MissouriResources

Fall 2016 • Volume 33 • Number 4

MissouriResources

State of Missouri, Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon

Department Director Sara Parker Pauley

Deputy Director Todd Sampsell

Director, Division of Administrative Support Lori Gordon

Director, Division of Environmental Quality Leanne Tippett Mosby

Director, Missouri State Parks Bill Bryan

Director, Missouri Geological Survey Joe Gillman

Director, Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority Karen Massey

printed on recycled paper

EditorStuart Westmoreland

Design DirectorBelinda Hughes

PhotographersBen NickelsonAndrew Richmond

Assistant EditorAndrew Richmond

CirculationPublications staff

Editorial BoardAndrea BalkenbushHylan BeydlerRenee BungartSteph DeidrickStuart Westmoreland

MISSOURI RESOURCES is published quarterly by the MissouriDepartment of Natural Resources to inform readers about important natu-ral resource issues and how they are being addressed. Any correspon-dence should be directed to the editor at the Department of NaturalResources, Publications, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176, or call 800-361-4827. Email address: moresdnr@dnr.mo.gov. MoDNR home page: dnr.mo.gov. To subscribe or unsubscribe online:dnr.mo.gov/magazine/subscription.htm.

MISSOURI RESOURCES is available in alternative formats.

As a recipient of federal funds, the Department of Natural Resources can-not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation or veteran status.

If anyone believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination for anyof these reasons, he or she may file a complaint with either theDepartment of Natural Resources or the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S.Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 20240.

Missouri Resources is printed with soy ink on recycled paper at RR Donnelley in Liberty, Mo.

Mission StatementThe mission of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is to protect our air,

land and water; to preserve our unique natural and historic places; and to provide recreational and learning opportunities for everyone.

Fall 2016Volume 33 • Number 4

T his summer, I had the honor ofjoining Gov. Jay Nixon and state

parks director Bill Bryan as we dedi-cated Missouri’s 88th state park – EchoBluff State Park in Shannon County.

As we celebrated the opening ofthe park on that hot summer day, I re-called a quote by award-winning poetand environmental activist Gary Snyder, “Nature is not a place to visit,it is home.”

I couldn’t agree more. I felt as if Iwere home while exploring and enjoy-ing all of the magnificent sceneryfound within this state park.

I grew up spending time in the nat-ural beauty of the Ozarks with myparents and grandparents. It was onthe clear Ozark streams like the Cur-rent and Eleven Point where I learnedto float, fish, camp and explore ourbeautiful state. Those are my fondestmemories of my childhood – I’ve al-ways felt as if I were home whilespending time with nature.

The Echo Bluff property has a longlegacy of providing families with theopportunity to connect with natureand make memories. In 1929, theMcMahan and Winkelmeyer familiespurchased 100 acres and createdCamp Zoe.

The summer camp owners wereteachers from the St. Louis area andunderstood the importance of teach-

ing children to spend more time in thegreat outdoors.

Camp Zoe provided children withthe opportunity to learn canoeing,swimming, horseback riding, tennis,marksmanship, archery, fishing andother training in the life of campinguntil it closed in 1986.

Preserving and protecting this in-credible land and history was equallyimportant for the Missouri Depart-ment of Natural Resources and Mis-souri State Parks – as it representsthe very essence of our mission.

director’s

MissouriResources

Sara Parker PauleyMissouri Department of Natural Resources

Since 1917, Missouri State Parkshas been inviting children and theirfamilies to explore and experience na-ture in Missouri’s beautiful stateparks and historic sites.

This 100-year-old tradition of pre-serving and interpreting the state’smost outstanding natural landscapesand cultural features, while providingrecreational opportunities to the pub-lic is something all Missourians cantake pride in. Your state parks andhistoric sites provide some of thegreatest opportunities to get outdoorsand truly appreciate all of the beautyour state has to offer. Visitmostateparks.com to learn more.

I certainly hope you will comehome to Echo Bluff State Park andstart making memories of your own.

Above: Gov. Jay Nixon addresses the crowd at the grand opening of Echo Bluff State Park, in Shannon County.Cover: Visitors enter and exit the Betty Lea Lodge at Echo Bluff. MoDNR photos by Ben Nickelson.

departments18 Explore Missouri 20 DNR News 22 Top Spots 25 … But Not Least

2 Show Me the Benefitsby Renee Bungart

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax is up for renewal this November. The benefits of this tax, thrice

overwhelmingly reapproved by Missouri voters, are split equally between the Soil and Water Conservation Program and Missouri State Parks.

6 A Magical History Tour on U.S. 36by Tom Uhlenbrock

You might expect that a straight shot across the rolling farmlands of northern Missouri would be a real snoozer. As Mark Twain said, “All

generalizations are false, including this one.” Fact is, there is probably more history on every turn of U.S. 36 than on any other Missouri road.

Wait – there aren’t any turns.

12 The Bricks That Built St. Louisby Missouri Geological Survey staff

It’s hard to dispute the perception that everywhere you look in St. Louis, you see brick … lots and lots of brick. Brick homes, businesses,

skyscrapers and apartments. What gave rise to this construction approach? Whatever the reasons, one is certain: a fortuitous little natural

resource called loess.

You have to see it to believe it. You’veheard that before, right? Seeing some-thing with our very own eyes certainly

makes it easier to believe, after all, we dolive in the Show-Me State.

Soil and Water ConservationMike Wilbers felt much the same way

when he first learned about managed inten-

sive grazing. After reading everything hecould on the subject, Wilbers wanted some-one to show him the benefits firsthand. Heattended several farm tours and learned agrazing system could benefit his cattle aswell as improve the quality of soil andwater on his farm.

“I like trying to improve the soil natural-ly,” said Wilbers.

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by Renee Bungartphotographs by Ben Nickelson

Show Methe Benefits

Fall 2016 3

The Wilbers’ farm was one of the first inthe area to begin managed intensive

grazing more than 16 years ago. While thegrazing system was working great, they re-alized they needed to bring the water closerto the cattle and keep them out of thecreeks. That’s when they learned about theCost-Share program.

“The local Soil and Water ConservationDistrict office told us they could help sharethe cost to provide our cattle with water,”said Wilbers.

The Cost-Share program is supported byhalf of the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax.The Department of Natural Resources,through the 114 local Soil and Water Con-servation Districts, reimburse landownersfor completing voluntary soil and waterconservation practices that reduce soil ero-sion and improve soil health and waterquality on their property.

