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Plat
te R
iver,
Plat
te C
ount
yBy
Stu
art C
aswe
ll, S
tream
Tea
m 4
503
January – February 2012
A
Continued on page 2
Did you know . . . ?
Remembering Wayne
Monitoring Minutes:Are You a Data Star?
Team Snapshots
Riffle Review
Team Calendar Teams in Action
Activity Report
Activity Prize Winners
Level 2 Workshops Scheduled
Activity Report Reminder
INSIDE2
3
4
57
THIS ISSUE
8 Coalition Corner: News from MSTWC
REMINDER
See page 7 for more info.
If not previously reported, please
send us your 2011 Activity Reports by February 1.
4513Stream Teams
Strong!Information for and about Missouri Stream Teams
See “Connecting Volunteers” continued on page 7.
During the lunch break, Stream Team members from over 30 Teams connected with each other and discussed activities in their respective watersheds.
Stream Team Watershed Coalition (MSTWC), and Lance LeComb of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD). Holly inspired us by showing the great strides that MSTWC is making on behalf of Stream Teams across the state. Stream Team license plates will be printed once 200 orders are received; the macroinvertebrate water quality data from 1993 to 2010 has been analyzed and published in a report; and the lines of electronic communication have been opened making it easier for Stream Teams to learn about state or local stream issues where their actions can make a difference. Lancehadthedifficulttaskofsharingthe current condition of the sewer system in
at the St. Louis Stream Team SummitConnecting Volunteers
By Danelle Haake, Stream Team 3745
About a year ago, I was having a conversationwith Mark Van Patten and David Kuechenmeister (Stream Team 888) about the need for another gathering of Stream Teams in the St. Louis area like the one hosted by Northern Ozark Rivers Partnership (Stream Team 727) a few years earlier. Little did we know that less than a year later we would be hosting such an event, bringing together representatives from over 30 Stream Teams across the St. Louis Region. On September 17th, Stream Team volunteers and staff gathered in Ferguson for the St. Louis Stream Team Summit to enjoy presentations on topics including regional pollution problems, flashflooding,raingardens,invasivespecies,and a diverse array of local education and restoration efforts. These topics were selected based on the results of an electronic survey sent to all of the St. Louis Region Stream Teams. The featured speakers for the event were Holly Neill, Executive Director of the Missouri
Participants enjoyed presentations on many topics, including the use of rain gardens to mitigate storm water.
Continued on page 3
. . . whirligig beetles have . . .
To qualify as a “Data Star,” you must:1. Use the most recent version of the data sheet
(available at www.mostreamteam.org)2. Correctly fill in all of the information on the data
sheet header (i.e., date with year, full verbal site description, etc.)
3. Submit all data that you are qualified to collect. q If you are trained at the Intro Level, submit:lSite Selection with map (for first monitoring)l Macroinvertebratel Stream Discharge
q If you are trained at Level 1 or higher, submit:lMacroinvertebratel Chemicall Visual Surveyl Stream Discharge
Are You a
Channels 2 January–February 2012
Data sheets must be filled out neatly with all of the required information, including easily overlooked
details like habitat type on the macroinvertebrate data sheet or expiration dates for chemical reagents and standard solutions on the chemistry data sheet. You can’t imagine how happy it makes us when we receive perfect data sheets. Now we can share that joy. Pay close attention to your data and you may one day receive a lapel pin in the mail. Wear it with pride! You have achieved stardom in our books. And if you see one of your fellow monitors sporting a star-shaped VWQM pin, give them a pat on the back. They really earned it!
