River Updates
October 3, 2012
Oct 10 Big Muddy Speaker Series - St Charles
"Jameson Island - Bringing Politics to a Head"
Presented by Brook Spear, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
5 p.m. Afternoon paddle through historic St. Charles on the Big Muddy Adventure's Junebug canoe. (more info below)
6. p.m. Meet at Big A's Restaurant
6:30 p.m. Presentation
At Big A's Restaurant
308 N Main St. - St Charles, MO
(636) 949-9900
(directions below)
Presentation is FREE!
NOTE - before the presentation, you will have the opportunity to hop on the big Junebug canoe with Mike Clark from Big Muddy Adventures for a short paddle through downtown St. Charles. Park near Big A's and walk towards the river. We'll have canoes ready to go on the riverbank near Big A's .
photo of Jameson Chute courtesy of USFWS, Steve Hillebrandt
One of the tools the Corps of Engineers is using to restore habitat along the Missouri lost during channelization is to create chutes and islands on public land adjacent to the river. This has been halted in the state of Missouri by a Clean Water Commission order stopping the excavation of the Jameson Chute on Jameson Island Unit of the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, claiming that the dumping of alluvial sediment in the river during chute construction is a form of pollution.
Brook Spear, a lawyer with the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, will give an overview of Missouri River restoration, how it affects different congressionally authorized purposes on the river and why the current stalemate over how to handle sediment on the Missouri River impacts future restoration. She'll discuss how different interpretations of the Clean Water Act apply to the use of sediment in restoration activities on the Missouri River vs. smaller clearwater streams.
September 29, 2012
Oct 9 Big Muddy Speaker Series- Rocheport 2012
"What do you like to do on the River?"
presented by Rochelle Renken, Resource Science Field Chief, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
7 p.m. presentation
lower floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro
in Rocheport, MO (directions below)
Click here for flier (pdf)»
Presentation is FREE and open to the public! Come early to purchase a great dinner upstairs at the Bistro!
What do you like to do on the Missouri River? This question as well as many others was asked in the Missouri River Public Use Assessment in 2004 and 2005. During a 13 month period a 811 mile area was surveyed about recreational use. The area extended from the mouth of the Missouri River to Gavin Point Dam in Yankton, South Dakota.
August 23, 2012
Sept 12 Big Muddy Speaker Series - St. Charles 2012
"Restoring the Confluence"
Presented by Charlie Hanneken, US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
5 p.m. Historic St. Charles Walk with St. Charles CVB ($3 charge for walk)
6. p.m. Meet at Big A's Restaurant
6:30 p.m. Presentation
At Big A's Restaurant
308 N Main St. - St Charles, MO
(636) 949-9900
(directions below)
Presentation is FREE!
NOTE - before the presentation, the St. Charles CVB will lead a historic walk through downtown St. Charles. The walk will start and end in front of Big A's restaurant. It starts at 5:00 p.m. There will be a $3 charge for the walk
The historic Missouri River was a completely different river system than what we have today. From a meandering, unpredictable muddy stream, we have reshaped the Mighty Mo into a more stable (but still unpredictable) swift channel.
Charlie Hanneken, who works for the US Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Recovery Program, will show how we have moved from there to here and where we may be going. He'll discuss the reasons for habitat restoration and focus on plans for the Cora Island Unit of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, a recently acquired piece of public land located just upstream of the Confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
an aerial view of the Confluence, courtesy of Richard
August 23, 2012
Sept 12 Big Muddy Speaker Series - Kansas City 2012
"Monitoring Birds on the Missouri River"
presentation by Ethan Duke, Assistant Director and co-founder of Missouri River Bird Observatory
Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
6 p.m. Social Hour
7 p.m. Presentation
At Hickok's Grill
528 Walnut St. - Kansas City, MO (in the River Market),
(816) 472-0161
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
The Missouri River and its adjacent wetlands are a major corridor for migrating songbirds, raptors and waterfowl. Recognizing the need to monitor and catalogue this massive avian movement, Ethan Duke and Dana Ripper took their collective bird monitoring experience in 2009 and started the Missouri River Bird Observatory. The mission of this bunch of hard working biologists is to contribute to the conservation of Missouri's migratory and resident birds through scientific research and monitoring, community outreach and education.
Join us as Ethan Duke shares stories of their work in the Missouri wilds, his take on the state of our bird populations and the successes of their inspiring program.
August 13, 2012
Sept 11 Big Muddy Speaker Series - Rocheport 2012
Bee on butterfly milkweed blossom. Photo courtesy of USFWS.
"Bottomland Bees"
presented by Wedge Watkins, biologist for the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
7 p.m. presentation
lower floor of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro
in Rocheport, MO (directions below)
Click here for flier (pdf)»
Presentation is FREE and open to the public! Come early to purchase a great dinner upstairs at the Bistro!
Most often, bees are thought of annoying creatures that fly around in the summer, and occasionally sting. Biologist Wedge Watkins knows that isn't the case. Bees are an essential part to the pollination and overall livelihood of flowering plants. These flying creatures are responsible for pollinating over 75 percent of flowering plants and almost 75 percent of crops. Because these creatures do not migrate, it is important to understand where the bees habitate. Without this knowledge monitoring plant communities and climate adaptation would be very difficult.
Refuge biologist and Midwest Region Pollinator Coordinator Wedge Watkins will share more information about these native populations of bees, an update on the Overton Bottoms survey, as well as his recent work with a new survey that started this summer.
Announcements
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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.
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