The one-tenth-of-one-percent sales taxwas first approved by voters in 1984 andhas been reapproved three times showingthe voters’ support for Missouri’s soil andwater conservation and park system efforts.It is set to expire if not renewed by votersthis November.

The Wilbers didn’t apply for the programright away as they were a little unsure – butthat’s no longer the case. They’ve seen first-hand the difference the voluntary practiceshave made on their farm over the years byreducing erosion, improving water quality

in their nearby creeks and increasing theproductivity of their soil.

“We are able to provide our cattle withclean, fresh water,” said Wilbers. “And thegrazing system allows good cow manuredistribution across the farm, which has im-proved the soil health dramatically. We’venot purchased fertilizer for our farm for thelast 8 years, which is a huge savings to us.”

Now, the Wilbers are the ones givingfarm tours and showing other landownersthe benefits gained from thesoil and water practices.

Arlene Stewart is nostranger to the Cost-Share pro-gram, either. She’s participat-ed in five practices since the’90s and has seen the differ-ence it has made on her farmin Osage County. Stewart iscurrently working on a pestmanagement practice – pestsin this case are the weeds inthe pasture. By controlling theweeds and allowing the pas-tures to rest in between graz-ing, she has seen an increasein the type of grasses comingup in the fields, which includ-ed fescue and now timothyand orchard grasses.

“It’s expensive to completethe work needed,” said Stew-art. “But the funding I’ve re-

“I like trying to improve the soil naturally.”– Mike Wilbers, Cost-Share program participant

(Opposite page) Cost-share practices help reduce soilerosion and improve waterquality, as demonstrated bythe clear creek runningthrough the Wilbers’ farm.(Above left) Mary and MikeWilbers have been farmingfor 37 years and have seenthe benefits of implement-ing cost-share practices ontheir Bonnots Mill farm.(Above) The Wilbers man-age their grazing by rotatingcattle between different-sized paddocks.

The pest management practice improvescrop yields or forage production.

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ceived is helping me improve my propertyand in the long run, it’s definitely making ita nicer, healthier place. It’s easy to see thebenefits from the program and it’s definitelyworth the time it takes me to complete thatlittle bit of paperwork.”

Landowners like the Wilbers and Stewarthave completed more than 220,000 cost-share practices since the sales tax was es-tablished in 1984. These good farming prac-

tices have kept more than 177 mil-lion tons of soil on our fields and outof our waterways while preserving

the productivity of Missouri’s workingfarms. To learn more about the benefitsgained from the Cost-Share program, visitthe department’s website atdnr.mo.gov/env/swcp.

Missouri State ParksHave you ever wanted to explore the

great outdoors, sleep under the stars or cookover an open fire but not sure where to

begin? Certainly, learning theins and outs of camping wouldbe a lot easier if the expertswere able to loan us the equip-ment and show us exactly whatwe needed to know.

That’s precisely what theClemens family found whenthey attended a Learn2 Campweekend hosted by MissouriState Parks. Julie Clemens ad-mits she prefers meals from akitchen, to sleep in a fluffybed, and air-conditioned vaca-tions. However, her three ener-getic boys and football coachhusband don’t agree.

“We can all agree that out-door, unplugged play is prefer-able to being inside and teth-ered to electronics, but they’vewanted to take their outdoorplay to the next level – an out-door vacation,” said Clemens.

Arlene Stewart values thework completed on her 294

acres in Osage County,through the Cost-Share

program, to improve soilquality and increase source

water for her cattle.(Far right) Stewart complet-

ed a cost-share practicethat excluded cattle fromher woods and creeks to

protect the vegetation, soilcondition and water quality.

(Bottom) The Clemens family learned how to pitcha tent, start a fire and cook

over a campfire while attending a Learn2 Campweekend at Knob Noster

State Park in Johnson County.

Fall 2016 5

Clemens was up for the challenge butwanted to learn everything about campingand cooking before they ventured outdoorsovernight. “We thoroughly enjoyed ourcamping experience. It was helpful to learnthe proper way to set up camp, cook andstay safe. It was fun to have family timewith no distractions,” added Clemens.

Missouri State Parks is able to providefree parks admission and initiatives such asthe Learn2 series and interpretive programswith funding from the Parks, Soils andWater Sales Tax. The one-tenth-of-one-per-cent sales tax provides 75 percent of thebudget to operate and improve state parksand historic sites and will expire if not re-newed by voters this November.

The Farleys rallied their family of fiveafter being selected to attend the Learn2

Camp weekend at Knob Noster State Park.They love the outdoors and wanted to investin camping equipment but didn’t want tobuy unnecessary equipment.They were delighted to getaway for the weekend and havean expert show them just whatthey needed to purchase, andhow to use the equipment.

“Being able to experiencereal camping without having togo out and buy everything youthink you need was great,” saidJessica Farley. “The facilitatorswere so great to work with be-cause they were genuinely in-terested in helping us learn.The experience has opened oureyes to camping and actually

“We can all agreethat outdoor,

unplugged play ispreferable to beinginside and tetheredto electronics, butthey’ve wanted totake their outdoor

play to the nextlevel – an outdoor

vacation.”– Julie Clemens,

Learn2 Camp participant

(Top) Scott Farley campedas a Boy Scout while growing up. Learn2 Campprovided equipment andtraining that helped himshare the camping experi-ence with his family.(Bottom) Missouri StateParks provided a helpinghand to several familieswho attended three Learn2Camp weekends during2016. Participants were provided with equipmentand instructors who taughtbasic camping skills, helping them expand theirenjoyment of the great outdoors.

just being outdoors more.”The Farleys are busy with work, school,

sports and household chores. They admittedspending time together as a family often be-comes a difficult challenge.

“Probably the most rewarding benefit ofthe trip was simply having our family togeth-er without distractions,” said Farley. “Thatalone makes us as parents more interested inputting more effort in to getting away to na-ture even if just for a weekend or a day.”

Missouri’s 88 state parks and historicsites provide families with the opportunityto explore nature and spend quality, familytime enjoying the outdoors.

To plan a visit to one of Missouri’s stateparks or historic sites and learn the benefitsof spending time outdoors, visit mostateparks.com.

Renee Bungart is deputy communicationsdirector for the Missouri Department ofNatural Resources.

6 Missouri Resources

G et your kicks on Route 36.Nope, that’s not how the song goes.U.S. 36, which runs arrow-straight for 195 miles across the top third of Missouri,

never would be mistaken for its glitzy cousin, Historic Route 66, which headed southwestfrom St. Louis to Joplin before it was replaced by Interstate 44.

