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Continued on page 2Did You Know . . . ?

Go Paperless23rd Annual Watershed CelebrationMonitoring Minute:Why is a 1413 µs/cmSolution Used to Calibrate Conductivity Meters?

Team Snapshots Riffle Review

Teams in Action Team Calendar

Activity Report

INSIDE2

345

THIS ISSUE

8 Coalition Corner:Be a Stream Teams United Supporter in 2019!

Information for and about Missouri Stream Teams ▪ July/August 2019

By Laura Richardson, DNR VWQM Coordinator

New Address, Phone, Email?

Email us at streamteam@mdc.mo.gov or call 800-781-1989. Thanks for helping us save postage and paper!

Please help us keep your contact

info up-to-date.

5982Stream Teams

Strong!

Most Stream Teamers are familiar with aquatic hellbender

salamanders — a.k.a. snot otters, lasagna lizards, or mud devils! The Missouri state legislature recently designated hellbenders as our state endangered species. Two subspecies of hellbenders occur in Missouri: Ozark hellbenders, unique to southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, and eastern hellbenders, which have isolated populations in eastern/

Protecting Missouri Snot Otters

Endangered Ozark hellbenders can reach up to two feet in length. A shy species, it spends much of its time hiding under rocks on the stream bottom.

7 Activity Prize WinnersConnections through Competition on the Washington Riverfront TrailOpen Space Council - 2019 Operation Clean Stream

See “Snot Otters” continued on page 2

central Missouri as well as 15 other U.S. states. Ozark hellbenders were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2011 due to population declines and potential threats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recently conducted a species status report to determine if eastern hellbenders should also be listed as threatened or endangered. Here is a look at the report findings, the issues hellbenders face in Missouri, and what Stream Teamers can do to help. The FWS report reviewed all of the eastern hellbender populations in North America and concluded that the subspecies should not be listed at this time. However, the agency proposed that the isolated Missouri eastern hellbender populations were classified as a distinct population segment. The Missouri hellbenders are at risk of extinction within the next 25 years due to the already low numbers and their declining population trends. Therefore, the Missouri eastern hellbenders are proposed to be listed as endangered. Listing this distinct population segment can help conserve these salamanders by raising awareness, determining a recovery plan, and providing additional protections under the ESA. Threats to hellbender populations in Missouri include water quality degradation and habitat loss, or deterioration caused by sedimentation. Hellbenders breathe through permeable skin so they are sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels and chemical pollutants. Sedimentation increases water temperature, lowers dissolved oxygen, and increases the hellbenders’ exposure to chemical pollutants (particularly with chemicals that bind to soil particles). Adult hellbenders use the space underneath large, flat rocks for breeding and shelter. Larvae and juvenile hellbenders need loose cobble and coarse gravel for shelter and feeding. Sediment degrades these habitats by reducing the spaces between cobble, gravel, and underneath large rocks. Sedimentation also destroys the habitats of hellbenders’ primary food sources: macroinvertebrates and crayfish. So, how can Stream Teamers help the hellbenders?1.) Conduct stewardship efforts like stream cleanups to conserve clean watersheds; 2.) Increase awareness of Missouri stream conditions through water quality monitoring;

Channels 2 July/August 2019

Continued on page 3. . . that low head dams . . .

3.) Being an advocate for your own streams and health of the stream ecosystem;4.) Conducting good practices such as not moving large rocks, cutting the fishing line if accidently catching a hellbender, and minimizing pollutants in a watershed. Hopefully, with continued hellbender awareness and efforts along with the protections mentioned above, all snot otter populations will improve!

See “Snot Otters” continued on page 1

This is the last mailed issue of Channels. If you are not currently receiving Channels by email, please

update your email address by contacting us at streamteam@mdc.mo.gov or by reaching out to your

coordinating biologist at (800) 781-1989.

Go Paperless!

