We work to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities and Midwest Region. River Action strives to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region. River Action has had many accomplishments over the past 30 years: the lighting of the Centennial Bridge, the Quad City Water Taxi, the Quad City Riverfront Design Principles, and the Quad City Waterfront Master Plan. From 1996-98, the RiverWay program encompassed many different projects including the development of a wayfinding system that features specially designed structures which guide people along riverfront trails, construction of ten community-built art projects, assistance in the development of riverfront parks, enhancement and restoration of wetland habitats, including the writing and adoption by the Davenport City Council of the Nahant Marsh Master Plan, and the raising of public awareness about the health of the Mississippi River. River Action renovated a former gun club into a classroom and laboratory and put in place an environmental education program. River Action also sponsors "Ride the River', an annual family bicycle ride along the Mississippi Riverfront, held on Father's Day, just celebrating its 30th year. RiverWay has now expanded to encompass 12 communities and eight counties in the Quad City area: Buffalo, Davenport, Bettendorf, Riverdale, LeClaire and Princeton in Iowa and Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Hampton, Cordova, Rapids City and Port Byron in Illinois. Building on the success of the RiverWay program, RiverWay 2000, from 1999-2001, added more kiosks, gateways, historic markers, art projects and river mile markers. RiverWay 2000 also incorporated many new projects such as the River Curriculum Workshop for area teachers, sailing and rowing lessons with an emphasis on clean boating for Quad City youths, greenway and trail planning for the smaller Quad City communities, riverfront housing survey, riverfront rail charette, newly designed trail connections to the Arsenal Bridge which links local trails and American Discovery Trail, Earth Day activities, to the Master Plan for East Moline's River Connection education facility. The RiverWay programs are aimed at promoting our region's greatest natural asset, the Mississippi River, and improving water quality as well as the quality of life in the Quad Cities. It is now leading the effort to establish a permanent group to present a national river themed festival every other year in the Quad Cities. In 2006 we spearheaded RiverWay 2006, a celebration of the Mississippi River which featured a Storytelling Festival, Taming of the Slough Adventure Race, and other activities highlighting the 150th anniversary of the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi. RiverWay 2008, the Celebration of the Recreational River, and featured the 1st Annual Upper Mississippi River Conference, which brings the general public and municipalities face to face with federal funders and technical staff. In 2010, we focused on water trails and economic development through Floatzilla, a paddle sports festival with a world record breaking attempt at the largest flotilla of kayaks and canoes on a body of water. Floatzilla 2012 attracted 1,600 paddlers from 16 states to paddle on the Mississippi River. "Retain the Rain," projects designed to demonstrate and educate citizens about effective techniques for reducing stormwater runoff. RiverWay 2004 has partnered with business, organizations, and individuals to demonstrate green roofs, permeable parking surfaces, native plantings in all of the RiverWay communities, and rain collection barrels to demonstrate how to capture water where it falls, prevent rapid runoff that contributes to flooding, and cleanse water before it reaches streams and the Mississippi River. River Action has sold to date over 3,700 rain barrels. The QC Watershed Plans for the Rock River and Duck Creek have been adopted by the cities and counties for implementation
River Action is the only organization in the bi-state region that provides the broad range of programs that RiverWay - A National Treasure encompasses and does it with many area organizations, including, but not limited to: American Rivers, Augustana College, Bi-State Regional Commission, Great River Trail Council, Illinois and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Isaac Walton League, Metrolink, Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, Mississippi River Basin Alliance, Mississippi River Parkway Commission, Putnam Museum, Quad City Audubon Society, Quad City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Quad City Conservation Alliance, REDEEM East Moline, Davenport One, Renew Moline, Rock Island Farm Bureau, Scott Community College, Scott County Conservation Board, Sierra Club, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Community Foundation of Great River Bend, U.S. Coat Guard, and many other organizations, corporations, and citizens.