U.S. 36 has no sparkling neon signs, no barn roofs advertising a roadside attraction andno barrage of billboards. The four-lane highway rolls with the gentle hills through a land-scape of forest, fields and tidy farms.

Instead of truck stops and fast-food restaurants, the view out the window is of gleaminggrain silos and giant rolls of hay stacked neatly in the mowed pastures.

The highway also has a sprinkling of towns that produced enough talented leaders to billitself as “The Way of American Genius.” There also are state parks and historic sites thatoffer quiet respites from the road.

A Magical History Tour

on U.S. 36by Tom Uhlenbrock

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U.S. 36 begins in Ohio, crosses Indiana,Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, and ends atRocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.For cross-country travelers, it offers a de-lightful alternative to the hubbub of busyInterstate 70, some 50 miles to the south.

The highway enters Missouri on the eastat Hannibal, which draws tourists from allover the world as the boyhood home of thestate’s most famous author, Samuel Lang-horne Clemens, aka Mark Twain.

But if you want to see where it all began,continue west on U.S. 36 and take a detour

south to tiny Florida, Mo., and the MarkTwain Birthplace State Historic Site. Thesite displays the cabin where the belovedClemens was born.

On seeing a photo of the two-room, blueclapboard cabin years later, Clemens wrote,“Heretofore I have always stated that it wasa palace, but I shall be more guarded now.”

A mong the other exhibits at the statehistoric site is an original handwritten

manuscript for “Tom Sawyer.” The site ispart of Mark Twain State Park, which hastrails, campsites and water recreation on an18,000-acre manmade lake.

At Macon, U.S. 36 runs by another popu-lar recreational area, Long Branch StatePark. The park’s three boat ramps provideaccess to sprawling and picturesque LongBranch Lake, which has some of the bestbass fishing in northern Missouri.

The park’s swimming beach makes it afavorite for families. With more than 80campsites, Long Branch is a perfect place

“Heretofore I have always stated that it was a palace, but I shall be more guarded now.”

– Mark Twain

(Opposite page) A view of a farm just west of Long Branch State Park, nearMacon, is a typical sight while driving along U.S. 36.(Below) The two-bedroom cabin in which Samuel Langhorne Clemens (MarkTwain) was born is preserved inside the museum at Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site in Florida, Mo.

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for overnight stays. A restored nativeprairie shows what much of northernMissouri looked like before the arrivalof the plow.

T hirty minutes north of Macon atKirksville is a third state park

known for its water recreation. The cen-terpiece of Thousand Hills State Park isthe 700-acre Forest Lake, which offersfishing, swimming and boating. Thepark has campsites and cabins forovernight stays.

Kirksville also was home to Dr. An-drew Taylor Still, known as “the fatherof osteopathy.” Still’s impact on medi-cine is detailed at the A.T. Still Museumof Osteopathic Medicine.

Another one of the American genius-es is honored at Marceline, where therestored Santa Fe Railroad depot is nowthe Walt Disney Hometown Museum.

“Last year we had 12,000 visitorsfrom 49 states and six or seven foreigncountries,” said Lois Buckman, whowas welcoming visitors to the museum.

“We’re proud of our little museum,”said co-greeter Beverly Klumb.

Disney first came to town by train in1903 at the age of 5, and the museumtells the intimate story of his small-townupbringing. The Main Street USA areaat Disney theme parks is modeled afterthe Marceline that the young Disneyknew as a child.

Just a dozen miles farther west nearLaclede, a traveler should plan to spenda few hours at a trifecta of attractions –the Gen. John J. Pershing BoyhoodHome State Historic Site, Pershing StatePark and Locust Creek Covered BridgeState Historic Site.

“Black Jack” Pershing was the com-

(Left) A statue of Mickey Mouse stands at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline.

(Below) The sun sets over boaters on thelake at Long Branch State Park.

(Bottom) At Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site in Laclede, visitors can take a

30-minute tour of the two-story residence.

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Fall 2016 9

mander of the American ExpeditionaryForces in World War I. His distinguishedcareer is highlighted by his boyhood home,the one-room schoolhouse where he taught,and a bronze statue of one of the country’smost renowned military leaders.

T he centerpiece of Pershing State Park isa boardwalk that leads for 1.5 miles

through the wetlands and swampy forestalong meandering Locust Creek, with awood tower overlooking a rare remnant of awet prairie.

Locust Creek Covered Bridge is one offour remaining covered bridges in Missouri.Built in 1868, the bridge is the longest ofthe four at 151 feet and is remarkably well

Travel to the state parks and historic sites along U.S. 36 and claim passport stamps with the Missouri State Parks Centennial Passport. For more on the program, visit mostateparks.com/passport.

(Bottom) Lyle VanHouten’s Automotive Museum on Old 36 inClarence offers a nostal-gic presentation of vin-tage cars and gas pumps.

(Left) A bronze statue of Gen. John J. Pershing stands at his boyhood home.(Below) Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site is approximately 6 miles west of Laclede in Linn County.M

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10 Missouri Resources

preserved, thanks to arestoration in 2003.

The bridge stands,high and dry, like awood sculpture in thebottomland forest, withthe creek now relocatedby nature.

A mural painted onthe side of a building inChillicothe, one of 18decorating the down-town, proclaims thetown as the “Home ofSliced Bread” because alocal bakery was thefirst to sell mechanical-ly sliced bread in 1928.The famous bread slicer is on display at theGrand River Historical Society Museum in Chillicothe.

Further west, Hamilton was the home-town of J.C. Penney. His legacy of entrepre-neurial genius is preserved at the J.C. Pen-ney Library and Museum, which uses

artifacts and memorabilia to tell the story ofthe man who created a retail empire, andtaught business to a young Sam Walton. Hismodest boyhood home is a stone’s throwfrom the library.

At Cameron, a 6-mile detour south takesyou to Wallace State Park, which is a forest-ed oasis amid the agricultural fields ofnorthern Missouri. The park’s wooded hillssurround a 6-acre fishing lake and fourtrails offer hiking.

B ecause the park is near the intersectionof U.S. 36 and Interstate 35, which

slices north and south from Minnesota toMexico, it draws highway travelers from allover the Midwest.

With 81 secluded campsites and a full-service RV campground with 42 electricsites, Wallace State Park is a popular stopfor snowbirds migrating south in the winter,and back north in the spring.

