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One Glass-One Dime-One Time Campaign is a Reality
It is with great pleasure that we here at the James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) announce the launch of our new One Glass-One Dime-One Time (1-1-1) campaign that has the potential to provide a sustainable funding stream for JRBP. The concept of the 1-1-1 campaign is simple. We are asking patrons of participating restaurants to donate just ten cents (one dime) for the first glass of water they drink with a meal, and only the first glass. Money generated from the 1-1-1 program will help fund JRBP’s projects and programs in the Ozarks and the funds stay 100% local.
On Earth Day April 22, 2013 the 1-1-1 program was officially launched at Big Whiskey’s on the square in downtown Springfield. In fact the program will be piloted at three Big Whiskey’s, two Dublin’s Pass and three Parlor 88 locations around town. We are grateful to the staff and management of RUNBrands for adopting this program. The 1-1-1 program has the potential to generate a steady stream of income for JRBP and therefore become a mainstay of our sustainable funding plan as we move our organization into the future. We envision a time when restaurants throughout the basin from Marshfield to Cassville are participating in this program. You can check our website for updates on the 1-1-1 program including a list of participating restaurants. These establishments clearly understand the need for clean water and we encourage our members, partners and all friends of the James River to patronize participating restaurants and drop a dime for clean water.
The James River has largely recovered from the severe nutrient pollution of 1998-2002. The James will however, always be a recovering river. The JRBP played a substantial role in this dramatic recovery. With relatively high water quality in the James River you could ask why should I add a dime to my bill when eating out? The reasons to support JRBP are many, but below is a list of the more urgent issues still impacting the James River:
- Unprecedented development and population growth in the watershed
- Unprecedented and ongoing drought in the entire basin–the drought amplifies many of the other issues listed here
- Septic tank discharges-at least 10,000 failed systems as of 2006
- Stormwater-a perennial issue with regard to the river and water quality and quantity
- Nutrients-from urban, industrial, suburban and agricultural sources (especially nitrogen and phosphorus)
- Sediments-from land disturbance activities and improper land use practices
- Agricultural inputs-in particular cattle in the stream channel and devegetated riparian corridors
- Environmental literacy-a continual effort is required to reach each new generation
The staff and board of JRBP are working diligently to increase our cash flow from sources other than grants. We need your help. Won’t you consider adding a dime to your meal when eating out to help us help you protect the quality of water in the James River. We have a plan and the programs to sustain the recovery of the James River. We need your financial help to provide the resources to make the recovery permanent. The 1-1-1 program will move JRBP toward sustainable local funding without relying on the uncertain availability of a declining number of government and private grants.
Don’t eat out much? Please consider becoming a member of JRBP with a tax deductible donation (you can join online) to help us continue our mission to protect the quality of water in our springs, streams, rivers and lakes. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and you can be assured that your donation will be used to sustain our mission to protect and improve water quality in the springs, streams, rivers and lakes of the James River Basin.
If you would like to donate to JRBP please go to our WEB Site <www.jamesriverbasin.com> and click on the “Donate” link, or call our office at 417-836-8878.
Best Regards,
Joe Pitts
For the third year, James River Basin Partnership and the City of Springfield have partnered on Storm Drain Reveal using public art to raise awareness that storm drains lead directly to our streams and rivers. Soapy water, litter, yardwaste and other pollutants that end up in storm drains can impact water quality. Stormwater runoff can also pick up and carry pollutants from the landscape such as excess lawn fertilizer, pet waste and cigarette butts. The 10 storm drains chosen for 2013 lead to Jordan Creek which drains to the James River and eventually Table Rock Lake.
Come see the art, view the message and meet the artists at the First Friday Artwalk on May 3rd from 6-8pm. Self-guided walking tour maps are available at www.jameriverbasin.com. At the end of the tour head to SquidFoo at 407 N. Boonville to vote for the People’s Choice winner. Voting will also take place at our booth at Artsfest May 4th and 5th.
The artists whose designs were chosen this year are Michele Ellison, Joyce Kilgore, Debbie Madden, Kevin Dwight Richardson, Jordan Choklad, Justine Coleman, Tracy Pierce, Brandon Krone, Sara Rice, and Mandy Cunningham.
