News

On June 11, 2025, ICON Water Trails hosted the first-ever ICONic Riverfest — made possible by Polk County — raising nearly $25,000 and removing 560 pounds of debris and 15 trailer loads of invasive species surrounding the region’s waterways. ICONic Riverfest is a regional volunteer initiative dedicated to furthering ICON’s mission of improving the quality, [...]

The Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails project is now making headlines on a seemingly weekly basis. Before it got to this point, it was an idea with a vision. It took multiple organizations and leaders who believed in the potential of the project to work together to lay the groundwork and inspire others to take [...]

DES MOINES, IA (June 17, 2025) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce the first-ever ICONic Riverfest – made possible by Polk County – raised nearly $25,000, removing 560 pounds of debris and 15 trailer loads of invasive species surrounding the region’s waterways. The event brought together approximately 140 volunteers at 11 cleanup locations [...]

Community and business leaders gathered at Gray’s Lake Park off Fleur Drive on Tuesday for a ceremony breaking ground on the Hubbell Trailhead. The trailhead is at the Fleur Dam on the Raccoon River and once complete will include several recreational amenities designed to improve economic development of the region. Known as a river launching point [...]

ICON Water Trails is hosting its first ICONic Riverfest, a regional volunteer cleanup event dedicated to improving the quality, safety and enjoyment of local water trails, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11. Volunteers will remove debris and invasive species at designated sites throughout the ICON Regional Network. The day will begin with [...]

DES MOINES, IA (May 30, 2025) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce that Beaver Creek and the Des Moines River are officially state designated water trails by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. ICON is contracted to assist the Iowa DNR in conducting the inventory procedures required to achieve this designation for water [...]

The number of miles of water trails throughout Central Iowa officially increased by 20 on Thursday with the designation of Beaver Creek and the Des Moines River as state water trails. Leaders from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ICON Water Trails, Polk County and the city of Johnston gathered to mark the designation at Lew Clarkson [...]

ICON Water Trails has been awarded a $250,000 grant from Bank of America to support the Hubbell Trailhead at the Fleur Drive Dam, the second whitewater attraction in its downtown development timeline. The access point will include a whitewater feature, kayak launch and boat ramp, along with a recreation channel, among other amenities. To read the full [...]

DES MOINES, IA (May 16, 2025) – ICON Water Trails is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $250,000 grant from Bank of America. This investment will help support ICON’s Hubbell Trailhead at the Fleur Drive Dam, the second whitewater attraction in its downtown development timeline. The access point will include a whitewater [...]

DES MOINES, IA (April 18, 2025) – ICON Water Trails Executive Director, Stephanie Oppel provided the following statement today regarding the death of Jay Byers, founding Central Iowa Water Trails board member: “ICON Water Trails is incredibly saddened by the loss of Jay Byers. We, like so many in our region, benefited from Jay’s dedication, [...]