MISSOURI · the National Trails System Act in 1968, which estab - lished national recreation,...

MISSOURIresources

Spring / Summer 2013 • Volume 30 • Number 2

areas. Missourians can walk, hike orbike on incredibly diverse trailsthroughout its 87 state parks and his-toric sites. Exploring our trail systemnot only provides us with great adven-ture, it also provides us with an op-portunity to improve our overallhealth and well-being.

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson was cor-rect when she said, “A beautifulAmerica will require the effort of gov-ernment at every level, of business,and of private groups.” Missouri’saward-winning trail system would notbe possible without the financial com-mitment and support of many agen-cies, businesses, organizations and,most importantly, the public.

We hope all Missourians will helpus celebrate this honor by enjoyingone of our spectacular trails this sum-mer, perhaps on June 1 during Na-tional Trails Day. Check outmostateparks.com for additional de-tails about events near you. Happy hiking!

Icount myself among those that con-sider time spent outdoors as not

only good adventure, but good for thesoul. Whether it is working in the gar-den, walking the dogs or meetingdawn’s first light while awaiting themagical sound of a gobbler, many ofmy fondest memories were created outdoors.

There are many great leaders whoalso appreciated the time they spentin nature. They were determined tocreate a legacy that would preserve

and protect these outdoorspaces through parks,forests, preserves and trailsthe public could enjoy foryears to come.

“The wonder of Nature isthe treasure of America.What we have in woods andforest, valley and stream, inthe gorges and the moun-tains and the hills, we mustnot destroy. The preciouslegacy of preservation ofbeauty will be our gift toposterity,” according toLyndon Baines Johnson,our 36th President of theUnited States.

Johnson signed into lawthe National Trails SystemAct in 1968, which estab-lished national recreation,scenic and historic trails.

Last month, Missouri proudly accept-ed the title of Best Trails State, givenby the American Trails, a national,nonprofit organization working on be-half of the nation’s hiking, biking andriding trails. The national award ispresented every two years to the statethat has made tremendous contribu-tions to promote and improve theirtrails system.

Our Missouri State Parks offers al-most 1,000 miles of managed trailsand 2,900 acres of motorized riding

director’s

Sara Parker PauleyMissouri Department of Natural Resources

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

Department Director Sara Parker Pauley

Deputy Director, Policy; General Counsel Harry Bozoian

Director, Division of Administrative Support Lori Gordon

Director, Division of Energy Llona C. Weiss

Director, Division of Environmental Quality Leanne Tippett Mosby

Director, Division of Geology and Land Survey Joe Gillman

Director, Division of State Parks Bill Bryan

Director, Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority Karen Massey

printed on recycled paper

EditorStuart Westmoreland

Design DirectorBelinda Hughes

PhotographerScott Myers

Public Information CoordinatorAndrew Richmond

CirculationLuke Petree

Editorial BoardLarry ArcherAndrea BalkenbushHylan BeydlerRenee BungartSteph ReedAngie MorfeldStuart Westmoreland

MISSOURI RESOURCES is published three times per year by theMissouri Department of Natural Resources to inform readers about impor-tant natural resource issues and how they are being addressed. Any cor-respondence 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: [email protected] MoDNR home page: dnr.mo.govTo subscribe or unsubscribe online:dnr.mo.gov/magazine/subscription.htm

MISSOURI RESOURCES is available in alternative formats.

The Department of Natural Resources does not discriminate against any-one on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disabili-ty, 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 Walsworth Publishing Co., Marceline, Mo.

Mission StatementThe mission of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

is to protect, preserve and enhance Missouri’s natural, cultural and energy resources.

Spring / Summer 2013Volume 30 • Number 2

Above: Built in 1891 as part of the Chain of Rocks Plant, the Intake Water Tower #1 once drew water from the Mississippi River.The river water was treated in sedimentation basins and converted to drinking water for the city of St. Louis.Front cover: The hatchery dam at Bennett Spring State Park is a popular place for trout fishermen.Back cover: Dew droplets are suspended within a spider web on a warm spring morning. DNR photos by Scott Myers.

departments19 News Briefs 25 One Last Word

2 Missouri’s Geological Showcasesby Joe Gillman

As attendance in Missouri’s state parks continues to soar, so does interest in the incredibly diverse geology found within them.

6 The Water Battle of 1900-1906by Loring Bullard

It wasn’t exactly Blues vs. Blackhawks, or Cardinals vs. Cubs. In fact, it was much worse.

10 Your Path to Powerby Angie Morfeld

Investor-owned utility? Rural electric cooperative? Municipal utility? Who lights your lamp?

13 The Sirens of Springby Tom Uhlenbrock

Missouri’s three state trout parks were established in the 1920s. Park visitors know they offer a lot more than just fishing.

2 Missouri Resources

M issouri boasts one of the nation’sbest and most recognized statepark systems. From hiking to

camping, many fascinating geologic treas-ures await visitors. Often, these naturalareas are so rare they have been recognizedas places that deserve protection and publicenjoyment. Thus, they became state parks. The geology in Missouri state parks is as

diverse as many of the activities availableto visitors. “In some ways, geology was the primary

force that created many of our state parkstoday,” said Bill Bryan, director of MissouriState Parks, a division of the Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources. “These

unique geologic features are one of themain reasons more than 18 million peoplevisit our state park system every year.” Evidence of extinct volcanoes, glaciers,

cave systems, earthquakes and old minesare just a few of the interesting things tosee. Not only are some of North America’soldest rocks exposed in the remnants of an-cient volcanoes, relics from the most recentglacial period also exist. These processesleave us with incredible reminders of Mis-souri’s distinctive beauty and geologic his-tory. World-class geologic features can beseen in many state parks, including BennettSpring, Johnson’s Shut-Ins, OnondagaCave, Grand Gulf and Elephant Rocks.

Missouri’s Geological by Joe Gillman photographs by Scott Myers

Physiographic RegionsMissouri’s landscape can be divided into

three distinct physiographic, or landformregions: the Central Lowlands, the OzarkPlateau and the Coastal Plain. Each region’sgeologic makeup and geographic character-istics are unique when considered within re-gional boundaries. These three regions areoften subdivided into more distinctive phys-iographic areas.

Central LowlandsNorthern and a portion of west-central

Missouri are part of the Central Lowlandsregion, characterized by gently rolling,broad landscapes. Much of this region was

Spring/Summer 2013 3

Showcases

(Top) Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is a geo-logic jewel of Missouri.A natural water park,crystal clear water fromthe East Fork of theBlack River cascadesover and around ig-neous rocks that havebeen worn smooththrough time.(Left) The park boasts amultitude of trails thatreveal the geologic history of the region.


shaped by the advance and retreat of majorice sheets during the ice age. Remnants ofthese geologic events can be found in thethick glacial material left behind and the oc-casional boulder transported here from Min-nesota or Canada. This region also is hometo the gentle topography of the OsagePlains, a non-glaciated great prairie thatopens to the west. During the ice age, fine-grained sedi-

ments were deposited along the major rivervalleys. Many of the particles were laterblown into ridges of dune-like hills that rise

above the surrounding landscape. An exam-ple is “The Pinnacles” area in Van MeterState Park, where visitors can hike along ageologic feature directly linked to glaciersthat once dominated the landscape. Otherparks that exhibit remnants of glaciated ter-rain include Thousand Hills State Park andCrowder State Park.Geology played a key role in the devel-

opment of Finger Lakes State Park, locatedalong the southern boundary of the CentralLowlands. In this region, during an ancientgeologic time period, plant-rich swamps leftbehind thick deposits of coal. The coal waslater extracted from the ground, leavingmany piles of mined earth and water-filledstrip pits. The rugged playground is a popular des-

tination for all-terrain vehicle and mountainbike enthusiasts. Although this landscape isman-made, the careful observer can still seethe geologic features and coal outcroppingsthat led to the creation of this park.

