Webster County residents had a chance to help planning consultants with the development of the Webster County and Fort Dodge Riverfront Master Plan Monday.

More than 50 people, most of whom own land along the Des Moines River, answered questions about what type of development they would like to see along the river.

In general, the audience strongly supported increased river access, fishing, kayaking and more trails along the river and Lizard Creek.

“We tell communities, if we did a plan for them 10 years ago, trails would not be on the radar,” said Doug Hammel, senior associate at Houseal Lavigne Associates., of Chicago, Illinois. “But it really has floated to the surface as a priority for a lot of communities.”

Generally, in more rural areas along the river, the audience supported amenities that promoted preservation of the river and what Hammel called “passive parks.”

The passive parks are places people can go to “soak in nature,” Hammel said. They don’t have playgrounds or athletic fields.

In Fort Dodge, the audience was asked about what they would like to see become of the Hydro-Electric Park, Duck Island, the downtown Fort Dodge riverfront and the former Sunkissed Meadows Golf Course.

Kayaking, fishing, passive parks and river access points rose to the top for the Hydro-Electric Park, Duck Island and Sunkissed Meadows, though the audience strongly wanted to have disc golf at Sunkissed Meadows.

Hammel said that there would likely be some sort of modification to both the little dam and the Hydroelectric Dam, which would increase the flow of the river.

He didn’t say whether that would be complete removal of the dams or some other modification.

In downtown, the audience supported having a promenade, river access point, commercial development and entertainment.

“We’re seeing recurring themes,” Hammel said. “We have the same people voting on a similar list, so it’s not surprising. But we like to ask the question and not presume.”

The audience also strongly supported public acquisition of land for preservation, increased access and recreational amenities once it was explained that the land would not be taken by force.

“I will not draft a plan that includes eminent domain,” Hammel told the crowd.

Audience members also somewhat supported having public incentives to encourage private property improvements or developments.

They supported local government regulations limiting certain types of development, controlling pollution and protecting natural areas.

The audience wanted to increase efforts to more strictly enforce current rules and regulations.

Hammel said these are the laws that are already on the books, but that there may not be enough resources to actually enforce them.

Hammel then asked if the residents would like to see the riverfront become something that would attract families and tourists from outside of Webster County or if it should be something that is only for Webster County residents.

“There tends to be a prevailing opinion in the audience that the Des Moines River and Lizard Creek can really draw in people from elsewhere,” he said.