The Newsletter of the
St. Louis Confluence Riverkeeper
Oct. 2011
Welcome,
In this issue: Water testing, Events, Labadie, MO, New Water Trail, & River Bill.
Water Testing
The St. Louis Confluence Riverkeeper (SLCR) organization tests all three of the Confluence Rivers, the Mississippi, Missouri, and the Illinois, once each month at 12 different locations.
Water samples are gathered and taken to PDC Labs for anaylsis. Results are published on our website; stlriverkeeper.org.
So far this year the testing has been confined to E.coli. It is planned that heavy metals will be added in 2012. Heavy metals include arsenic, mercury, cadnium and other toxic metals. There are minimum amounts considered safe. SLCR wants to know if the rivers show low enough readings.
E.coli has shown up in higher than expected readings in two sites this year. In both cases the cause appears to be old sewers that overflow in heavy rains. In the city of St. Louis the MSD recently signed a consent decree to fix their sewers over the next 20 plus years at a cost of more than $4 billion.
Events
In the month of August SLCR took part in two events, both held in Grafton, IL.
The first, called “Rockin on the River” took place at the Grafton Harbor Marina. Riverbills, (see article following) was the primary benficiary of this event. Bill Kelly, River Bill, has been serving pool 26 on the Mississippi River for many years with his website. It contains ANYTHING you want to know about the river from Lock & Dam 26 to Lock & Dam 27.
SLCR put together a 50/50 drawing, met many people, and did its best to get the word out about clean water in the great rivers.
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Later in the month was the 175th birthday party for the city of Grafton, IL. Grafton is a super river town. Attendance at the event was good. Cars were parked all along highway 100, in every parking lot, and where ever space could be found.
SLCR set up it booth in the ball field along with about 40 other vendors. We invited people to play a game we have developed to see if you can guess which river water is in three large bottles. Each bottle is filled with the water (and sediment) from each of the great rivers. There are three signs on the table with the name of each river. Visiitors to our booth are asked to try to put the proper bottle on the appropriate river name.
The main purpose of the game is to engage visitors and talk about how fortunate we are to have such fantastic rivers right in our backyard. We let them know that the Mississippi River Watershed (the area the river system drains, including the Missouri and Illinois Rivers) is the third largest in the world. Arguably this system which drains 31 states and parts of two provences of Canada is our nation’s greatest natural resource.
Labadie, MO
The area electrical utility company, Ameren UE, operates the largest coal fired power plant in Missouri and the 14th largest in the nation in Labadie, MO along the Missouri River.
At the present time, Ameren UE has applied tovarious authorities to build a new pit into which they propose to put coal ash from the power plant. Coal ash is the by product/waste that results from burning coal.
The new pit would be 440 acres in size. The current pit is 130 acres. Coal ash is transported from the nearby plant to the pit by water slurry. Solid waste falls to the bottom of the pit.
At the present time, the existing pit is leaking at the rate of 50,000 gallons a day per Ameren’s own figures. The water that leaks goes into the Missouri River and presumably into the ground water.
SLCR has been working with the Washington University in St. Louis Interdisciplinary Environmental Law Clinic concerning the present pit and its related problems. Another organization, Labadie Environmental Organization, LEO, is also being represented by the Washinton University Clinic.
The biggest problem with coal ash waste is that it contains a number of heavy metals, such as arsenic, mercury, cadnium, and others. These metals are toxic.
SLCR realizes Ameren UE must do something with the coal ash. However, SLCR feels strongly that the flood plain of the Missouri River is not a proper location.
At the present time SLCR has spoken before the Franklin County (county in which Labadie is located) Zoning Board and the County Board of Commissioners regarding this issue. No final decision has been made at this time, and based on the very strong feelings of all parties no final decision is expected for some time.
SLCR will keep you posted as to what takes place.
Mississippi River Water Trail Association
A new organiztion is being formed to build and promote a water trail along the Mississippi River. This trail would be for paddlers of all types; kyaks, canoes, and all other paddle propelled water craft.
SLCR is part of the organizing committee. SLCR believes that by encouraging use of the rivers for recreational use individuals will more appreciate what a wonderful resource we have in our area.
This trail will be part of a series of trails all along the river, from near Minneapolis, MN down to the Gulf; each sponsored by a different group.
SLCR will keep you informed as this new venture unfolds.
Riverbills
Riverbills.com is the website of Bill Kelly’s total information for Mississippi River pool 26 which runs from Lock & Dam 26 near Alton to Lock & Dam 27 near Winfield, MO.
No matter what you want to know about pool 26, Riverbills has the information. From water levels up and down the river to the menu of a bar along the river, its there.
Riverbills is for many boaters, marinas, shoreside restaurants, bars, and shops the source of who, what, when, and where river activities are taking place. Having said all that it seemed a good move to join with Bill Kelly for some social events.
SLCR and Riverbills are planning four events, parties, along the river during 2012. Using the seasons of the year as a guide, each event will have a theme; ie: The start of Boating Season, Eagle watching, etc.
The goal is simple; to interact with and get to know the people who inhabit the river shores. Riverbills has been around much longer than SLCR. SLCR thinks we will benefit from these joint events and Bill feels the same.
Our audiences are not a total overlap. This makes things even better for both organizations. We will announce each event in a newsletter and on our website. Look for them.
Thank you for your support. Feel free to contact us at anytime.
Stlriverkeeper.org, 314-567-3900, 8816 Manchester Rd. #301, St. Louis, 63144