Ozark PlateauThe Ozark Plateau region, likely the

most recognizable, is characterized by abroad, uplifted region that occupies much ofcentral and southern Missouri. This area isprimarily underlain by thick sequences oflimestone and dolomite bedrock that hosttopography and features that are world fa-mous. These karst geologic conditions cre-ated the perfect environment for develop-ment of spectacular natural features. Thestriking geologic characteristics of this re-gion produced monumental springs, exten-sive networks of caves, steep bluffed val-leys and clear, flowing streams.Quite possibly Missouri’s most impres-

sive karst-related complex consists of alarge, collapsed cave system within GrandGulf State Park. Evidence of these broken,faulted rocks can be seen along the walls ofthe chasm. Part of the former cave roof isintact, forming a natural bridge. Hikingtrails allow visitors to explore these rare ge-ologic features that provide a glimpse intothe inner workings of a subterranean world. These karst features also produced some

of the largest springs in the Midwest. Ben-nett Spring State Park, Roaring River StatePark and Montauk State Park are all situat-ed around magnificent springs that are thedischarge points for karst systems that issueforth cold, clear groundwater from Mis-souri’s depths. Wonderful recreational op-portunities abound in these parks, such as

(Above) At Finger LakesState Park, near Columbia,the hilly terrain left behindfollowing coal extraction inthe 1900s provides the per-fect setting for a challeng-ing mountain bike trail ride.Strip-mine pits also offerrecreation opportunities like swimming, canoeing

and fishing.

fishing, camping, hiking andgeologic discovery. Other re-markable geologic features oc-curring in these parks includeBennett Spring Natural Tunneland Devil’s Kitchen at RoaringRiver State Park. “As an avid fly angler, I

have had the opportunity tofish for trout throughout theU.S. My favorite waters arestill the cold, clear spring-fedcreeks of Missouri,” said MarkVan Patten, Missourian and na-tionally known fly fisher, au-thor, and host of the PBS se-ries, The Tying Bench. “Whenthe blue ribbon trout streams inmany of the mountain statesare frozen over, our groundwa-ter springs burst forth at a per-fect 54 degrees, allowing for afantastic fly fishing adventureyear round.”If one’s preference is caves, Onondaga

Cave and Cathedral Cave in OnondagaCave State Park, Ozark Caverns in Lake ofthe Ozarks State Park and Fisher Cave inMeramec State Park offer cave enthusiasts aone-of-a-kind geologic environment. Forexample, in Onondaga Cave, guides leadvisitors over electrically lighted, pavedwalkways, and provide information aboutgeologic wonders of the underworld, suchas the King’s Canopy, the Twins and otherextraordinary speleothems. This region also is home to the St. Fran-

cois Mountains, the eroded remnants of an-cient volcanoes, providing a rare glimpse ofigneous rocks in the nation’s mid-continent.These rocks and the processes that shapedthem offer spectacular geologic features atthe heart of many popular state parks.At Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, visi-

tors are greeted by millions of years of geo-logic history, and can spend hours splashingamong the colorful rocks of one of nature’sgeologic wonders known as a shut-in. AtElephant Rocks State Park, the rounded, ob-long granite boulders are not only beautiful,they are a textbook example of weatheringgranite. These pink “elephants” rest at thecore of the Ozark Mountains and provide aglimpse of Missouri’s volcanic past. Taum Sauk Mountain and Sam A. Baker

state parks also offer spectacular geologicfeatures created by these ancient and dy-namic volcanic processes.

Coastal PlainThe Coastal Plain region in extreme

southeast Missouri is unlike any other in thestate. Leveled by erosive floods, it is largelycovered by very thick, river-deposited sedi-ments. Contrasting sharply with the sur-rounding Mississippi River Delta, Crow-ley’s Ridge is the region’s most prominentgeographic feature – an impressive, narrowseries of hills across the flat landscape. Visitors to Morris State Park can observe

the distinctive geologic character of Crow-ley’s Ridge and observe many plant speciesfound no other place in Missouri. This areaalso is home to one of the most seismicallyactive regions in the mid-continent, knownas the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

The earth’s natural processes shaped ourenvironment and left remarkable remnantsof our varied geologic past that are neverrepeated and cannot be recreated. With 87state parks and historic sites spanning morethan 145,000 acres, the Department of Nat-ural Resources’ state park system has some-thing for everyone. Regardless of which re-gions you visit, you will find outstandingrecreational and educational opportunities.In many of Missouri’s state parks, the geo-logic past can be credited for providing thegems that truly inspired their designation asspecial places.

Joe Gillman is director of the department’sDivision of Geology and Land Survey andserves as state geologist for Missouri.


(Above) This natural bridgeis one of several impressivegeologic features that canbe found in Ha Ha TonkaState Park near Camdenton.(Opposite page) The land-scape of Van Meter StatePark, near Miami, wasformed when melting gla-ciers sent water rushinginto rivers. Winds depositeda fine soil, called loess, onthe hills that bordered theriver bottoms. Gradual ero-sion of the loess-coveredhills resulted in deep ravines and narrow ridges, known as pinnacles.

I n the second half of the 19th century,St. Louis and Chicago vied for su-premacy, each yearning to become the

“megalopolis of the West.” They competedfor industries, rail access, populationgrowth and public attention. To the chagrinof St. Louis, Chicago surpassed it in size inthe 1870s. Both cities campaigned vigor-ously to host the Columbian Exposition in1892, but Chicago won the prize. St. Louiswould eventually counter by hosting the1904 World’s Fair. Shortly prior to that, po-tentially adding injury to insult, Chicagomade a decision that resulted in the firsthigh profile water pollution case to comebefore the U.S. Supreme Court.For their public water supplies, both

cities tapped the closest large bodies ofwater – the Mississippi River for St. Louisand Lake Michigan for Chicago. Both cities

installed cutting edge sewage systems in the1850s, but both discharged untreatedsewage into their sources of drinking water,albeit several miles from the intakes. In 1892, Chicago proceeded with a plan

to protect Lake Michigan and reduce the in-cidence of waterborne diseases such as ty-phoid fever. It would accomplish this by re-versing the flow of the Chicago River,sending the river and its load of raw sewagewestward over a low divide toward the Illi-nois River. The Illinois is a tributary of theMississippi from which St. Louis drew itsdrinking water – 387 miles downstream.The Chicago Drainage Canal, built to ac-

commodate this flow reversal, opened inJanuary 1900. The following April, theState of Missouri, on behalf of St. Louis andother Mississippi River towns, filed a for-mal complaint with the U.S. Supreme

A barge passes under adrawbridge on the ChicagoRiver in downtown Chicagoin this 1911 photograph.


St. Louis vs. ChicagoThe Water Battle of 1900-1906

by Loring Bullard

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Court, alleging that the diversionof Chicago’s sewage would “poi-son the water supplies of the in-habitants of Missouri.” Edward Crow, Missouri’s At-

torney General in 1901, put it inblunter terms, asking, “whatwould be done with a man werehe caught scattering death dealinggerms along the streets of St.Louis?” He would no doubt be“mobbed with little ceremony andstrung up to the first post overwhich a rope could be thrown.”Chicago’s action, Crow growled,were “none the less criminal.”

