aug. 12 – History of the USCG Auxiliary and the American Waterway Watch with Charles Brennan, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs specialist.
- Aug. 14 – Always Ready in the Heartland: A brief history of the U.S. Coast Guard on the Mississippi with Todd Wilkinson, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs specialist.
- Aug. 19, 21 – The Water Quality Cycle: River to Faucet to River with Bob Bohannon, water quality chemist.
- Aug. 26, 28 – Gongoozling on the Mississippi with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is guided by Josh Hendrix, geotechnical engineer, and Anthony Heddlesten, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil engineer.
2025 Riverine Walks
- June 11, 14 – The Cradle of Iowa with Gates Thomas, professor at Berklee College of Music, Boston.
- June 18, 21 – Land Development and Housing Styles of McClellan Heights Post the Civil War with Matt Johnston, local McClellan Heights resident and historian hobbyist.
- June 25, 28 – Finding Moline’s Founders with Kirk Marske, Moline Centre program manager at Renew Moline.
Other events:
- July 9, 12 – Hauberg Estate, a Jens Jensen Landscape Restoration with Deb Kuntzi, executive director of Hauberg Estate; Molly Tiegland, docent; and Todd Linscott, board chair of Friends of Hauberg Civic Center.
- July 16, 19 – A Story of Growing Regeneratively with Ann McGlynn, executive director, and Alison Niebuhr, seasonal farm manager.
- July 23, 26 – Histories, Personalities and Mysteries of Davenport’s Oldest Cemetery with Kory Darnall and Coky Powers, Davenport City Cemetery Partnership Board members.
- July 30, Aug. 2 – Hennepin Canal and the Mississippi-Rock Confluence with Dr. Norm Moline, Augustana College professor.
- Aug. 6, 9 – Russel Farnham and Farnhamsburg with Gena Schantz, historian.
- Aug. 13, 16 – Fish Passage Through Our Lock and Dam, and Other Interesting River Stories with Jeremiah Haas, aquatic biologist for Constellation Energy.
- Aug. 20, 23 – Notorious Nahant and Spooky Marsh Tales with Brian Ritter, executive director of Nahant Marsh.
- Aug. 27, 30 – Wild Abandon: A Native Roots Yard in the City with Rita Rawson, master gardener, master conservationist and certified herbalist.