It is with a heavy heart that I write this article. Stream Team VWQM Coordinator Wayne Maresch passed away on Sunday, November 20,
2011. I would describe Wayne as the strong silent type. He didn’t often say much, but when he did, it was usually very funny or important. I suspect he got some of this from his 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Sergeant in 1992. Wayne had a passion for the stream resource and working with volunteers. He was quick with a smile, and really shined when working one on one with individuals. I believe these skills are what allowed him to be so successful at working with watershed groups during his time with the Department of Natural Resources Outreach and Assistance Center. Many of you had the opportunity to meet and get to know Wayne overthelast5½yearsastheQualityAssuranceOfficerfortheStreamTeam Program. While his main responsibilities were to teach the Level 2 and Level 3 trainings and coordinate CSI Projects, he often went out of his way to attend and assist with other Stream Team projects and events. Wayne was also instrumental in setting up the firstmeetingofthegroupthatwouldeventuallyformtheSouthwestOzarks Stream Team Watershed Association. He touched many of our lives over the years, and he will be greatly missed. Goodbye, Wayne . . . we’ll keep working on getting boots on the ground. Thanks for everything you contributed to the Stream Team Program!
By Chris Riggert, VWQM Program Coordinator
Remembering WayneBy Suzy Higgins, DNR Stream Team VWQM Coordinator
Data Star?Every year we handle thousands of data sheets
from volunteers with varied levels of training. We receive data in all forms, from largely incomplete to absolutely perfect. Many of our volunteers consistently submit flawless data and we have been wracking our brains to find a way to reward you for your much appreciated efforts. We know it’s not easy working in the field and ensuring that everything is “just right” when you send it in, but we certainly value all of your hard work! Now, we are pleased to be able to offer VWQM “Data Star” lapel pins to monitors who submit exceptional data.
January–February 2012 3 Channels
Continued on page 4
. . . two pairs of eyes, one . . .
Team Snapshots The Riffle Reviewa bi-monthly glimpse of Stream Team activities
Forsyth Middle School students (Team 4207) learned that life exists at the bottom of the stream in Forest Park. Kids, creeks, and critters . . . always a winning combination!
Swan Creek in Taney County is looking great now that the Cleanup Crew is on the job. Good work, Team 3508!
Check out more highlights below . . .
Since our last issue of Channels, Stream Team members reported:l 140.8 tons of trash collectedl 85 water quality monitoring trips l 920 trees planted
l552 total activities l6,446 total participants l28,881 total hours
The Hensleys (Team 2860) and the Stewarts (Team 288) had a blast cleaning up Big River. When the canoes were full, they piled tires on an inner tube and floated them to shore!
Members of the Hillsdale Water Quality Project held their 3rd annual series of Rain Barrel Make and Take Workshops, distributing over 140 rain barrels throughout Johnson County, KS and the Marais des Cygnes River watershed.
Team 1825
Team 4441 cleaned Spring Branch Creek in Jackson County on the Fourth of July. How patriotic is that! We salute your service to Missouri streams.
40 volunteers joined Table Rock Lake Water Quality, Inc. for their 2nd Annual Lake Taneycomo Cleanup. They worked along the shores collectingtrash,fillinga30-yarddumpsterinfourhours.Volunteersevenlocated a dresser containing important personal documents, including the deed to a house. Luckily, the dresser and its owner were reunited. Sounds likeawin-win!
Team 2247
Team Sadie has been out monitoring Gravois Creek and Little Indian Creek for zebra mussels. So far, they have not found any. Whew!Team 4220
Skip Marah planted 150 trees along Sinking Creek in Reynolds County. Well done!Team 134
The Noel Conservation Club collected over 70 bags of trash along with aluminum cans and tires from the Elk River between Trestle Park and Wayside Campground. Volunteers were rewarded with a campout and cookout.
Team 1142
6th Graders from Wentzville Middle School have been monitoring water quality on Peruque Creek at the future location of the Valley Park Sports Complex. They are partnering with Earth Force to turn their data into an action project.
Team 2162
The Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club’s 52nd Annual River Cleanup was a success. 50 volunteers collected 43 bags of aluminum cans, 34 bags of trash, 44 tires, and a hot water heater from 19 miles of the Big Piney River. What a haul!