Storm Drain Reveal has received national attention for its success and innovation in promoting awareness of stormwater pollution. Many cities from around the country from Philadelphia to San Francisco and as far away as Anchorage have inquired about how to start a similar project in their area.
In support of the project, Pressure Tech donated their services to clean each storm drain and Seal-Krete provided the primer and top coat to protect the murals from the elements. Kat Allie, OTC Department Chair of Fine Arts & Humanities donated her expertise, time, and space as well as encouraging her students to participate annually.
Here is one little sneak peak..
Justine Coleman, OTC Art Student
Now for the rest… we’ll see you downtown.
Our Spring Members Only VIP Event:
Jordan Creek Underground Tour with Todd Wagner, City of Springfield Principal Stormwater Engineer!
When: May 11th 10:00am-12:00pm
Where: The corner of Water and Main street. Park behind Watershed Committee of the Ozarks building
JRBP Members,
You will love this special VIP urban stream tour experience. With flashlights in hand, Todd Wagner and JRBP staff will lead you from the light creek surface to the dark concrete underground. We will start at the exposed point of Jordan Creek at Water and Main street. The group will head 2/3rds of a mile to the point of resurfacing and return to the starting place while walking above ground.
Todd will be highlighting some of the projected improvements in the Jordan Creek Renewal Project. The Jordan Creek Renewal is a multipurpose project along the Jordan Creek corridor through the heart of Springfield. Multiple objectives for the project include flood damage reduction, water quality improvements and habitat creation through stream corridor restoration and storm water and transportation infrastructure replacement. Other benefits of the project include potential for increases in property values, economic development and aesthetic, cultural and other quality of life improvements, particularly in the downtown area.
Call or email Kellie Herman to RSVP for this event:
836-3756 jamesriverbasin@gmail.com
Not a member? No worries!
Join today at jamesriverbasin.com.
You can also call the number provided to RSVP and pay for your membership with cash or check on the event day.
River Rescue Crystal Anniversary!
This is OMP and JRBP’s 15th year to work with the most dedicated volunteers who are passionate about preserving and protecting the quality of life by removing tons of trash and tires in the James River. We would love to have all of you join us again this year for a FREE cleanup on the James River Saturday June 1st. We are trying something a little different this year by going back to the essentials and focusing more on the environment instead of using the River Rescue as a fundraiser. We will have give-a-ways for participants such as dry bags, gift cards and other paddling essentials. 52 card raffle items will be available for purchase along with the annual collectible tee-shirt. The volunteers will need to bring their own sack lunch this year but people shuttling, trash bags and gloves will be provided. Plan on bringing your boat and join in the fun of protecting our local waterways. If you don’t have a boat reserve one of ours but we do only have limited amount so you better hurry. Pre-registration is required by contacting Melissa Bettes at melissabettes@missouristate.edu or on-line at http://www.JamesRiverBasin.com
Hurry and purchase your collectible tee-shirt to assure we have your right size. These are only a sample we’ll post the final tee-shirt design and color on our website ASAP.
We are so EXCITED about this year’s SECOND Dam Jam Downtown and Crawdad Boil, River Rescue Celebration. As most of you probably already know we moved our celebration to the Springfield Park Central Square and it will be held on Saturday June 8th.
You don’t want to miss this one of a kind GREEN event.
There will be free foot stompin’ live music by Honky Suckle, The Shotgun Brothers Band, Deep Fried Squirrel, Mark Bilyeu & Cindy Woolf starting at 5:00pm and continuing through the night.
Come HUNGRY for the best bayou fresh and some of the largest crayfish you’ll ever taste. Big Pop’s Fresh Louisiana Seafood will be serving mouthwatering one pound crawdad platter with Cajun potato and corn on the cob. Springfield Brewing Company will be there with the finest brewed beers to help put out the fire of the Cajun spice. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL; there will be Fried Catfish platters along with BBQ Smoked Turkey Legs, Brats with sauerkraut, Pulled Pork Sandwiches & Ice Cream Scoops.
Here are a sample of the collectible tee-shirts that will be available for purchase or you can go on-line and pre-order at http://www.JamesRiverBasin.com.
