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April 2021

April 1, 2021

US Coast Guard News Release

New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-off Switch........

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Contact: Headquarters Public Affairs
Office: (202) 372-4630
mediarelations@uscg.mil
Headquarters online newsroom

U.S. Coast Guard Announces New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-off Switches

WASHINGTON - Operators of recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length will be required to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated ECOS link (ECOSL) as of April 1, 2021, as the U.S. Coast Guard implements a law passed by Congress.

The ECOS and ECOSL prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to a switch that shuts off the engine if the operator is displaced from the helm. The ECOSL is usually a lanyard-style cord that attaches to an ECOS either in close proximity to the helm or on the outboard motor itself if the vessel is operated by a tiller. When enough tension is applied, the ECOSL disengages from the ECOS and the motor is automatically shut down. Wireless ECOS have recently been developed and are also approved for use. These devices use an electronic “fob” that is carried by the operator and senses when it is submerged in water, activating the ECOS and turning the engine off. Wireless devices are available on the aftermarket and are beginning to become available as manufacturer-installed options.

Each year the Coast Guard receives reports of recreational vessel operators who fall or are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown out of their boat. These events have led to injuries and deaths. During these incidents the boat continues to operate with no one in control of the vessel, leaving the operator stranded in the water as the boat continues on course, or the boat begins to circle the person in the water eventually striking them, often with the propeller. These dangerous runaway vessel situations put the ejected operator, other users of the waterway, and marine law enforcement officers and other first responders in serious danger.

Section 503 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 required manufacturers of covered recreational boats (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. of static thrust) to equip the vessel with an ECOS installed as of December 2019. Owners of recreational vessels produced after December 2019 are required to maintain the ECOS on their vessel in a serviceable condition. It is recommended that recreational vessel owners regularly check their existing ECOS system to ensure it works, following manufacturer’s instructions.

Section 8316 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. of static thrust; 3 HP or more) to use ECOS “links.” Using the ECOSL is required only when the primary helm is not within an enclosed cabin, and when the boat is operating on plane or above displacement speed. Common situations where ECOSL use would not be required include docking/trailering, trolling and operating in no-wake zones.

The Coast Guard believes that the overwhelming majority of recreational vessels produced for decades have had an ECOS installed, so this new use requirement simply obligates recreational vessel operators to use critical safety equipment already present on their boat.

Seven states currently have ECOS use laws for traditional recreational vessels, and 44 states have ECOS use laws for personal watercraft (PWC).

Boaters are encouraged to check the U.S. Coast Guard website for additional information on this new use requirement and other safety regulations and recommendations: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/Engine-Cut-Off-Switch-FAQ.php

-USCG-

April 1, 2021

Ruebel Hotel Reopening

Grafton, IL

Reprinted from Grafton United Facebook... click here

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Floodplain Mitigation Seminar.........

Reprinted from Lincoln County Floodplain Administration Facebook.. click here

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Alton Motor Boat Club

2021 Jon Boat Jamboree.........

Reprinted from Alton Motor Boat Club Facebook.. click here

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative & Clean Up

National Great Rivers Research and Education Center........

Reprinted from National Great Rivers Research and Education Center Facebook.... click here

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Big Muddy Speaker Series

Building for the Future:

The Construction of a Levee Setback on the Missouri River........

Reprinted from the Missouri River Relief Facebook page....click here

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Riverbend Earth Day Festival

Old Bakery Beer Company Hosting Riverbend Earth Day Festival........

Later this month, the annual Riverbend Earth Day Festival will be returning as an in-person event, albeit a socially distanced event that will require attendees to wear masks.

This year, the Old Bakery Beer Company will be playing host to the Riverbend Earth Day Festival, sponsored by the Sierra Club, The Nature Institute, the Treehouse Wildlife Center and others.

The free and family friendly Riverbend Earth Day Festival will be held on Saturday, April 17th, from 11:30 am to 4 pm and will feature live music, food and drinks, an artisan's market, environmental education booths and much more........

Click here to read this news article from altondailynews.com.

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Clarksville Boat Club

April Dinner Function

Pool 25 of the Mississippi River.....

