Annual Meeting – Mobile Tours

We are excited to offer several mobile tours at this year’s Annual Meeting!

Pre-registration for all tours is required. Tickets are confirmed on a first-come first-served basis. Additional tickets may be made available based on interest.

One (1) Tuesday tour is included in your conference registration. The Thursday tour is $25/person, tickets for which will be paid for when completing the tour registration form.

Tuesday, August 25 Tours (choose 1)

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure, equipment and people that keep the Upper Mississippi River working. Participants will visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi River Project Office in Pleasant Valley, Iowa, and nearby Lock and Dam 14, where they will learn about lock operations, navigation, maintenance and management of the river system. The tour will also highlight the recently completed 26,000-square-foot motor shop, which supports 12 lock and dam sites throughout the Rock Island District and includes space for welding, heavy-equipment repair and other specialized work.

Tickets Available: 25

Timeline

Times are subject to change.

8:00 AM Bus loads at the Wyndham

8:15 AM Bus Departs (20-minute drive to location)

8:45 AM – 10:45 AM Tour

11:00 AM Bus Departs

11:30 AM Bus arrives back at the Wyndham

Participation Requirements

Please note that all foreign nations (non-US citizens) are required to undergo a background check prior to the tour. If you are a foreign national interested in participating, please provide a scanned copy of your passport to [email protected] by August 11.

Wardrobe Requirements

  • Please wear close-toed shoes. Sandals and heels are not permitted.
  • Weather dependent, please bring any of the following: sunscreen, hats, rain gear, and water.
  • Please also be prepared to walk .25 miles from the bus to the Lock, and .25 miles back to the bus.

Explore one of the largest urban wetlands on the Upper Mississippi River and a remarkable story of environmental recovery. Once the site of a trap and skeet range, Nahant Marsh became contaminated by decades of lead shot and was designated an EPA Superfund site. Following an extensive cleanup, the marsh was transformed into a thriving nature preserve that now encompasses 382 acres within a larger 513-acre wetland complex. The tour will highlight the partnerships behind the marsh’s restoration, its diverse wetland, prairie and bottomland forest habitats, and USACE planning assistance supporting the preserve’s continued conservation, restoration and resilience.

Tickets Available: 20

*Timeline

*Timeline is subject to change.

8:30 AM Bus loads at the Wyndham

8:45 AM Bus departs (approx. 20-minute drive)

9:05 AM – 11:05 AM Tour

11:15 AM Bus departs

11:35 AM Bus arrives back at the Wyndham

Recommendations

  • Please note that this tour includes flat-terrain walking on paved trails and boardwalks. Therefore, comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.
  • Bug spray, hats, and sunscreen are recommended.

Go behind the scenes at Cinnamon Ridge Farms, a family-owned Iowa century farm where five generations of agricultural tradition meet modern technology. See the farm’s nationally recognized Jersey herd use robotic milking systems and learn how data, animal care and regenerative farming practices come together across the operation. Jersey cows produce milk naturally rich in butterfat and protein, making it especially well suited for cheesemaking. The visit will also include a look at the farm’s cheesemaking operation and a tasting of cheese made from the herd’s milk.

Tickets Available: 20

Timeline

Timeline is subject to change.

8:00 AM Bus loads at the Wyndham Moline

8:15 AM Bus departs (approx. 45-min drive)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Tour

11:15 AM Bus departs

12:00 PM Bus arrives back at the Wyndham

Considerations

  • Individuals with mobility limitations are welcome to join the tour! Please note there are 2-flights of stairs in the barn.

Thursday, August 27 Tour

A visit to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is uniquely compelling because it masterfully bridges the gap between a world-class aquarium, an interactive science center, and a rich regional history museum.

Key Highlights of a Visit:

  • Dynamic Wildlife Encounters: The campus is home to a diverse biological collection featuring over 2,000 live animals and more than 250 different species including playful river otters, massive freshwater fish, an alligator, and a stingray touch tank.
  • The Mississippi River Center focuses heavily on the natural habitats, wildlife, and early human history of the Mississippi River Watershed including numerous aquariums with river otters, wood ducks, golden eye ducks, turtles, catfish, trout and paddlefish.
  • The National Rivers Center connects America’s vast river systems to global oceans featuring a series of stunning aquariums housing over 100 marine species, including seahorses, coral reef fish, a giant Pacific octopus, and jellyfish.
  • Living History & Historic Vessels: The museum features outdoor exhibits including a blacksmith shop, aviaries, a boatyard, and the historic William M. Black, a 1934 steam-powered side-wheel dredge boat.
  • The National Rivers Hall of Fame: Located on-site in the National River Center, this institution and exhibit is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the women and men who have made significant contributions to America’s rivers.

Tickets Available: 40

Ticket Fee: $25/ticket

(includes shuttle service and boxed lunch)

Timeline

Timeline is subject to change.

7:15 AM Bus loads at the Wyndham Moline

7:30 AM Bus departs (approx. 90-min drive)

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Guided tour by Museum staff

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Free time to explore the Museum & Aquarium campus

11:45 AM Grab your boxed lunch for the ride back

12:00 PM Bus departs

1:30 PM Bus arrives back at the Wyndham