The value of 1413 µs/cm is not exactly a nice round number. So, why is a 1413 µs/cm solution used to

calibrate conductivity meters? The answer lies in the way conductivity of water is measured and reported, the way that chemical solutions are typically made, and the conductivity ranges that are expected in streams and rivers. Conductivity changes with temperature, so most conductivity meters automatically standardize conductivity measurements to 25˚C to help interpret data. This standardization is important in understanding why a 1413 µs/cm solution is commonly used to calibrate conductivity meters. Further understanding can be gained about using a 1413 µs/cm solution by examining some chemical properties of potassium chloride (KCl), which is the preferred compound for making conductivity calibration solutions. Chemical solutions are often made as molar (M) solutions, which are based on gram-molecular weight. A 1.0 M solution of KCl is made by dissolving one gram-molecular weight of KCl (39.0983 grams K + 35.453 grams Cl = 74.5513 grams KCl) in 1 liter of distilled water. At 25 ˚C the conductivity of this 1.0 M solution of KCl would be 118,000 µs/cm. Using 1:10 serial dilutions of the 1.0 M solution, the following molar concentrations and corresponding conductivities are derived:

KCl Concentration (M) Conductivity in µs/cm @ 25˚C

1.0 118,0000.1 12,8800.01 1413

0.001 146.9

Information in the table demonstrates that a 0.01 M solution of KCl results in a conductivity of 1413 µs/cm at 25˚C. However, a 1:10 dilution of the molar solution does not equal a 1/10th drop in conductivity in µs/cm. This is the reason that conductivity samples should never be diluted if the maximum range of a low range conductivity meter is exceeded (i.e. > 1990 µs/cm).A low range conductivity meter (<1990 µs/cm) using a 1413 µs/cm calibration solution (0.01 M) is appropriate for measuring the expected conductivity of most Missouri streams. However, due to de-icing salts used on roads and parking lots, wintertime monitoring can exceed the capability of low range meters, necessitating the use of high range conductivity meters that calibrate with a 12,880 µs/cm solution (0.1 M).

By Randy Sarver, DNR VWQM Coordinator

W h y i s a 1 4 1 3 µ s / c m S o l u t i o n U s e d t o C a l i b r a t e C o n d u c t i v i t y M e t e r s ?

23rd Annual Watershed Celebration@ Meramec State Park

July 27, 2019, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Meramec State Park Shelter #2

Activity Schedule 07/27/19

Stream Teams United and Northern Ozark Rivers Partnership are once again sponsoring the23rd Annual Meramec Watershed Celebration. Join Stream Teams and Associations from across the state for a day of family oriented fun. All Missouri Stream Teams are cordially invited to attend. Enjoy recreational activities on the beautiful Meramec River. Talk with Fisheries Biologists. Enjoy fellowship with other Stream Team folks who share your interest in our rivers and streams. Share photos of your Stream Team projects. Visit with old & new Stream Team friends.

The day is packed with fun events. Activities include:* Stream Team Awards * Kids Programs * Meet Stream Team Coordinators ** Canoe Challenge Course * Stream Teams United Update * Macro and Crayfish Display * * BBQ Potluck Lunch (Please bring a covered side dish to share.) ** Raffle – (Participants have the option to bring an item of choice to include in the raffle.) ** Tube Float Shuttle (Bring your tube or raft to float or borrow one of ours.) *

Come out for the day or stay the weekend. Free overnight camping for Stream Teams is available Friday and Saturday, 7/26 & 7/27 at Meramec State Park’s scenic Group Campsite “C”. For more information or to volunteer to help, please call Larry Cain at (314)-638-9646.

ACTIVITY 7AM 8AM 9AM 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM

SET UPSIGN-INRAFFLE TICKET SALESTUBE FLOAT SHUTTLECANOE CHALLENGE KIDS PROGRAMLUNCHSTREAM TEAM AWARDSRAFFLE WINNERSTAKE DOWN

Team Snapshots The Riffle Reviewa bi-monthly glimpse of Stream Team activities

Check out more highlights below . . .

Since our last issue of Channels, Stream Team members reported:l 55.59 tons of trash collectedl 320 water quality monitoring trips l 570 trees planted

l 789 total activities l 4,822 total participants l 20,263 total hours

Continued on page 4. . . may appear benign . . .

Imagine the surprise to volunteers participating in the 27th annual Arnold Wintertime Cleanup when two orphaned guinea pigs were discovered at the Wicks Road site that frigid morning, an unusual find among the usual tires, trash, and scrap metal. Fortunately, compassionate city employee and long-time volunteer Mike Bonnot took them under his wing and easily found a warm, loving home for them in the following days.