Reprinted from Clarksville Boat Club Facebook... click here

April 16 - 18, 2021

Boat Show News

Dog Days Hosting The Lakes Biggest Boat Show........

Over the weekend of April 16th through the 18th, Dog Days Bar & Grill will be hosting the April In-Water Boat Show at the 19 Mile Marker. The show will feature all varieties of boats including cruisers, runabouts, performance, tritoons, ski boats, personal watercraft, big yachts, as well as all of the boating accessories, gear, docks and lifts. The show is full of vendor and exhibitor displays.

The BIG Show will run from

○ Friday: 1 pm to 7 pm

○ Saturday: 10 am to 7 pm

○ Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm

Click here to watch this promotional video from lakeexpo.com.

Deadline April 16, 2021

Press Release for Call for Artist:

Outdoor sculpture at the Jaime Hines Prairie at LaVista Park

Godfrey, Illinois.......

For Immediate Release
January 27, 2021
Contact: Christine Favilla christine.favilla@sierraclub.org 618-401-7870

Call for Site-Specific Sculpture Proposals for the Jaime Hines Prairie at LaVista Park in Godfrey, IL
Open to Artists from Madison, Jersey, or Calhoun Counties
“Plight of the Prairie: pollinate, collaborate, re-create, celebrate!”

The Three Rivers Project of the Sierra Club, in conjunction with Community

Cultivators and the Village of Godfrey Parks and Recreation Department,

seeks proposals for a site-specific sculpture at the Jaime Hines Prairie at

LaVista. Artists working in the design, construction and installation of outdoor

sculpture are invited to submit proposals for a budget of $2,000 to be unveiled in

late summer 2021. There is no entry fee. Open to both professionals and students.

“This sculpture will be placed near the new prairie at LaVista park to raise awareness

of the vital importance of the role of prairies in maintaining the health of our

eco-systems,” said Christine Favilla, co-founder of the Jamie Hines Prairie at

LaVista Park. “Prairies are intimately dependent on pollinators which are now on the

decline due to habitat loss, chemical use, invasive species, and disease.” This project

is site specific and it needs to pair well with the existing sculpture by the Butterfly

Project but does not have to be the same style.

What: Call for Art Proposals for permanent placement of an outdoor sculpture exploring

native Illinois prairies.
Theme: “Plight of the Prairie: pollinate, collaborate, create, celebrate!”
Where: La Vista Park at 2421 West Delmar in Godfrey, IL 62035
When: Submission deadline April 16, 2021. Proposals will be accepted on-line before

5pm. Art installed by mid-July
Budget: $2,000 available for the creation, development, and placement of the winning

sculpture. Funded by the Sierra Club’s Three Rivers Project and the Community Cultivators.
Register: click here

This sculpture is a project within the Sierra Club Illinois Monarch Campaign aimed at

planting an additional 150 Million milkweed stems. The education and outreach portions

of the Monarch Campaign also include Small Pollinator Pocket Grants for residents, free milkweed seeds, access to free webinars on how to plant native pollinator plants, and the designing and purchasing of informational park signage for the 3 main Sierra Club pollinator gardens and prairies in the Riverbend.

Thank you,
Christine Favilla
Three Rivers Project Co-coordinator
Sierra Club
618-401-7870
112 Front Street
PO Box 702
Alton, IL 62002
christine.favilla@sierraclub.org
http://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Google Maps

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Trivia Night

Con Trios Yacht Club.........

American Legion - Post 312

Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
Theme: The River is Our World

There will be a combination of rounds with questions and interactive rounds.
Doors open @ 6pm | Trivia starts @ 7pm
$160 for tables of 8 if registered by 4/3/21
$200 per table of 8 if registered after 4/3/21
Beer, Wine, & Soda Included! Mixed drinks available for purchase.
Prize for Best Decorated Table!
Raffle Items, Auction Items, 50/50 and more!

Each Table can earn 1 free Mulligan by donating 15 or more items to our food and toiletry drive!

For more information go to Con Trios Yacht Club.. click here

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Missouri State Highway Patrol

Water Patrol Division

Safety Education Classes........