I llinois Attorney GeneralEdwin Akin did not initially

contest the allegation, but filed ademurrer objection to the bill ofcomplaint, arguing that the matterdid not constitute a direct contro-versy between the two states andtherefore did not fall within thejurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court. Jus-tice George Shiras handed down the court’sfirst opinion in January 1901, ruling that hiscourt would indeed hear the case. “When the health and comfort of the in-

habitants of a state are threatened, the stateis the proper party to represent and defendthem,” Shiras’ opinion stated. It further stat-ed that “contagious and typhoid diseases,”if introduced into Missouri’s river commu-nities, could “spread themselves throughoutthe territory of the state.” Finally, in a mat-ter of such vital importance – a “situation

which, if it arose between independent sov-ereignties, might lead to war” – the authori-ty of the court was “not open to doubt.”Over the next few years, both sides sent

experts into the field to gather informationand test theories to bolster their respectivecases. This, in fact, would be the first majorbattle of the technical water experts, withboth sides arguing about the longevity of ty-phoid bacteria and other germs found inriver water that attack the intestine. Couldthey survive the long trip from Chicago toSt. Louis?

(Left) The Sanitary and ShipCanal was built to connect theChicago River – which originallyflowed into Lake Michigan – tothe Des Plaines River, whichthen flows into the Illinois River,eventually emptying into theMississippi. At the time, the San-itary and Ship Canal was thelargest civil engineering projectin American history.(Below) The canal, which is 28miles long, 202 feet wide and 24feet deep, connects to the DesPlaines River through a series oflocks and dams at Lockport, Ill.Th

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Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

In 1903, the Hon. Frank Bright, specialcommissioner assigned to hear the case,took a two-week steamboat trip down theIllinois River to gather testimony and to seefor himself the effects of the reversed river.The U.S. Supreme Court heard argu-

ments in the case from 1903 to 1905. JohnAlvord, a prominent engineer and an expertwitness for Missouri, stated his opinion that“in all human probability the rise in typhoiddeaths in the city of St. Louis in the last fewyears has been caused by the added typhoidcontamination from the Sanitary District of Chicago.” James Todd, representing the Sanitary

District, pointed out that Alvord’s chartsalso showed a significant rise in typhoiddeaths in St. Louis between 1898 and 1900,before the opening of the canal. He suggest-ed the city look for closer sources of con-tamination, such as sewage from St.Charles, a mere 40 miles above the St.Louis water intake.

I n February 1906, the court rendered itsfinal opinion. Justice Oliver Wendell

Holmes, authoring the majority decision,marveled at the scientific advances broughtto light during the proceedings. He notedthat establishing the relevant facts had re-quired the “most ingenious experiments,and for their interpretation, the most subtlespeculations of modern science,” althoughthere were “categorical contradictions” be-tween the two sets of experts. Holmes was reluctant to frame too

sweeping an indictment of the discharge ofuntreated sewage into rivers, something thatmany large cities still did at the time. Aquestion of the “first magnitude,” he sug-gested, was whether the “destiny of thegreat rivers is to be protected against every-thing which threatens their purity.”Holmes supported the defendant’s claim

that even if some typhoid germs did survivethe journey, they would be “scattered andenfeebled and do no harm” by the time they

reached St. Louis. Further, henoted that the Illinois River, for-merly a “sluggish and ill smellingstream,” had actually been im-proved by the huge inflow of LakeMichigan water pouring throughthe canal. Water from the Illinoiswas now even drunk by fishermen,reportedly “without evil results.” He also warned Missouri to be

careful in pointing fingers. Afterall, St. Louis and other Missouricities discharged raw sewage intothe Mississippi. If this suit were tosucceed, Missouri might “find it-self a defendant to a bill by one ormore of the states lower down onthe Mississippi.”After learning about new ad-

vances in drinking water treatmentand filtration, Holmes advised that“the evidence is very strong that itis necessary for St. Louis to takepreventive measures, by filtration


(Above) The reversal of theChicago River dumped mas-sive amounts of sewage andindustrial pollution into thewestward-flowing rivers and

actually doubled the size of the Illinois River.

DNR photo by Scott Myers

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or otherwise, against the dangers of theplaintiff’s own creation or from sourcesother than the Illinois.” According toHolmes’ reasoning, what “will protectagainst one will protect against the other.”So rather than forcing Chicago to treat itssewage, an expensive and technically chal-lenging proposition, or allowing the wastesto flow back into the city’s water supply,Holmes advocated drinking water treatmentfor downstream users as a more practicalsolution to the problem.

T he Supreme Court dismissed the com-plaint without prejudice. St. Louis lost

the case, but eventually heeded Holmes’ ad-vice. The city began filtering its publicwater supply in 1915. Both cities, in fact,addressed drinking water treatment long be-fore cleaning up their own wastewater dis-charges. By the 1920s, Chicago had con-structed three state-of-the-art – at least bythe standards of that time – sewage treat-ment plants. St. Louis began installing improved

wastewater plants after the formation of theMetropolitan St. Louis Sewer District in1954. It would be the early 1970s before St.


Louis installed any truly advanced sewerfiltration plants.

Missouri vs. Illinois established somelong-standing precedents, and was men-tioned in more than 600 citations in subse-quent litigation. But by no means did it sig-nal an end to interstate battles over waterpollution. In 1991, Missouri watched withinterest as Oklahoma sued Arkansas in fed-eral court, claiming that a wastewater dis-charge permitted in Arkansas, and meetingthat state’s requirements, did not adequatelyprotect the scenic Illinois River in Oklaho-ma, to which more stringent state waterquality standards applied.

This, and many other cases, demonstratethat there may well be more water conflictsto come – skirmishes for which St. Louisand Chicago prepared the fields of battle atthe dawn of the 20th century.

Loring Bullard is the former executive di-rector and CEO of the Watershed Commit-tee of the Ozarks, a drinking water sourceprotection advisory group based in Spring-field. He has authored numerous stories andbooks on the history and state of waterquality and protection in Missouri.

(Opposite page, bottom)Missouri was concernedthat the reversal of theChicago River and subse-quent dumping of Chicago’swaste into the MississippiRiver would contaminate St.Louis’s drinking water. Thecity’s intake was drawn fromthe river at the Chain ofRocks, only a few milesdownstream from the mouthof the Illinois River. The twoconspicuous water intakesin mid-river no longer drawwater for the expansive,modern-day plant, seen inthe distance.

(Left) In 1901, when theSanitary and ShippingCanal was opened, theChain of Rocks Water Plantpumped river water througha series of sedimentationbasins. It wasn’t until 1915that the city added theChain of Rocks FiltrationPlant, the largest filter plantin the world when it wasbuilt. The plant has beencontinuously upgradedsince. This postcard showsthe Water Works Plant be-fore it was switched fromsteam power to electric in 1958.

… a “situation which, if it arose between independent sovereignties, might lead to war.”

Original postcard in State Historical Society of Missouri Collection


A s a kid, I remember making my waythrough the house, flipping on lightswitches as I went. Rarely do I re-

call flipping off those same switches, whichwould always invoke the same questionfrom my dad, “Do you think we own stockin the electric company?”I had never thought about it. Maybe we

did own stock in the electric company. I wasa kid. I didn’t know.“Electricity is something we take for

granted,” said Llona Weiss, director of theMissouri Department of Natural Resources’Division of Energy. “It powers our lights,

computers, televisions, smart phones, kitchenappliances, and the list goes on and on. We justexpect it to be there when we need it, likemagic,” Weiss added.But have you ever thought about where

your electricity comes from? In Missouri, de-pending upon where you live, your electricitycomes from one of three sources: an investor-owned electric utility, a rural electric coopera-tive, or a municipal electric utility. Which one serves your property was likely

determined decades ago, and as a general rule,cannot be changed. In a very limited numberof states where electric utility service has been

by Angie Morfeldphotographs by Scott Myers

“restructured” or deregulated, customersmay have a choice of utility source fromwhich to purchase electricity, but that is notthe case in Missouri. Investor-owned utili-ties, rural electric cooperatives and munici-pal utilities differ in the way they wereformed and the way they are governed andcovered by law.