Team 211

T Eric Ferrell is back to beautifying the LaRussell Access on the Spring River in Jasper County and has been pleased to find that the litter problem hasn’t been as bad as he expected even with recent torrential flooding. “[I] need to remember to bring larger trash bags to put the green mesh bags in when transporting… today the litter included ants and spiders,” he said. Good idea!

Team 2945

July/August 2019 3 Channels

Plattin Creek got a good cleaning last summer, a team of volunteers removing about half a ton over three trips after flood events. “We all enjoy seeing the wildlife when working around my creek banks, even the bald eagle nest along the creek,” said Douglas Sunshine.

Team 3415

The River des Peres Watershed Coalition hosted a workshop in January focusing on advocacy for streams. It was well-attended and featured presentations from the local mayor, state representatives, newspaper editor, environmental lawyer, and Stream Teams United. Knowledge is power to help streams!

Team 3745

Five miles of the Elk River in McDonald County were covered by the River Runners this spring, yielding six tires, seven bags of trash and other miscellaneous camping gear washed into the river. “Had a lot of grownups and children that have never done a cleanup before and they loved it!” said Jordan Jennings, adding, “They want to start their own Teams now!”

Team 4106

Susan Franklin was excited to report her first activity since 2001: a water quality survey and litter pickup on Moss Creek in Carroll County as part of her Botany/Zoology class at Norborne High School. Welcome back!

Team 734

This small group from Team 4091 made a big dent in the trash on Lost Creek in Warren County, filling three pickup truck beds full of junk plus 13 tires and a couch on a chilly February day.

The Roubidoux Fly Fishers are still at it after 30 years! This time, while performing their biological monitoring on the Roubidoux, they netted a small trout in their second net set. Perhaps a sign for a great day of fishing?

Team 1

Once again, never knowing what you’ll come across on a stream cleanup, there’s always a chance for a one-of-a-kind trash treasure. On Rock Creek in Jefferson County, LJ’s Crew found an old 1950s hunting knife with an antler handle while picking up trash. Cool find!

Team 5547

It was a busy day for the Chert Glades Missouri Master Naturalists Team 5692 as they conducted their biological, visual survey, and discharge monitoring on Ben’s Branch in Jasper County. On top of that they picked up four bags of trash while they were there. Great work!

Excelsior Springs Team 3348 hosted a cleanup project for Eagle Scout Troop 309 on Fishing River in Clay County, pulling 34 bags of trash and two tires. Great way to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather.

The Osage Indian Ecology Club Team 5669 conducted their very first pickup on Little Bear Creek in Miller County after several months of careful planning. “I do feel like my students felt like they were making a difference in the world,” said Shawn Fowler.

On the Southwest Missouri Stream Team’s first cleanup, 40 volunteers pulled out quite a haul on the Elk River. They collected 61 tires, four refrigerators, two hot water tanks, 1,200 pounds of metal, and over a ton of trash, totaling nearly two and half tons!

Team 5925

CALENDARTEAM

. . . but actually have . . .Continued on page 7

Channels 4 July/August 2019

JULY

Please check online at mostreamteam.org for more events and updates

to the Team calendar!

5 Watershed Committee of the Ozarks monthly meeting, Springfield. Contact Stacy at 417-866-1127 for more information.

9 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Rocheport. Visit bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more.

10 Big Muddy Speaker Series, St. Charles. Visit bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more.

10 Clean Water Commission meeting, Jefferson City. Find agenda at dnr.mo.gov.

11 VWQM Validation Workshop, Kirkwood. Register online at mostreamteam.org.

12 START Water Quality Monitoring, Chesterfield. Contact us at streamteam@mdc.mo.gov to register.

13 Columbia Crawdads monthly cleanup, location TBD. Visit como.gov/volunteer for more information.

13 Kayak Meetup, Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Contact adminasst@lowatershed.org to find out more.

13 START Water Quality Monitoring, Chesterfield. Contact us at streamteam@mdc.mo.gov to register.

18 VWQM Validation Workshop, Blue Springs. Register online at mostreamteam.org.

20 2nd Annual Bull Shoals Lake Cleanup. Register online at ozarkswaterwatch.org.

