Dam Jam Downtown, a River Rescue Celebration!

We are excited to announce our 14th annual River Rescue cleanup and our first ever Dam Jam Downtown Celebration on Saturday, June 9th, 2012! Last year we had 198 cleanup canoeists who removed 5.4 tons of trash, approximately 3/4 ton of metal and 200 tires from the James River.

Later we spent a beautiful evening on the banks of the Finley River at the Historic Ozark Mill owned by Johnny Morris’ Bass Pro Shops.  We enjoyed local music, a few of Springfield Brewing Company’s finest brews and delicious Johnsonville Brats!

River Rescue is the largest water lovers’ event in our community. If you have participated before in River Rescue you know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t yet done a River Rescue, get on the river and join us this year!

But wait we have an exciting NEW announcement to make about this year’s Dam Jam!!!! We have MOVED!!!

Dam Jam Downtown, River Rescue celebration and Crawdad Boil will, for the first time, be held this year on Springfield’s Park Central Square.  We are pleased to announce that the 2012 River Rescue Celebration is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops. The event starts at 3:00pm and will run until 11:00 p.m.  This is an official GREEN Event on the Square and only one of five events allowed to sell alcohol.

We will provide live music absolutely free to the public. Come and enjoy music  from several of our local bands: Honky Suckle, Deep Fried Squirrel, The Shotgun Brothers Band, Uncle Fudd and Big Damn Heroes.

We will bring the taste of river life to the city by offering an awesome Crawdad Boil including Cajun style new potatoes and corn on the cob which will be served up by the one and only Ryan MacDonald of Trolley’s. If crawdads aren’t your thing then visit our great variety of other food vendors such as Johnsonville Brats. To top the evening off  Springfield Brewing Company will be on hand to serve their mouthwatering fresh brewed beer along with their partner Wil Fischer Distributing Company. You won’t want to miss this event so grab some friends and join us on the Square where we are bringing the River Life to YOU!

The River Rescue cleanup event will be held on the morning of June 9^th.  and our volunteers will clean up a stretch of the James River.  If you have a canoe or kayak please plan on joining us on the river, we will provide you with an annual collectors edition River Rescue Dam Jam tee shirt, a delicious lunch by Traveling Chef and shuttling for you to or from your vehicle for the amazing cost of $12 per person, kids 12 and under are free!

If you don’t have a boat, rent one of ours for an additional $10 per canoe but boats are limited so reserve now at GetMeRegistered.

We can’t wait to see you on the river and if you can’t make it that morning then we’ll see you on the Square where the taste of river life will be brought to you!!

Visit River Rescue  for the latest information!

Earth On Your Plate

Once again this year the James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) is participating in the Earth On Your Plate fundraiser.  On April 17 we ask that you consider eating out at one of the participating restaurants listed below.

On April 17, the establishments listed below are generously donating 10% of their total sales to JRBP, the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and Ozark Greenways.  Choose your favorite location and support three conservation organizations at once.  The Community Foundation of the Ozarks has agreed again this year to match these donations up to a maximum of $5,000.  Please help us get the maximum amount of benefit from this event.

• Chili’s–All Day
• Trolley’s–All Day
• Panera Bread Co.,–Breakfast 6-9 a.m.–All 5 locations
• Skinny Slim’s–
• Incredible Pizza–Evening
• Bambino’s–Evening
• MaMa Jean’s–Lunch–Both locations
• Farmers Gastropub–Evening–Informal membership meeting–6-8:30 p.m.
• Millwood Golf and Racquet Club (Mikayla’s)
• Pasta Express–Evening
• Grad School–
• Metropolitan Grill–
• Houlihan’s–Evening–Both locations
• Hemingway’s–All Day

Members of JRBP are invited also to join staff members at Farmers Gastropub for an informal membership meeting.  JRBP staff will be available from about 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday April 17 at the Gastropub in downtown Springfield.  We would like to meet you and visit about the James River and other topics on your mind.  Please join us for an evening of food and drink.

Please select one of the above establishments and show them that we appreciate their financial support of conservation programs unique to each of the organizations who will benefit from the donations.

Lake Springfield Earth Day Cleanup

Help us keep the James clean by joining us at the 5th Annual Earth Day Lake Springfield Cleanup on Sunday April 22 at 1:00pm.

This event is for everyone, we’ll have shoreline, lake and river cleanup opportunities.

If you have early spring canoeing experience grab your canoe or kayak and help cleanup a section on the James from Creighton Access to Southwood Access approximately 4.75 miles. Transportation to and from the Creighton Access will be provided. If you are more of a lake canoer come paddle around Springfield Lake. There might be a few of you that would like to keep your feet on the ground so grab a trash bag and begin walking the shoreline. Meet us at Lake Springfield Southwood access just past the Veteran’s Cemetery. Driving directions FROM LAKE SPRINGFIELD DAM: Take Kissick Ave south, taking a left on Evans Road(Farm Road 188).  Look forVeterans Cemetery sign, turning left, and take Southwood Rd to the Southwood Access on the river.

Volunteers need to register with Melissa Bettes at 417 836-4847 or melissabettes@missouristate.edu before April 20th.

Partners Springfield Greene County Parks and MDC Nature Center

Trash bags, gloves, and orange vest will be provided.

