by Roy C. Hengerson
All along the route taken by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804 through 1806 a wide variety of activity is being planned to commemorate its bicentennial (and boost the local tourist industry). The State of Missouri is already featuring some of these events on its website. The Sierra Club has noticed that public attention to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial provides an opportunity to focus on the environmental problems and opportunities of the once wild region that Lewis and Clark traveled through. The Club has a national task force working on plans for featuring the conservation opportunities still available to protect and restore the wild rivers, prairies, and forests discovered by Lewis and Clark.
Here in Missouri, where the Voyage of Discovery began and ended, interest in bicentennial events and activities is certain to be high. The Ozark Chapter of the Sierra Club thus has a great opportunity to tie into planned events and organize its own events. These may serve to increase interest in protecting and improving the much abused Missouri River and her major tributaries, focus on opportunities for protective acquisition of key tracts along the river corridor, and promote increased efforts in protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats. The bicentennial provides many historical and educational outings possibilities as Sierrans trace the journey of the Voyage of Discovery and participate in commemorative events.
Responding to this opportunity, the Ozark Chapter has appointed a Task Force to develop ideas and plans for Lewis and Clark bicentennial materials and activities. Cheryl Hammond and Roy Hengerson agreed to kick off this effort and recruit other interested Sierrans from around the state to be a part of our Lewis and Clark celebration. Hence this article.
If you have an interest in being involved in this exciting endeavor, please contact Cheryl at 314-291-5907 info@todaydata.com or Roy at 573-635-8066 roy.hengerson@sierraclub.org.