SW Missouri Stream Team Association

The 2nd Stream Team Association meeting was held, Tuesday, Nov. 17th at Wildcat Glades Audubon & Conservation Center in Joplin. There were 20+ Stream Team enthusiasts in attendance, representing 9 different Stream Teams (including #48, 2011, 2945, 3117, 3128, 3308, 3364, 3714, and 3917). There were also representatives from Missouri's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Conservation, including SW Missouri Stream Team Coordinator, Andrew Branson, his assistant, Carl Romeburg, and SW Missouri Stream Team Ambassador Dee Ogle. The group discussed organizational matters, goals, meeting frequency, structure and representation. There are already 14 Missouri Stream Team Associations that have been set up across the state.

Fall Bloom

This flower stood out among all of the dead foliage along the Highway U embankment. There were two specimens, Lespedeza procumbens Michx.

Water Chemistry Survey #8

The La Russell Stream Team 2945 completed our 8th Volunteer Water Quality Chemistry Survey, Saturday, November 14, 2009. It was a beatiful day. The water level was 2.78' and the water clarity was the best since March 2009. Here are the results.
Air temperature - 24.5C
Water temperature - 14.5C
pH - 8.7
Alkalinity - 360
Dissolved O2 (12+1=13)
127.5% dissolved Oxygen
Nitrate - 4
Turbidity - <10
[La Russell Stream Team #2945 member is calculating dissolved Oxygen level, using titration method.]

SW Missouri Stream Team Association, Meeting #2

A follow-up meeting has been announced for the proposed Southwest Missouri Regional Stream Team Association, for Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held at the Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center, 201 W. Riviera Drive, Joplin, MO. The first planning meeting was held September 23, 2009. Agenda items for the 2nd meeting will be: (1) What will be the name of the association? (2) When and where will it meet? (3) Who will organize the meetings and keep the association on track? and (4) How will the association function to be beneficial to the members? For more information, call 417-782-6287.

Flooding affects Wild Plums

Several of the wild plums seedlings, planted 3 years ago, were damaged in the two October 2009 floods. Of the six seedlings planted north of the river, four are leaning significantly. La Russell Stream Team #2945 is consulting state forester to develop plan for up righting the trees. The wild plum species was selected for their root system in preventing erosion. Watch for updates on the repair process.

Another High Water Event (Oct. 29-30, 2009)

The La Russell Access point expereinced another high water event on Friday, October 30, 2009. The water gage indicated a 3.27' increase, from 3.38' at 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 29 to 6.65' at 6:45 pm on Friday, October 30. Reports in the area indicated rainfall amounts from 1.7" up to 3" inches. [click on graph for close-up view]