Team 41
Linda Baysinger and the students of Fulton Middle School have been busy on Stinson Creek monitoring water quality, learning about watersheds, and planting natives along the bank.
Team 3028
150 volunteers turned out to help Manchester Parks and Recreation clean Fishpot Creek. Coralynne Westcott wrote of her group of 30 eager youth volunteers, “The kids went through like a horde of locusts and cleaned that stream clean!” Nice!
Team 4343
Teams in action!
Channels 4 January–February 2012
CALENDARTEAM
January10 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Les Bourgeois Bistro,
Rocheport. For more information go to www.riverrelief.org/updates/
entry/big-muddy-speaker-series/.
12 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Kansas City. For more information go to www.riverrelief.org/updates/
entry/big-muddy-speaker-series/.
21 Level 2 VWQM Workshop, Sedalia. Register online at www.mostreamteam.org.
28 Level 2 VWQM Workshop, Columbia. Register online at www.mostreamteam.org.
The Power of PartnershipBy Linda Swaim, Stream Team 4139
. . . pair to see . . .Continued on page 7
February
On October 1st, twenty dedicated souls setouttofloatShoalCreekfrombelow
Grand Falls to Schermerhorn Park just outside of Galena, Kansas. Participants came from Missouri and Kansas, including representatives from the Missouri Department of Conservation, Southwest Ozarks Stream Teams (SWOST, Stream Team 4139), Missouri Master Naturalists, Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Missouri American
Southwest Ozarks Stream Teams
Water, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Schermerhorn Nature Center, Able Body Stream Team (Stream Team 4036), and Spring River WRAPS. The reward for their combined efforts was over 2,000 pounds of trash removedfromasix-milestretchofShoalCreek,includingbottles,cans,metal,tires, and a couch. Some of the trash was recycled and some of the metal was sold to support future collaborative projects. To top it all off, the entire group gathered in Schermerhorn Park to enjoy lunch courtesy of SWOST. This event was truly a success made possible through the power of partnership. The Missouri Department of Conservation supplied the group with canoes and guidance. SWOST members provided a private access point belowGrandFallsthatwasneededforthefirstgroupofcanoes.Furtherdownstream, Stream Team 4036 arranged for a second group of canoes to launch fromaprivatecampgroundwhilethefirstgroupunloadedtheirtrash.Acrossthe Kansas line, permission was required from all streamside landowners forthefloattoreachSchermerhornPark,atasktakenonbyLindaPhippsofSchermerhorn Nature Center. A recycling trailer was provided by Cherokee County and trash was processed through the City of Galena. Although the litter collectedbenefitsShoalCreektoday,thepartnershipsformedaroundthiseventhave the potential for an even greater impact on Shoal Creek’s future.
Have an event?Submit online at
www.mostreamteam.org.
Two more bags are added to the mountain of trash removed from a six-mile stretch of Shoal Creek.
SWOST
4 Level2VWQMWorkshop,Springfield. Register online at www.mostreamteam.org.
9 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Kansas City. For more information go to www.riverrelief.org/updates/
entry/big-muddy-speaker-series/.
11 Level 2 VWQM Workshop, Kirkwood. Register online at www.mostreamteam.org.
14 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Les Bourgeois Bistro, Rocheport.
For more information go to www.riverrelief.org/updates/entry/big-muddy-speaker-series/.
18 Level 2 VWQM Workshop, Kansas City. Register online at www.mostreamteam.org.
25 Level 2 VWQM Workshop, West Plains. Register online at www.mostreamteam.org.
March3 InvasiveSpeciesWorkshop,Springfield
ConservationNatureCenter,Springfield. More information coming SOON!
Stream Team
Identification:Team Number:_______________________
Team Name:____________________________________________________
Reporter Name:__________________________________________________
Business/School: (if applicable)_____________________________________
Shipping Address: (no PO Box please)___________________________________
City, State, Zip:__________________________________________________
Home Phone: (_____)_____-________ Work Phone: (_____)______-________
Updated E-mail:_________________________________________________
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 provide details about your activities on the reverse side.
