May-June 2016

Joachim Creek, Jefferson County
By Jay Doty, Stream Team 211
5307
Stream Teams
Strong!
Information for and about Missouri Stream Teams ▪ May/June 2016
Current River Rascals
INSIDE Celebrate 10 Years on the Upper Current River
THIS ISSUE
Your Stream Team
2 Ask
Coordinator
Monitoring Minute: A
New Way to Save Your
Aching Back!
Snapshots 3 Team
Riffle Review
in Action
4 Teams
Team Calendar
5
Prizes
7 Activity
Using Swales to Control
Activity Report
Stormwater
Muddy Speakers
8 Big
Coalition Corner: News
from MSTWC
New Address,
Phone, Email?
Please help us
keep your contact
info up-to-date.
Email us at streamteam@mdc.
mo.gov or call 800/781-1989
(voicemail). Thanks for helping
us save postage and paper!
W
By Kat Lackman, MDC Stream Team Coordination Biologist
W
inding over 180 miles through the heart
of the Ozarks, the Current River is set
along picturesque bluffs and rolling
hills. It is one of two rivers comprising the
Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR), the
first national park to protect a river system, the
other being the Jacks Fork. Both rivers are the
stomping grounds for Jack and Mary Ficker of
Stream Team 1028 and the Scenic Rivers Stream
Team Association (SRSTA), Stream Team 674.
This year will mark the 10th anniversary of
the Upper Current River Cleanup organized by
the Fickers and SRSTA. After nearly a decade
of work, this crew has hauled almost 9.5 tons of
trash from this Ozark gem. Traditionally held on
Father’s Day weekend, the Upper Current River
Cleanup covers 34 miles of the Current River
from Baptist Camp to Round Spring. “As we
prepare for the 10th cleanup I reflect on the slow
start we had compared to the Jacks Fork group,
but we have had 125 or more people the last two
years in spite of the dirty water last year from
heavy rains,” said Mary.
The Fickers have been cleaning the Current
River for nearly 20 years, even before getting
involved with the Stream Team Program.
“We’ve always been passionate about keeping
the river clean. My kids used to snorkel for
The upper Current River and its tributaries make
up the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first
national park in America to protect a river system.
cans and debris along the river near our home,
and we concentrated on cleaning up between
Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry,” Mary said. “The
Current River is a special river, and we need to
protect our crown jewel.” ONSR hosts over one
million visitors a year and features more than
350 springs including Big Spring (the National
Park Service’s largest spring), 338 recorded
caves, archeological sites reflecting 12,000
years of human habitation, and 200 species
found nowhere else in the world, according to
American Rivers.
If you would like to join in the effort and
experience this natural wonder for yourself,
this year’s cleanup will be held on Saturday,
June 18. For more information, visit the Stream
Team calendar at mostreamteam.org/Whats_
Happening.asp or contact Jack and Mary at
573/729-7065 or [email protected].
Did You Know . . . ?
The 2015 cleanup crew poses for a group photo.
Continued on page 2
Stream Team Coordinator
Dear Stream Team,
By Karen Westin, DNR VWQM Coordinator
Thank you for the lovely 10-year membership certificate I
received in the mail recently. I used to be active with my Stream Team a
long time ago, but no longer have the time or ability to get out to the stream
with my family or students anymore, so I don’t feel like I really deserve this
certificate. Should I just be removed from the program?
Signed,
Feeling Guilty in Greene County
Dear Guilty,
Stewardship is just one of three goals of the Missouri Stream
Team Program. Education and Advocacy are the other two goals, which
don’t require any physical activity. In fact, simply remaining on the mailing
list to receive this newsletter, Streamgrams, or notices of issues happening
in the state is still considered as being “active.” Remember that the Stream
Team Program is open to anyone interested in Missouri streams. Program
staff understand that “life happens,” and never want Stream Team members
to think that they must go to the stream every so often to remain a member.
Also, please remember that there are many activities that can be reported
beyond litter pickups, water quality monitoring, tree planting, etc., such
as educational events, presentations, articles, meetings, letters to elected
officials, and many more that still count. You may realize that you’ve been
doing much more than you thought! Please remember to report these
activities so we can continue to justify funding for supplies and thank-you
items for our passionate volunteers.
Don’t forget that discounts are available to
Stream Teams at 99 outfitters statewide. Check
your Float Outfitters Discount Directory when
planning your next event!
Available online at www.mostreamteam.org.
. . . You can sign up to . . .
Continued on page 3
Channels
2
A New Way to Save Your Aching Back!
