PAEK SITES ALONG DES MOINES VALLEY.* 



JAMES H. LEES. 



At a time when the establishment of State parks is a promi- 

 nent subject of discussion among lovers of nature and those who 

 are interested in the conservation and improvement of our re. 

 sources, both tangible and intangible, it is natural that atten- 

 tion be directed toward the central and chief watercourse of 

 the state in the search for suitable sites for recreation centers. 

 So the question arises as to the possibilities for locating parks, 

 state, district or county, along the valley of Des jMoines river. 

 A number of years ago the writer enjoyed the opportunity of 

 making a study of the physical features of Des Moines Valley 



Tuttle lake, Emmet count>', from the south shore near the outlet. 



for the Iowa G-eological Survey and from th? observations then 

 made the following notes are drawn. 



It is evident to one who is at all familiar with the region 

 that there is an abundance of localities alona* this valley which 

 are well adapted to conversion into parks or which could with 

 some care and effort be transformed into fxeellent pleasure 

 grounds. The chief question in the matter of locating, perhaps, 

 is that of establishing such parks where they will be conveniently 

 accessible not only to the automobile o\\aier, he can go anywhere, 

 but also to the large group of people, even in our own state, who 

 are less favored in the matter of transportation facilities. How- 



'Published with permission of the Director of the Iowa Geological Survey. 