Investor-Owned Electric UtilitiesNearly two million Missouri residential,

commercial and industrial customers re-ceive electric services from four investor-owned electric companies. They includeKansas City Power & Light Co., KCP&L –Greater Missouri Operations Co., AmerenMissouri, and The Empire District ElectricCo. These investor-owned utilities arestructured as for-profit corporations, andare owned by shareholders, just like otherMissouri corporations. The utilities’ ratesand conditions of service to customers areregulated by the Missouri Public ServiceCommission. In 2011, Missouri’s investor-owned utilities generated more than 69 mil-lion megawatt-hours of electricity, or 75.4percent of the state’s electricity production.

Rural Electric CooperativesEstablished in the 1930s by President

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Depression-era

New Deal, rural electric cooperatives werethe first providers of electric services inmany areas of the state.Unlike investor-owned electric utilities,

rural electric cooperatives are non-profit in-stitutions, governed by a board of directorselected by its member-owners. Each cus-tomer is considered a member and owner ofthe cooperative. If a cooperative collectsmore in rates than its costs to operate, thesefunds are generally reinvested for infra-structure, held as future reserves, or distrib-uted back to members in the form of “pa-tronage” or “capital credits,” whichessentially are dividends paid on a mem-bers’ investment in the cooperative. There are two types of electric coopera-

tives – distribution cooperatives and gener-ation and transmission cooperatives. Thereare 40 distribution cooperatives in the state,and in 2011 they served more than 725,000residential and business customers. The seven generation and transmission

cooperatives sell wholesale power to thedistribution cooperatives, either from powerplants they own or through resale of powerthey purchase in bulk from other electricityproducers in Missouri, or elsewhere. In2011, Missouri’s generation and transmis-sion cooperatives generated more than 16million megawatt-hours, or 18.2 percent, ofthe state’s total.



The following municipal systems exist within both regulatedand non-regulated distribution areas.

Municipal Electric Systems:Albany, Ava, Bethany, Butler, Cabool, California, Cameron,Carrollton, Carthage, Centralia, Chillicothe, Columbia , Crane,Cuba, Easton, El Dorado Springs, Farmington, Fayette,Fredericktown, Fulton, Gallatin, Galt, Gilman City, Hannibal,Harrisonville, Hermann, Higginsville, Houston, Hunnewell,Independence, Jackson, Kahoka, Kennett, Kirkwood, Lamar, LaPlata, Lebanon, Liberal, Linneus, Lockwood, Macon, Malden,Mansfield, Marceline, Marshall, Meadville, Memphis, Milan,Mindenmines, Monett, Monroe City, Mount Vernon, MountainView, New Madrid, Newburg, Nixa, Odessa, Osceola,Owensville, Palmyra, Paris, Perry, Poplar Bluff, Rich Hill,Richland, Rock Port, Rolla, Salem, Salisbury, Seymour, Shelbina,Sikeston, Slater, Springfield, St. James, St. Robert, Stanberry,Steelville, Sullivan, Thayer, Trenton, Unionville, UMC-Columbia,Vandalia, Waynesville, West Plains, Willow Springs, Winona.

Regulated

KCP&L GMO(St. Joseph Division)

KCP&L GMO(Mo. Public Service Division)

Empire District Electric Co.Kansas City Power & Light Co.Ameren Missouri

Non-Regulated

Covered by Distribution Cooperatives

Municipal Electric UtilitiesA municipal electric utility is owned and

operated by a city, and provides electricservices to its citizens. Not all municipalelectric utilities generate their own powerand may purchase power from other electricproviders. Municipalities’ utility rates,which are not subject to state regulations,are set by a local utility board or commis-sion, or the municipal administration. There are 88 municipal electric utilities

in Missouri. In 2011, municipalities gener-ated more than 5 million megawatt-hours ofelectricity, or a little more than six percentof the state’s total electricity generation.“I encourage you to take a vested interest

in your electrical provider because an edu-cated consumer is always the best con-sumer,” Weiss said. “You may not be able tochoose whether your power comes from aninvestor-owned utility, cooperative or mu-nicipality, but by staying fully informed,you will be aware of the incentives and pro-grams offered.”

Angie Morfeld is an information officerwith the department’s Division of Energy.Byron Murray, an energy planner in the di-vision, provided technical and financial in-formation for the story.

Missouri Electric Service Areas

The three are in similar, scenic Ozark settings. Rugged,forested hills line deep valleys that contain azure springs pump-ing out tens of millions of gallons of crystal clear water dailyinto sparkling streams.Fish hatcheries were built to take advantage of the abundant

supply of cold, clear water and supply rainbow trout that arestocked daily in the streams. Each park averages nearly 100,000 fishermen a year. But

with miles of river frontage in the parks, an angler can find aquiet spot to claim as his or her own.

by Tom Uhlenbrock


From bluegrass to bald eagles, Missouri’s three state troutparks have more than just fish to offer a family seeking aweekend or week-long vacation.

Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Bennett SpringState Park near Lebanon and Montauk State Park nearSalem are the “grand old ladies” of the state park system. They were established in the 1920s, among the earliest of state parks.

(Above) Anglers line the water atBennett Spring State Park for theopening day of trout season.DNR photo by Scott Myers

The sounding of the siren at dawn on March 1marks the opening of trout season when generationsof families stand shoulder-to-shoulder to catch afish. For many, that siren also signals the long-awaited start of spring. But the parks make attractive destinations for

visitors who may never wet a line. They all feature avariety of lodging, good restaurants and plenty ofprograms that explain the variety of wildlife. Trailsand campgrounds are available at each of the parks,and two have swimming pools.“We do interpretative programs about every Fri-

day and Saturday at the campgrounds during thesummer,” said Doug Rusk, superintendent at Mon-tauk State Park. “We have hummingbird banding,usually twice a year, a bear program, owl prowlsand night hikes to go and listen to the sounds of na-ture,” Rusk added.The springs, of course, are the heart of the three

parks. Each has its own personality.J.D. Muschany, superintendent of Bennett

Spring, said many visitors make the short walk backto the spring boil along the base of a hillside. Youcan peer into the clear water at the trout floating inthe reeds along the bank, while the other side is fullof anglers tossing lures their way.“One of the best things to do is just walk across

the bridge back to the spring and enjoy the wildlife,the activity of the anglers, the great blue herons andother birds,” Muschany said. “There a lot more todo here than just fish.”

(Left) Anglers are framed by a triple-arch bridge built bythe Civilian Conservation Corps at Bennett Spring.(Bottom) Dave Mulcahy of St. Louis (left) and Don John-son of Camdenton depart from Montauk State Park on afloat down the Current River.