W
e all know that a net stand can be a
real back saver when you’re doing your
biological monitoring. Who wants to sit on
wet gravel, all hunched over, to pick bugs off
a net lying on the ground? The Stream Team
website has several net stand plans for those
who are interested in building this very helpful
monitoring accessory (WQM tab > WQM
Resources > Intro Level Resources > Notebook
> Chapter 10 - Appendix, pages 21-23). Most
people may be familiar with wood or PVC stands
that fold up, or PVC racks that you carry in parts
and then have to put together at the stream. The
former can be difficult to fit in a vehicle for
transport, and the latter can offer up frustration
trying to make it all fit together!
Enter a new option. Yes, someone came up with
a better mouse trap! Actually, one of YOU did!
Last spring, on the way back to the classroom
after the field portion of his Intro workshop,
Bob Virag (Team 5080) listened intently as
Suzy Higgins described her “dream net stand.”
It should fold out in one motion, like a camp
chair or pop-up tent, so it would be super quick
and easy to set up but fit nicely in a vehicle
when folded up. Within a couple of weeks, Bob
had a prototype in the mail to us (yes, he IS an
engineer). He asked us to try it out and send
him any ideas for improvement. Bob worked
our suggestions into his design, and by the end
of the summer, we had two new terrifically
functioning net stands complete with storage
bags! We love our new net stands, and appreciate
Bob’s ingenuity and tenacity in making the
“dream net stand” a reality. YOU can make
it a reality for yourself, too! Check out Bob’s
new net stand design
(complete instructions
included!) at http://
mostreamteam.org/
Documents/VWQM/
FoldableKickNetTable.
pdf.
May/June 2016
Team Snapshots
The
Riffle Review
a bi-monthly glimpse of Stream Team activities
Since our last issue of Channels, Stream Team members reported:
l559 total activities
l 85.69 tons of trash collected
l4,889 total participants l 111 water quality monitoring trips
l18,652 total hours
l 635 trees planted
Check out more highlights below . . .
Congratulations to Vicki and Larry from Teams 175
and 4608 for receiving the MO Community Forestry
Council Award for their hard work improving habitat
along their adopted stretch of the Blue River in KC.
Team 1
The very first Stream Team is still going strong after 26
years, and gave a presentation about the history of Stream Team to the local
community. They are planning for their annual cleanup and continue to monitor
water quality in Roubidoux Creek. Thank you for your decades of dedication!
Team 48
Grand Falls on Shoal Creek attracts thousands of visitors each
year. Ron Phelps says that litter pickup is required 365 days a year to keep this
unique tourist attraction user friendly. All the hard work keeping this natural
gem beautiful for all to enjoy is much appreciated!
Team 509 Tim Kirchhoff and the Smallmouth Alliance crew witnessed
a bald eagle for the second time while monitoring the Meramec River at the
Washington State Park boat ramp. Perhaps the eagle has an interest in water
quality as well.
Team 1421 tested their monitoring methods on the
classroom aquarium, collecting dissolved oxygen.
What a great way to educate young scientists!
Team 1215 Stephanie Hibdon is helping to spread the word about Stream
Team, giving presentations on stream dynamics, cleaning up her adopted spot in
Hermann, and recruiting new members to her cause. Thank you for sharing your
passion by educating others!
Team 2744 The SEAS Men’s Club took advantage of unseasonably warm
February weather to get out and clean up Turnback Creek and the North Fork
River, even witnessing a bald eagle on one trip. To sum up the experience,
Thomas Bauer says “We enjoy Stream Team stuff!”
Team 3181
The
Possum Woodsmen have been busy picking up trash,
monitoring forest trees, and taking photos of their several adopted sites on the
Meramec and Missouri rivers. They’ve observed many aggressive geese and
some noisy turkeys along the way. “A loud bunch!” said Judy Gray.
This little helper’s hands weren’t big enough this time,
but someday she’ll be ready to help Team 5 hack out
the invasive honeysuckle in Deer Creek Park.
Team 3878 Bob Franke has been “a glutton for mud” cleaning up major
flood debris from the winter floods on the Meramec River. In fact, the Frankes
have sacrificed many pairs of boots and the interior of their car to the mud for
the cause.
Team 4262 The Fritz Family Team is on the prowl to educate others about
the dangers of didymo, making copies of last issue’s Fact Sheet and distributing
to the public at Cabela’s in Hazelwood. Thank you for spreading the word!
