Master Plan

The Black Hawk County Water Trails Master Plan is the guiding document for park and recreational developments along the Cedar River and Black Hawk Creek.  The Master Plan covers a wide variety of topics including project recommendations for over two dozen river access areas.

Full Document:

Water Trails master plan: Full document

Individual Chapters:

Chapter 1: project background

Chapter 2: existing conditions

Chapter 3: public input

Chapter 4: recommendations

Chapter 5: appendices

Table of Contents:

1. Project Background

• Introduction
• Steering Committee
• Plan Goals
• Floodplain Development and History
• Flood Mitigation
• Maps

2. Existing Conditions

• Introduction to State-Designated Water Trails
• Overview of the Rivers
• Water Quality
• Cedar River Existing Conditions
  • Cedar River Overview
  • Access Points
  • River Management
  • Physical Conditions
  • Impaired Waters
  • Watershed Characteristics
  • Population and Development
  • Cultural and Historical Resources
  • Natural Resources
• Black Hawk Creek Existing Conditions
  • Black Hawk Creek Overview
  • Access Points
  • River Management
  • Physical Conditions
  • Impaired Waters
  • Watershed Characteristics
  • Population and Development
  • Cultural and Historical Resources
  • Natural Resources

3. Public input

• Public Meeting Format
• Survey Results
• Projects Recommended by the Public

4. Recommendations:

• Site Design Considerations
• Recommendations Overview
• Recommendations:
  • Black Hawk County
  • Cedar Falls
  • Evansdale
  • George Wyth State Park
    
  • Gilbertville
  • Hudson
  • Janesville
  • Waterloo
  • Additional Areas of Interest

5. Appendices 

• Appendix A: Public Meeting Materials
• Appendix B: Written survey Responses
• Appendix C: Bird Species Identified Along the Water Trails
• Appendix D: Interpretive Account of Cedar River by Dr. James Pease

For more information about water trails plans throughout the state, visit the Iowa DNR’s Water Trail Development website.