River Town Renaissance

Washington Riverside Experience

Rennick Riverfront Park, Washington, MO

Oct. 12-13, 2011

text by Colby Wrasse, US Fish & Wildlife Service

(blogger's note: Colby is a biologist with the Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office. He's helped at many of our clean-ups and education events. During our week at Washington, MO, during the Big Muddy Clean Sweep, Colby and Brian Peoples set up a live fish booth, showing students what kind of critters live in the Missouri River. This article is reprinted from the CFWCO newsletter)

River towns along the lower Missouri River are nearly as endangered as the pallid sturgeon that swim nearby. Sure the towns still exist, but most can no longer be considered “river towns” as their connection with the river is a shadow of what it once was. The heart of many towns moved from the banks of the Missouri River, as commercial barge traffic never materialized and the constant threat of flooding caused most people and businesses to seek higher ground.

Many people I talk to have lived their entire lives within a few miles of the Missouri River, but have never taken a boat ride on the river, never wet a line for catfish, or never even skipped a rock into those murky waters.

Tim Nigh and Jodi Pfefferkorn of Missouri River Relief show Washington, MO students how a river cleanup is done. photo by Melanie Cheney

While this seems sad, it is also understandable. Misconceptions about the Missouri River abound. Many people are frightened by the river believing that the swift currents will “suck” your boat down, or that the water is so polluted that contact with the river is dangerous. However, the tide seems to be turning as people are once again becoming interested in The Big Muddy.

Missouri River Relief (MRR) has played a large role in this Missouri River renaissance. We at Columbia FWCO have been fortunate enough to assist MRR as they travel up and down the river educating people and raising awareness about the Missouri River.

During October, Colby Wrasse and Brian Peoples of Columbia FWCO took part in a MRR education event for 4th-6th grade students from Washington, Missouri. For our part of the event, we displayed live Missouri River fish species for the children to marvel at.

When it comes to hands-on education, you can't beat touching a sturgeon. Photo by Gloria Bauermeister.

We have found that live fish are a great tool for focusing children’s attention, and the fish make a great visual aid for us as we talk about issues such as: habitat changes on the Missouri River, invasive species, fish anatomy and physiology, and evolution. The children had a great time with the fish and learned about the Missouri River in the process. The setting for the event was ideal as the river flowed just behind us.

Colby Wrasse shows off a longnosed gar to students from Washington, MO. photo by Melanie Cheney

In fact, of all the towns we visit along the lower Missouri River, Washington has perhaps the strongest connection to the river. The old downtown section which borders the river is vibrant, with numerous restaurants and shops, and many people gather daily at Riverfront Park to boat, fish, picnic, or just socialize.

We at Columbia FWCO, and groups like Missouri River Relief, continue to raise awareness about the Missouri River in hopes that more communities will do as Washington, MO has done, and embrace the Missouri River rather than turn away from it.

Big Muddy Clean Sweep Sponsors & Partners

THANK YOU!!!!

From donating water for the crew to pushing barges upstream, from $20,000 donations to a pot of chili - the Big Muddy Clean Sweep was made possible by many large and small donations. Here's a list of our sponsors & partners:

Golden Mile Sponsors

donating 10,000 or more to the Big Muddy Clean Sweep
Boeing
St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District
Pat Jones
Missouri American Water
Mo. Dept. of Conservation
Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources
3M (Columbia Plant)

Barge Services Sponsors

Hermann Sand & Gravel
Humboldt Boat Service
Jefferson City River Terminal
Living Lands & Waters
Gateway Dredging
US. Army Corps of Engineers

$5,000 to 9,999

Burns & McDonnell
Cargill (Kansas City Plant)
Great Rivers Greenway District
Kansas City Water Services
Mid-Missouri Solid Waste Management District
Rivermiles
US Fish & Wildlife Service (Ecological Services)

$2,000 to 4,999

Boone Electric Community Trust
Bryan Johnson
City of St. Charles
Jackson County, MO
Josh & Sarah Pennington (Team MoDak)
Patrick and Becky Lynn

$500 to 1,999

Advantage Metal Recycling
AEP River Operations
Ameristar Casino
Bank of Washington
Bass Pro Shops
Bernie Arnold (Stream Team #211)
Big Muddy Adventures
Briarcliffe Development
Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS)
Conservation Federation of Missouri
Dave & Fran Stous
David & Teresa Lackey
David Galat
Debruce Foundation
Faultless Starch - Bon Ami
Flaming Fiddle Productions
Gloria & Michael Attoun-Bauermeister

Jack Holzer
Jan Weaver
Joe Engeln
Joey Los
John Brady
Kansas City Power & Light
Kohl's - Washington, MO
Robb Jacobson 

Washington Boat Club

Washington Rotary Club

Water refill!

These two organizations brought water trucks and crews to top off our water tanks:
Jefferson City Fire Department
Washington Fire Department

Disposal

• Allied Waste of St. Louis waived several fees and lowered their cost for the very expensive task of disposing of 5 dumpsters worth of garbage, as well as delivered our tires to Tire Shredder's Unlimited.
• Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition took care of our tire disposal costs, utilizing a Stream Team revolving fund to cover the $2,300 cost until reimbursement. 

