River Updates
April 29, 2013
May 8 - Big Muddy Speaker Series - Kansas City 2013
"Close Up on Clean Water"
presentation by Kat Logan Smith, Director of Environmental Policy for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
6 p.m. Social Hour
7 p.m. Presentation
At Hickok's Grill
528 Walnut St. - Kansas City, MO (in the River Market),
The 40 year-old Clean Water Act aims to protect the “physical, chemical, and biological” integrity of our nation’s waters so our creeks, rivers, and oceans can thrive. For four decades Missouri has left nearly 150,000 miles of waters with insufficient protections to safeguard their health. At the same time, our waters are under increasing pressures from development, agriculture, and climate stress.
How can the Missouri River thrive when the creeks that feed it are unprotected? How can we secure our freshwater resources when 80% of our state’s waters are not held to Clean Water Act standards? How can we ensure that our children and grandchildren can enjoy healthy waters in Missouri?
left - all Missouri Streams; right - streams classified under Clean Water Act
graphic courtesy of Mo. Coalition for the Environment
Kat Logan Smith will give us a basic overview of the Clean Water Act, how the law can work to keep fish thriving, restore damaged waters and safeguard our highest quality waters. She'll review the Missouri Coalition for the Environment petition for full protections for Missouri waters and let us know how we can preserve our water heritage for future generations.
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment works to protect and restore the environment through education, public engagement, and legal action.
April 29, 2013
May 14 - Big Muddy Speaker Series - Rocheport 2013
"Location, Location, Location -
How Missouri River geography shapes restoration and management options"
presentation by Robert Jacobson, PhD, Chief of River Studies Branch, US Geological Survey
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
7 p.m. presentation
lower floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro
in Rocheport, MO (directions below)
Presentation is FREE and open to the public! Come early to purchase a great dinner upstairs at the Bistro!
The past two years of extreme flooding followed by extreme drought in the Missouri River basin highlights the difficulties in managing and restoring this massive river system. Every decision made in Missouri River management seems to have repercussions that affect other uses or stakeholders along the river.
The Missouri River basin ranges over 23 degrees of longitude and 12 degrees of latitude, and in its breadth it encompasses tremendous physiographic, climatic, ecologic, and socio-economic diversity from the snowpack of the Rockies to the arid plains of the Dakotas to the moist river hills of the Ozarks' northern edge.
This diversity promotes challenges to restoration and management. One size of policy does not fit well in all parts of the river. Robert Jacobson, PhD, chief of River Studies for the US Geological Survey, will provide an overview of the environmental geography of the Missouri River and an analysis of how the very location of the river effects restoration and management options along the mainstem from Montana to Missouri.
April 2, 2013
April 10 - Big Muddy Speaker Series - Kansas City 2013
"Colter's Run"
presented by author Conger "Tony" Beasley
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
6 p.m. Social Hour
7 p.m. Presentation
At Hickok's Grill
528 Walnut St. - Kansas City, MO (in the River Market)
Click here for flier (pdf)»
(directions below)
Presentation is FREE!
Please support our partner by coming early for dinner and drinks at this great local establishment! Happy Hour till 7:00
John Colter was a key member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He left the Expedition on its return trip to guide fur trappers. On this journey he was credited with discovering the area that became Yellowstone National Park (it was originally called "Colter's Hell"). He was later was captured by Blackfoot warriors. Stripped and told to run, he was the target of a “human hunt.”
Conger “Tony” Beasley will read from his latest work "Colter's Run" and discuss the legacy of Colter, who later settled near New Haven, MO, on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River.
painting on right copyright Gerry Metz.
March 29, 2013
April 25 - Big Muddy Speaker Series - St. Charles
"Pearls along the River - The Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge"
Presented by Tom Bell, Manager for the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
NOTE: For this month only - SPECIAL TIME, DATE AND LOCATION. For our monthly presentation, we are changing the time, date and location to join forces with the Eastern Missouri Sierra Club. The Big Muddy Speaker Series will be Thursday, April 25 at Litzinger School (address and directions below) in conjunction with the Sierra Club meeting. In May we will return to our usual 2nd Wednesday at Big A's.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
7:30 p.m. Presentation
At Litzinger School (in conjunction with Sierra Club meeting)
10094 Litzsinger Road at Lindbergh Blvd., Ladue, MO
(directions below)
Presentation is FREE!
The Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is comprised of 11 separate units totalling approximately 16,000 acres located along the Missouri River floodplain between Kansas City and the St. Louis area. Using a passive management model, these "pearls on a string" include chutes, islands, wet prairies, bottomland forests, scour holes and lakes and areas that are allowed to flood in high water.
The St. Louis metro area has two units of the refuge, Boone's Crossing and Cora Island, yet few people in the public realize this amazing resource is at their back door. Refuge Manager Tom Bell will join us for a presentation on the refuge, including the history, and overview of the refuge units across the state, plans for restoration projects in the refuge and what they've learned since the refuge started.
March 27, 2013
April 9 - Big Muddy Speaker Series - Rocheport 2013
"Flush Twice - It's a Long Way to Eagle Bluffs"
presentation by Tim James, Wildlife Management Biologist, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, MDC
Tuesday, April 9 , 2013
7 p.m. presentation
lower floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro
in Rocheport, MO (directions below)
Presentation is FREE and open to the public! Come early to purchase a great dinner upstairs at the Bistro!
Just south of Columbia, MO, in the McBaine Bottoms is a true Missouri River treasure. Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area is one of several intensively managed wetland restoration projects lying in the river floodplain. This 4,431 acre wildlife haven has over 10 miles of river and creek frontage between the Missouri River and Perche Creek. It provides an important stop-over and feeding station for migratory waterfowl and crucial cottonwood forest habitat for migrating songbirds. Its wetland pools also serve as a final treatment for the City of Columbia's wastewater.
photo courtesy of MDC
Announcements
Donate Today
Nearly one third of our funding come from individuals like you, please consider making an online donation today.
2020 Schedule
The 2020 schedule is here! As we get closer to the dates you will find links to full web pages detailing our events here.
There are many changes to our schedule as we adjust to the reality of COVID-19 spread. For the latest updates on our policy and schedule changes, please visit this page.
Missouri River Information Packets
Ready to Download Now!
The Missouri River is home to fascinating creatures, as well as many issues. In these packets, a broad range of information is introduced and discussed; from the giants who dwell in the depths, to the consequences of the interaction between cities and the Missouri River.
Equipment Wish List
There are many ways that you or your organization can support the great work we do along the Missouri River. In addition to becoming a sponsor, giving through your workplace, or lending your volunteer muscle, Missouri River Relief kindly accepts in-kind donations of food and river clean-up supplies such as tools, gadgets and gear. Make sure to check out our full equipment wish list here.
In Memoriam
We are honored to have received charitable donations in memory of and in honor of the following friends of Missouri River Relief. You can always contact us or donate online for gifts in memoriam.
Enjoy the Big Muddy Speaker Series each month in three cities!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series has its own website! A one stop shop for statewide Missouri River knowledge. www.bigmuddyspeakers.org
The monthly series is held in three locations, Rocheport , Kansas City and St. Charles. The free presentations bring in experts to discuss Missouri River issues, biology, hydrology, history and more.
www.riverrelief.org is created and maintained by Missouri River Relief, P.O. Box 463, Columbia, MO 65205
Copyright © 2024 Missouri River Relief, photos copyright © their respective owners
Site designed and built by Josh Nichols.