Mail this Activity Report to: MISSOURI STREAM TEAMPO BOX 180JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102-0180
For more information, contact us at:Phone:
1-800-781-1989 (voice mail)E-mail:
Web site:
www.mostreamteam.orgFax:
573/526-0990
3/29/2011
Missouri Stream Team
Activity ReportThis report can be turned in after only 1 activity.
Stay active -- you make a difference for Missouri streams!
qCommercialqResidential
Please check one:
January–February 2012 5 Channels
Please help ussave on shipping
costs; ship to your office or school
if possible!
We welcom
eyour activity photos.
Be aware they may be
published in our news-letter or annual report.
Thank you!
ACTIVITY PRIZE DRAWING
If you would like to be included in our “Activity Prize Drawing,” please check box at right and attach a list of participant nam
es. Please print clearly. The more activities you submit, the better your chances! New prizes will be drawn every three months. Attention teachers and youth group leaders: For a youth group prize, please check the box at right, but you do not need to include a participant list for group prizes. New prizes will be available and drawn every three months.
THANK YOU ITEMS
ACTIVITY SUPPLIES
qActivity Prize
First Aid Kits (limited availability)Litter Pickup Bags (green mesh 24” x 36”) for larger trashLitter Pickup Bags (red mesh 14” x 26”) W
ork Gloves (adult size)W
ork Gloves (youth size) ITEM:Num
ber requested:
ITEM:Num
ber requested:
Youth groupprize
Activity Prize items will change every three months.
You may request these free items in any combination.
These free supplies are available for your activities.
Bookmarks (dragonfly)Bookmarks (spring peeper)Bumper Stickers (Quality W
ater, 3 1/2” x 9 1/4”)Buttons (Stream Team mini-buttons 1 1/2” pins)Colorbook (Stream Team Most W
anted, Grades 4-6)Colorbook (Stream Team Superstars, Grades K-3)Koozies (Stream Team)Mood Cups (Stream Team, 17 oz. plastic)Patches (Stream Team, 3” round, embroidered)Pencils (Get Into Missouri Streams, blue sparkle)Post-it Notes (Stream Team, 3” x 4”)Scratch Pads (Stream Team, 5 1/2” x 8”)Stickers (Get Into Missouri Streams, 3” round)T-Shirts (Stream Team, adult sizes only)
Please allow upto three weeks
for delivery.Thanks!
S____ M____ L____ XL____ XXL____ or
q
Stre
am Te
am A
ctivi
ty 1
Type
of a
ctivi
ty: (
see
code
list a
t righ
t)___
____
Activ
ity d
ate:
___
____
____
____
____
____
___
Stre
am n
ame:
___
____
____
____
____
____
___
Activ
ity c
ount
y: _
____
____
____
____
____
___
Activ
ity b
asin
: ___
____
____
____
____
____
__
Miles
of r
iver c
over
ed: _
____
____
____
____
__
Num
ber o
f vol
unte
ers i
nvol
ved:
____
____
___
Hour
s sp
ent o
n pr
ojec
t: __
____
____
____
___
Meas
urem
ent :
Plea
se lis
t num
ber o
f mon
itorin
g trip
s, ba
gs of
trash
colle
cted,
letter
s writt
en, tr
ees
plante
d, ev
ents
held,
etc.
See
code
list a
t righ
t.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
Loca
tion
Desc
riptio
n:
Plea
se p
rovid
e a
de-
taile
d loc
ation
for y
our a
ctivit
y. (E
xamp
le: 1
00
yds.
upstr
eam
from
Hwy.
63 b
ridge
.) In
clude
tow
nship
, ran
ge, a
nd se
ction
if po
ssibl
e. A
good
re
sour
ce fo
r map
s can
be fo
und a
t www
.USGS
.gov.