DNR photo by Tom Uhlenbrock


Dusty Reid, superintendent at Roaring RiverState Park, noted that wet weather can create a wa-terfall that drops 110 feet from the top of a bluff intothe deep blue pool of Roaring River Spring, whichbubbles up from a rocky grotto lined with lush fernsand mosses.“Spectacular,” was his description.Here’s some of what you’ll find at each of the

state trout parks:

From the spring at the park, some 20 million gal-lons of water flow each day into Roaring River,which empties into nearby Table Rock Lake.The park features the Emory Melton Inn and

Conference Center, which offers 26 rooms and afully equipped store. The park also has more than180 campsites, a motel and cabins of various sizes.On Friday nights in the summer, bluegrass bands

play at the outdoor amphitheater. Like the other twoparks, Roaring River retains the stone-and-timberarchitecture built by the Civilian ConservationCorps in the 1930s. The park has a swimming pool,and the old rock bathhouse has become a handsomevisitor’s center.“We have wildflower workshops in April and

May, and I always enjoy the fall colors down here,”said Reid. “There are a lot of arts and crafts festivalsin the area in the fall.”Bald eagles show up at the park in October, and

Reid and other park staffers spotted a special visitorlast summer.“We got to see a black bear,” he said. “He was

crossing the highway.”

Troutapalooza the Year of the Trout

Celebrate 2013 as the Year of the Trout in Missouri State Parks and get hooked onall the great events during Troutapalooza. Want more information about Troutapalooza

and all it has planned for you? Go to Facebook.com/Troutapalooza.

(Above) Wet weather creates a waterfall that drops into the deepblue pool of the spring at Roaring River State Park.

DNR photo by Kerry Hays

Bennett Spring is the fourth largest in the state,releasing an average of 100 million gallons a daythat feed into the Niangua River, a favorite for floaterson the west side of the state.The spring gurgles from deep underground and

flows along the base of a steep hill to pass beneath atriple-arched stone bridge that is the handiwork ofthe Civilian Conservation Corps. Another vintage CCC building houses a lodge

and restaurant. A nearby park store sells tackle andother supplies and offers 64 rental units, includingcabins and a 10-unit motel. The campground hasmore than 190 spaces with four showerhouses. Thepark has a swimming pool for cooling off on hotsummer afternoons. The six trails total 12.5 miles. The longest trail,

7.5 miles long, takes hikers to an unusual geologicformation called the Bennett Spring Natural Tunnel,an open-ended cave that is 296 feet long.“It’s a semi-rugged terrain, going through two

glades, short scrublands and a variety of treecanopies, including tall oaks,” said J.D. Muschany,park superintendent. “The tunnel is a big rock arch,295 feet long, 20 feet high and 50 feet wide.”


(Top) A short trail leads park visitors along the Spring Branch and back to Bennett Spring.(Above) The swimming pool at Roaring River State Park is a great place to cool off on a hot summer day. It is open to parkvisitors from Memorial Day to mid-August. Both Roaring River and Bennett Spring state parks have swimming pools available to their visitors.



The spring at Montauk once was reportedly adeep, blue hole like the others. But a torrential rainin 1892 washed gravel and debris down the clear-cut hillsides and plugged the flow.Local lore says the ground growled and grumbled

for days before erupting and forming seven separateoutflows. Montauk Springs now puts out some 40million gallons of water a day, joining Pigeon Creekto form the headwaters of the Current River, thestate’s premier float stream.The two top stretches of the Current – from just

outside the park to Cedargrove, and from Cedar-grove to Akers – are two of the best day floats, withthe narrow river often flowing beneath an arch oftrees lined by endless gravel bars and sandbars.“We have people who come down, float one day,

and fish the next,” said Doug Rusk, park superin-tendent. Many stay in the park, either in the lodgingunits or in the campground.An early-morning walk along the misty springs

reveals another of the park’s attractions. A pair ofbald eagles screeched from either side of the stream.The two have built a nest in a ridgetop pine over-looking the park, and have produced chicks for sev-eral years.


(Right) Fishermen line the banks of Spring Branch at Ben-nett Spring State Park on opening day of trout season.(Below) Montauk State Park visitors enjoy a popularcampground along the Current River. D

NR photo by Scott Myers


Trout production, stock-ing and enforcement offishing regulations ineach park are conductedby the Missouri Depart-ment of Conservation.During March 1 throughOct. 31, which is catch-and-keep season,MDC restocks rainbowtrout nightly at each park.

Naturalist Steve Bost offers a nature pro-gram on another resident bird – the turkeyvulture – hundreds of which spend fall andwinter in the park. The program is called“Roadkill Café” because of the birds’ fond-ness for anything that smells rotten.“There can be hundreds of them circling

on the thermals over the park,” Rusk said.“It’s pretty amazing to see that many birdsjust floating around in the sky.”Montauk State Park has the Dorman L.

Steelman Lodge, which has a restaurant,store and 18 motel rooms. There also are 28cabins and more than 150 campsites withtwo showerhouses. A gristmill built on theriver in 1896 is open for tours in the summer.

“You can stay in any type of lodging,”Rusk said. “We have trails to hike; a lot ofpeople bring bikes down and ride the LakeTrail, where there’s always the opportunityto see wildlife. I saw a momma bobcat withfour little ones last summer.”The state park system’s trout parks have

something to interest everyone, whether it’sfishing, hiking, camping or just viewing thediverse wildlife. For more information about Missouri

state parks, visit mostateparks.com.

Tom Uhlenbrock is a writer for MissouriState Parks, a division of the Department ofNatural Resources.


(Top left) All of the trout parks have a variety of lodging options. Campgrounds, motel rooms, duplexes, four-plexesand cabins – like this one at Montauk State Park – offer options for everyone who wants to spend the night.

(Above left) There is no guarantee that you will catch a lunker like this 5-pound rainbow reeled in at Montauk State Park.(Above right) Roaring River Spring releases an average 20 million gallons of water a day from a deep gorge in the base

of a cliff at Roaring River State Park. The spring – off limits to fishing – is home to many of the park’s largest trout.

DNR photos by Scott Myers


Lake Monitors Needed

The Missouri De-partment of NaturalResources WaterProtection Programis seeking monitorswho live near asmall lake to assistwith its lake moni-toring program.

Small residential lakes are ideal forthis program as well as publiclyowned lakes.Monitoring includes temperature

and Secchi disk measurements every3 weeks during the recreational sea-son (April through October). Monitorsneed access to a boat, canoe or othermeans to monitor the deepest part ofthe lake. Staff will come to your site totrain you and will provide necessarymonitoring equipment. If interested, contact Susan Higgins

at 573-526-1002 [email protected].

Pesticide PickupCampaign Continues

The Department ofNatural Resourceskicked off a series ofevents in March aimed athelping Missouri resi-dents rid their homesand farms of unwantedpesticides and chemicals.With an event March 9 in West

Plains, the department kicked off thesecond round of the Missouri Pesti-cide Collection Program. The series ofcollections are scheduled to runthrough June while funding lasts. Thepickup program allows Missourihouseholds and farmers to safely andlegally dispose of pesticides, fungi-cides, insecticides, rodenticides, de-wormers, fly tags and fertilizers con-taining herbicides or pesticides.The collection events for 2012 were

completed in October with more than68,000 pounds of waste collectedfrom nine different locations acrossthe state. Currently, about half of theproject funds have been expended.

More information on the MissouriPesticide Collection Program is avail-able online at dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/pesticide. The program is fundedthrough a hazardous waste enforce-ment settlement that resulted in morethan $1 million being set aside for thecleanup effort. An independent contractor, The En-

vironmental Quality Co., of Wayne,Mich., will conduct the collectionevents under the supervision of theDepartment of Natural Resources.

Park AttendanceContributes to Economic Recovery

Attendance at Missouri’s stateparks increased in 2012, another signof Missouri’s economic recovery. Morethan 18 million guests visited Mis-souri’s state parks in 2012.Increased attendance at state

parks also strengthens our state’seconomy. An economic impact studyfor the Missouri state park system re-leased in 2012 reported that the totalannual expenditure of state parks visi-tors in 2011 was approximately $778million. The overall economic impactof these expenditures is estimated at$1.02 billion in sales, $307 million inpayroll and related income, and $123million in federal, state, and localtaxes. Visitors’ expenditures also sup-port 14,535 jobs in Missouri.