St. Joseph and the Missouri River mark

(Above) One of 18 muralspainted on buildings aroundChillicothe, the birthplace of

mechanically sliced bread.(Right) Boardwalk Trail at

Pershing State Park offersguests the opportunity to

view a wet prairie, which is home to a

wide variety of birds.(Bottom) The Walter

Cronkite Memorial at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph

honors the legendary news anchor.

“And that’s the way it is.” – Walter Cronkite

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the end of the trail for the west end of U.S.36 in Missouri. The town has a wealth of at-tractions, including the Pony Express Na-tional Museum.

The museum tells the story of the relaysystem in which horseback riders deliveredthe mail more than 1,900 miles in just 10days. The stable where the riders first setout in 1860 is part of the museum.

T he newest attraction in St. Joseph is atribute to one of the city’s greatest na-

tive sons. The WalterCronkite Memorial is onthe campus of MissouriWestern State Universityand honors the legendaryCBS News anchor.

The memorial includes19 exhibits that explore thesignificant events thatCronkite covered, includingWorld War II, the assassina-tion of President John F.Kennedy, the moon landingand Watergate.

As “the most trustedman in America,” the coun-

try turned to Cronkite for its nightly infor-mation for more than two decades. Ameri-cans rested easy after hearing his signaturesignoff: “And that’s the way it is.”

For more information, visit americangeniushighway.com andmostateparks.com.

Tom Uhlenbrock is a writer for MissouriState Parks, a division of the Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources.

(Above) The scenic overlookat Mark Twain Lake StatePark in Monroe County is a great place to view color-ful fall foliage.(Bottom) A father leads hisyoung sons to a favoritefishing spot along Lake Allaman at Wallace State Park in Clinton County.

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P ierre de Laclède Liguest andRene Auguste Chouteau found-ed St. Louis in 1764, at the con-

fluence of two of the greatest rivers inNorth America. At that time, they didnot know the city was sitting atop awealth of very special “dirt” calledloess (pronounced lŭhs). The loess de-posits that blanketed the bluffs of theMissouri and Mississippi rivers werelater used to make a distinctive redbrick that is still seen on numerousbuildings that can be found across theSt. Louis area.

“Beautiful brick buildings areamazingly unique and abundant in thecity of St. Louis. Almost all of the

older buildings made of brick wereconstructed from a local natural re-source that was derived from andmanufactured within the city limits,”said Mimi Garstang, retired MissouriState Geologist with the Departmentof Natural Resources.

Two noteworthy buildings thatwere constructed using local brick in-clude the Eugene Field House and theWainwright Building. Now known asthe Eugene Field House & St. LouisToy Museum, it was built in 1829 andis located at 634 South Broadway.

The immaculate three-story homeis typical of the townhouse-styledwellings popular in many urban resi-

dential neighborhoods of the area dur-ing the early 19th century.

Roswell Field, the attorney whoworked free of charge on Dred Scott’sfederal court case to free him and hisfamily from slavery, once owned thishome. Field’s son Eugene, the “Chil-dren’s Poet,” wrote Little Boy Blueand other works.

Field also was literary editor ofThe Missourian, the University ofMissouri’s campus newspaper.

The majestic Wainwright Buildingwas built for St. Louis brewer EllisWainwright in 1891. Located at 709Chestnut St., the 10-story landmark isamong the world’s first skyscrapers.

12 Missouri Resources

The Bricks That Built St. Louis

by Missouri Geological Survey Staff

Fall 2016 13

(Opposite page) The Wainwright Building, 709 Chestnut St., was designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, known as the “Father of Skyscrapers,” and built in 1891. MoDNR photo by Ben Nickelson

(Below left) Eugene Field House & St. Louis Toy Museum was built in 1829 at 634 South Broadway and was the boyhood home ofwriter Eugene Field.(Below right) Painted brick houses grace the 5100 block of Wilson Ave. on The Hill in south St. Louis.(Bottom) Soulard Market Apartments on Eighth Street is a redeveloped brownfields site originally built in 1875 as a factory for theWelsh Baby Carriage Co.

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Loess 101Loess is found in many areas

around the world. Deposits of loessin the St. Louis area are believed tohave formed during the ice age inwhat geologists call the Pleistoceneepoch, beginning about 1.6 millionyears ago. The slow but relentlessgrinding action of advancing gla-ciers on bedrock created largeamounts of rock debris ranging insize from huge boulders to silt.

During the subsequent glacier re-treats, meltwaters carried largeamounts of rock debris into the Mis-souri and Mississippi river valleys.During times of dry weather, windsswept a considerable amount ofdusty rock debris out of the rivervalleys and deposited it along bothsides of the river bluffs.

This naturally occurring, fairlycohesive surficial material is com-posed primarily of very small, wind-blown particles of quartz and clayminerals. Lesser amounts of calciteand iron oxide mineral matter com-prise the bulk of the remainder.Loess typically has a characteristicyellow to brown color.

14 Missouri Resources

(Top) St. Ambrose Catholic Church was built in 1926 of Romanesque-style bricks and terra-cotta, and influenced by the Sant’Ambro-gio Church in Milan, Italy. In front of the building, on the corner of Wilson and Marconi avenues, is a sculpture by Rudolph Torrini.(Above middle) Blackmer & Post operated a huge clay and loess mining operation on Eyler Ave, circa 1895-1905.(Above) Workers operate a hydraulic brick press at St. Louis’s Hydraulic Press Brick Co. during the same time period.

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In 2011, filmmaker Bill Streeter releasedhis documentary, Brick By Chance and For-tune: A St. Louis Story. The award-winningdocumentary chronicles St. Louis’s rich his-tory as both a producer and user of brick –a building material that is as lovely as itis sturdy.

Streeter recognized a large part of the“brick story” involved thenaturally occurring sourceof the brick product. Hisdocumentary includes aninterview with Mimi

Enameled brick can be glazedin almost any color.

Making Bricks from Loess in St. Louis

Because of its abundance and easewith which it could be obtained, loesswas the most important brick-makingmaterial in St. Louis. The characteris-tic red color of St. Louis bricks resultsfrom a trace amount of iron oxideminerals naturally present in thearea’s loess deposits. Often, nothinghad to be added to the loess prior tofiring it in the kiln. The brick that wasproduced so easily created a durableproduct that needs almost no mainte-nance. Sufficient amounts of the re-source allowed the brick-making in-dustry to flourish in St. Louis formore than 100 years.