Team 5221 The Lindbergh Creek Crawlers got 60 students involved in
monitoring the water quality of Gravois Creek, observing the fun all were
having with the monitoring process. “The students were highly engaged and
enjoyed the outdoor experience outside the normal classroom setting,” said
Barry Marquart.
This second-generation Stream Teamer followed
the inspiration provided by Paula Pettig’s Francis
Howell High School Team to carry on the tradition
with his own family as Team 4352.
May/June 2016
. . . receive news and . . .
Continued on page 4
3
Channels
Cleveland Lake Cleanup
and Habitat Improvement
By Doris Sherrick, Stream Team 3757
E
arly sprinkles with the promise of more
to come did nothing to dampen the
spirits, enthusiasm, and dedication of more
than 50 people who showed up at Cleveland
Lake on Saturday, March 26 to care for the
area. Participants of all ages from scouts
to parents with children to senior citizens
demonstrated care and pride for their community by removing many, many bags
of trash, cutting out invasive bush honeysuckle, and beautifying an area with
spring-blooming native woodland plants including celandine poppy, wild sweet
William, squaw weed, and woodland spiderwort.
Belton’s Starbucks
donated hot coffee and
Hy-Vee donated donuts
that were a welcome treat
as the group assembled,
as were the hot dogs and
hamburgers provided by
Belton Parks & Rec that
awaited them at the end
Despite 40-degree temperatures and steady
rainfall, more than 50 volunteers removed
of the event. Stream Team
nearly a ton of trash, planted 50 native
t-shirts were provided
woodland plants, and removed about a quarteracre of invasive bush honeysuckle.
for everyone by Missouri
Stream Teams.
Education about ways
we can each contribute
to water quality and the
need to do so was also
included in the morning’s
activities. As part of
the education, a short
presentation was made
An old refrigerator made it out the floodplain
thanks to these volunteers’ ambition and
about macroinvertebrates
creativity.
that were available
for viewing. These tiny “bugs” that inhabit our streams provide important
information about the quality of the water in a stream by their presence or
absence. Monitoring for macroinvertebrates is one of the activities Missouri
Stream Team members engage in as they collect data about stream health.
Teams in
action!
Continued on page 8
. . . legislative updates . . .
Continued on page 7
Channels
4
TEAM
CALENDAR
MAY
1 Joachim Creek Cleanup, De Soto. Contact Dennis
at 636/232-5225 for more information.
1 The Missouri River in Story and Song, Kansas
City. Visit riverrelief.org for more information.
1 CHERP Honeysuckle Hack, St. Louis. Contact Jay
at 314/516-6875 for more information..
1 Greenway Network’s Spring Dardenne Monitoring
Day, St. Peters. Contact Larry at greenwaynetwork@
gmail.com to volunteer for a monitoring site.
6 Watershed Committee of the Ozarks Monthly
Meeting, Springfield. Contact Stacy at 417/866-1127
for more information.
6-7Art and Science on the River Exhibition, Kansas
City. Contact Vicki at vicki@healthyriverspartnership.
com for more information.
8 Great Rivers Confluence Cleanup, West Alton.
Visit greenwaynetwork.org for more information.
14 Big River Cleanup at the Confluence, St. Louis.
Visit riverrelief.org for more information.
15 U. City Streambank Stabilization, University City.
Contact Danelle at 314/941-0489 to volunteer.
18 Operation Clean Stream Trip Leader Meeting,
Sunset Hills. Contact Kat at katherine@
openspacestl.org or Brian at brian.waldrop@mdc.
mo.gov for more information.
June
3 Watershed Committee of the Ozarks Monthly
Meeting, Springfield. Contact Stacy at 417/866-1127
for more information.
418th Annual Jacks Fork River Cleanup, Eminence.
Contact Ted or Pat at 417/932-4363 or tednpat713@
gmail.com for more information.
418th Annual River Rescue, Springfield. Contact
Brenton at 417/836-4847 or BrentonStock@
MissouriState.edu to register.
4 National Trails Day at Frontier Park, St. Charles.
Visit greenwaynetwork.org for more information.
4-5Seed the Change, St. Louis. Contact Jess Witte at
314/514-5791 for more information.
5 Paddle for a Cause, Leasburg. Visit openspacestl.
org for tickets.
11 River Jam, Ozark. Contact JRBP at 417/836-8878 for
more information.
15 Scenic Rivers Stream Team Association Meeting.
Contact Larry at [email protected] for info.
1810th Annual Upper Current River Cleanup, Salem.
Contact Jack or Mary at 573/729-7065 or jack_
[email protected] to volunteer.