Parks Host 2013 Learn2 Series

Missouri StateParks will againhost its Learn2 se-ries in 2013, pro-viding opportuni-

ties for visitors to learn variousoutdoor skills.June will focus on camping in sev-

eral scenic state parks. New partici-pants that are selected to participatein the program will be taught the ba-sics of camping in the outdoors. Thiswill include proper tent placement andsetup, how to prepare, activities to dowhile camping, emergency prepared-ness, building campfires, outdoor

cooking, and of course, s’mores. Camp-ers will also be treated to an outdoorprogram by a park naturalist and willget the chance to explore the partici-pating park.Learn2Paddle in July and August

will take place on flat water lakes with-in Missouri state parks. Learn2Paddlewill introduce beginning kayaking tothose new to the sport. Participantswill be taught essential techniquesand procedures including basic pad-dling strokes, essential equipment,different types of kayaks, communi-cating in the water, how to get back inthe kayak after tipping over, and mostimportantly, safety. Registration for the programs is

available online at mostateparks.com/learn2camp.

Sinkholes in Missouri

The tragedy fol-lowing a sinkholecollapse that killeda Tampa man is re-ported to be thefirst to claim a life in

Florida. Sinkholes are a natural andcommon feature of Florida’s land-scape and also occur in Missouri. Pe-riods of drought followed by rainevents can contribute to sinkhole for-mation and collapse. Sinkholes are depressed or col-

lapsed areas formed by the dissolu-tion of carbonate bedrock or the col-lapse of underlying caves. They rangein size from several square yards tohundreds of acres and may be veryshallow or hundreds of feet deep.Sinkholes are part of what is referredto as “karst” topography, which alsoincludes Missouri’s caves, springsand losing streams. Much of the state is underlain by

soluble carbonate bedrock that hasthe potential for karst development.Water moving through tiny cracks inlimestone and dolomite slowly dis-solves the rock and carries it away insolution. Through this process, largecaves and caverns can develop atdepth. As rock is removed, the soilabove washes into the void space.

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With time, sinkholes can eventuallyform on the surface.The department’s Division of Geol-

ogy and Land Survey provides techni-cal assistance to the citizens of Mis-souri by evaluating the causes andrepercussions of sinkhole develop-ment and collapse. Staff geologistsperform visual reconnaissance to de-termine if collapse or landslide is at-tributed to a natural karst feature orfailure of a man-made feature. Learnmore about sinkholes and other geo-logic hazards at dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/geores/geohazhp.htm.

National Trails DayCelebrations

On June 1, Mis-souri State Parks willcelebrate NationalTrails Day, the na-tion’s largest celebra-tion of trails. Lastyear, Missouri residents, parks, andbusinesses hosted a combined 40events, giving Missourians the oppor-tunity to connect with their local com-munities, forests and parks.National Trails Day is a series of

outdoor activities designed to pro-mote and celebrate the importance oftrails in the United States. Individuals,clubs and organizations from aroundthe country host National Trails Dayevents to share their love of trails withfriends, family, and their communities.

Troutapalooza EventsContinue Missouri State Parks un-

veiled Trouta-paloozaon March 1,proclaiming2013 the Year of the Trout. Trouta-palooza will continue throughout theseason, featuring a series of eventsdesigned to engage experienced an-glers and introduce new participantsto the activity. The trout catch-and-keep fishing season runs until Oct. 31,and Missouri State Parks has threetrout parks for visitors to enjoy: Roar-ing River State Park near Cassville,

Bennett Spring State Park nearLebanon, and Montauk State Parknear Salem.Troutapalooza includes activities to

promote fishing for all ages and skilllevels. The following activities andevents being planned to take placethroughout the season: Trout ParkPassport Program, monthly Learn2Fish clinics, weekly drawings, tourna-

ments, coloring contests, and specialprograms and activities. To find thelatest information on Troutapalooza inMissouri state parks, visitFacebook.com/Troutapalooza.

Permit Modifications ListAvailable Online

Facilities or businesses that active-ly treat, store – for more than 90 days

environmental notes

Spring and summer are times for backyard bar-becues and lazy days in the shade. Many peopleenjoy both of these activities on a deck behind theirdwelling. Decks are great for entertaining, but some-times their upkeep can be a chore. If you are in the marketfor a new deck or updating an old one, consider composite decking instead of tra-ditional wooden lumber.

Composite decking is not an entirely new product, but in recent years it hasgrown in popularity. Composed of recycled wood particles and plastic from milkjugs and shopping bags, it carries many benefits over its wooden counterpart.Composite decking is a low-maintenance alternative that never requires staining orresealing. It will not stain, is durable, comes in a variety of colors and textures, andusually only requires a power washing once or twice a year. It will not rot, termiteswill not damage it, and most manufacturers claim that it will last 2-3 times as longas wooden decking. Combine these features with a product made from 70 percentto 95 percent recycled materials, and it is hard to not consider it as an option.

While the benefits seem to make composite decking a no-brainer, it is importantto make sure you choose the right material for the job. Some composite deckingcan have a tendency to sag over time, depending on the types of plastic used. Ifthe particular brand chosen does not include UV protection, boards could fade asthey get older. In addition, once wood particles have been combined with plastic,these boards are difficult to recycle again. Composite decking is generally moreexpensive than traditional wood but also can vary widely in cost. While compositedecking may end up being more expensive, this may be offset by a savings onmaintenance, when compared to traditional wood decks over their lifespan.

If considering composite decking for your home, make sure to understand thedifferences between brands. The material should come with a manufacturer’s war-ranty and may need to be installed by a professional. In addition, you should ask tosee examples of stress-tested boards to see how they look after some outdoor ex-posure. Finally, following proper maintenance procedures will keep your deck intip-top shape for years of enjoyment, whether you choose composite lumber or tra-ditional wood.

Sources: Recycled Plastic and Composite Lumber – BuildItGreen.orgEPA Background Document for the Final Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) III and Final Recovered

Materials Advisory NoticeCedar Vs. Composite Decks – Western Red Cedar Lumber AssociationGreenExpo365.com. A Short Read on the Differences in Composite Decking

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Bored with Wood?Try Composites!


– or dispose of hazardous waste inMissouri must get a hazardous wastepermit, which lists how and what kindsof hazardous waste the facility canmanage. It also lists the facility’s oper-ating conditions and closure, correc-

tive action and necessary financial as-surance requirements.The department or the facility can

make changes to the hazardous wastepermit throughout its life. Permit modi-fications are labeled as Class 1, 2, 3 or

department-initiated, depending onhow much they change the originalpermit conditions. The public is invited to review the

Department of Natural Resources’ listof all approved hazardous waste per-

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LettersI was very excited to see the Time Exposures article aboutLovers Leap, in the 2013 winter edition of Missouri Resources.I’m most familiar with Lovers Leap in Hannibal, since I wasborn and raised here and have lived here all of my life (64years), except for six years.

The two photos of 1915, are very interesting. The articlestates that “the horizontal photo was likely taken atop CardiffHill.” The photo was actually taken atop Lovers Leap and look-ing northward, over Hannibal, toward Cardiff Hill.

Thank you for a wonderful magazine!

Larry BrossHannibal

Editor’s Note: As Larry pointed out, the photo in Times Exposures is in-

deed a view of Hannibal from atop Lover’s Leap. In the fore-ground of the view, you can see the location of the old railroadroundhouse as well as the river on the east side of town. Wealso have verified this with the Hannibal Convention and Visi-tors Bureau. Our apologies and thanks to Larry for taking thetime to alert us to the error.