Food Donations

Click here to see our blog post on our wonderful Food Angels!

Clean Sweep Trash Tally!!!

an estimated 60.8 tons of trash!

Our Big Muddy Clean Sweep was a cross-state clean-up of the Missouri River. We started with a land-based clean-up in Kansas City, followed by a series of river clean-ups near Cooper's Landing. In Jefferson City, we hopped on a barge and started collecting trash in clean-ups all the way to the Confluence of Missouri & Mississippi Rivers. Here's the trash tally from the whole trip:

1,201 bags of trash       
 

493 tires       
 

15 tons of scrap metal  
 
95 chunks of styrofoam       
2 tire rims       
6 ginormous metal tanks        
25 - 25 lb Propane Tanks       
3 Freon Tanks       

14 Refrigerators       
 
7 Chest Freezers       
2 washing machines       
1 drier       
6 Refrigerator doors       
1 inside of a refrigerator       
1 refrigerator compressor       
1 mini fridge       
1 crisper drawer       
1 microwave       
11 Coolers       
1 dishwasher       
1 AC unit       
3 Car Fenders       

21.5  55-gal. Metal Drums       
 

26.5  55-gal. Plastic Barrels       
42 5-gallon  Buckets       

1  30-gallon metal barrel       
3 Boxsprings       
3 mattresses       
1 bed frame       
1 foam mat       
1 pillow       
2 blankets       
1 Cot       
26 Chairs       
7 Buoys       
2 buoy foam pieces       
2 hot water heaters       
1 Double Cast Iron Sink       
2 Fire Extinquishers       
3 Sheets of Roofing Tin       
1 Sponge Bob Bobber       

3 duck decoys       

1/2 of a Duck Boat       
1 duck decoy butt       
1 Goose Head Decoy       
5 Fishing Poles       
3 Deck Umbrellas       
1 Concrete Nose       
1 small Cooler filled with Oyster Mushrooms       
6 Couch Cushions       
1 Can of Sudden Tan       
3 full cans of beer       
1 plastic Horse with the legs chewed off       
1 stove grill       
2 buckets/jugs of oil       
2 plastic pipes - 40'       
1 plastic tray with plants       
1 Bowling Pin       
A gazillion balls, toy bowling ball, basketballs, tennis balls, baseballs, soccer balls…       

Plastic Toys:         

purple plastic turtle       
1 toy baby bottle       
1 squashed yellow rubber ducky       
1 little mermaid       
1 green pair of heart sunglasses       

2 toy gas pumps        
1 big foot truck      

1 little tykes plastic slide       
1 little tykes house        
1 pair of vampire teeth       
1 foam airplane       
1 plastic French fries       
3 hard hats

1 motorcycle helmet       

1 shopping cart
plastic crating       
80 yards of orange pvc water pipe       
1 picnic table       
2 - 10 gallon tubs       
7 – 30 to 50 gallon garbage cans       
12 rail road spikes       
63 metal posts       
9 pieces of rebar       
26 feet of iron pipe       
1 disc brake       
3 gas cans       
1 wire grate       
2 motorcycle helmets       
1 b&w TV       
1 tv vacuum tube       
2 baseball bats       
1 dishwasher shelf       
2 plastic swimming pools       
1 radiator       
1 "do not dig" sign       
4-wheeler fender       
8 good planks of lumber   

2 blue catfish attached to a free floating jug

6 pieces of lumber with nails       
1 cow skull       
51 pieces of braided cable       
2x5 foot piece of corrugated plastic truck liner       
25 feet of erosion control honey comb plastic       
1 mop bucket       
3 foot round plastic oil tub       
3 herbicide/pesticide sprayers (one with chemicals)       
4 paint cans       

5 messages in a bottle     

1 plastic scooby ketchup bottle       
1 palm tree mylar balloon       
1 coon trap       
1 40-gallon metal drum       
3 plastic mineral feeding tubs       
1 boat seat        
1 awning       
10 plastic bins       
1 window frame       
1 antifreeze container       
1 20-gallon metal barrel       
1 hard hat       
2 tents       
1 sleeping pad       
5 Tarps       
1 rubber car bumper       
1 large plastic piece from a boat       
1 - 5" corregated plastic tube - 5'       
1 - 3' piece of cooregated tube - 2'       
2 orange traffic barrels       
1 squirrel cage fan       
1 large corregated matal bin used for holding rail road ties   

1 potato planter
 
2 steel grates 2x4'       
1 patio umbrella base       
5 plastic pipes       
Car Parts:       
1 ford muffler       
2 car batteries       
1 real suspension       
1 car door       
1 hub cap       
1 exhaust pipe       
1 car hood       
1 brake rotor       
1 car door window frame       
1 metal wheel       
4 car seats       
1 metal can of car wax       
8 gas tanks  (1 1962 Chevy gas tank)       
1 metal axel       
20  pieces of a trailer       
5 pieces of vinyl siding       
1 top to a tool box       
1 piece of sheet metal       
1 gas heater       
1 artificial Christmas tree       
1 wiffle ball bat       
1 baby bath       
1 15-ft long cattle gate       
1 really big anchor       

