Spring River LaRussell Access No. 6812 (Missouri): June 2007

Update on Seedings

Friday morning, June 22, 2007, we had a chance to survey the site, following the June 10-11 flood. The water gage level was 3.13'. We spent the morning cleaning debris from the seedlings and the stakes, adjacent to them. Curiously, we lost only two (2) watering cans. The 6" spike in the bottom of the can, either holds them in place, or gets caught up in nearby brush, and prevents the can from washing downstream. We did spend quite a bit of time cleaning 2"-3" of mud out of each can. Based on their location, some of the seedlings were underwater for eleven days, some for 2 days and others only 24 hours. We straightened several of the seedlings, and tied them to stakes. There was only one (1) seedling underwater for 11 days that looked like it didn't make it, but we're optimistic.

More Colorful Sites

This is a collection of flowers, wildlife and other things that have been observed on the La Russell Access site (along Spring River). I hope that you enjoy them as much as the Stream Team members have.

You may want to visit the Missouri Flora webpage for additional information about these plants. (click on photographs for close up)

Campsis radicans Family Bignoniaceae, blooming late June.

Rudbeckia hirta, blooming late June.

Daucus carota, (Queen Anne's Lace, wild carrot), blooming late June.

Echinacea paradoxa Yellow Coneflower, blooming early July

Vernonia altissima blooming early July.

Verbena stricta, blooming early July

Erigeron annuus, blooming mid-July

Commelina erecta, blooming mid July

Ipomoea pandurata, blooming mid-July

Jasper County Health Department Stream Sample Results for LaRussell Access Point

The Joplin Globe, Friday, June 22, 2007, published the results of new water quality testing as determined by the Jasper County Health Department, May 24 through June 19, on twenty (20) sites thoughout Jasper County. The rivers and creeks being monitored are all part of the greater Spring River watershed. Those being monitored include: Turkey Creek, Center Creek, Spring River, North Fork Spring River, and Dry Fork. Tony Moehr, Jasper County Health Department Director, has assigned source identifiers for the 20 test sites.

The LaRussell Access Point on Spring River has been designated as Testing Site SR1. The Jasper County Health Department tested Site SR1 on May 24, May 30, June 5, June 13, and June 19, 2007. The test results (expressed in number of E.coli colonies per 100 milliter of river water sampled) were 114.5, 107.1, 517.2, 870.4 and 590.9, respectively. To put these in perspective, the US Environmental Protection Agency discourages body contact when E.coli bacteria colonies exceed 235 colonies per 100 ml. So of the five (5) samples, the bacteria was above recommended levels roughly 60% of the time.

What Even Higher Water Looks Like

Jasper County and the surrounding area received more rain this morning (Monday, June 11, 2007). The Joplin Globe reported Carthage received 7.2" of rain, Joplin Airport received 7.44" of rain, and Waco received 12.98" of rain. Here are pictures of LaRussell Access Point under water. The photographs were taken at 6:30pm this evening, with the USGS water guage indicating 10.34' deep. The river continued to rise until 8:45pm, with a gage depth of 11.11'. The USGS Water guage chart shows that at 7:00pm Sunday, June 10, the water depth was 2.79', rising 8.32 ', to 11.11', in less than 26 hours.

Looking north (across Spring River) from access ramp. (Click on photographs for close up views).

Looking south, east side of bridge.

Looking south, west side of bridge.

Evidence of flagged stakes, under water, south of Spring River, east of bridge.

Seedlings along southern exposure on access drive ramp.

NOTE: On Sunday, June 10, 2007, at 12:00 noon, the USGS water guage indicated 2.83'. At this level, all of the seedlings were above water by 6". For planning purposes, a 3.3' USGS water guage reading means that the lowest tier of seedlings (the False Indigo seedlings, along the north river bank) are now wet.

More High Water and Problems with Rough Leaf Dogwoods

Between Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, 2007, we received a lot of rain. Wally Kennedy, The Joplin Globe reported (Sunday, June 3, 2007) that rainfall amounts varied from a high of 5.15" at Lamar, to 3.98" at Joplin, 3.2" at Monett, 3.15" at Waco, 2.9" at Carthage, 2.88" at Miller, and 2.61" at Dadeville, MO. You can tell by the USGS chart that on Friday, June 1 at 6:30 pm, the water gauge was at 2.11' and that increased by 5.61' to 7.72' by 5:15 pm on June 2. You can monitor the water height at La Russell access point by clicking on the USGS link.

Not entirely unrelated, roughly 50% of the Rough Leaf Dogwoods seedlings are exhibiting signs of spotted and wilted leaves. I suspect that the problem is Spot Anthracnose. We first observed the spots on May 15, only 30 days after planting the seedlings.

Today (June 3), we observed that 30 of the new seedlings were either still underwater, or had been, the last 36 hours due to the high water level. I guess this underscores their importance for stream bank stabilization. We'll probably have to replace some flag stakes and water cans once the water recedes. Hopefully the seedlings will still be there. The water level was 4.85' while we were on the site today.

More Colorful Sites at LaRussell Access Point

This is a collection of flowers, wildlife and other things that have been observed on the La Russell Access site (along Spring River). I hope that you enjoy them as much as the Stream Team members have.

You may want to visit the Missouri Flora webpage for additional information about these plants. (click on photographs for close up)

Polygonum densiflorum blooming early June