“Around 1900, the city had morethan 100 brick manufacturing plants.St. Louis soon became known for thequality, craftsmanship and abundantbrick supply,” Garstang said.

Thomas H. Scales started the firstbrickyard in St. Louis in 1859. TheHydraulic Press Brick Co. was estab-lished in 1868, and by the late 1800sbecame the largest brick maker in theworld. Hydraulic Press developed thevery popular “dry-press method” formaking common building brick. Thismethod involved plowing and scrap-ing the loess deposit. The loosenedloess was shoveled by hand into carts

Documentary Highlights St. Louis’s “Brick Story”

Garstang, retired State Geologist with theDepartment of Natural Resources.

“I was thrilled that Mr. Streeter wantedto better understand the natural resourcesthat were necessary to make the brick man-ufacturing and beautiful building stockpossible,” said Garstang.

Watch the documentary online atbit.ly/1NjiN5t and note that when“clay” and “clay pits” are men-tioned, this generally is a referenceto the loess that was used to makethe distinctive red brick in St. Louis.

and wheelbarrows and hauled to dry-ing sheds. The dry loess was pulver-ized and screened to the correct parti-cle size and then formed into theshape of bricks using a 40-ton press.The raw bricks were then fired inlarge kilns and allowed to cool slowlyfor two to three weeks.

The “soft mud method” involvedshoveling loess into large basins 2 to3 feet deep, wetting it with water, andallowing it to soak for 24 hours. Theresulting mud was transported to abrickmaker who worked it and placedit into a wooden mold that could formone to six bricks at a time. A brick-maker typically formed 3,000 bricksper workday. The brick was allowedto dry in the molds, often requiringfrequent turning to prevent cracking.Firing was done in kilns.

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Bricks also were manufacturedusing the “enameled brick method,”in which a colored glaze was appliedto one or more of the brick faces. Thismade it possible for the faces ofbricks to exhibit any color of the rain-bow including black, white and gray.

Brick by the NumbersBrick production in St. Louis

soared after the Civil War when manysuccessful companies emerged andflourished in the area.

In 1889, more than 200 millionbricks were produced in St. Louis. Atleast 33 companies with 38 brickyardsand 172 kilns were operational in1890. Hydraulic Press Brick Compa-ny alone produced more than one-

third of the total bricks manufactured.Union Press Brick Company and Col-lege Hill Press Brick Works also weremajor contributors.

In 1890, St. Louis brickyards pro-duced nearly 250 million bricks, thenvalued at more than $2.25 million –about $1 billion in today’s dollars.The heyday of the industry in St.Louis was at the turn of the 20th cen-tury when more than 100 companiesmade brick.

With the gradual depletion of loessdeposits in St. Louis city, the brick-yards that remained became increas-ingly dependent on loess that had tobe shipped in from St. Louis County.Eventually, the center of brick makingshifted to St. Louis County. In 1952,

the last loess brick was made in St.Louis city proper, but continued in St.Louis County into the 1980s.

Minerals and the MissouriGeological Survey

“Since 1853, the Missouri Geologi-cal Survey has been instrumental inlocating, describing and evaluatingthe state’s mineral deposits,” saidCarey Bridges, the department’s Geo-logical Survey Program director. “Wemonitor minerals industry activity,tabulate annual production statisticsand provide technical assistance tothose engaged in or wanting to be-come involved in the business of de-veloping Missouri’s wealth of mineralresources,” she added.

16 Missouri Resources

(Top) Brick construction is still in vogue as this new commercial office space attests on Edwards Street on The Hill.(Above left) This refractory brick from the National Building Arts Center in Sauget, Ill., was made by Evans & Howard Fire Brick Co. in St. Louis. It was recovered from the former Carondelet Coke Co. ovens in St. Louis.(Above right) To attempt to match the brick on the top eight stories, brown sandstone, pictured here, was used to createthe decorative trim on the Wainwright Building’s bottom two floors. Sandstone and red Missouri granite were used for the bottom two story’s heavy exterior base. (see photo on page 12).

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The department also helps ensurethat minerals are developed in a re-sponsible and environmentally safemanner. It requires that mined land isreclaimed for useful purposes after themining process has been completed.

Missouri’s mineral resources – in-cluding loess and the bricks madefrom it – are essential for building andmaintaining our modern way of life.They continue to contribute signifi-cantly to the economic well-being of

the state by providing business oppor-tunities and well-paying jobs. In re-cent years, the development of Mis-souri’s mineral resources hascontributed between $4-8 billion peryear to the state’s economy. Learnmore online at dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/geores/#minerals.

The Missouri Geological Survey is a division of the Missouri Departmentof Natural Resources.

Fall 2016 17

(Top left) Ornamental dry-pressed brick

made by Hydraulic Press Brick Co.

and Anthony Ittner Brick Co., both of

St. Louis, courtesy the National

Building Arts Center.

(Top right) Larry Giles, director of the

National Building Arts Center, stands

in front of pallets of street paving

blocks. The blocks came

to St. Louis as train ballast from

Wabash Clay Co. in Veedersburg, Ind.

The Bevo bottling plant on Lynch Street is part of the Anheuser-Busch complex, built in 1917.

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18 Missouri Resources

Gov. Jay Nixon has an invitation –and a promise – for Missourians.

Nixon wants everyone to visit thenew Echo Bluff State Park, whichopened July 30 and is billed as theGateway to the Ozarks. The park isoff Highway 19, about halfway be-tween Salem and Eminence.

The Governor predicts that thosewho make the trip will enjoy the pic-ture-perfect Ozarks setting that hasdrawn visitors for decades and is nowopen to the public.

“If they don’t already know it,Missourians are going to discoverwe’ve got an immense treasure inEcho Bluff that will be preserved forgenerations to come,” Nixon said.

The park is named for the concavebluff that stands over the clear watersof Sinking Creek, which empties into

the Current River.With an iconic 20-room lodge, 13

lodging units in nine cabins withkitchens, 12 “walk-in” campsites and60 RV spaces, the park serves as afamily-friendly base camp that allowsvisitors to explore the rivers, springs,waterfalls, grist mills and woodedtrails in the heart of the Ozarks.

Guests entering the lodge are greet-ed in the atrium by a massive stonefireplace that soars to the ceiling. Thetwo-story lodge includes a restaurantand an outdoor deck that looks outover the sparkling creek and buff-col-ored bluff.

All the rooms in the lodge have gasfireplaces and outdoor decks. Theyhave king beds with a sleeper sofa,and there are two-bedroom suites.