253rd Annual Know Your Watershed Festival,
Harrisonville. Contact [email protected] for more
information.
Remember to check online at
mostreamteam.org for changes and
updates to the Team calendar!
May/June 2016
Missouri Stream Team Activity Report
Stream Team Number________________________________
Home Phone (_________)____________-__________________
Mail this Activity Report to:
Team Name__________________________________________
Work Phone (_________)____________-__________________
Your Name_________________________________________
Email_______________________________________________
MISSOURI STREAM TEAM
PO BOX 180
JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102-0180
Shipping Address (no PO Box please)
______________________________________________________
Contact Person for Team______________________________
Is there a change in Contact Person?
Yes No
Is there a change in Contact Person address? Yes No
If yes, new address___________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Please help
save shipping costs.
Ship to your office
or school.
Activity Report
Activity Order
Supply Items
These free supplies are for your
Stream Team activities
Number
requested
First Aid Kits (limit one per 5-10 participants)
Activity Type (see codes at right) _________________________
Stream Name________________________________________
Litter Pickup Bags (red mesh 14” x 26”)
Work Gloves (adult size)
Activity County______________________________________
Work Gloves (youth size)
Activity Basin (optional)__________________________________
Thank You Items
These free incentives are for your Number
Stream Team volunteers
requested
Bandannas (Stream Team)
Miles of River Covered (optional)___________________________
Count of Volunteers__________________________________
Bookmarks (dragonfly)
Hours Spent on Project _______________________________
Bookmarks (spring peeper)
Bumper Stickers (Quality Water, 3 1/2” x 9 1/4”)
Colorbook: Stream Team Most Wanted (Grade 4-6)
Colorbook: Stream Team Superstars (Grade K-3)
Ink Pens (Stream Team)
Koozies (Stream Team)
Mini Buttons (Stream Team, 1”)
Pencils (Get Into Missouri Streams)
Post-it Notes (Stream Team, 3” x 4”)
Stickers “Get Into Missouri Streams” (3” round)
Sunglasses (Malibu Style, Assorted Colors)
Activity Prize Drawing
The more activities you submit, the better your chances!
New prizes every three months!
Check one
If you would like to be included in our
Activity Prize Drawing, please check the
box at right and attach a list of participant
names. Please print clearly.

or
Attention teachers and youth group
leaders: For a youth group prize, please
check the box at right. You do not need to
Youth Group Prize
include a participant list for group prizes.

If you order in advance, please don’t forget to
report your accomplishments AFTER your event.
AAA New access adopted
Advocacy on stream issue
ADV Number of events
Article written for publicaton
ART Number of articles
Assisted MDC fish stocking
FIS Number of events
Award received
AWA Number of awards
Education project
EDU Number of events
Forestkeepers monitoring
FOR Number of trips
GPS reading
GPS Number of trips
Grant applied/received
GRT Number of projects
Greenway development
GRE Number of projects
HAI Number of projects
LET Number of letters
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
T-shirts (Stream Team) S____ M____ L____ XL____ XXL____
Adopt-An-Access
Letter written on stream issue
_____________________________________________
Stickers “I Love Missouri Streams” (3” round)
Code Measurement
Habitat improvement
_____________________________________________
Scratch Pads (Stream Team, 5 1/2” x 8”)
Stream Team Activity List
Activity
Measurement: Please list number of trash bags
collected, trees planted, letters written, storm drains
stencilled, WQM trips, etc. See list at right.
Location Description: Please provide a detailed
location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream
from Hwy. 63 bridge over Cedar Creek a mile south of
River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov.
Patches (Stream Team, Scouts only, 3”)
May/June 2016
Stream Team Activity 1
Activity Date________________________________________
Litter Pickup Bags (green mesh 24” x 36”)
Please
allow 3 weeks
shipping.
We welcome
your activity photos.
They may be published in our
newsletter or annual report.
Thank you!
_____________________________________________
Project Description: Please describe your activity
and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual
litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome
antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!”
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Litter pickup
LPU Number of litter bags
Media contact/interview
MED Number of interviews
Monofilament recycling
MRP Weight of line recycled
Other: please describe
OTH Number of projects
Photo-point monitoring
PPM Number of photos
Pre-activity planning
PLN Number of events
Presentation to groups
PRE Number of presentations
Rain garden/barrel, green roof
NPS Number of projects
Recruited new Team/members
REC Number of new members
ST Association activity
ASC Number of events
ST display at school, fair, etc.
