River des Peres Watershed Coalition
Greening 36 Neighborhoods to Improve, Protect, and Maintain the River!
News
Honeysuckle Sweep for Healthy Habitat March 4-19th
Written by Besa Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 3:07 PM
Last Updated on Sunday, March 5th, 2017 4:10 PM
Volunteers welcome to help improve habitat & clean waterways in RdP watershed.
As part of this initiative sponsored by Missouri Botanical Garden, many groups have organized to remove invasive Bush Honeysuckle during the Honeysuckle Sweep for Healthy Habitat March 4-19th. Click here for the list of events and to register for that event.
All are welcome to help clean streams at one of the largest organized annual cleanups in the St. Louis area, the Confluence Trash Bash
on Saturday, March 18th. If you would like to help, please register here and choose a starting site listed to sign in and be directed to a stream site.
14th Annual River des Peres Trash Bash a Smash!
Written by Administrator Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 12:53 PM
Last Updated on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 1:43 PM
The 14th Annual River des Peres Trash Bash & Watershed Festival was a breakout success this year! 650 volunteers stepped forward to help with this watershed-wide event that included 16 different cleanup sites, ranging from the headwaters, picking up major tributary creeks along the way, down to the confluence of the River des Peres and the Mississippi River.
Adding to this year's success were 2 motorized jon boats provided by Missouri River Relief. Thanks to MMR, we were able to handle hard-to-get sites in the confluence area. This was a first for our RdP operation.
This year again we were able to recycle materials at the Willmore Park location, thanks to Brightside St. Louis. Volunteer registration sites were established at the UMSL South Campus CHERP location; Heman Park in University City; and our new rally location at Willmore Park, along the RdP main channel.
Numerous Girl Scout troops, families, Stream Team veterans and people of all ages came to do their share. This was the second year we hosted the Watershed Festival in association with the clean up and many organizations came for educational outreach activities. A free BBQ lunch was provided for all volunteers who could rendezvous at Willmore Park immediately following the clean up. Live music was provided by the popular band Keltic Reign and prizes awarded for the most unusual, most valuable, and biggist Trash Treasures!
A record breaking trash haul was aggregated and reported; 
TIRE COUNT = 165
5 tons of trash removed (solid waste landfill)
1.4 tons of recycled material
1.4 tons of scrap metal removed
1.3 tons - single stream recycled
35 inlet stormwater markers set in place
We extend our sincere appreciation to all of our growing number of partners and sponsors without whom this event could not take place:
THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT THE GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY DISTRICT
THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
MISSOURI STREAM TEAMS
LEAGUE OF WATERSHED GUARDIANS
SCHLAFLY BREWERY
THE SOUTHWEST DINER
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS
THE CITY OF DES PERES
THE CITY OF GLENDALE
THE CITY OF CLAYTON
THE CITY OF HANLEY HILLS
MISSOURI RIVER RELIEF
Also, a special thanks goes out to the Missouri Parks Association, MSD's Project Clear, Great Rivers Greenway, The Wild Ones, 1Mississippi, and the Sierra Club, all of whom participated in the Watershed Festival.
We are determined to protect and improve our urban rivers and streams. We can and will restore the River des Peres and its tributaries that flow to the Mississippi. "Eventually all things merge into one and a River runs through it."
(Story provided by Steve Nagle, RdPWC Trash Bash Coordinator)
Earth Day at Forest Park
Written by Dan Sherburne Thursday, April 21st, 2016 1:53 PM
Last Updated on Sunday, April 24th, 2016 9:57 AM
River des Peres Watershed Coalition at Earth Day 2016!
Earth Day will be celebrated at Forest Park once again Sunday, April 24, from 10 AM to 6 PM. And the River des Peres Watershed Coalition will be there!
Come to the Nature and Wildlife area near the footbridge over the water and look for the RdPWC table. We'll be sharing a booth (N-24) with the Greenway Network.
Steve Nagle, RdPWC Program Director, will be doing the honors--handing out brand new brochures, informing visitors about the River des Peres and its issues, and telling them about the Coalition and what we're doing. Coalition members are welcome to help out and spread the word, but stop by and visit a bit regardless.
Here is all the information you need to have a great Earth Day at the Park:
http://www.stlouisearthday.org/events/festival/
See you there!
Honeysuckle Sweep for Healthy Habitat
Created on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 6:12 AM
Last Updated on Thursday, February 25th, 2016 8:58 AM
The River des Peres Watershed Coalition will be a participating organization in the Honeysuckle Sweep for Healthy Habitat. The Missouri Botanical Garden describes the effort as...
"In an effort to energize the greater St. Louis region around improving habitat for our native plants and animals, area conservation organizations join together to spotlight invasive bush honeysuckle and the need to remove it so that large swaths of land can become productive areas for native habitat, recreation and enjoyment. To that end, organizations will host public events and volunteer removal days during the first ever Honeysuckle Sweep Week, March 5–13, 2016.
Goals
- Raise public awareness about the need for bush honeysuckle removal and the benefits to wildlife and humans of replanting with native plants. Utilize creative events as well as informative volunteer removals opportunities.
- Remove 35,000 square feet of bush honeysuckle."
Don't you want to feel as good as this 2012 Make a Difference Day crew?
Members of the River des Peres Watershed Coalition, and the community at large are encouraged to participate in a March 5 opportunity to restore habitat in Deer Creek Park, while raising awareness about invasive bush honeysuckle. The Coalition has worked off and on in Deer Creek Park for the past 6 years, and it will be great to keep momentum going with this event that is being sponsored by the Open Space Council in partnership with Great Rivers Greenway.
The Coalition would also like to run a honeysuckle hack event March 12 (9 am - 12 pm) in University City's Heman Park, but we can't do it without your help. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to help.
Dry Floodproofing
Created on Thursday, January 8th, 2015 7:06 AM
Last Updated on Friday, January 30th, 2015 2:34 PM
"As water rises on the foundation, it can enter the basement through windows, outside stairwells, floor drains, and gaps around pipes passing through the foundation. This presentation describes steps I have taken to mitigate such intrusions, " says Eric Stein of University City. We were on a panel at a Flood Mitigation Meeting held on December 4, 2014 by the City of University City, and Mr. Stein provided an excellent presentation on Dry Floodproofing.
Has overland flow flooded your home? Eric's presentation might help you make sense of Federal Emergency Managemant Agency guidelines, and make your own decisions about how to prevent flooding in your home. Download his presentation here:
Dry Floodproofing Presentation
Photo: Eric Stein, September, 2014: Dry Floodproofing of Basement Door
Edwin Way TealeTothe lost man, to the pioneer penetrating a new country, to the naturalist who wishes to see the wild land at its wildest, the advice is always the same -- follow a river. The river is the original forest highway. It is nature's own Wilderness Road.
The global effort to protect our waterways starts at home.
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