by Becky Denney
In late April the Eastern Missouri Group sent a letter to the Missouri Gaming Commission urging them to deny a gaming permit to North County Development, L.L.C. for the 377 acres on the floodplain immediately south of the Confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in Spanish Lake. The proposed complex consisting of a casino, convention center, hotel, 18-hole golf course, wind turbines and over 8000 parking spaces will be on property adjacent to a conservation area – the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.
The Columbia Bottom Conservation Area was itself built at a cost of 25 million dollars. The Conservation Area includes some roads and infrastructure. The fields are farmed but grain and crops are left for birds and wildlife. Man has intruded into the floodplain already but the sloughs and wetlands are still there. They still nurture the wildlife such as fish, and turtles. A shorebird flying the 8000 miles from the Arctic Circle to South America can still find shelter and a natural stopover for replishment. When Columbia Bottom Cconservation Area is flooded, much will be renewed and there will be little human built debris to wash downstream.
But the casino complex if built next door will require extensive buildup from the floodplain and additional infrastructure. Instead of wetlands and farmlands to absorb the flood waters, there will be additional storm water runoff. Instead of habitat for millions of migratory waterfowl, eagles and other wildlife, there will be buildings, pavement and bright lights.
Our goal along with all the groups that are part of the Save The Confluence effort was to get a real outpouring before May 1 to show the Gaming Commission that there is strong public opinion against this development. That date was chosen because it was also the due date for proposal submissions from prospective casino operators to the Gaming Commission for the 13th casino license that will become available on July 1, 2010.
On May 18 we learned of an exciting break-through in our campaign: the Post-Dispatch reported that St. Louis County Executive Dooley opposes the casino complex. In his letter of May 13 to the Missouri Gaming Commission he said he listened to North County residents and opposes the development of a sixth St. Louis casino at the confluence location. He wrote, “The environmental concerns relating to the wetlands and conservation area adjacent to this site, as well as the challenges posed by constructing such a project in the floodway and in proximity to the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, have led me to this decision.”
Evidently, every time Executive Dooley goes to North County he hears a complaint about building a casino at the Confluence. Whereas, the River City Casino which opened this spring in south St. Louis County seemed to meet with wide support and was built on a reclaimed industrial site.
Your opinion is important. Please write a short note to the Missouri Gaming Commission to show that public opinion is indeed against extensive, expensive buildup in a floodplain.
Leann McCarthy
Missouri Gaming Commission
3417 Knipp Drive
P.O. Box 1847
Jefferson City, MO 65102
leann.mccarthy@mgc.dps.mo.gov
And, please thank St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley for opposing the casino complex at the confluence by phone (314) 615-7016 or e-mail cdooley@stlouisco.com.