1 antique sewing machine   

5 fishing weights       
1 metal cabinet       

1 riding lawn mower  
   
1 riding lawn mower hood       
1 push mower       
1 lawn seeder       
2 plastic lids       
1 speaker cabinet       
1 boat-load of wet, nasty carpet (36 pieces)       
1 25-foot long piece of rebar       
½ of a 30-gallon plastic barrel       
1 tarp       

4 bicycles       

2 bike inner tubes       
1 exercise machine       
2 tricycles       
2 cooler lids       
1 chimney       
1 metal cabinet       
1 “no trespassing” sign       
1 wood burning stove       
1 piece of landscaping fabric       
1 pink button       
1 milk crate       
1 plastic ladder       
6 cardboard boxes       
1 plastic gate       
1 vinyl umbrella cover      

1 airplane sponson

1 metal grate       
1 starter       
1 tool box       
2 pieces of linoleum flooring       
1 plastic patio table top       
1 set of boat bunks       
12 ft of PVC tubing       
1 garage door brack       
1 cheater bar (world’s largerst)       
1 garage door brack       
1 metal tool box       
1 sandbag       
1 serving tray       
1 bullet ridden sign       
 1 oven door       
10 drain pipes       
1 mobile home roof       
1 circular saw       
2 electrical boxes       
1 floor fan       
2 AC units       
1 computer desk        
1 15-ft swimming pool       
1 tub liner       
1 bathroom sink       
1 unopened can of mini ravioli       
1 wheel to a wheel chair       
1 kids Firefighter's Helmet       
1 Wicker Table       
1 Bean Bag       
1 BBQ Grill       
1 big plastic Culvert (8ft long)       
1 Pet Carrier       
1 Mylar Balloon       
1 Hockey Puck       
1 Nerf Laser Tag Vest       
1 Plastic Egg       
1 Foam Fortune Cookie       
1 McDonald Ball Pit Ball       
1 Playdo Hair Thing       
1 Rusty Spray Can       
2 Old Glass Jugs       
1 Glass Bottle with Glass Stopper       
1 Toilet Tank Bulb       
1 Fuzzy Toilet Seat      

1 frisbee

1 Bottle of Personal Lubricant       
1 Dog Skull w/ Collar       
1 Plastic Dog       
Handful of Turkey Feathers       
A String of Christmas Lights       
A Flower growing out of a piece of Styrofoam       
1 Naturally Feminine Powder Spray       
1 plastic Hair Curler       
1 Avon Crème Lotion       
1 Pacifier       
1 Eldon Mustangs Water Bottle       
1 Machete Blade       
4 Milk Crates       
1 Metal Grill       
1 Hammer       
12 Headlights       
1 plastic milk crate       
1 8 ft. "saddle" gass tank (800 lbs)       
2 boat seats       
1 "Caution Wet Floor" sign       
1 toilet       
2 fan cages       
1 water softner tank       
1/2 a car bumper       
14 rusty hunks o' metal       
2 bails of wire       
1 concrete anchor       
5 pieces of rebar       
1 sign post rod with concrete

1 plastic Swampthing     

8 pieces of braided cable       
1 buoy anchor       
1 aluminum baseball bat       
1 tent shredded to pieces       
1 "Dawg Haus Restaurant" sign       
1 clay pot       
1 life vest       
2 plastic swimming pools       
1 green plastic helmet       
1 "No Trespassing" sign on post       
3 fishing poles       
1 plastic baseball bat       
1 umbrella       
1 hair curler       
3 pairs of ladies panties       
1 door knob with plate lock       
1 rubber duck soap dish       
1 Disney rubber ball with Tinkerbell       
1 Incredible Hulk action figure       
1 snapping turtle shell       
1 soccer ball, 2 baseballs, 2 footballs       
1 Lacross ball, basketball, bocci ball       
1 headlight, light bulb & taillight       
2 bottles of Blue Magic cleaner             
2 syringes in a plastic bottle       
1 green buoy       
1 dust pan       
1 pink toy air craft carrier       
1 minnie mouse ball       
1 toy cup       
1 sandbox bucket, 1 sand shovel       

1 leopard print high heel shoe       

1 magnifier w/out glass       
1/2 of a hula hoop       
1 cable spool       
1 Geoffery Beene purse       
1 duck decoy       
1 wind chime made out of bud light bottles       
1 15' wooden dock       
1 fraggle costume       
1 airplane sponson (pontoon)       
2 plastic tubs       
1 orange highway barrel       
1 frame for a car speaker       
1 plastic sled       
1 35-ft chain covered in yellow plastic       
1 12-ft iron post       
3 plastic tubes       
3 chunks of hard plastic       
1 "Mile 11" mile marker sign       
1 plastic pesticide jug       
1 plastic bumper       
7 hunks of scrap metal       
1 set of legs to a bbq grill
2 metal grills

1 plastic jack-o-lantern