May 14, 2013
by John Hickey, Chapter Director
For many Sierra Club members, floating the Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers is one of our favorite ways to enjoy the Missouri outdoors. These two rivers, which constitute the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR), are special to many Missourians. Unfortunately, these rivers have become impaired, due to a combination of overuse by commercial horse ride operators and of excessive motorized traffic facilitated by illegal roads. In fact, the lower Jack’s Fork River was added to a list of polluted waterways, due to excessive E. coli contamination from overuse by horses.
Sierra Club members across the state spoke out in 2009 when the National Park Service (NPS) began its process to update the park’s General Management Plan. In January 2011, Club leaders met with Attorney General Chris Koster, and asked him to file a lawsuit against the Shannon County Commission for building an illegal road through the Current River State
Park. That lawsuit, filed February 28, 2011, is still pending.
Meanwhile, the NPS process is approaching a conclusion. The NPS will release a final draft plan in January 2012, and will take public comments during February 2012. Now is the time to let the NPS know that we expect concrete action to address the problems on the rivers.
We need you to get involved! If you have ever floated the Current or Jack’s Fork, you know what is at stake. Here are three things you can do right now:
1. Sign our on-online petition to the National Park Service (www.missouri.sierraclub.org).
2. Add your email address to the Sierra Club alert system, so you can stay involved in each step of the campaign. Email me at john.hickey@sierraclub.org.
3. Request a speaker from the Sierra Club speak to other groups you are involved in.