Weldon Spring 04/17/2021 Troop C Headquarters
891 Technology Dr, Weldon Spring, MO 63304 (636) 300- 2800

8:00AM - 4:00PM 13/25

Click here for more information and other locations

May 2021

Upcoming Event... Saturday, May 1, 2021

Walk For Wildlife

Pere Marquette Visitor's Center.......

RiverBills.com has teamed up with the Treehouse Wildlife Center and giving away RiverBills sway at the event !

Reprinted Treehouse Wildlife Center Facebook....click here

May 13, 16, 17 & 21, 2021

Captains Class

World Wide Marine Training

Grafton Harbor ........

Reprinted from Grafton Harbor Facebook... click here

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Missouri State Highway Patrol

Water Patrol Division

Safety Education Classes........

Weldon Spring 05/15/2021 Troop C Headquarters
891 Technology Dr, Weldon Spring, MO 63304 (636) 300- 2800

8:00AM - 4:00PM

Click here for more information and other locations

Upcoming Event.... May 15, 2021

Clarksville Boat Club

May Dinner Function

Pool 25 of the Mississippi River.....

Reprinted from Clarksville Boat Club Facebook... click here

Upcoming Events..... Saturday, May 15, 2021

Missouri State Highway Patrol

Water Patrol Division

Safety Education Class........

City	Date(s)	Location	Phone #	Test Date	Time(s)
Weldon Spring	05/15/2021	Troop C Headquarters 891 Technology Dr, Weldon Spring, MO 63304	(636) 300- 2800	05/15/2021	8:00AM - 4:00PM
Jefferson City	05/15/2021	Troop F Headquarters 2920 N. Shamrock Rd, Jefferson City, MO 65102	(573) 751- 1000	05/15/2021	9:00AM - 3:00PM

Click here for more information and additional classes

Friday, 21 May 2021

Wear Your Life Jacket To Work Day.........

Reprinted from Safe Boating Campaign Facebook.. click here

Saturday, 22 May 2021

Froge's bar and Grill Car Show.........

Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 12 PM CDT – 4 PM CDT
Price: Free · Duration: 4 hr
Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
Bring out your favorite ride, let's see what you have

Reprinted from Froge's GBar and Grill Facebook.. click here

Saturday, 22 May 2021

Kayaking on Ellis Bay

Pool 26 of the Mississippi RIver........

June 2021

June 30 - October 31, 2021

Missouri Frog Season

Missouri Department of Conservation........

Bullfrog & Green Frog Season

June 30 - October 31, 2021

Season opens at sunset on opening day.

Click here for more information

.

June 19 - 27, 2021

Mississippi River At Grafton, Illinois

Raging Rivers Hosting Sea Lion Show........

Raging Rivers Waterpark in Grafton is getting prepared for their upcoming 2021 season with the limited presentation of Sea Lion Splash..

Sea Lion Splash is the only traveling sea lion show in the United States. The show will feature animals who were rescue-beached and cannot return to the wild.

Sea Lion Splash will run from June 19th through the 27th at Raging Rivers. There are no additional fees to attend the show; the cost is included with the regular admission price.........

Click here to read this news story from altondailynews.com. With Photo and Audio

.

June 30 - Oct 31, 2021

Bull Frogs, Green Froges

State of Missouri ........

June 30 at sunset - Oct 31, 2021
Bull Frogs, Green Froges

For more information click here

July 2021

Friday, July 2 - Monday, July 5, 2021

4th of July Weekend Getaway

Con Trios Yacht Club.........

Let's party like it's 1776! We're collaborating with Two Rivers Marina and Two Rivers Boat Club to create a full weekend of fun!
The weekend will include a poker run, sandbar slide, lighted boat parade, fireworks, music and food!
Additional details and pricing are forthcoming!

For more information go to Con Trios Yacht Club.. click here

July 16 - July 18, 2021

Catfish Tourney

Froge's Bar & Grill........

Catfish Tourney

JUL 16 AT 3 PM CDT – JUL 18 AT 12 PM CDT

Froge's Bar & Grill

1530 Highway J, Portage des Sioux, Mo

Let's see who can out weigh who with catfish?? Details to follow......

Reprinted from Froge's Bar & Grill Facebook... click here

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Blessing of the Fleet Benefit Party.........