Congratulations to you and your staff for a very nice and in-teresting magazine. It is a good way for ordinary citizens toknow what is happening in our state and to appreciate thework of DNR. Thank you.

Clyde DickersonShell Knob

Thank you for the Huzzah Creek spillway picture featuredon the back cover of the winter issue of Missouri Resources.Huzzah Creek begins on my paternal grandfather’s farm insouthern Dent County and meanders through the little Howe’sMill community (and my farmland) until it reaches the conflu-ence with the eastern branch at the spillway.

I have fond memories of my childhood in this area.

Vivian J. (Mrs. Robert W.) JordanSalem

Please accept my very sincere congratulations and thanksfor the winter 2013 issue of Missouri Resources. I found it tobe the best yet! I enjoyed it overall, and found it informative onso many subjects. “Moo Juice” will go a long way to addressthe problems from concentrated animal operations we have.

In particular, thank you for the “Battle of Island Mound” arti-cle. I will be passing this one to friends that will, I know, be de-lighted to know of this new historic site. When I stumbled ontothe national park site (George Washington Carver NationalMonument) in Diamond, Mo., (thanks to highway signs) I alsoshared that. It is amazing how little is done to promote thesepositive aspects of our history.

Ronald N. CarterSt. Louis

I have been fascinated by dye tracing in sinkholes for along time. I am in my 85th year and I’ve often wondered whatis the longest distance on record of dyed water emerging, andwhere did some of the dyed water emerge? Also where is thelargest sinkhole in Missouri and how many sinkholes havebeen found? How deep do sinkholes get?

Thanks, I enjoy Missouri Resources and when I was teach-ing, I often quoted your magazine.

Frank GruswitzSt. Louis

Editor’s Note – Peter Price, Division of Geology and Land Sur-vey responds:

The longest dye trace we recorded is roughly 39 miles long(Eleven Point River to Big Spring). We have verified 15,981sinkholes – and expect many more exist. The largest encom-passes about 700 acres in western Boone County. Recordsaren’t kept about depth, but we know some are greater than100 feet deep. For more information visit: dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/envgeo/watrace.htm;dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/envgeo/eau.htm; and dnr.mo.gov/magazine/2010-winter.pdf#page=25.

Letters intended for publication should be addressed to “Letters,” Missouri Resources, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or faxed to573-522-6262, attention: “Letters.” Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Space may require us to edit your letter. Youalso can email Missouri Resources staff at [email protected].


mit modifications for calendar year2012. The permit modifications list isonline at dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/permits/publications.htm. For more in-formation or a hard copy of the list,

contact the department’s HazardousWaste Program, Permits Section, at800-361-4827. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals may call RelayMissouri at 800-735-2966.

Geologic Maps Published

Four new geolog-ic maps are availablefor portions of Call-away, Jefferson andSt. Louis counties.The department’s Di-

vision of Geology and Land Surveycreated the maps through theSTATEMAP component of the NationalCooperative Geologic Mapping Pro-gram, which is co-funded by the U.S.Geological Survey. Bedrock and surficial maps are

available for Fulton and Manchesterquadrangles. Bedrock geologic mapsprovide information about the existinglayering of bedrock and faulting, fold-ing or deformation, and informationabout the distribution of rock such aslimestone, sandstone, coal and gran-ite. Surficial material maps describethose deposits that occur above thebedrock layer. This includes soil,along with details about deeper un-consolidated material. Geologic maps benefit landowners,

farmers and government agencies bybuilding a regional picture of the dis-tribution of geologic materials thatstore groundwater or providerecharge to valuable groundwateraquifers. They provide a strong scien-tific basis for making informed regula-tory decisions that ensure protectionof public and environmental health,such as siting landfills or cleaning upgroundwater contamination. All miner-al, energy, water, industrial construc-tion, public works and urban develop-ment projects can benefit from ageologic map. Used in applications including

earthquake and other natural hazardevaluation, geologic maps also aid en-gineers and planners in identifyingrock materials for the construction ofcritical infrastructure such as highwaybridges, dams, tunnels and pipelines.Geologic maps help create strategiesfor resource development and envi-ronmental protection. Geologic andtopographic maps may be purchasedonline at missourigeologystore.com or

Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Mo., often called a “fisherman’s par-adise,” is home to the Ozarks’ fourth largest spring, a fish hatchery, a unique nat-ural tunnel and a Stream Team Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring project. ThreeStream Teams represented by six individual members have monitored water quali-ty at Bennett Springevery month for thepast year. Billy Back-ues, Carolyn Solomonand Marvin and LucySilliman, representingStream Team 4193,are working diligentlywith Carl Romesburgof Stream Team 3117and Dennis Trudeauof Team 3688.

Romesburg andTrudeau met Backuesat a VWQM introducto-ry workshop. After be-coming acquainted,they quickly discov-ered that they hadsimilar interests andcould assist one another with their monitoring responsibilities. Solomon and theSillimans knew Backues from their membership in the Lake of the Ozarks MissouriMaster Naturalist Chapter.

After receiving a call from the Bennett Spring hatchery asking for volunteers tomonitor the water quality above Holland Dam in the state park, Romesburg knewjust who to call. This faithful group of monitors rallied around the idea and someof them manage to combine their volunteer activities with pleasure, often bringingtheir fly rods along so they can do a little fishing after monitoring duties. As moni-tors, they do macroinvertebrate and chemical monitoring while using the historicgauge in the park for stream discharge measurement.

It is easy to see this group is well organized anddedicated to protecting water quality at BennettSpring. If you are ever visiting the park and see themworking, stop by for a chat. They will gladly show youwhat they are doing, but be careful, you just might findyourself regularly monitoring with them.

Stream Team members prepare to put their chemicalkits to work at Bennett Spring State Park. Left to rightare Carl Romesburg, Billy Backues, Marvin Silliman,Dennis Trudeau, Lucy Silliman and Carolyn Solomon.

Stream Teams Monitor a Fisherman’s Paradise

Stream Team Notebook

DNR photo by Susan Higgins

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the Lake of the Ozarks Council ofLocal Governments to study the possi-bility of extending the Normac SewerDistrict near Camdenton.The sewer line extension feasibility

study will help the council understandpast precedent and establish a futurevision for the land to outline the bestplan for extension of the existing col-lection system. Extending the existingsystem will add more customers,which will lower the monthly ratesbeing paid by current Normac SewerDistrict customers. Adding more cus-tomers to the district will also benefitthe environment as it will reduce thenumber of permitted outflow pointsand on-site (septic) wastewater sys-tems in the area.The feasibility study will be used to

develop and to identify the current re-gional infrastructure and recommendsuitable locations for potential long-term investments, and improve waterquality in the region.Contributing partners in this collab-

orative wastewater study include theCamden County Health Department,Camden County Assessor, CamdenCounty Waste Water Department,Camden County Sewer Board, Mis-souri Spatial Data Information Servic-es, Missouri Association of Council ofGovernments and Missouri Depart-ment of Natural Resources.The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Region 7, has provided par-tial funding for this project under Sec-tion 319 of the Clean Water Act. TheDepartment of Natural Resources’Water Protection Program will admin-ister the grant funds. The departmentis committed to working closely withcommunities and businesses to assistwith funding efforts that improve waterquality in Missouri.

at the DGLS central office at 111 Fair-grounds Road, Rolla. Learn more at dnr.mo.gov/geology/statemap/missouri-maps.htm.

