Openlands Project

Northeastern Illinois Water Trail WaterLog

Fill out and submit this "WaterLog" to report your paddling experience!

By submitting your waterlog you help to produce a reliable source of recent information on Water Trail conditions that will be made available on the Water Trails website for paddlers planning their trips.

Instructions

Submit your answers into the online WaterLog.

Water Trail Reporter Information

Note: Fields marked with an * are required

* Name:
Years Paddling
Sex:	Male Female
Age:
Phone:
* E-mail Address:
Number of paddlers in your boat (including you):
Age range of paddlers in your boat:
Type of boat used:
Do you own your boat?	Yes No
Did you rent it?	Yes No
Did you borrow it?	Yes No
If you are recording a paddle that is part of a BLITZ event, how did you hear about the BLITZ?
Water Trail Stretch Logged
Waterway:
Stretch:
Put-in at:	Time
Take-out at:	Time
Approximate distance:
Access Information
If you are recording a paddle that is part of a BLITZ event, how easy was it to sign up for the Water Trail BLITZ?	Easy Moderately Difficult Very Difficult
How easy was it to find information about the stretch you chose to paddle such as where to put-in, take-out, shuttle directions, etc.?	Easy Moderately Difficult Very Difficult
How easy was it to access (get to) the stretch you chose to paddle?	Easy Moderately Difficult Very Difficult
If you would like to elaborate about your access experience, please enter your comments here:
Paddling Experience The Put-In
Signage	Yes No
How would you describe the parking
Please estimate the number of cars the lot could hold
Parking meters or fees?	Yes No
Did you feel security was adequate at the put-in for:
Yourself	Yes No
Your Gear	Yes No
Your Vehicle	Yes No
What amenities are present at the put-in?
Toilets	Yes No
Picnic Tables	Yes No
Other
Please describe the launch site
Concrete ramp:	Yes No
Beach	Yes No
Dock	Yes No
Dirt Shoreline	Yes No
Other
Are Water Trail or other trail signs or maps present?	Yes No
How easy was it to launch?	Easy Moderately Difficult Very Difficult
Please note any improvements that are needed
Did you have fun?	Yes No
Did you learn anything? If so, please comment	Yes No
Would you recommend this stretch to (check all that apply)	beginners intermediate paddlers expert paddlers families with children
Note anything about this trip that might be of interest to other paddlers
Would you recommend this trip for paddlers interested in (check all that apply)	Beginners & Families with Small Children Disabled Accessible Trips Urban Adventure Trips Challenge Trips (long tips, industrial traffic, technical paddling, etc.) Heritage Trips (historic or cultural attractions)
The Stretch
Briefly describe paddling conditions
Weather:
Water level:
Did you encounter any of the following obstacles?
Dams	Yes No
Logjams	Yes No
Deadfall	Yes No
Other Dangerous areas (please describe)	Yes No
Did dams have portage routes?	Yes No
Were warning signs visible from the river?	Yes No
Note any wildlife observed (fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds)
Did you see any informational signage, such as
Water Trails signs on bridges	Yes No
Warning signs	Yes No
Other informational signage (please describe)
What did you like best about paddling this stretch?
what do you like least?
The Take-Out
Was it easy or difficult to identify from the river?	Easy Difficult
Ease or difficulty landing	Easy Moderately Difficult Very Difficult
Signage (is the site easily identified as a canoe launch?)	Yes No
How would you describe the parking
Please estimate the number of cars the lot could hold
Parking meters or fees?	Yes No
Did you feel security was adequate at the take-out:
Yourself	Yes No
Your Gear	Yes No
Your Vehicle	Yes No
What amenities are present at the take-out?
Toilets	Yes No
Picnic Tables	Yes No
Other
Please describe the take-out site
Concrete ramp:	Yes No
Beach	Yes No
Dock	Yes No
Dirt Shoreline	Yes No
Other
Are Water Trail or other trail signs or maps present?	Yes No
Please note any improvements that are needed
The Rest of the Trip
Did you buy any of the following for this trip?
Gas:	Yes No
Food:	Yes No
Other Supplies (please specify):	No
Please note any nearby points of interest (nature center, museums, bars, etc.)
Do you have any advice for other paddlers on planning, shuttle and/or paddling on this stretch? If so, please comment
If you could describe your trip in no more than a 4 sentence paragraph, what would you say?

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Northeastern Illinois Water Trail WaterLog

Instructions

Water Trail Reporter Information

Water Trail Stretch Logged

Access Information

Paddling Experience