By Ken Midkiff
So what’s the problem with running a backhoe or frontloader into the creek, scooping out a few bucketloads and loading up the dump truck?
No problem at all. In fact, it helps the creek to have sand and gravel removed. At least, that’s the claim of those engaged in the practice of mining Ozark streams.
Anglers, canoeists and other water recreationists (swimmers, divers) have a somewhat differing perspective. They say there is plenty wrong and not much good about sand and gravel mining.
For one thing, the sand and gravel mining operations are responsible for stirring up polluted sediments — and fish don’t exactly thrive in such waters. Canoeing and swimming in murky, polluted waters is not only no fun, it is downright dangerous. So, the fishing, canoeing and environmental/conservation groups are a bit up in arms about moves by the General Assembly and the State Land Reclamation Commission to lessen stream protection measures. One of the proposals by the Land Reclamation Commission — now memorialized in a State Rule — will allow sand and gravel operations to take place no more than ten feet from the water channel.
Now, ten feet isn’t very far, especially when it considered that the water channel in August or September may be completely inundated in April or May and all those loosened and polluted sediments end up smothering the very areas where fish spawn. Fish won’t spawn on gravel or rocks covered with muck. (Muck is just a common name for sediments.)
Ten feet is way too close for canoeists. There you are, paddling along on the Big Piney or Eleven Point, and there’s a noisy, smelly backhoe only 10 feet away. While many football games have been lost because of a failure to advance those last 3 yards, canoeists will now be expected to float that distance away from a mining operation.
The Ozark Chapter has joined with fishing and conservation groups to launch HELP PROTEST MISSOURI STREAMS.
A petition drive is underway to collect thousands of signatures to present to legislators next session to demonstrate that Missouri citizens do not want stream protections weakened!
Contact the Chapter office (800) 628-5333 to get your copy of the petition and talking points. Let's be proactive in protecting MO streams!
In the interests of fairness, there are some who claim that there should be NO gravel-mining operations in Missouri streams. These claim that any such operation just has too much impact on other uses, they are too noisy, and too polluting.
To add to these claims, it seems that the staff of the Missouri Land Reclamation are much more inclined to protect polluting operations than they are to prevent pollution. They don’t much care about sand and gravel operations, seldom checking to ensure that even the minimal standards are observed. Even when violations are called to their attention, it is with great reluctance and much defensiveness that investigations are launched. This notable lack of enthusiasm for doing their job leads to a lack of enforcement, even when there is evidence of gravel-mining in and below the stream bed.
The laws of physics dictate that nature abhors a vacuum. When gravel is taken out, the hole fills back up — with gravel. Where does it come from? Upstream, or from an adjacent bank. Tagged “headcutting”, this has led to bank cave-ins, which actually results in even more gravel entering a stream — contrary to the claims of those who make a profit from sand and gravel.
In short, the gravel-mining operations are violating the laws of the United States (the Clean Water Act), the laws and regulations of Missouri, the laws of the universe.
Not bad for a bunch a guys on backhoes.
Photos:
Photo 1: Sand and gravel operation on the upper Jacks Fork - note that this operation went right into the flowing water, but no violations were observed by Land Reclamation staff.
Photo 2: Sand and gravel operation next to Hwy 17 Bridge over Barron Fork of Tavern Creek. There are present: Frontloader, dump truck, two gravel screeners, and two large piles of sand and gravel. The investigator for Land Reclamation claimed that he saw none of this.