2007 Accomplishments

We have come a long, long way in organizing Stream Team #2945 and getting projects completed. Thank you for your help in making all of this happen! Accomplishments in 2007 have included:

• Adopted La Russell Assess Point No 6812 on Spring River
• Held two quarterly meetings in 2007
• Planted 75 seedlings
• Completed a water quality survey
• Completed a visual data survey
• Grew Stream Team #2945 to twenty-six registered members
• Set up this website
• Published two quarterly newsletters
• Met with the SW Missouri Regional Stream Team Americorps Advisor
• Met with the Missouri State Stream Team Coordinator (from Jefferson City)
• Met with three regional Department of Conservation officials (from Springfield and Neosho)
• Met with two Department of Conservation Agents
• Met with three Jasper County Sheriff Deputies
• Met with a Missouri Department of Transportation official (Jefferson City).
• Helped facilitate new signage identifying the La Russell Access Point to visitors
• Helped facilitate a commitment from the State to improve the actual access point in spring 2008.
• Helped disseminate weekly bacteria results (Jasper County Health Department) on the website
• Helped promote the site's USGS water gage information on the website

To accomplish our 2008 goals we need every ones help. Would you like to join the La Russell Stream Team #2945 and help with our next project?

2008 Stream Team Project

Illegal Dumping is a problem in rural Missouri. It is vandalism. It affects all of us. At the October 2007 Stream Team quarterly meeting, the clean up of the "old old" dump was proposed as a 2008 Team project. Two team members have volunteered to coordinate the event. Preliminary work is being done in terms of notifying adjacent landowners and coordinating with Lawrence County officials.

This site is in the SE quarter of Section 12, T 28N R29W, Lawrence County, MO. The debris is spread over a 100 yard long tract, approximately 750 yards upstream from the La Russell Access point No.#6812. As you can see in the pictures, the debris includes everything from refrigerators to ovens, sofas and horse troughs.

We feel that it would be more efficient to wench the debris up the cliff, than trying to push it down. The Lawrence County Commissioners recommended that we coordinate the Stream Team project with the county wide 'spring' clean up. They also offered to assist with signage to prevent future vandalism on the site. This will definitely be a "team" project as well as a "neighborhood" project. Some of the debris is heavy, and we'll need help maneuvering it. Would you like to help us?