Big Muddy expert to lecture at FM library

FORT MADISON - The Mississippi River is one of the biggest formative influences on the city of Fort Madison and continues to impact our lives on a regular basis.  Learn more about the river that runs right past our front doors from Dean Klinkenberg, author of “Beneath the Surface: Uncovering the Hidden Worlds of Big Rivers” at the Fort Madison Public Library on Tuesday, July 23 at 6 p.m.
Big rivers are one of nature’s greatest gifts, yet much of what makes them special is often hidden in front of us. We see them as a threat when they run high but otherwise value them mostly for what we can move on top of them or the wonderful views they provide. In this presentation, Klinkenberg will peel back the layers in big river systems and show how they create and sustain life—life in many forms and in abundance. Big rivers give life because they are a complete system that moves and circulates water and nutrients to life from the smallest microorganisms to the largest predators.
Big rivers work because the water, trees, grasses, rocks, and sand provide homes and sustenance for fish, mammals, rodents, insects, birds, and so much more.
We need big rivers, for the life they create and sustain, for their beauty, for the sanctuary they offer from the stresses and demands of modern civilization. Klinkenberg will help us see big rivers in new ways and will offer practical steps we can all take to go deeper into the world of big rivers, without getting wet.

Dean Klinkenberg is a St. Louis-based writer with a singular obsession with the Mississippi River. He has driven virtually all of the Great River Road, hiked and canoed the river on multi-day expeditions, and cruised on the American Queen steamboat as a guest lecturer.
He is the author of the forthcoming book, The Wild Mississippi: A State-by-State Guide to the River’s Natural Wonders. His other books include Road Tripping the Great River Road and the Frank Dodge mysteries, which explore another side of the river’s world.
Dean is a longtime partner in the Mississippi River Network (MRN), a coalition of organizations advocating for healthy and resilient river ecosystems.
If you need more information or have questions, contact Sarah Clendineng, (319) 372-5721, SarahClen@fortmadison.lib.ia.us.