25 VWQM Validation Workshop, Springfield. Register online at mostreamteam.org.

27 Watershed Celebration at Meramec State Park, Sullivan. See page 2 for more details.

30 VWQM Validation Workshop, Jefferson City. Register online at mostreamteam.org.

AUGUST

3 Mineral Fork River Cleanup, Blackwell. RSVP Paul and Carol at stltees@att.net.

5 Greenway Network monthly board meeting, St. Peters. Call 636-498-0772 for more information.

9 VWQM Validation Workshop, Ellington. Register online at mostreamteam.org.

10 Columbia Crawdads monthly cleanup, location TBD. Visit como.gov/volunteers for more information.

10 Kayak Meetup, Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Contact adminasst@lowatershed.org to find out more.

13 Big Muddy Speaker Series, Rocheport. Visit bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more.

14 Big Muddy Speaker Series, St. Charles. Visit bigmuddyspeakers.org to learn more.

17 START Water Quality Monitoring, Defiance. Contact us at streamteam@mdc.mo.gov to register.

21 Scenic River Stream Team Association meeting, location TBD. Contact Ted at tednpat713@gmail.com.

24-25 52nd Annual Operation Clean Stream, Meramec watershed. See page 7 for more details and sign up online at openspacestl.org/ocs.

Since March of 2014,The St. Louis Beard &

Mustache Club has hosted bi-annual cleanups of Heads Creek in House Springs, MO as Stream Team #4895. We encourage our club members and their families, locals from the community, and the surrounding businesses to join us in our efforts. Each spring and fall a local restaurant has donated lunch for our volunteers. The support has been tremendous! Over the years, we’ve pulled some of the most interesting things out of the creek while having a great time: stuffed animals, a swimming pool, a propane tank, several fossils, the steering mechanism from

More than just about facial hair! By Caitlin Cozad and Ben Rumpell, Stream Team 4895

Good times and interesting finds on Head’s Creek

an early model Ford, more tires/trash/recycling than we can count, and even the kitchen sink! Each cleanup we look forward to strange and interesting finds; who will be the one to find the most unique item? It could be YOU! Facial hair or not! Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/STLouisBMC/ to see the next scheduled cleanup; we are St Louis’ only 501(c)(3) facial hair organization!

The St Louis Beard & Mustache Club is a non-profit social club located in St Louis, Missouri. Our mission statement is “To promote charitable community activism and foster a sense of community through education and charitable events focused on facial hair.” We have monthly meetings open to the public where we have discussion of facial hair, club business, local culture, and competitions. We host our own annual competition, open to both men and women contestants, in the St Louis area. Learn more about the club and how to join at stlbmc.com/about_us.

Directly support Missouri Stream Teams by entering to win a guided fly fishing trip on the Current River with Mark Van Patten, retired Missouri Department of Conservation streams coordinator biologist and former host of the popular TV show, “The Tying Bench.”Enter to win at mochf.org/stream-team-raffle/

NOTICE! ENTER TO WIN

July/August 2019 5 Channels

Activity Order Activity Report

Stream Team Number________________________________

Team Name__________________________________________

Your Name_________________________________________Shipping Address (no PO Box)

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Missouri Stream Team Activity ReportHome Phone (_________)____________-__________________

Work Phone (_________)____________-__________________

Email_______________________________________________

Contact Person for Team______________________________Is there a change in Contact Person? Yes NoIs there a change in Contact Person address? Yes NoIf yes, new address___________________________________

______________________________________________________

Mail this Activity Report to:MISSOURI STREAM TEAMPO BOX 180JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102-0180

We welcomeyour activity photos.

They may be published in our newsletter or annual report.

Thank you!

Stream Team Activity List

Report more activities on back!

Activity Type (see codes at right) _________________________

Activity Date________________________________________

Stream Name________________________________________

Activity County______________________________________

Activity Basin (optional)__________________________________

Miles of River Covered (optional)___________________________

Count of Volunteers__________________________________

Hours Spent on Project _______________________________

Measurement: Please list number of trash bags collected, trees planted, letters written, storm drains stenciled, WQM trips, etc. See list at right.

_____________________________________________

Location Description: Please provide a detailed location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream from Hwy. 63 bridge over Cedar Creek a mile south of River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov.

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Project Description: Please describe your activity and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!”