Five detached cabins are next to

the lodge. Four have two bedroomsand one has four. All have wood-burn-ing fireplaces with gas starters, spa-cious decks and full kitchens. Four“stacked” duplexes stand on the hill-side opposite the lodge.

The bottom floors have three bed-rooms, including one with bunk beds,and the top floors have three bed-rooms with a loft. Large families andgroups can rent both floors of the dis-tinctive duplexes.

Accommodations are availableyear-round. There is a two-night mini-mum on weekends in the lodge, andall year for the cabins. Free WiFi isavailable throughout the park. Pricesvary by season and day of the week.

The park’s campground features 60RV sites with 50-amp electric andwater, and most include sewer hook-

New State Park Opens in the Heart by Tom Uhlenbrockphotographs by Ben Nickelson

exploremissouri

(Left) Towering windows at the Betty Lea Lodge givevisitors a view of the majestic Echo Bluff and Sinking Creek. (Below) About 1.5 miles of Sinking Creek run throughthe park and empty into the Current River.

ups. There also are 12 “walk-in”campsites where visitors hike a shortdistance on trails leading into theOzark woods to camping decks andfire rings.

The lodge has the Creekside Grill,with indoor and outdoor seating, andthe Sinkin’ Creek Mercantile, a giftshop and general store that uses thelocal spelling for the creek.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner willfeature a variety of options rangingfrom omelets, hamburgers, bisonmeatloaf and Kansas City ribs. Thegift shop and store has snacks, sou-venirs and necessities such as sun-screen and fishing gear.

Adjacent to the lodge is a smalllake that will be stocked with crappie,bluegill, bass and catfish where younganglers can test their skills.

A n amphitheater for nature pro-grams and entertainment is next to

the lake, and further down the trail isthe Adventure Playground. It includesattractions designed to make young,aspiring adventurers comfortable inthe Ozark outdoors.

Sinking Creek is shallow andwarmer than most Ozark streams.While the creek is calm and gentlemost of the year, it also can present achallenging float trip when water isrunning fast, especially in the spring.

The park is right in the middle ofMissouri’s famed floating country,within a short drive of the best sec-tions of the upper Current and JacksFork rivers.

Information on local float outfittersis available at the Betty Lea Lodgefront desk. Echo Bluff State Park

plans to offer floating in 2017. Visitors can spend a week-long va-

cation exploring the beauty and soli-tude of this Ozarks gem, or they canventure out to the other scenic won-ders located within an hour’s drive ofthe park.

“If you want to see a historic milland turquoise spring, you can do itfrom Echo Bluff,” said Bill Bryan, di-rector of state parks. “If you want togo trout fishing, it’s a short drive toMontauk State Park. If you want tosee elk, it’s a short drive to PeckRanch. Echo Bluff offers that fullOzark experience.”

For more information, visitmostateparks.com.

Tom Uhlenbrock is a writer for Missouri State Parks.

Fall 2016 19

exploremissouri of the Ozarks

(Left) Sinking Creek is the perfect place tospend a lazy, hot summer afternoon withswimming, wading or fishing for small-mouth bass.(Above and right) Timbuktu Campground atEcho Bluff State Park offers basic “walk-in”campsites for tent camping, premium elec-tric/water and full-service sewer/electric/water campsites for recreational vehicles.

20 Missouri Resources

dnrson plans for the classroom and activ-ities for everyone. Explore the YouthEducation and Interpretation websiteat dnr.mo.gov/education.

“Unseen Benton” Painting Unveiled

In July, Missouri State Parks un-veiled a never-before-exhibited origi-nal oil painting by Thomas Hart Ben-ton at the Thomas Hart Benton Homeand Studio State Historic Site inKansas City.

The “Unseen Benton” is the debutof a very early Benton still-life paint-ing. The untitled work is an example ofyoung Benton’s attempt to paint in thestyle of the French artist and Post-Im-pressionist, Paul Cézanne, and hasnever been exhibited in any art muse-um, art gallery or catalog.

The painting was owned by Ben-ton’s New York City dentist, Dr. Moritz

Jagendorf. Later it was inherited byhis granddaughter, Ruth Alpert ofSanta Barbara, Calif.

Thomas Hart Benton Home andStudio State Historic Site is open 10a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, and Thurs-day through Saturday. The site also isopen Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.,April through October, and 11 a.m. to4 p.m. November through March. Formore information on the studio, visitmostateparks.com.

Pesticide CollectionProgram Results

The Missouri PesticideCollection Program, coordi-nated by the department’sHazardous Waste Program,had another successful year,collecting a total of 64,607

pounds of waste pesticide from 160Missouri farmers and households.

This photo of John Freder-ick Niemeier, his wife EliseFredensburg Niemeier andtheir son Alvin C. Niemeierwas taken in 1904 in front oftheir shoe store at 2912 N.Market St. in St. Louis. Eliseand John were the children ofDanish and German immi-grants, respectively, and for atime lived the Americandream, operating their store ina bustling city that wouldsoon host the World’s Fairand Olympic Games. Alvin,the first of five children, iswearing shoes made by his fa-ther. Carole Niemeier Tiptonof St. Charles, Alvin’s daugh-ter, submitted the photo fromher collection.

Just to the left of the shoe store, but out of view, was a haberdashery – or men’s clothing store – as it was referred to atthe turn of the 20th century. The prices shown for all shoes in the photo were less than $5.

Much of the surrounding area will soon become the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, west location.

Send your photo to “Time Exposures,” c/o Missouri Resources, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176. Original photos will be returned viainsured mail. Pre-1980 environmental and natural resource photos from Missouri will be considered. Please try to include the date and location ofthe picture, a brief description and any related historic details that may be of interest to our readers.

MoDNR YouthEducation andInterpretationProgram

The Department of Natural Resour-ces’ Youth Education and Interpreta-tion program provides education andinterpretive resources for youth,teachers and youth leaders.

The department is responsible forprotecting our natural resources andhas the opportunity to make a uniquecontribution through education, inter-pretation, partnerships and the knowl-edge and expertise of its staff.

The program has launched a newwebsite covering subjects that spannatural and cultural resources, stew-ardship, the connection between na-ture and health, and education aboutthe department’s role in these areas.In addition to youth-oriented informa-tional pages, the website provides les-

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For news releases on the Web, visitdnr.mo.gov/news.