Study Grant for NormacSewer District The Missouri Department of Natural

Resources has awarded $41,000 to

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Time Exposures

Although officially incorporated in 1853, Kansas City had been athriving community since the 1830s. The Kansas City neighborhood nowknown as the River Market was originally called Westport Landing. Landalong the Missouri River in the western part of the state often has steeploess hills and bluffs – Kansas City was no exception. In 1833, JohnCalvin McCoy developed a boat landing carved from a natural rock ledgeon the south side of the river. It was used to receive goods via the riverdestined for the town of Westport, four miles to the south. Those itemswere then sold to settlers heading west on the Santa Fe Trail. Grand Av-enue, along with Main and Delaware streets, were deep ravines that cutthrough the bluffs. These geologic features were developed as streetsthat led from the river to the residential and commercial areas of thesouth. The rugged topography limited development of the area and theland was eventually leveled. This photograph from 1886 shows workersgrading the river bluffs at the intersection of Fourth and Grand streets.

Photo from the Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library,Kansas City, Mo.

Send your photo to “Time Exposures,” c/o Missouri Resources, PO Box 176, JeffersonCity, MO 65102-0176. Original photos will be returned via insured mail. Pre-1970environmental and natural resource photos from Missouri will be considered. Pleasetry to include the date and location of the picture, a brief description and any relatedhistoric details that might be of interest to our readers. For news releases on the Web, visit

dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/. For a complete listing of the department’s

upcoming 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/.



D ave Murphy, who recently retired as the Executive Director forthe Conservation Federation of Missouri, grew up with an en-

thusiasm for spending time outdoors through hunting, fishing andtrapping. Along the way, he also developed a true passion for natu-ral history. Murphy soon became a dedicated and respected con-servationist and environmentalist.

Murphy grew up on his family’s farms in Lewis and Clark counties innortheast Missouri. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree inForestry, Fisheries and Wildlife in 1976 and attained his Master ofScience in Wildlife Biology in 1983.

Murphy spent the beginning of his career working on wildlife researchfor the Missouri Department of Conservation. He eventually beganlooking for opportunities to fulfill his quest to become an engagedand dedicated conservationist.

Murphy augmented his efforts by becoming an active volunteer forseveral private conservation organizations including Trout Unlimited,Quail Unlimited, the Ruffed Grouse Society and especially, theNational Wildlife Turkey Federation.

“I believe absolutely in the value of ordinary folks working together toaccomplish extraordinary feats,” said Murphy.

His positive, collaborative attitude led Murphy to a career as the

Regional Field Supervisorand Regional Director forthe National Wildlife TurkeyFederation. Under his direc-tion, the federation grewfrom 11 local chapters tomore than 200 with over600 members that generat-ed in excess of $2 millionnet each year for conserva-tion projects. Murphy’s 10years of service with theConservation Federation ofMissouri also brought simi-lar results while enhancing and maintaining the relevance of the out-doors to every living and future Missourian.

His dedication as a conservationist and environmentalist has beenrecognized by many organizations, such as Outdoor Life’s 25 MostInfluential People on the Future of Hunting and Fishing, and Bass ProShops’ 2012 Conservation Partners of the Year, awarded to Murphyand Sara Parker Pauley.

Murphy and his wife, Gunilla, will continue to run their family’s treefarm in Fairmont and will most certainly remain active in working toprotect our precious natural resources.

Resource Honor Roll Dave Murphy

Dave Murphy

Conservation Federation of Missouri photo

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RockMatters

When the glaciers melted, the rocks and soil remained indeposits of till that is sometimes more than 300 feet

thick. The rocks are usually composed of igneous and metamor-phic rock types most resistant to weathering. While the erraticswere trapped within glacial ice, they were rubbed against eachother, as well as the bedrock they moved over during their jour-ney south. Erratics may be found with flattened sides andgrooves etched into them as a result of this abrasion.

Quartzite and gneiss (rhymes with nice) are the most commonglacial erratics in Missouri. Much of the quartzite found inMissouri is believed to have originated in South Dakota and isknown as Sioux Quartzite. It is commonly red to purple and is

metamorphosed sandstone, composed prima-rily of the mineral quartz. It is generally grey

or pink, has a banded appearance, andis made up of granular mineral grains,typically containing abundant quartz orfeldspar minerals. Erratics composed ofanorthosite, andesite, basalt, diorite,

gabbro, granite, granodiorite, greenstone, schist, slate and syen-ite may also be found.

The size of erratics can range in size to that of pebble-size parti-cles to boulders the size of cars. Occasionally very interestingpieces are discovered, such as native copper from Michigan orbanded iron formations from Minnesota. One glacial erratic com-posed of granite and located in Sullivan County, is estimated toweigh more than 750,000 pounds!

Glacial erratic Taking their names from the Latin word errare,erratics are rocks that differ from size and type of rocknative to their surroundings. During the ice age, glacierscarried rocks and soil into Missouri from South Dakota,Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada.

(Left) Glacial erratic in Sullivan County. DNR photo by Jerry Vineyard. (Bottom) Most erratics in Missouri are composed of Quartzite (left)or gneiss (right). DNR photos by Mark Gordon.


one

Y ou’ve heard the old saying, “It’s hot enough tofry an egg on the sidewalk!” As you preparefor the 2013 camping season, the Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources’ Division of Ener-gy challenges you to put this old adage to thetest, sort of.“Make your campouts a little different this

year by incorporating solar cooking,” said LlonaWeiss, director of the division. “Whether you uti-lize a commercial or homemade cooker, you’llenjoy easy, fuel-free cooking using a renewableenergy source.”The benefits of solar cooking are abundant.

First, food generally tastes better when cookedby the sun’s natural heat. The temperature withina solar cooker rises slowly and more evenly, pre-venting overcooking and allowing the food timeto release its natural flavors. In addition, becausethere is no air movement with solar cookers asthere is with conventional ovens, food tends tostay moist and tender. Since solar cookingdoesn’t require electricity or conventional fuelslike propane or wood, it is pollution free. You canbake, boil or steam any kind of food by harness-ing the power of the sun, without hurting the en-vironment. Best of all, it’s a fun, personal or fam-ily activity. “Solar cooking offers a wonderful learning op-

portunity, especially for kids,” said Doug Dunn, amaintenance worker with the department. Dunn started solar cooking three years ago

with his Boy Scout troop and has done demon-strations at the department’s Earth Day celebra-tion, the Missouri State Fair and other events. Heviews it as a reliable cooking source, even duringlow temperatures or when the use of an openflame is neither practical nor safe.“During the 2012 drought, many camping

areas banned the use of traditional campfires,”Weiss said. “You will never have that problemwith solar cooking. It can be used in any circum-stance. All you need is strong sunlight.”Dunn agrees, “The first time I baked cookies

in a solar oven was in the fall, and the tempera-

ture was 38 degrees. The cookies baked just thesame as they would on a warmer day.”A variety of commercial solar cookers are

available, ranging from less than $20 to morethan $300. You also can build one with aluminumfoil and cardboard, which allows you to experi-ment with solar cooking without a big investment. Dunn reminds solar cooks to think safety first.

“Always remember to wear sunglasses and usepot holders to protect yourself when cookingwith the sun.”The following links provide more information

about creating your own, inexpensive solar cook-ers: solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solar_cooker_plans, and;www1.eere.energy.gov/education/pdfs/solar_oven.pdf.

Ming Xu is an energy specialist and Angie Mor-feld is a public information coordinator with thedepartment’s Division of Energy.

by Ming Xu and Angie Morfeldphotograph by Scott Myers

Doug Dunn, a DNR General Services employee, prepares choco-late chip cookies on his solar cooker. Although it was a cool Aprilmorning, ample sunshine provided more than enough heat.

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

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