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Stream Team Activity 1

Activity Prize DrawingThe more activities you submit, the better your chances!

New prizes every three months! Check one

If you would like to be included in our Activity Prize Drawing, please check the box at right and attach a list of participant names. Please print clearly.

Attention teachers and youth group leaders: For a youth group prize, please check the box at right. You do not need to include a participant list for group prizes.

Youth Group Prize

or

If you order in advance, please don’t forget to report your accomplishments AFTER your event.

Activity Code MeasurementAdopt-An-Access AAA New access adopted

Advocacy on stream issue ADV Number of events

Article written for publication ART Number of articles

Assisted MDC fish stocking FIS Number of events

Award received AWA Number of awards

Education project EDU Number of events

Forestkeepers monitoring FOR Number of trips

GPS reading GPS Number of trips

Grant applied/received GRT Number of projects

Greenway development GRE Number of projects

Habitat improvement HAI Number of projects

Letter written on stream issue LET Number of letters

Litter pickup LPU Number of litter bags

Media contact/interview MED Number of interviews

Monofilament recycling MRP Weight of line recycled

Other: please describe OTH Number of projects

Photo-point monitoring PPM Number of photos

Pre-activity planning PLN Number of events

Presentation to groups PRE Number of presentations

Rain garden/barrel, green roof NPS Number of projects

Recruited new Team/members REC Number of new members

ST Association activity ASC Number of events

ST display at school, fair, etc. DIS Number of events

ST Inventory Guide submitted INV Number of inventories

Storm drain stenciling SDS Number of drains marked

Stream access maintenance SAM Number of litter bags/events

Stream Team meeting MTG Number of attendees

Stream Team mentoring MEN Team mentored & events

Stream workshop attended WKS Number of attendees

Streambank stabilization SSP Number of projects

Tree planting PLT Number of trees

Water quality monitoring WQM Number of trips

Watershed mapping WAT Number of trips

Zebra mussel monitoring ZEB Number of trips

Is this a business address? Yes No

These free incentives are for your Stream Team volunteers

Numberrequested

Bookmarks (dragonfly)

Bookmarks (spring peeper)

Bumper Stickers (Quality Water, 3 1/2” x 9 1/4”)

Colorbook: Stream Team Most Wanted (Grade 4-6)

Colorbook: Stream Team Superstars (Grade K-3)

Mini-Buttons (Stream Team, 1” pins)

Patches (Stream Team, Scouts only 3”)

Pencils (Get Into Missouri Streams)

Post-it Notes (Stream Team, 3” x 4”)

Scratch Pads (Stream Team, 5 1/2” x 8”)

Stickers “Get Into Missouri Streams” (3” round)

Stickers “I Love Missouri Streams” (3” round)

T-shirts (Stream Team) Size Small

T-shirts (Stream Team) Size Medium

T-shirts (Stream Team) Size Large

T-shirts (Stream Team) Size X-Large

T-shirts (Stream Team) Size XX-Large

For a full list of Thank You items visit mostreamteam.org

These free supplies are for your Stream Team activities

Numberrequested

First Aid Kits (limit one per 5-10 participants)

Litter Pickup Bags (green mesh 24” x 36”)

Litter Pickup Bags (red mesh 14” x 26”)

Work Gloves (adult size)

Work Gloves (youth size)

Supply Items

Please helpsave shipping costs. Ship to your office

or school.

Please allow 3 weeks

for shipping.

Channels 6 July/August 2019

Stream Team Activity ListMissouri Stream Team Activity Report continued

Activity Type (see codes at right) _________________________

Activity Date________________________________________

Stream Name________________________________________

Activity County______________________________________

Activity Basin (optional)___________________________________

Miles of River Covered (optional)____________________________

Count of Volunteers__________________________________

Hours Spent on Project _______________________________

Measurement: Please list number of monitoring trips, bags of trash collected, letters written, trees planted, storm drains stenciled, events held, etc. See list at right.

_____________________________________________

Location Description: Please provide a detailed location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream from Hwy. 63 bridge over Brush Creek a mile south of River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov.

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Project Description: Please describe your activity and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!”