I can’t wait to see you all on Saturday June 8th at the Springfield Park Central Square to help celebrate our River Rescue success stories with music, food and family fun activities and environmental merchant booths for all ages.
This event is sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops, Reliable Toyota, Steak ‘N Shake and Springfield Brewing Company. The proceeds will help JRBP help protect the water quality of your James River and its tributaries.
Check out last year’s photo gallery below. You might just see yourself or one of your friends. See you on June 8th, 2013!
*All photos taken by Matthew Hays. Thanks Matt!!
Middle and Upper James River Basin Show-Me Yards, Neighborhoods, Farms and Ranches Grant (SMYNFR)!
A cost share opportunity for individuals that live in specific areas inside the James River Basin!
The James River Basin Partnership’s (JRBP) mission is “working to protect and improve the water quality in our springs, streams, rivers and lakes.” Since March 1, 2012 JRBP has been able to work with the residents of Pearson Creek Watershed through a Missouri Department of Natural Resources Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant. This Show-Me Yards & Neighborhoods, Farm and Ranches grant is an extension of an already successful City of Springfield educational program designed to raise awareness about the role urban stormwater runoff that effects water quality of nearby streams, creeks, rivers, and lakes.
There are many environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional lawn care and construction practices that improve the quality of stormwater contaminants and excess nutrients before it reaches our rivers. But first we have to know what issues to focus on so we have 3 water quality auto-sampling monitor stations set up in the PCW. These stations are monitoring the storm flows total Phosphorus, Nitrogen, E coli and Coli form. This helps to determine the most effective best management practices to implement in the 22 square miles Pearson Creek subwatershed. Improving water quality is our goal for the residents of the James River Basin and we can do this by offering you several cost share opportunities such as: improving stream buffers; stream and woodland protection; exclusion of livestock; soil testing, low impact development (LID) to help reduce stormwater flow, and maintaining on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) a.k.a. septic systems.
If you are interested in more information on potential cost-share opportunities call or email Melissa Bettes at 417 836-4847; melissabettes@missouristate.edu or visit http://www.jamesriverbasin.com for more grant details!
In case you missed it, we had one heck of a volunteer turn out for the Wilson’s Creek Riparian Corridor Tree Planting!
The project put nearly 7,000 seedlings in the ground to restore and protect the riparian corridor just north of the Springfield Wastewater Treatment Plant along the banks of Wilson’s Creek. Adding dense vegetation to the stream bank and to the adjacent area will stabilize the banks, provide habitat and improve water quality.
The project was a partnership between the City of Springfield, Ozark Greenways, and the James River Basin Partnership with assistance from the Missouri Department of Conservation. These planted areas along with additional sections which total nearly one mile on each side of the creek, will also be placed in a conservation easement to protect the area and the associated water quality into the future.
Volunteers from all over of the watershed and even beyond came to lend a hand on April 4th and 5th
. Big thanks to Missouri State University students who showed up in droves.
We are proud of the project, partners and volunteers and look forward to seeing these trees mature for decades to come.
To see more pictures click here.
Story by MSU intern Kelly Dunlap who has been with us for the Spring 2013 Semester. Thank you Kelly for your help!
The temps were in the mid 60s and there was not a cloud in the sky, we could not have asked for a better day for a highway clean-up. Eleven volunteers collected 21 bags of trash along our adopted one mile stretch of Hwy M just outside of Nixa. We finished in record time, a little over an hour, thanks to all the fantastic volunteers. An extra special thanks to the volunteers that stopped the trash from making it into our rivers: Lucas Tebbe, Alane Roy, Jim and Lori Nighswonger, Sandra and Aaron Roy, Emily Walk, Kristy Gutierrez, Miguel Felix, and interns Kelly Dunlap and Rose Schweiger.
The clean up was a great success and a lot of fun! We hope to see even more people at the next highway clean-up in the fall.
The Thirteenth Annual Springfield/Greene County Choose Environmental Excellence awards were presented Friday, April 19, 2013, at a luncheon at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce as a part of Springfield’s Earth Day festivities.
