Riverkeeper Ripples
A Newsletter of the St. Louis Confluence Riverkeeper
Vol. #2, July 19, 2010
Welcome! In this issue of our newsletter we will cover a number of items. They include:
Monthly water testing.
Participation at coal fly ash hearing, Union, MO.
First meeting with TV Channel 5, Rivers' Health
Promotional program to start very soon.
We wish to thank our many financial contributors. The efforts to keep our rivers clean and safe involve many costs. Boat fuel, insurance, printing, testing equipment, lab fees, and many more items, just to name a few. Without your help this could not happen.
Thank you very much!
Water Testing:
From January to the present, July 2010, water testing has been difficult. During the winter months ice kept our boat. the Safety Valve, in the harbor. After the spring thaw we had hopes of getting down to business, ie: testing. However, high water has kept us in port.
We have done a little shore testing, but when testing is done during high water, the results are somewhat misleading.
High water allows more E.coli to enter the rivers from shore areas. The test results taken during flood times are substantially higher than during more normal river levels. While such results are important, the St. Louis Confluence Riverkeeper (SLCR) organization does not plan to do them on an ongoing, regular basis.
SLCR urges readers to go to our test results page on this website to see a real example of what we are talking about.
Regular testing will commence as soon as possible; probably sooner than later.
Paticipation at coal fly ash hearings in Union, MO:
Hearings have been held in the town of Union, Missouri in July, 2010, concerning a plan by Ameren UE, the area electrical utility, to begin storing coal fly ash on the flood plain of the Missouri, River.
Fly ash is a residual from the burning of coal. It is at this moment under consideration by the Federal EPA as to whether fly ash should be considered a hazardous material. Comments are being received until late September of this year.
Amerem UE operates a coal fired generating plant at Labadie, MO alongside the Missouri River. Concerns regarding the fly ash center on it containing many heavy metals as well as other chemicals not considered safe.
The Franklin County Planning and Zoning Board is having the hearings. The general issue as shown by hearing attendees and speakers is whether or not such fly ash storage should be allowed on the flood plain of a river. Almost all of those speaking to the Board are opposed to this being done.
This issue still must be presented to the County Commission for final action. The Planning and Zoning Board makes a recommendation that is then voted on by the County Commission for final acceptance. The County Commission vote yes or no, or they can send it back to the Planning and Zoning Board for further work.
The concern by the SLCR organization is that we live downstream, and we oppose any efforts that might cause serious pollution problems. The largest concern is what might happen during flooding of the river. No matter how carefully a flood protection structure is made to contain the fly ash; flood waters can be exceedingly powerful and could allow a large amount of stored fly ash to break loose and enter the river.
SLCR acknowledges that something must be done with the fly ash. Further, we all need electricity. However, SLCR is asking that the fly ash not be stored on a flood plain.
"Rivers' Health Report," starting with KSDK, Channel 5, St. Louis NBC affiliate.
SLCR has developed a special report to advise area residents of the overall health of the three large rivers that are considered its area of jurisdiction.
The report has been devised to allow TV viewers, radio listeners, newspaper readers, and anyone using local media to grasp quickly and simply how the three large area rivers' waters are as to E.coli content. Such content information comes from the SLCR testing programs, carried out on a monthly basis, if river conditions allow.
The program's goal is to make as many area resident aware of the health of the rivers. By doing so, it is anticipated that many more area citizens will begin to develop a better knowledge about these great rivers, and equally important, a concern for the health of these mighty bodies of water.
SLCR met recently with Cindy Preszler, chief meteorologist of Channel 5. Cindy indicated a willingness to begin such reports as soon as SLCR is ready to begin. SLCR is designing the report and hopes to have the first monthly report aired during August, 2010.
Once started, visits to other media outlets will begin to expand the exposure of the rivers' health.
New Promotional Compaign:
SLCR, in conjuction with its "Rivers Health Reports," has developed a program to urge river users and those living along the rivers to become "River Lovers."
T-shirts, caps, bumper stickers, and more are being made to promote the big rivers. The theme of the "River Lovers" program is intended to encourage area individuals to join SLCR in its efforts to help protect and preserve our area large rivers.
Area Stores, bars, marinas, restaurants, cafes, and others will soon be asked to offer membership in the SLCR. Depending on the dollar level of membership, the new member will receive one of more of the items noted.
Also, those businesses promoting SLCR memberships will themselves be a part of the SLCR organization. A door sign will so indicate.
Keep you eyes open for this campaign. It will be fun and will help the organization to become better known.
Sample of the campaign logo will be shown here in the newsletter and on the website very soon.
END