Photo By Jordan Raiff | Volunteer, Anthony Heddlesten, Design Branch Chief at the USACE Rock Island District,...... read more read more
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District occasionally teams up with River Action, a nonprofit based in the Quad Cities, to offer guided tours aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi on the Mississippi River.
These guided tours, called Channel Cat Talks, give the public an inside look at USACE history and ongoing work on the river, from maintaining navigation channels to supporting habitat restoration.
Anthony Heddlesten, design branch chief for the Rock Island District, has served as the USACE guest speaker on these tours for more than 10 years. He enjoys educating and interacting with audiences of all ages who come along for the ride.
Recently, Heddlesten led a tour for a group of children and their caretakers, introducing them to the USACE role on the Mississippi River. Topics included the district’s history, navigation safety, and efforts to protect fish and wildlife habitats. Attendees had the chance to ask questions, view historic photos, and see the river from a new perspective.
“Any day, even for just a couple of hours, on the Mississippi is a wonderful day,” Heddlesten said.
“As a self-avowed history geek, I’ve taken the time each year to find out at least a few new facts about the Rock Island District, the river, the lock and dam, or the Quad Cities to add into the tour.”
River Action has worked for years to connect people with the Mississippi River — improving access, protecting the environment and encouraging public interest in the waterway that runs through local communities.
This ongoing collaboration is a strong example of how outreach and partnerships can help the public better understand the vital work being done behind the scenes.
Some fun facts from Heddlesten’s Tour:
* The Mississippi River is approximately 389 million LEGO bricks long.
* The act of staring at locks, dams and canals is called Gongoozling.
In Black Hawk’s biography, he states that a guardian spirit lived in a cave below Lock and Dam 15, resembling a swan but 10 times larger.
* The first review of the area’s rapids was conducted by Lt. Napoleon Buford, whose family opened the first general store in Rock Island; their home is now the Word of Life Church.
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2025 07:01 |
| Story ID: | 542936 |
| Location: | RIVERDALE, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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