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Stream Team Activity 3Activity Type (see codes at right) _________________________

Activity Date________________________________________

Stream Name________________________________________

Activity County______________________________________

Activity Basin (optional)___________________________________

Miles of River Covered (optional)____________________________

Count of Volunteers__________________________________

Hours Spent on Project _______________________________

Measurement: Please list number of monitoring trips, bags of trash collected, letters written, trees planted, storm drains stenciled, events held, etc. See list at right.

_____________________________________________

Location Description: Please provide a detailed location for your activity. Example: 100 yds. downstream from Hwy. 63 bridge over Brush Creek a mile south of River City. A good source for maps is at www.usgs.gov.

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Project Description: Please describe your activity and include some fun facts. Example: “Held 4th annual litter pickup and picnic at Brush Creek, found an awesome antique bottle, removed 3 tires, saw an eagle!”

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Stream Team Activity 2

Your activitiespower the Stream Team Program!

Thank you!

Questions?Need help getting started?Please contact us at:Phone: 1-800-781-1989 (voicemail)Email: streamteam@mdc.mo.govWebsite: www.mostreamteam.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/mostreamteamsFax: 573-526-0990

Thank you for volunteering to help Missouri’s waterways.

If you ordered supplies in advance, please don’t forget to report your accomplishments AFTER your event.

The Stream Team Program needs your final results!

Notes__________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional notes and information

Activity Code MeasurementAdopt-An-Access AAA New access adopted

Advocacy on stream issue ADV Number of events

Article written for publication ART Number of articles

Assisted MDC fish stocking FIS Number of events

Award received AWA Number of awards

Education project EDU Number of events

Forestkeepers monitoring FOR Number of trips

GPS reading GPS Number of trips

Grant applied/received GRT Number of projects

Greenway development GRE Number of projects

Habitat improvement HAI Number of projects

Letter written on stream issue LET Number of letters

Litter pickup LPU Number of litter bags

Media contact/interview MED Number of interviews

Monofilament recycling MRP Weight of line recycled

Other: please describe OTH Number of projects

Photo-point monitoring PPM Number of photos

Pre-activity planning PLN Number of events

Presentation to groups PRE Number of presentations

Rain garden/barrel, green roof NPS Number of projects

Recruited new Team/members REC Number of new members

ST Association activity ASC Number of events

ST display at school, fair, etc. DIS Number of events

ST Inventory Guide submitted INV Number of inventories

Storm drain stenciling SDS Number of drains marked

Stream access maintenance SAM Number of litter bags/events

Stream Team meeting MTG Number of attendees

Stream Team mentoring MEN Team mentored & events

Stream workshop attended WKS Number of attendees

Streambank stabilization SSP Number of projects

Tree planting PLT Number of trees

Water quality monitoring WQM Number of trips

Watershed mapping WAT Number of trips

Zebra mussel monitoring ZEB Number of trips

July/August 2019 7 Channels

. . . very strong currents . . .Continued on page 8

Please keep sending us your Activity Reports . . .YOU might win NEXT!

S Pelican KayakS Plano 4-By TM Rack System Tackle BoxS Winner Outfitters Double Camping HammockS Pennington Cedar Bird FeederS Stream Team Goodie BagS Frog Togg Cooling TowelS Youth Prize: Acorn Naturalist Gift Card

3rd Quarter Prizes

Activity Prize Drawing Connections through Competition on the Washington Riverfront Trail

Ahundred seventh grade students gathered in order to do a

trash pickup along the Washington Riverfront Trail on the Missouri River on May 14, 2019. After I gave a safety talk and divided them into groups (20 kids per group due to the number of chaperones/team leaders), I had them each choose a fun team name, then let them know the competition was who could pick up the most trash, who could find the strangest trash, and I had the team leaders choose two kids per group who worked the hardest and had the

1st Quarter Prize WinnersCaroline Toole - Climax Springs, MO

Team 313 – Climax Springs Stream Team

Sheila Serati – St. Louis, MOTeam 1008 – Twin River Rangers

Jamie Davidson – Mountain View, MOTeam 4590 – JD’s Stream Team

Melissa Beal – Lexington, MOTeam 4618 – Lexington Middle School

Janet McIlwee – Arnold, MOTeam 5168 – League of Watershed

Guardians

Joanna Orr – Joplin, MOTeam 5216 – Joplin Kayak & Canoe

Camp

William Bockenkamp – Olivette, MOTeam 5323 – Bockenkamp Team

By Stefanie Virgen, Stream Team 5403

best attitudes. I had Stream Team prizes for all plus some other goodies for the winners of the trash categories. When we arrived back at school and talked about it with the kids, they wrote post-event reflections that included quotes like this: • “We pulled so much trash out of the woods by the river, and

it made me feel better about myself because I was actually helping people.”