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Proj
ect D
escr
iptio
n:
Plea
se in
clude
as
much
inf
orma
tion a
s you
can a
bout
your
activ
ity. I
nclud
e fac
ts ab
out th
e pro
ject n
ot co
vere
d abo
ve. (
Exam
-ple
: “He
ld 4th
Annu
al litt
er pi
ckup
and p
icnic
at Dr
y Fo
rk Cr
eek.”
) ___
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____
__Stre
am Te
am A
ctivi
ty R
epor
tSt
ream
Team
Act
ivity
2
Type
of a
ctivi
ty: (
see
code
list a
t righ
t)___
____
Activ
ity d
ate:
___
____
____
____
____
____
___
Stre
am n
ame:
___
____
____
____
____
____
___
Activ
ity c
ount
y: _
____
____
____
____
____
___
Activ
ity b
asin
: ___
____
____
____
____
____
__
Miles
of r
iver c
over
ed: _
____
____
____
____
__
Num
ber o
f vol
unte
ers i
nvol
ved:
____
____
___
Hour
s sp
ent o
n pr
ojec
t: __
____
____
____
___
Meas
urem
ent :
Plea
se lis
t num
ber o
f mon
itorin
g trip
s, ba
gs of
trash
colle
cted,
letter
s writt
en, tr
ees
plante
d, ev
ents
held,
etc.
See
code
list a
t righ
t.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
Loca
tion
Desc
riptio
n:
Plea
se p
rovid
e a
de-
taile
d loc
ation
for y
our a
ctivit
y. (E
xamp
le: 1
00
yds.
upstr
eam
from
Hwy.
63 b
ridge
.) In
clude
tow
nship
, ran
ge, a
nd se
ction
if po
ssibl
e. A
good
re
sour
ce fo
r map
s can
be fo
und a
t www
.USGS
.gov.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
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__
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____
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__
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____
____
____
____
____
____
__
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
Proj
ect D
escr
iptio
n:
Plea
se in
clude
as
much
inf
orma
tion a
s you
can a
bout
your
activ
ity. I
nclud
e fac
ts ab
out th
e pro
ject n
ot co
vere
d abo
ve. (
Exam
-ple
: “He
ld 4th
Annu
al litt
er pi
ckup
and p
icnic
at Dr
y Fo
rk Cr
eek.”
) ___
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
Stre
am Te
am A
ctivi
ty 3
Type
of a
ctivi
ty: (
see
code
list a
t righ
t)___
____
Activ
ity d
ate:
___
____
____
____
____
____
___
Stre
am n
ame:
___
____
____
____
____
____
___
Activ
ity c
ount
y: _
____
____
____
____
____
___
Activ
ity b
asin
: ___
____
____
____
____
____
__
Miles
of r
iver c
over
ed: _
____
____
____
____
__
Num
ber o
f vol
unte
ers i
nvol
ved:
____
____
___
Hour
s sp
ent o
n pr
ojec
t: __
____
____
____
___
Meas
urem
ent :
Plea
se lis
t num
ber o
f mon
itorin
g trip
s, ba
gs of
trash
colle
cted,
letter
s writt
en, tr
ees
plante
d, ev
ents
held,
etc.
See
code
list a
t righ
t.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
Loca
tion
Desc
riptio
n:
Plea
se p
rovid
e a
de-
taile
d loc
ation
for y
our a
ctivit
y. (E
xamp
le: 1
00
yds.
upstr
eam
from
Hwy.