The 2021 Blessing of the Fleet Benefit Party

is scheduled for

Saturday, July 17, 2021.

Click here for more information on Blessing of the Fleet Facebook page

Keep your anchor right here for more information as this party developes....

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Lake Of The Ozarks

Captain Ron's To Host AquaPalooza........

Officials have announced that Captain Ron's Bar & Grill, the home of the LOTO Shootout, will be the new home of AquaPalooza, which is scheduled for July 17, 2021.

The massive Lake of the Ozarks music event on the water had been held at Dog Days Bar & Grill. The event was cancelled in 2020, and this year, event organizer Benne Media was working on a venue and date change.

Event organizers were originally looking at Toad Cove, where H.Toad's and Shady Gators are located, however, the Missouri State Highway Patrol denied a permit for the location, citing safety concerns over the business of the location. THe MSHP has given a verbal approval for a regatta permit for Captain Ron's........

Click here to read this news article from lakeexpo.com. With Photos.

July 20 - 23, 2021

Missouri Paddling News

Missouri River Relief Hosting 2021 MR340........

Officials have announced that starting in 2021, Missouri River Relief will be hosting the Missouri American Water MR340 paddling race. For the last 15 years, the event had been organized and hosted by Rivermiles.

The MR340 is a non-stop 340 mile race along the lower Missouri River, between Kansas City and St. Charles. Canoeists, kayakers and stand-up paddlers take part in this race that is known as the world's longest non-stop paddling race.

The 2021 MR340 race is scheduled for July 20th through July 23rd. Participants must complete the race in 84 hours. Even though Missouri River Relief will acquire and host the MR340, Rivermiles will still be involved as a contractor in all aspects of the race.........

Click here to read this news article from columbiamissourian.com.

August 2021

Thursday - Saturday, August 12 - 14, 2021

Mississippi River at Port Byron, Iowa

Great River Tug Fest.........

Since 1987. The Port Byron Great River Tug Fest is a wonderful, family oriented street festival with food, fun, carnival, live bands, fireworks on Friday night. The tug of war across the Mighty Mississippi River starts Saturday at noon. Other events include a Kids bike parade, pageant, URICRA bags tournament, arm wrestling tournament, free kids games, kids tug of war, 5K run and more.No coolers, pets, or weapons allowed at Tug Fest. Please visit our website for more information www.tugfest.org

Location:
Main St
120 S Main Street
Port Byron, IL 61275
Additional Features:
Commercial Vendors, Crafts, Entertainment Children's, Entertainment Free, Food, Music

http://www.tugfest.org

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Blessing of the Fleet Parade.........

The 2021 Blessing of the Fleet Parade

is scheduled for

Saturday, August 21, 2021.

More information and location forthcoming....

Fri, Sat & Sun, August 27 - 29, 2021

Half Back 2021

Two Rivers Marina

Pool 24 of the Mississippi River.........

Two Rivers Marina in Rockport, IL

August 27th, 28th & 29th, 2021

....

Click here for Facebook Page

September 2021

Wednesday...September 15, 2021

Paddle Fish Snagging

Mississippi River........

Paddle Fish Snagging season begins on the Mississippi River

Sep 15 - Dec 15, 2021

Source Missouri Dept of Conservation.

Saturday, 25 September 2021

Car Show

Froge's Bar & Grill........

Car Show

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 AT 1 PM CDT – 4 PM CDT

Froge's Bar & Grill

1530 Highway J, Portage des Sioux, Mo

Let's see your favorite ride

Reprinted from Froge's Bar & Grill Facebook... click here

October 2021

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Illinois River Near Grafton, Illinois

Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair Set For Fall........

While the annual Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair is normally held at the Pere Marquette State Park in June, the event has been pushed back to October 2, 2021 because of health and safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.

For over 30 years, the free Family Fishing Fair has been one of Pere Marquette's more popular family-oriented events. The Fishing Fair features catch-and-release fishing, casting stations, fishing instructions and information, as well as entertainment.

The Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair is hosted by the U.S> Army Corps of Engineers, the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and Pere Marquette State Park........

Click here to read this news story from riverbender.com. With Photo.

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Race to the Dome.........