Speaking up for Missouri...."The Great Rivers State" | | This Week's Water News: Missouri voters renew parks, soil, and water tax for another decade, racers finish MR340 in St. Charles, low Missouri River levels in Montana are intentional as dam repairs enter final stage, floating wetlands helping Missouri lakes stay healthy, Iowa DNR investigating wastewater discharge into Mississippi River, Missouri residents call for investigation into alleged sewage discharge in Big River, Montana’s Missouri River under threat from invasive species, H2Ozarks launches efforts to reduce pollution in Lake Taneycomo, Senator Baldwin introduces MRRRI Act to restore and protect Mississippi River, and Colorado River hits “bleak” new low in Palisade | |
Race for the Rivers is August 29th!
Learn more here!
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This Week's "Critter of the Week"!
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
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As summer slowly but surely changes to fall in Missouri, our surroundings also change. Leaves on the trees begin to yellow and occasionally fall in the late summer heat, and we begin to hear different insects in the nighttime chorus of sounds. Another change to keep an eye out for is the ripening of pawpaw fruit! Pawpaw trees are found growing in clusters, and they vary in size between the scale of large shrubs to small trees. Right now, you can find unripe, green fruit on the trees. They are Missouri’s largest native wild fruit, growing almost statewide. These trees are from a taxonomic family whose members are found in the tropics. But, pawpaw is native to Missouri! No other close relatives to the pawpaw tree are found in Missouri. Pawpaw trees are also the zebra swallowtail butterfly’s (Eurytides marcellus) sole host plant.
Pawpaws are an understory tree, and customarily they grow on dense, moist soil on steep slopes and in creek and river bottoms. The fruit of the pawpaw tree are called paw paws, American custard apple, or Missouri banana. The fruit ripens September-October, and you will often find ripened fruit dropped on the ground. Many birds and mammals feed on the fruit, so if you want to get a good harvest make sure to get out in time to beat our forest denizens!
If you are interested in hunting paw paws, more information about harvesting and processing paw paws can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation link below:https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/pawpaw
Sources:
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/pawpaw
https://www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/zebra-swallowtail
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New Missouri Stream Team Association forming! Live in the Upper Meramec watershed or want to help with river stewardship of the Upper Meramec?
Contact Stream Teams United board member and Stream Team volunteer,
Rob Viehman at robviehman@mac.com or call or text Rob at 573-774-8611.
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Check out these August events
and Save the Date for National Public Lands Day, Sept. 26th!
| | Lifejackets save lives! Wear a lifejacket on the rivers and lakes! | |
- August 8 - Honeysuckle Removal, 9 AM - 12 PM, Again Street Park, Columbia, MO
- August 8 - Native Garden Volunteer Event, 8 AM - 10 AM, Lakeside Nature Center, Kansas City, MO
- August 11 - Ron Coleman Kickoff Cleanup for Operation Clean Stream, 8 AM - 3:30 PM, Pacific Palisades Boat Ramp, Pacific, MO
- August 11 - Stream Teams United Advocacy Meeting -Registered Missouri Stream Teams only, 7 PM - 8:30 PM
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August 12 - Grow Native! Webinar: Missouri Native Fern Propagation and Lessons Learned, 4 PM - 5 PM
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August 12 - Big Muddy Speakers Series, Archer Alexander and the Underground Railroad, 6 PM - 8 PM, Bike Stop Cafe, St. Charles, MO
- August 15 - Cleanup on the Black River, meet at Oak Barrel Restaurant, Lesterville, 7:30 to 10 AM check-in
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August 15 - Love Your Park Cleanup Day, 9 AM - 11 AM, Fairground Park, Saint Louis, MO
- August 15 - Big Muddy Clean Sweep Cleanup, 9 AM - 12 PM, LaBenite Park Boat Ramp, Sugar Creek, MO
- August 19 - Orientation and Onboarding Session for Missouri Stream Teams, 1 PM - 2 PM
- August 22 - Operation Clean Stream, various times and locations
- August 26 - Grow Native! Master Class: Native Annuals and Biennials, 4 PM
- August 26 - Big Muddy Clean Sweep Cleanup, 9 AM - 12 PM, Waverly, MO
- August 27 - One Water Missouri, on the Living Lands and Waters Barge, near the Gateway Arch, 9:30 AM to 4 PM
- August 29 - Mallard Lake Pollinator Garden Maintenance, 8:30 AM - 12 PM, Saint Louis, MO
- August 29 - Friends of Kaw Point Park Monthly Cleanup, 9 AM - 12 PM, Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, KS
- August 29 - Race for the Rivers, St. Charles County with Greenway Network
- August 29 - Litter Team Cleanup, 9 AM - 11 AM, Faith Baptist Church, Columbia, MO
- August 30 - Big Muddy Clean Sweep Cleanup, 9 AM - 12 PM, Miami Access, Miami, MO
| | Advocacy Updates and Opportunities | | |
August 13, 2026 - Comment period closes for US Army Corps of Engineers Lower Missouri Jefferson City Flood Risk Management Draft Feasibility Report and Integrated Environmental Assessment. The purpose of the study is to identify causes and impacts of recurring flooding along Capital View Levee and the unconstructed, but authorized, Missouri River Levee System project in Callaway County.
August 14, 2026 - Comment period closes on MO DNR Draft 2028 Listing Methodology Document (LMD). The 2028 LMD outlines the procedures the department will follow to assess surface water quality and develop the 2028 Missouri 303(d) List of Impaired Waters.
Now through September 2027 - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is collecting data for the 18th Clean Watershed Needs Survey (CWNS). The CWNS is led by U.S. EPA to document economic impact of the nation’s wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source infrastructure needs for the next 20 years. The department encourages communities, sewer and water districts, counties, and nonprofits with Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) eligible needs to begin developing and gathering documentation in support of the upcoming CWNS.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has published the Procedure for Applying Mussels Absent Ammonia Criteria in Missouri Surface Waters. This document describes the performance-based approach the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will use to determine the application of mussels absent criteria in Missouri surface waters (excluding the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers). This approach is designed to ensure appropriate ammonia criteria are applied to protect the aquatic life designated use in receiving and downstream waters. This document details the process, minimum data requirements, and decision-making framework.
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Check out our Annual Report!
Thank you to all the volunteers, supporters, and partners who make the work of Stream Teams United possible!
| | Support Stream Teams United as you drive. Don't have a Stream Team license plate? Anytime of the year is the perfect time to order one! Show your love for Missouri's streams as you drive, and support our stream advocacy efforts in Missouri! | | | | |