63 b
ridge
.) In
clude
tow
nship
, ran
ge, a
nd se
ction
if po
ssibl
e. A
good
re
sour
ce fo
r map
s can
be fo
und a
t www
.USGS
.gov.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
_
____
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____
____
____
____
____
____
__
____
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____
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____
____
____
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__
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
__
Proj
ect D
escr
iptio
n:
Plea
se in
clude
as
much
inf
orma
tion a
s you
can a
bout
your
activ
ity. I
nclud
e fac
ts ab
out th
e pro
ject n
ot co
vere
d abo
ve. (
Exam
-ple
: “He
ld 4th
Annu
al litt
er pi
ckup
and p
icnic
at Dr
y Fo
rk Cr
eek.”
) ___
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
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__
Channels 6 January–February 2012
Stre
am Te
am A
ctivi
ty C
ode L
istAc
tivity
Code
Meas
urem
ent
Litter
pick
up
LPU
Numb
er of
litter
bags
Water
quali
ty mo
nitori
ng
WQM
Num
ber o
f trips
Pre-a
ctivit
y plan
ning
PLN
Numb
er of
even
ts
Strea
m Te
am m
eetin
g MT
G Nu
mber
of att
ende
es
Strea
m wo
rksho
p atte
nded
W
KS N
umbe
r of a
ttend
ees
Educ
ation
proje
ct ED
U Nu
mber
of ev
ents
Lette
r writt
en on
strea
m iss
ue
LET
Numb
er of
letter
s
Artic
le wr
itten f
or ne
wspa
per, e
tc. A
RT
Numb
er of
articl
es
Media
conta
ct/int
erview
ME
D Nu
mber
of int
erview
s
Tree p
lantin
g PL
T Nu
mber
of tre
es
Pres
entat
ion to
grou
ps
PRE
Numb
er of
prese
ntatio
ns
ST di
splay
at sc
hool,
fair,
etc.
DIS
Numb
er of
even
ts
ST In
vento
ry Gu
ide su
bmitte
d IN
V Nu
mber
of inv
entor
ies
GPS
Read
ing
GPS
Numb
er of
trips
Zebra
mus
sel m
onito
ring f
orm
ZEB
Numb
er of
trips
Storm
drain
sten
ciling
SD
S Nu
mber
of dra
ins st
encil
ed
Mono
filame
nt rec
yclin
g proj
ect
MRP
Weigh
t of li
ne re
cycle
d
Strea
mban
k stab
ilizati
on pr
oject
SSP
Numb
er of
even
ts
Habit
at im
prove
ment
HAI
Numb
er of
projec
ts
Advo
cacy
on st
ream
issue
AD
V Nu
mber
of ev
ents
Photo
Poin
t Mon
itorin
g PP
M Nu
mber
of ph
otos
Gree
nway
deve
lopme
nt GR
E Nu
mber
of pro
jects
Recru
ited n
ew Te
am/m
embe
rs RE
C Nu
mber
of pe
ople
recrui
ted
Strea
m Te
am m
entor
ing
MEN
Team
men
tored
& ev
ents
Strea
m Ac
cess
Main
tenan
ce
SAM
Numb
er of
litter b
ags/e
vents
Adop
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January–February 2012 7 Channels
See page 8
. . . under water, and the other . . .
“Connecting Volunteers” continued from page 1.
Activity Prize Drawing
Please keep sending us your Activity Reports . . .
YOU might win NExT!