DIS Number of events
ST Inventory Guide submitted
INV Number of inventories
Storm drain stenciling
SDS Number of drains marked
Stream access maintenance
SAM Number of litter bags/events
Stream Team meeting
MTG Number of attendees
Stream Team mentoring
MEN Team mentored & events
Stream workshop attended
WKS Number of attendees
Streambank stabilization
SSP Number of projects
Tree planting
PLT Number of trees
Water quality monitoring
WQM Number of trips
Watershed mapping
WAT Number of trips
Zebra mussel monitoring
ZEB Number of trips
Report more activities on back!
5
Channels
Your activities
power the Stream
Team Program!
Thank you!
Missouri Stream Team Activity Report continued
Stream Team Activity 2
Stream Team Activity 3
Activity Type (see codes at right) _________________________
Activity Type (see codes at right) _________________________
Activity Date________________________________________
Stream Team Activity List
Activity
Code Measurement
Adopt-An-Access
AAA New access adopted
Activity Date________________________________________
Advocacy on stream issue
ADV Number of events
Stream Name________________________________________
Stream Name________________________________________
Article written for publicaton
ART Number of articles
Activity County______________________________________
Assisted MDC fish stocking
FIS Number of events
Activity County______________________________________
Award received
AWA Number of awards
Activity Basin (optional)___________________________________
Activity Basin (optional)___________________________________
Education project
EDU Number of events
Miles of River Covered (optional)____________________________
Miles of River Covered (optional)____________________________
Forestkeepers monitoring
FOR Number of trips
GPS reading
GPS Number of trips
Grant applied/received
GRT Number of projects
Greenway development
GRE Number of projects
Habitat improvement
HAI Number of projects
LET Number of letters
Count of Volunteers__________________________________
Count of Volunteers__________________________________
Hours Spent on Project _______________________________
Hours Spent on Project _______________________________
Measurement: Please list number of monitoring trips,
bags of trash collected, letters written, trees planted,
storm drains stencilled, events held, etc. See list at right.
Measurement: Please list number of monitoring trips,
bags of trash collected, letters written, trees planted,
storm drains stencilled, events held, etc. See list at right.
Letter written on stream issue
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Location Description: Please provide a detailed
location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream
from Hwy. 63 bridge over Brush Creek a mile south of
River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov.
Location Description: Please provide a detailed
location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream
from Hwy. 63 bridge over Brush Creek a mile south of
River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Project Description: Please describe your activity
and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual
litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome
antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!”
Project Description: Please describe your activity
and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual
litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome
antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!”
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Litter pickup
LPU Number of litter bags
Media contact/interview
MED Number of interviews
Monofilament recycling
MRP Weight of line recycled
Other: please describe
OTH Number of projects
Photo-point monitoring
PPM Number of photos
Pre-activity planning
PLN Number of events
Presentation to groups
PRE Number of presentations
Rain garden/barrel, green roof
NPS Number of projects
Recruited new Team/members
REC Number of new members
ST Association activity
ASC Number of events
ST display at school, fair, etc.
DIS Number of events
ST Inventory Guide submitted
INV Number of inventories
Storm drain stenciling
SDS Number of drains marked
Stream access maintenance
SAM Number of litter bags/events
Stream Team meeting
MTG Number of attendees
Stream Team mentoring
MEN Team mentored & events
Stream workshop attended
WKS Number of attendees
Streambank stabilization
SSP Number of projects
Tree planting
PLT Number of trees
Water quality monitoring
WQM Number of trips
Watershed mapping
WAT Number of trips
Zebra mussel monitoring
ZEB Number of trips
Additional notes and information
Notes__________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
If you ordered supplies in advance, please don’t forget
to report your accomplishments AFTER your event.
The Stream Team Program needs your final results!
Channels
6
Questions?
Need help getting started?
Please contact us at:
Phone:
1-800-781-1989 (voicemail)
Email:
[email protected]
Website: www.mostreamteam.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mostreamteams
Fax:
573/526-0990
Thank you for volunteering to help
Missouri’s waterways.
May/June 2016
Activity Prize Drawing
Our 1st quarter
prize winners
will be announced
in the next issue of
Channels.
Please keep sending us
your Activity Reports . . .
YOU might win NEXT!