For a complete listing of the department’supcoming meetings, hearings and events, visitthe department’s online calendar atdnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

Looking for a job in natural resources?Go to dnr.mo.gov/hr.

dnrSince the program’s inception in2012, 252,857 pounds of waste pesti-cide from 924 participants has beencollected and properly disposed. Thecalendar year 2016 collections were inBolivar, Canton, Fairfax, MontgomeryCity, Poplar Bluff and Portageville.Collection event locations for 2017 arebeing determined.

For more information and updateson the Missouri Pesticide CollectionProgram, visit dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/pesticide.

Earth ScienceWeek 2016

Join MoDNR in cele-brating Earth ScienceWeek in order to gain a

better understanding andappreciation for the Earth Sciences.Events are scheduled for Oct. 9-15and will celebrate the theme, “OurShared Geoheritage.”

Geoheritage is the collection of nat-ural wonders, landforms and resour-ces that are available to this genera-tion to effectively manage, use andconserve. Geoheritage locations arevalued for many reasons, includingscientific, economic, ecological, edu-cational, cultural, aesthetic, artisticand recreational purposes.

Learn about Geoheritage through aself-guided tour of the Ed Clark Muse-um of Missouri Geology, 111 Fair-grounds Road, Rolla. The museum isopen weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.The facility will be closed Oct. 9 in ob-servance of Columbus Day. For a listof Earth Science Week events andcontests, visit dnr.mo.gov/geology/education.htm.

Carver Prairie Restoration

The Department of Natural Resour-ces is excited to partner with the Mis-souri Prairie Foundation (MPF) to helprestore prairie lost due to mining andcontamination. The department andthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFW) are trustees for the state’sNatural Resource Damages Program,and have committed $750,000 to date

for MPF to acquire and restore rem-nant prairie. Carver Prairie is one ex-ample of this partnership in whichMPF was able to purchase a 160-acretract of land in Newton County forprairie restoration.

In the department’s capacity astrustee, it has the responsibility to re-store, replace, or protect the equiva-lent of the resources that have beenlost and provide the greatest benefitto Missouri’s citizens and to the healthof our environment. The Carver Prairietract includes 65 acres of original un-plowed prairie that will be protectedand an additional 26 acres that will un-dergo prairie reconstruction. The pur-chase also includes 69 acres of sa-

vanna woodlands.These projects support the depart-

ment’s larger mission, as preservingprairies helps protect water quality,provides habitat for pollinators andspecies like Monarch butterflies, andexpands opportunities for the publicto enjoy nature.

The Meramec River is thelongest free-flowing river inMissouri and has been asource of flood damage formany years. Despite theknown hazards of flooding,emergency managementteams suffer from a lack ofinformation both during andafter floods. Municipalities,industries and residents haveto make quick and expensivedecisions regarding evacua-tion and removal of equip-ment and property.

Last March, the Department of Natural Resources facilitated a meeting with localleaders from the Lower Meramec Watershed to discuss recent flooding and futureplanning. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Missouri Water Science Center proposeddeveloping online flood inundation mapping tools for a selected reach of the lowerMeramec River. The USGS helps communities protect lives and property by provid-ing tools and information to help them understand local flood risks and make cost-effective decisions. The first phase of this project, between Valley Park and Fenton,is partially funded by USGS, the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers, the Missouri Department ofTransportation and the Metropolitan St. LouisSewer District. For more information, contact AmyBeussink, USGS, at 573-308-3665 orambeussi@usgs.gov.

Is Meramec River Flooding Our “New Normal?”

1993 floodwaters at the confluence of theMeramec and Mississippi rivers.

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22 Missouri Resources

topspots

First granted statehood on Aug.10, 1821, Missouri’s early his-

tory covers several buildings andtwo cities. Visitors can get aglimpse of this interesting historyat First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site and the Missouri State Museum.

“The City of Jefferson,” was chosen as Missouri’s permanent capital. Until the new Capi-tol could be constructed, legislators needed a place to meet. On Nov. 25, 1820, St. Charleswas officially made the first capital of Missouri, and the state’s first legislators met there onJune 4, 1821.

Today, First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site in St. Charles includes elevenrooms in the Capitol complex that have been restored to their original state. Visitors cantake a guided tour through the actual rooms where Missouri state government was created.

The Missouri State Museum in Jefferson City is located on the first floor of the current Capitol. The museum includesexhibits and displays that highlight the state’s natural and cultural history.

The present Capitol is actually the third to stand in Jefferson City. The first wasbuilt in 1826, but flames engulfed that building in 1837. The second and much larg-er Capitol was designed in classical Revival structure, but also burned on Feb. 5,1911. A few months later, in a special election held Aug. 1, 1911, Missourians ap-proved the issuance of $3.5 million in state bonds for a new Capitol, which was offi-cially dedicated on Oct. 6, 1924.

All four floors of Missouri’s Capitol are open to the public. Free guided tours areoffered year-round by the Missouri State Museum. Guests should meet at the tourdesk on the first floor.

By touring First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site and visiting the Mis-souri State Museum, guests can get a rewarding glimpse of the legacy of our state.For more information, including specific tour times and hours of operation, visitmostateparks.com. (Top left) Children learn about natural history while exploring the Missouri State Museum.(Top right) An interpreter presents artifacts at the general store at First Missouri StateCapitol State Historic Site during a Statehood Day celebration in St. Charles. (Left) The Missouri State Museum is located on the first floor of the State Capitol buildingin Jefferson City.

Top Spots for Learning about Missouri State History

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trailshighlight

1000th Mile Trail, Harry S Truman State Park

(Top right and right)Brian Bethel, Superin-

tendent at Harry S Truman State Park,

leads a school group onthe inaugural hike after

the trail’s ribbon cuttingin October 2015.

Officially opened in fall 2015, the1000th Mile Trail at Harry S Truman

State Park marks the park system’s1,000th mile of trail. The trail also inter-prets the ongoing efforts to remove inva-sive red cedars and restore a glade area.

The trail begins with a 30-yard levelconcrete path to a bench overlooking theglade restoration area. From the bench,the trail drops to the bottom of the gladebefore continuing along a ridge to an oldservice road where it opens up to a scenic

area of the lake. Once back in the woodedarea, the trail follows the land’s contourback to the trailhead.

Hikers will commonly see birds such aseagles and turkey vultures, wildflowerssuch as western wallflower, and gladeplants like prickly pear cactus. This trailalso offers spectacular views of TrumanLake from the bluff.

Harry S Truman State Park is 6 mileswest of Warsaw on Highway 7 in westernBenton County.

