AUGUST 2025 | ISSUE XIV

Celebrating 25 Years of Conservation: The Great Rivers Habitat Alliance 

For a quarter of a century, the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) has stood as a steadfast guardian of the Confluence floodplain, ensuring that the rich ecosystems of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers remain protected for generations to come. Founded in 2000, GRHA has tirelessly worked to combat unsustainable development, preserve wetlands, and advocate for responsible conservation policies.

A Legacy of Protection and Advocacy

The Confluence floodplain is one of the most ecologically significant areas in the United States. It serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds, fish, and countless other species. However, over the years, commercial development has threatened the integrity of this natural landscape. GRHA was established to counteract these threats, ensuring that conservation remains a priority in the region.

READ MORE - FULL STORY

Victory for the Confluence: Data Center Withdrawn Amid Environmental Concerns 

In a welcome turn for conservation advocates, the proposed “Project Cumulus” data processing center has been withdrawn from consideration in St. Charles County’s 100-year floodplain—a decision that marks a small but meaningful win for the Confluence region.

The Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) raised strong objections to the project, citing irreversible threats to water safety, wetland integrity, and flood resilience. The center’s proximity to the Elm Point groundwater well field and jurisdictional wetlands posed serious risks, especially given the potential for hazardous chemical storage and massive infrastructure demands.

GRHA’s letter to county officials emphasized the ecological and cultural significance of the Confluence, home to migratory birds, historic hunting clubs, and vital agricultural lands. We also emphasized the immense financial investment by GRHA and partners, including the Missouri Department of Conservation Commission (MDC) have made in the Confluence.

READ MORE- FULL STORY

25 Years, 25 Gifts:

GRHA’s Conservation Legacy

As the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) celebrates its 25th anniversary, it proudly reflects on twenty-five gifts it has given to the Confluence floodplain. These gifts represent decades of dedication to partnerships, habitat conservation, policy advocacy, education, and community engagement.

Conservation Milestones

1. Habitat Protection: GRHA has permanently protected 968.7 acres in fee title and influenced another 65,000 acres of critical wetland habitat through various partnerships.

2. Foster-Rollins Floodplain Conservation and Education Area: GRHA launched this initiative to protect and restore 181 acres of floodplain habitat along the Mississippi River in partnership with the Mysun Charitable Foundation, Robert J. Trulaske Family Foundation, The Conservation Fund, and the Land Learning Foundation. This area serves as a conservation site and an educational resource for the community.

3. 400 acre Waterfowl Refuge: The Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetlands Education and Conservation Center: In partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Henges Charitable Trust, and The Nature Conservancy, GRHA secured 785 acres of prime wetland habitat in St. Charles County (formerly Whistling Wings Duck Club) from Ducks Unlimited. The original 330-acre inviolate refuge has been expanded to 400 acres and will be there for migratory birds forever.

4. Johnny Belz Project at Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge Project: In 2022, GRHA collaborated with Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance 1,531 acres of wetland habitat at the Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge. The project improved water management and restored natural drainage patterns, benefiting waterfowl and other wildlife.

5. Bong Project in Wisconsin: Protecting 106.3 acres in the Mississippi floodplain, marking GRHA’s first out-of-state project. With the assistance of GRHA, a partnership group led by Ducks Unlimited (DU) was able to close on this threatened property adjacent to the Richard Bong State Recreation Area within the Mississippi Watershed. This is GRHA’s first out of state project.

READ MORE - FULL STORY

MDC and Great Rivers Habitat Alliance to offer mentored hunts at the Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetland Education and Conservation Center this Fall

By Dan Zarlenga

St. CHARLES, Mo.— The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) will launch a series of mentored hunting opportunities at the new Jay and Carolyn Henges Wetland Education and Conservation Center this fall. These hunts are designed to welcome and support youth and first-time hunters, helping them gain confidence and skills in a safe, supportive environment.

The center is located on the recently acquired GRHA property between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in St. Charles County. MDC provided financial assistance to help with the acquisition. It consists of 785-acres on Missouri’s most vital floodplain and wetland habitat, half of which are managed as inviolate refuge. 

. 

READ MORE - FULL STORY

2025 Wetlands Workshop:

A Sold-Out Success

The 2025 GRHA Wetlands Habitat & Management Workshop, held July 28–30, was an outstanding success—completely sold out and celebrated by attendees for its top-tier instruction and immersive content. As part of GRHA’s Public Awareness and Education pillar, the annual workshop provides landowners and property managers with practical training on habitat management fundamentals and effective techniques for waterfowl hunting properties.

READ MORE - FULL STORY

GRHA’s 2025 Event Season: A Powerful Start to a Milestone Year

As we celebrate GRHA’s 25th anniversary, this year’s events have been a true reflection of the strength, generosity, and energy of our conservation community. From February through July, supporters came together for three unforgettable events that raised vital funds and built momentum for what promises to be an impactful fall season.

None of these efforts would be possible without the leadership and dedication of our Development Board members, who serve on and lead our event committees. Their time, energy, and commitment continue to shape GRHA’s success and extend our reach across the Confluence region and beyond.

Here is a look at what we have accomplished so far in 2025—and what’s coming next. 

. 

READ MORE - FULL STORY

STATE OF THE BIRDS 2025

The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced in March at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years.

READ MORE - FULL STORY

POLICY – A TRAGEDY FORETOLD: WHY WE MUST STOP BUILDING IN THE 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN

The July 4 Guadalupe River flood that devastated Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, was more than a natural disaster—it was a preventable tragedy. At least 129 lives were lost, many of them children, as floodwaters surged through cabins built in a known flood zone. But this was not the first time we’ve seen such devastation. Thirty years ago, the Great Flood of 1993 created similar devastation and sent a similar warning—one we’ve tragically failed to heed. 

. 

READ MORE - FULL STORY