2nd Quarter Prizes
S
Fitbit Flex Wireless Wristband
S
Personalized Stream Team Shirt
S
Bat House (donated by the Hentges’ Team 1385)
S
PackIt Freezable Personal Cooler
S
Contigo 24oz Water Bottle
S
Silent Spring Book
S
Youth Prize: Celestron Cosmos LCD
Handheld Digital Microscope
Using Swales to Control Stormwater
M
By Besa Schweitzer, Stream Team 4872
y yard is on the downhill side of a
street with no curbs, so a lot of water
comes into my garden every time it
rains. One solution would be to put in a curb,
but that will just run the water down to the
neighbor’s garage, which is not a nice thing to
do. Rainwater can be a good thing as long as
I can control where it ends up. An alternative
solution is to try to direct and absorb the water
using swales and raingardens. Swales are just
shallow ditches that are strategically placed
where water needs to be sent from one place
to another. To absorb the most water, dig your
swale along the contour parallel to the slope,
Using swales to help direct rain water can
placing the displaced soil on the lower side of
give your garden character while serving
the ditch to form a berm.
an important purpose.
At the top of my yard I dug a shallow ditch
parallel to the slope and planted sedges in it. The sedges love the water that gets trapped
in the swale and also help to slow the flow as it comes into the garden. Since one swale
didn’t seem to catch all the water, I dug three more at about five-foot intervals parallel
down the slope. The top one fills up and flows into the next. The ditches slow down the
flow to prevent erosion and also hold a little water to absorb into the soil. The top swale
also catches a lot of trash from street runoff that I pick up after every rain. My garden
is constricted as it goes around my porch, so I built a series of three small rain gardens
to catch, infiltrate, and direct the water as it
continues down the hill. About halfway down
the garden the water is significantly slowed and
during a short rain it is trapped to absorb into
the soil. However, in the spring there is often
still more water coming off the street and all my
swales and rain gardens overflow, so I made two
more swales to bring the water away from the
porch and into two larger rain gardens. All of this
was still not enough to catch all the rainwater last
spring but I still call this success. My garden and
patio are above water and not washed out. The
rain goes from one part of the garden to another
without washing out all my plants. I am trapping
and absorbing a significant amount of rain to
sustain my native plants through the summer. I
Sedges are a good choice for soaking
am putting the rain to work for me and all of my
up runoff from streets and sidewalks.
contouring has added character to my garden.
. . . to stay informed about . . .
Continued on page 8
May/June 2016
7
Channels
The Big Muddy Speaker Series
“Cleveland Lake” from page 4
Monthly Educational Presentations
Stream cleanup events are great opportunities for all of us to
learn first-hand how we each make a difference in our community
when we pitch in and take care of our streams and lakes by picking
up trash, removing invasive exotic plants, and providing essential
habitat by planting Missouri native plants.
Parents, grandparents, and scout leaders who make events such as
this a priority experience for children instill important attitudes about
personal responsibility to be involved in the care of their community.
One parent recognizing that value remarked that she requires her sons
to take part in something “functional” every week and this week it
was participating in the stream event.
The March 26 Third Annual Stream Event was sponsored by
Belton Parks & Recreation, South Grand River Watershed Alliance
(www.sgrwa.org), Missouri Department of Conservation, and
Missouri Stream Teams.
Free and open to the public!
Three convenient locations:
Rocheport - St. Charles - Kansas City
Visit www.bigmuddyspeakers.org
for details on dates, times, and topics.
Stream Team Academy
Workshops
Watch for the
announcements
coming soon!
Coalition Corner
News from the Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition
#MOWATER NEWS
By Holly Neill, MSTWC Executive Director
F
or those who thirst to keep up with news around the state
related to water, we have the solution. MSTWC compiles
water-related news for the state of Missouri along with national
news highlights in our weekly online publication #MOWATER.
Each week we send this information out in a visual news map
that goes out electronically to the Stream Team community of
over 6,000 individuals.
We strive to make this publication educational and accurate
so you can be assured that the news you are reading is coming
from people close to the issues. Articles are reviewed by a panel
of partners and MSTWC to create greater confidence in the
information.
This publication also features sections on Where To Find
Us around the state, Featured Videos, and our newest section
called the Legislative Lookout. The Legislative Lookout is
a series of Issue Alerts designed to educate the Stream Team
community about legislative proposals that affect our state’s
waterways and how to voice an opinion.
We hope Stream Teams across the state are encouraged to
stay up on the happenings related to water statewide and even
nationally. This is a great resource for your Team to utilize,
become more educated, and to share with others.
To receive this publication, please JOIN our mailing list at
www.mstwc.org.
. . . issues concerning
Missouri streams?
See above for more information!
Channels
8
May/June 2016