Choose Environmental Excellence is a voluntary, non-regulatory education program that encourages increased awareness of our impact on our natural environment, presents viable alternatives and recognizes accomplishments that foster environmentally responsible decisions. Thirteen organizations presented awards this year. Douglas Hurrelbrink received James River Basin Partnership’s “Water Warrior Award”. Douglas was chosen because of his dedication to clean water and the environment. He is the owner and operator of Austin’s Pumping Service located in Strafford, Missouri. Douglas has been working in the local community to bring awareness to non – point source pollution by providing expert advice to homeowners about septic systems. He diligently educates people about water quality and provides services while always keeping the environment a priority. His certifications are: Greene County and Missouri State Certified Septic Installer & Inspector, Missouri State Water Well Inspector, and Certified Backflow Technician. Mr. and Mrs. Hurrelbrink accepted the award.
by Joe Pitts
ONE PIECE OF TOAST
In today’s digital world people in general and young people in particular are increasingly disconnected from the natural resources that are the source of all things. During Earth Month it seems appropriate to look at an activity that can help students understand where all their “stuff” comes from.
Aldo Leopold in A Sand County Almanac said, “Land is the place where corn, gullies and mortgages grow, country is the personality of the land…poor land may be rich country and vice versa.” This quote from the father of modern wildlife management relates to the doctrine that all wealth stems from the land. Sustainable management of natural resources is the product of compromise between our critical need for good land and our spiritual desire for rich country.
The James River traverses about 65 miles from headwaters to confluence with Table Rock Lake in a watershed that is influenced by rural, urban, agricultural, and industrial activities. The diverse nature of these activities makes it difficult to meet the basic need for good land while fulfilling the desire for rich country. In the 21st century citizens of the James River Basin and beyond need to understand this concept as they make decisions about management of our water and other natural resources. Members of the James River Basin Partnership staff and board of directors strive to find effective means to help citizens of the basin create a personal sense of connection to the good land from which all things spring and an appreciation of the good country created by the James River.
Whether eating toast for breakfast or doing homework on their computer, everything your student needs or uses can be traced directly or indirectly to the extraction and use of natural resources. Each day students make numerous decisions about consumption and resource use that have measurable impacts on the environment. Teachers can facilitate student awareness of this relationship and help their students develop a personal understanding of the relationship between land and country.
The activity outlined below will help students understand the direct link that they share with each other and the land. Try serving a piece of toast or other grain based snack to each student at the beginning of the activity.
THE ACTIVITY: One Piece of Toast
Begin the activity by asking how many students had a piece of toast or some other bread or grain item for breakfast. Ask if any one knows the steps involved in producing their piece of toast.
Now, become the facilitator as your class develops a list of the steps involved in producing that one piece of toast. (It is best if the students develop this list with limited guidance from the teacher.) Place the list on the chalkboard. Review the list and ask students to describe the benefits to humans and the natural resources consumed during each step. Ask if anyone has an item that should be deleted or added.
Students should be able to describe many of the steps listed below:
Some Steps Involved: Benefits to Humans |
Resources Consumed |
| 1. Cultivation of land for growing cereal grains. Provides food for people and livestock. | Petroleum, top soil, landscape alteration, water for irrigation (ground or surface) |
| 2. Increased crop yields through use or chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Provides for grain surpluses and enables more people to maintain a healthy diet | Petroleum, nitrogen, phosphorus, |
| 3. Harvesting cereal grains through use of power equipment such as tractors and combines. Reduces the human labor required to collect the grain for later processing. | Petroleum (almost all farm equipment is powered by oil based fuels), iron (for steel), water to mine the raw materials and construct the equipment. |
| 4. Transporting, storing, and processing grain. Brings the grain from the field to the processing plant | Petroleum, natural gas, coal and water (for processing)–transport vehicles are powered by oil based fuels. Storage and processing facilities use electricity(most likely produced by coal) and/or natural gas (for drying the grain). |
| 5. Baking and packaging bread commercially. Transforms the grain into bread for our table. | Petroleum, coal, natural gas and water (water is used when mixing the dough, baking the bread may use electricity (produced by burning coal) or natural gas. In addition, the plastic wrapper for the bread is made from oil. |
| 6. Transporting and shelving bread in stores. Makes the bread available for us to purchase. | Petroleum, coal (electricity). (trucks that deliver bread are powered by oil based fuels) |
| 7. Transporting bread to the home. Finally puts the bread on our table. | Petroleum (We must drive to the store to buy the bread and then home with the bread and most of our vehicles are powered by oil based fuels) |
| 8. Toasting the bread. Enables us to have food for our breakfasts | Petroleum, natural gas or coal used in production of electricity to run the toaster. |
Work with students to develop a description of the possible environmental effects of using water, iron, soil, petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Ask them to think of positive and negative effects. Some negative effects include the depletion of soil nutrients, possible loss of topsoil through erosion, and acidic runoff from abandoned or neglected strip mines. Students also may point out, depletion of the limited supply of mineral and fossil fuel reserves, damage to marine and terrestrial life from oil spills, air pollution, acid rain, tundra degradation by oil pipelines and so on. Positive effects could be more food for human consumption, better nutrition, healthier people, fewer insect and plant pests, and a robust economy.