• “People walking by us on the trail were saying thank you. That surprised me and made me happy.”

• “I would like to do this again because I realized I like helping the environment.” • “The most valuable part of this for me was helping clean up the riverfront and

knowing it’s a big help.” All together on the Missouri River Washington Riverfront, nearly half a ton of trash was cleaned up including 20 bags of trash plus two large pieces of weather stripping, lots of rebar and other metal, foam chunks, seven tires, wire parts from the old Highway 47 bridge, tank floats, barrels, a seven-foot pipe, boards, machinery, and more!

HOSTED BY: THE OPEN SPACE COUNCIL FOR THE ST. LOUIS REGIONWHERE: VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE MERAMEC WATERSHEDWHEN: SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUGUST 24TH AND 25TH, 2019 SIGN UP: OPENSPACESTL.ORG/OCS EMAIL: INFO@OPENSPACESTL.ORGPHONE: 314-835-9225

VOLUNTEER TO RESTORE THE MERAMEC WATERSHED

Operation Clean Stream“BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE POLLUTION!”

Channels 8 July/August 2019

News from Stream Teams UnitedCoalition Corner

. . . and can be deadly?See Steam Team Academy Fact Sheet

#32 for more information!

By Mary Culler, Stream Teams United Executive Director

Our Missouri streams are home to thousands of species of aquatic animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects, mollusks, mammals, and birds. Not to mention the microscopic organisms found in every ounce of water – the algae, plankton, and other

microscopic creatures. Our waters are truly full of life! In the Stream Team Program, our volunteer water quality monitors learn about beetles in the family Psephenidae, which have the common name “Water Penny.” These beetle larvae are a prized find in kick net samples, because water pennies are among Group One Taxa, those which are sensitive to pollution and found in good quality water. From the top view, these organisms are oval and look similar to copper pennies. On the underside, water pennies look like an alien creature with six legs, exterior gills, and antennae. Finding water pennies in your sample along with other Group One Taxa is a good indication your stream is healthy.

Be a Stream Teams United

Last summer, Stream Teams United began “The Water Penny Club” as a way to give river enthusiasts a way to donate “pennies a month” to support the cause of clean and healthy rivers in Missouri. Members of the Water Penny Club pledge to donate a dollar or more each month to help support the Missouri Stream Team Watershed Coalition (Stream Teams United). Water Penny Club members receive a bumper sticker and are entered to win an annual prize. We appreciate the support of Stream Team members who joined the Water Penny Club in 2018, and we hope you visit streamteamsunited.org and become a Water Penny Club member too.

Supporter in 2019!

This summer, we are also announcing the Stream Teams United “Champion” levels for individuals who wish to support our organization through a one-time annual gift. Champion levels are named to recognize aquatic species in our state, including the Dollar Sunfish, Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly, River Darter, Freckled Crayfish, Largemouth Bass, Fat Pocketbook Mussel, Coldwater Crayfish, Niangua Darter, and Ozark Hellbender. These species are a small selection of the great diversity of aquatic species in Missouri and were chosen as “Champion” names because they are either species of conservation concern in Missouri, are species only found in Missouri or the Ozarks region, or they have a fun common name that fits the level of support (e.g. Dollar, Jewelwing, and Fat Pocketbook). Each Champion level includes a “thank-you” gift for your contribution. Learn more and become a 2019 stream champion at streamteamsunited.org. Join us at the Ballpark on August 17th!Stream Teams United invites you to join us at Hammons Field in Springfield on August 17th as we meet with Stream Team friends to enjoy a night of summer baseball fun. Wear a Stream Team t-shirt and gather with us on the 3rd base side of the stadium as we celebrate our anniversary year. A limited number of tickets are available to receive a 20% discount for field box tickets in our section. Tickets are available at streamteamsunited.org. Or view the event and purchase tickets on our Facebook page.