Storm Drain Reveal 2012

 

Storm  drains don’t make for a typical canvas, but  for the second year in a row 10 local artists are using them as backdrops for colorful painted murals to raise awareness about clean water. Artists will paint the storm drains that are located  in various locations throughout the city as part of the Storm Drain Reveal project of James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) and the City of Springfield Department of Public Works.

 The murals communicate that storm drains lead directly to our urban streams then eventually to the James River and then Table Rock Lake.  Soapy water, litter, yard waste 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 sediment from construction sites.

 Kat Allie, Instructor of Fine Arts at Ozarks Technical Community College, is a partner in Storm Drain Reveal. Allie provides technical assistance and requires submissions from her students. This year, seven of the artists chosen out of the 50-plus who submitted designs, are OTC students. The other three are local community artists.

 They include: Michele Ellison, Laura Lynch, Cassie Brasher, Kat Philbin, Jeanene Turney, Travis Burnbee, Joshua O’Byrne and Jessica West, Kayla Campbell, Anthony Weaver and Samantha Lowther

 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. The Urban Districts Alliance and the Springfield Regional Arts Council also provided assistance.

This project is part of the City’s ongoing storm water education/outreach efforts. Public education/outreach is a requirement of the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, a federal mandate of the Clean Water Act. JRBP assists the City with education/outreach as part of its mission to protect water quality in the James River Basin. Information on the City’s efforts to address the water quality impacts of stormwater runoff, and how individuals can help is available here.

Photographs of the completed murals will be on display at The Gillioz Theater during the First Friday Art Walk in May and during Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street, May 5-6. Project details and progress can be found at www.jamesriverbasin.com<http://www.jamesriverbasin.com> .

 For more information, contact Tiffany Frey, James River Basin Partnership, at tfrey@missouristate.edu<mailto:tfrey@missouristate.edu> or 836-6183

Teacher Feature–Stream Environments Course

Announcing: A Professional Development Opportunity

Stream Environments

Presented By

The James River Basin Partnership

And

Missouri State University

 The James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) and Missouri State University (MSU) offers a professional development course titled Stream Environments for teachers and non-formal educators.  The course is scheduled for June 4-6, 2012.  Registered participants will gain an understanding of the dynamics of Ozark streams through classroom instruction on stream dynamics, biology and ecology of streams.  The course includes a one-day float on the James River with interpretative sessions along the way.

In addition to information about stream dynamics participants will receive training in use of the Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Curriculum and Activity Guide.  Participants who complete the course will receive the Project WET Curriculum & Activity Guide for use in their individual classroom setting.  Course content will include topical background information, suggested teaching strategies, student activities and GLE/CLE correlations on the selected topic.

This course offers an optional one-hour of graduate credit with MSU in Springfield.  Enrollment for college credit must be done in advance of the course.  Please contact Erica Cox at the telephone number below or at e-mail ericacox@missouristate.edu for information about college credit. 

The $60 registration fee covers the cost of Project WET training, course materials, field-trip transportation, canoe rental and meals during the course.  You are on your own for the cost of college credit, lodging (if needed) and other miscellaneous expenses. 

**A one-day float on the James River will be required.  The day of the float will include a tour of Fantastic Caverns.  NOTE:  The registration fee covers admission to Fantastic Caverns.  This course will be held regardless of weather and requires a significant amount of physical activity.  Enrollment is limited to 30 participants so register early to reserve your place.

Information provided through this course will address GLE’s and CLE’s in the classroom 

For more information on this course, or for arranging faculty in-service training contact Joe Pitts with JRBP at telephone (417) 836-8878 or Erica Cox with MSU at telephone (417) 836-4337.

Pre-Registration Form

 To register for this course send a completed pre‑registration form (see below) and the $60 registration fee to James River Basin Partnership, 901 S. National Ave., PCOB, Springfield, MO  65827.  Make your check or money order for $60 payable to JRBP.  NO REFUNDS.  A packet of course information will be mailed to each participant about 10 days prior to the course. 

The Stream Environments Course will be held June 4-6, 2012 in Springfield, Missouri.  Please complete this registration form, make a copy for yourself, and return by May 31, 2012 to the address listed below. 

Name                                                             

Phone (       )                                                     

E-Mail                                                                                                      

Emergency Contact Name and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                      

Address                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                     

City                                                                               State                              

Zip                                         

Make a $60 check for course registration payable to JRBP.

NO REFUNDS.  Please mail this form with your check to: 

James River Basin Partnership

901 S. National

PCOB

Springfield, MO  65897

Phone:  417- 836-8878 or (417) 836-4337 

Please contact staff at the above address if you need special accommodations.

 ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED!

PLEASE, NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

 **This course includes a day-long float on the James River that will require moderate physical activity including walking up steep banks and lifting one end of a canoe.

 

Come see us at…..

• The Green Building Fair Saturday April 14th, 2012 at The Library Center Springfield, MO
• Earth Day at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore April 21st, 2012 2410 South Senic Springfiled, MO
• Earth Day Wellness and Watershed Celebration Big Cedar Lodge, April 21 2012 Ridgedale, MO
• First Friday Art Walk in June at the Gillioz May 4th 2012
• Artfest on Walnut Street May 5th & 6th 2012

The Current Newsletter

www.JamesRiverBasin.com