(Above, left) Director ofMissouri State Parks,Bill Bryan, and a park

guest take in a view ofTruman Lake along

1000th Mile Trail.

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24 Missouri Resources

Pyrite is typically asecondary miner-

al in small quantitiesof other rocks and oredeposits. The diagnosticphysical properties of pyrite are brassy metallic luster,black streak, brittle fracture, hardness greater than thatof glass, absence of cleavage and it is nonmagnetic.The crystalline structure of pyrite can produce crystal inthe shape of cubes, octahedrons or pyritohedrons, andcommonly have striations on the crystal faces.

It may be found in many areas of the state. Pyrite is themost widespread and abundant of the sulfide mineralsand it occurs in all types of rock. Often found in coal,limestone and dolomite, pyrite is a common mineral thatoccurs in quartz veins with many other economicallyimportant metallic sulfide minerals such as galena,sphalerite, chalcopyrite and elements like gold and silver.

When at or near the surface, pyrite weathers relativelyrapidly as it reacts chemically with water and atmos-pheric oxygen. This weathering can produce a type ofrust that often stains rock outcrops with a reddish hue.

The swamps of Missouri’s past that covered much ofwestern and central Missouri during what geologists callthe Pennsylvanian Period of geologic time (365-290 mil-

lion years ago) produced oneform of pyrite. As the plants andanimals of these swamps died,they fell to the bottom of the

swamp. The layers of carbonaccumulated until sea levels even-

tually rose and covered them with sediment. Burialunder those sediments produced both pressure andheat that forced the organic matter of the swamp toundergo physical and chemical changes and becomecoal. Under the oxygen-poor conditions of the swamp,sulfur combined with iron to form pyrite – an impurity inthe coal.

When pyrite-rich rocks are brought to the surface bymining, they react to the oxygen in the air. This oxidiza-tion in combination with iron-loving bacteria converts thepyritic sulfur into sulfuric acid. The reddish or yellow colorof mine runoff is iron and other minerals dissolved in theacidic water.

Pyrite can be used as a source of sulfur in the manufac-ture of sulfuric acids for both industry and agriculture. Itcan be burned to produce sulfur dioxide for use as afood preservative, but it is considered a toxic gas whenemitted from the smoke stacks of a coal-fired powerplant. Pyrite has been used in jewelry making for severalcenturies and it remains popular today. However, it isoften misnamed and sold as marcasite.

pyrite Pyrite (iron disulfide, FeS2), also called “Iron Pyrite” or “Fool’s Gold,”

because it is often mistaken for gold, is a brass-yellow or pale-bronze mineral composed of iron and sulfur.

MoDNR photos by Mark Gordon

Traveling off-trail can be necessary to enjoy activitiessuch as fishing and camping, or to see natural wondersthat aren’t viewable from a trail. Doing so also can haveunintended effects. Desire paths or “social trails” arepaths created by human (or animal) foot traffic.

Desire paths usually represent the shortest or easiestroute between two points. You’ve probably seen them in public parks, college cam-puses and even in your own yard. As few as 15 passages over a site can cause themto form, and once they do, they tend to attract increased use. For protected habitats,pristine areas and areas around sensitive cultural and archeological resources, thesepaths can be destructive.

Existing trails or previously disturbed routes, some of which are desire paths, arepreferable over walking into an undisturbed area. Roads and formal trails can neverprovide access to everything visitors wish to see, so if you absolutely must go off-trail,distribute your travel lines so as to not inadvertently create new trails. If an area ismarked as off limits, respect the notices and stay on the designated trail.

Leaving no trace when enjoying natural areas should be something we all practice.For information on other ways to reduce your impact, start with the Leave No TraceCenter for Outdoor Ethic’s 7 Principles which can be found at lnt.org/learn/7-principles.

Unintended Trail Systems Start With Foot Trafficdid youknow

RockMatters

Fall 2016 25

not least

A ccording to recent surveys, state water managers acrossthe U.S. predict that as many as 40 out of our 50 states

will experience some level of water shortages over thecourse of the next decade.

Missouri’s southwest and northern tier of the state havealready experienced water concerns; most recently in thedrought of 2012. How would Missouri fare during an extended, multi-year drought? As weather patterns continueto change and fluctuations between severe drought and torrential rain seem to come with more frequency, how dowe ensure Missouri’s communities, industries and naturalsystems are prepared for challenges to both water quantityand quality?

The answer lies in a monumental undertaking being ledby the Department of Natural Resources to update Mis-souri’s water plan. Missouri’s Water Resource Law chargesthe department with the responsibility to develop, maintainand periodically update Missouri’s water plan. The most re-cent plan was completed in 2003.

We’ve made tremendous progress for Missouri’s waterresources since the first state water plan was completed in1937. However, for many parts of Missouri and across thecountry, water needs are rapidly changing. New industriesbring new water needs and increased agricultural demandto feed a growing world population means increased irriga-tion. With so many western states experiencing water short-ages and eyeing sources like the Missouri River, the time is

now for Missouri to update its state water plan.The department recently initiated the update process by

quantifying Missouri’s current water demands for all uses,including agricultural, community drinking water, energyand other industries, and healthy aquatic systems that sup-port our fisheries, outdoor recreation and tourism.

Current water uses and priorities will be documentedthrough an intense, publicly driven, stakeholder engage-ment process representing numerous entities. We expect theprocess to take two to three years to ensure we have learnedabout all of Missouri’s increasing water demands that willhelp define water priorities by region across the state. Theplan will also take into consideration expected, projectedand potential growth for population and water needs bywater-use sector for all regions of the state over the nexthalf century.

By looking at current demands, projecting future de-mands and comparing water availability now to projectedchanges, we can continue to plan for potential gaps. Stayconnected to this effort by visiting our website atdnr.mo.gov/mowaterplan. Missouri traditionally has beenblessed with rich and diverse water resources and Mis-souri’s water plan will set a clear vision for water resourcesmanagement in Missouri through the year 2060.

Todd Sampsell is deputy director of the Missouri Depart-ment of Natural Resources.

The Missouri River, west of Jefferson City.

Missouri’s Water Planby Todd Sampsell

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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESPO Box 176Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE PAID

MO Dept. ofNatural

Resources

Echo Bluff is Ready… for YOU!

Looking for an adventure in theOzarks? Make your reservation

today at Missouri’s newest statepark. Set up your basecamp at

Echo Bluff State Park and exploreall the hiking, fishing

and wildlife the area has to offer. Visit echobluffstatepark.com to

book your room or campsite.