NExT Prize Drawing Jackson Daytripper KayakBetter Homes & Gardens Bird FeederColeman Propane Catalytic HeaterPresto Kitchen Kettle CookerBirds of Missouri BookCooking Wild in Missouri CookbookYouth Prize: Acorn Naturalist Gift Certificate
Prize Winners:Sam Allison–Park Hills, MO
ST 4169–Big River Baggers
Gregory Black–Union, MOST 4117–First Assembly of God
Jill Harris–Leadwood, MOST 4169–Big River Baggers
Dustin Richardson–Falcon, MOST 2132–Gasconade R&Rs
Jamie D. Allison–Park Hills, MOST 4169–Big River Baggers
Lesa Urban–St. Louis, MOST 3762–The Lesa Urban Team
John Whittaker–Brighton, MOST 1691–Good Samaritan Boys Ranch
Prizes Won:Tasco 20-60x Spotting Scope 3D LED MagliteUgly Stik Spin Casting ComboBetter Homes & Garden Scented Wax Warmer3.5 ft.-radius Cast NetStream Team Goodie BagYouth Prize: Show-Me Bugs & Herps Books
Acorn NaturalistGift Certificate
St.LouisCityandCountyand,morespecifically,itslackofcompliancewithfederalwater quality regulations. MSD recognizes that their system is not in compliance and istakingstepstofixthis.Whenaconsentdecreeisapproved,itwillsetatimetablefornecessary improvements to be made to bring the sewer system into compliance, including theremovalofseweroverflowsthatreachourstreams.Lancetookmanyquestionsfromthe audience about the impacts of the consent decree, regarding both water quality and funding of the improvements. A variety of speakers provided insights on storm water best management practices, how to write a watershed or water monitoring plan, how to enjoy urban streams while educating the public, and several other topics of interest. Lunch and the afternoon breakout sessions offered a chance for participants to meet and share experiences with Stream Team volunteers from different watersheds within the region. Charlene Waggoner of The Greenway Network (Stream Team 463) may have summed it up best saying, “I met a lot of great people and made some really good connections at the Stream Team Summit.” Thank you to all of the volunteers and staff who made this event the success we all enjoyed!
VWQM Level 2 Workshopshave been scheduled.
(See calendar on page 4. Register at www.mostreamteam.org.)Sign up soon!
(Intro & Level 1 Workshops are prerequisites.)
Don’t wait ‘til the last minute
Submit online at www.mostreamteam.org/datasubmissions/actreport.aspxor use the paper Activity Report form on pages 5 – 6.
to turn in your 2011 activities.
Missouri streams thank you for all your hard work!
We want to hear from you whether you did a little or a lot!
Channels 8 January–February 2012
By Holly Neill, Executive Director, MSTWC
News from the Missouri Stream Team Watershed CoalitionCoalition Corner
Diving Into Missouri Stream Team Data
. . . to see above?See the Fact Sheet in this issue
for more information.
MSTWC is excited to announce the recent publication of our report “The State of Missouri’s Streams, Summary of
InvertebrateData1993-2010.”Volunteerwaterqualitymonitorshave always thirsted for feedback on the data being collected across the state. The Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring portion of the Stream Team Program began in 1993. The data is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and, while there were good intentions of producing regular reports, summarizing the data never became a reality. The unforeseen success of the VWQM program resulted in an overwhelming amount of data, and training and data management became the main focus of staff. MSTWC determined this was an area where we could support the Stream Team Program and that focusing on the biologicaldatawouldbeagreatfirststepinshowcasingvolunteer data. We teamed up with Tony Thorpe and Dan Obrecht, researchers from University of Missouri who have a long history of working with volunteer data as leaders of the Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program. The report assesses water quality at 270 sites across the state using invertebrate data collected by trained Stream Team volunteers. Here are some highlights from the results:
•Reportassesses270sitesacrossstate(between8-39sitesperregion)
•Dataonlyrepresentsmacroinvertebrates•ExcellentscoreswereonthelowendoftheExcellentrange(23-49;averagewas27)
•Sitesarechosenbyvolunteers,notrandomlyselectedorbasedonscientificmethods
•Datawascompiledcollectivelyovera17-yearperiod and data showcased occurs within varied years within that period
While the results suggest that Missouri’s streams and rivers are in good shape, care should be taken when interpreting the data. Keep in mind that:
This is only a small step in communicating this data. We hope to disseminate this type of information on a regular basis to Stream Teams, the general public, state agencies, community leaders, and decision makers across the state.
To view the full report, please visit www.mstwc.org.
•40%ofallsitesareinExcellentcondition•39%areinGoodcondition•14%areinFaircondition•7%areinPoorcondition