Discuss the use of renewable and non-renewable resources. Ask students to describe the effects of human use of these resources. Discuss the idea of sustainable resource use.
Have students develop a cost benefit statement for the use of soil, petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Ask them to describe environmental and economic costs.
Now, throw the piece of toast in the waste can. Ask students to repeat the activity. Focus the activity on the resources used and the environmental effects of solid waste disposal. Ask students if they can really throw something away.
The above are only suggested steps; individual students may be much more creative in developing their connections. Ask students if the resources being consumed are renewable or non-renewable. Facilitate a student discussion that leads to a definition of renewable resources and examples and non-renewable resources and examples. Encourage students to consider other resource connections to their one piece of toast (i.e., water for irrigation, concrete and steel for highway construction).
Now, what about the toaster, the butter, their home, the car, the school? How are these items related to the land and country concept? The potential is limited only by student creativity.
The time required for this activity varies with student age. The activity could be done in one class session or over several sessions. It is recommended that students be allowed time for independent or group research.
The activity above was adapted with permission from Investigating and Evaluating Environmental Issues and Actions: Skill Development Program, 1996, by Harold R Hungerford, Ralph A. Litherland, R. Ben Peyton, John M. Ramsey and Trudi L. Volk.
Drury student Rose Schweighauser has been an intern for JRBP during the spring 2013 semester. We have appreciated her assistance in many ways during the busy spring time season.
Words from Rose:
I have found that being a part of an internship is not like having another job. It is a separate kind of experience. It’s not about fulfilling a credit, or having something to make oneself look good on a resume, and it’s certainly not about making money. It’s about experience, leadership, putting prior knowledge to work, lessons learned, and credit earned. If anything it’s the closest thing an undergraduate has to a window into a career. I have worked many jobs over my life time, and the things I have done at James River Basin Partnership is a completely new experience.
At the tree planting, I found a group of people that either wanted to help the environment but didn’t know how, or students that were only volunteering for extra credit or because their professor forced them to. During the planting, I talked to people, and found that they didn’t know why they were doing what they were doing, so I answered questions. By the time they left, that same group of people was different. They knew exactly why they went out that day, they knew how to help, they met interesting people, they even learned some science, and they felt great about what they had done. These same people told me they would volunteer more often because of that experience and try to learn more.
I have also found that finding volunteers for an event is very difficult; I have the Highway Clean-up to thank for that. The people that came left exhausted but very proud of what they’d done, and I felt the same having to help set up the event. I’ve done a great deal of organizing, entering information on volunteers or donors, paperwork, phone calls, thank you letters, and general office work, but it always felt different because it was for something I cared about.
I’ve learned much about the field of people behind all the clean roads, crystal clear creeks, and the people that actually care. I learned how to communicate my scientific knowledge to the average person, and how to make them realize why it matters. Being an intern is like learning your own bearings in the world you will attempt to live in, and finding out things about yourself that you can enhance. In that way, you can make your future astounding, by knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into and embracing new experiences.
Dima-A-Glass program rolled out on April 22nd.
Storm Drain Reveal May 3rd Artwalk and May 4th &5th Artsfest
River Rescue on the James River June 1st
Dam Jam Downtown and Crawdad Boil June 8th on the square in downtown Springfield.
Membership Meeting -Jordan Creek Underground Tour May 11th
River Rally St. Louis May 17th-20th
