Perhaps the most important thing to remember about a stream is that, here in southwest Missouri, we all live near one. That means we all play a part in either making it better or worse for all the creatures that live in and around a stream – including we humans. The more each of us…
“If the rock garden doesn’t get you, the panther will.” A somewhat ominous thing for a river guide to say on a float, but it still made me smile. And Mountain View resident Mike Gaddy certainly didn’t disappoint when it came to his knowledge of the Jacks Fork. My former kayak instructor and friend, Dave…
The Gasconade River begins its 280-mile journey in the Missouri Ozarks near Hartville to where it unites with the Missouri River near the appropriately-named town of Gasconade. Floaters, fishermen, stargazers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and walks of life enjoy it year-round. While there are many ways to access this river, I have always…
Each year, tens of thousands of visitors frequent the shallow water and gravel bars that make Missouri’s float streams popular recreational locations. Unfortunately, many visitors have not prepared properly and find themselves and their activity in violation of state law. There is no replacement for common sense and individual responsibility, so please be courteous and…
In Missouri, floating down streams and paddling around lakes are fantastic ways to enjoy the state’s great outdoors. Whether your passion is angling for smallmouth or rock bass, keeping an eye out for elusive wildlife, or simply drifting downstream with the current, a day on the water will lift your spirits. Depending on the river…
In 2022, James River Basin Partnership officially closed the book on our Wilsons’ Creek 319 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Grant project, which focused on the largely urban Wilson’s Creek sub-watershed in southwestern Greene County. The Wilson’s Creek implantation project ran from 2017 to 2022, and included tree planting, streambank stabilization and restoration along Wilson’s and Fassnight…
Loring Bullard, author of “Living Waters: The Springs of Missouri” and longtime water-warrior, speaks to a group about the history of the Jordan Creek “box.” Last month, James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) staff and volunteers conducted water quality monitoring on Jordan Creek in central Springfield (Mo.) for the City of Springfield. JRBP partners with the…
Timber rafting in Checkoslovcka By Len Stagoski Here is a bit of trivia, but it’s historically significant trivia. Missouri supplied a very significant number of the railroad ties used in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. “As the Civil War drew to a close, everything was in place for the railroads to prosper. Advancements in…
