Join the Executive Committee, Idaho National Outing and more!
Feature Photo from Sierra Club National Outing in Idaho by Matt Self
Dear Friend,
Thanks for being a part of the Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) of the Missouri Sierra Club. Whether your interest is conservation, policy, trail maintenance, activism or enjoying our outings, everyone with a love for the outdoors is welcome here.
Partnerships lead to Mississippi River wildlife refuge expansion. By Caroline Pufalt Expanding a wildlife refuge is not always easy. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service worked with 22 local and state partners to successfully develop a common vision to expand the Middle Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge (MMNWR). That vision will enable the Service to acquire up to 90,000 acres of land from willing sellers within an expanded boundary. The new boundary covers potential acres on both sides of the Mississippi River centered around the St Genevieve area.
The expanded refuge will bring a variety of additional wildlife benefits to the region, which is already recognized as a critical area along the Mississippi River flyway. It will provide recreation for residents and visitors and increase flood resiliency protection. Towns and farms in the region will continue to thrive amid the additional refuge acres. The Sierra Club supported this expansion as an excellent example of recognizing the multiple benefits that well planned public land protections can provide. The refuge currently includes seven sites with a visitor center in Annada, MO. See the MMNWR website for directions to the refuge.
Sierra Club National Outing to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests
By Matt Self In August 2023, I participated in a week-long service trip with the Sierra Club’s national outings program to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. We met the Forest Service crew that would be leading us in trail work over the next five days in the Forest’s backcountry. After a challenging 5 mile hike with 2000 feet of elevation gain, we made camp on the granite outcrops at Two Mouth Lakes, so named for two small lakes connected by a gently-flowing creek.
On days 1 and 2 we rerouted the current trail to the lakes, to better manage water flow and prevent future erosion. The Forest crew and a few seasoned volunteers provided guidance for us less-experienced members, making sure our trail work was up to their standards. Fortunately, all of the work was routine for the crew, and they kept spirits very high during the arduous work days. Creating a new trail on a hillside was an incredible physical challenge, but full work days make for delicious food and heavy nights of sleep.
On day 3, we had a rest day. Some people stayed in camp or explored the lakes while a group of us took a bush-whacking tour up Myrtle’s Turtle, a steep granite mountain rising 600 feet above the lakes. Our guide Gary had been coming to this area for 20 years and carved his way up and down the mountain as if a trail was laid out before him. As an outings leader, watching him was a treat because he knew the land very well and would pick up on subtle changes in terrain and vegetation to determine the best path for the group.
On days 4 and 5, we finished the trail reroute, repaired several boardwalks, stabilized a section of rockfall, and added drainage paths for several downhill sections of trail. The variety of work kept things lively and our bodies guessing about what would come next. The hike out the next day was much easier going downhill, but there was a bitter-sweetness to leaving a place in the wilderness we called home for a week.
Sierra Club’s National Outings program is a tremendous gateway to explore new lands with less management of logistics. With offerings of service trips, lodge trips, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and more, there are year-round opportunities for all ages, skill levels, and desires. This was my second National trip, and I will definitely be coming back for more–maybe even as a leader in the future!
The Mississippi is Mighty Parched From NASA Earth Observatory Months of excessive heat and drought parched the Mississippi River in the summer and early fall of 2023. In September, low water levels limited barge shipments downriver and threatened drinking water supplies in some Louisiana communities, according to the Associated Press. FULL STORY
Worried About Living in a Flood Zone? Try a House That Floats From The New York Times Eventually, coastal cities threatened with rising tides and bigger storms could use not just the waterfront, but also the water, as places to build housing. READ MORE
The Pope Urges The World To Solve Climate Change From Forbes Eight years after issuing his first encyclical on the environment, Pope Francis is back with another apostolic exhortation, this one more directly focused on climate change. READ MORE
What To Do With Autumn Leaves From Earth911.com
Back to school, sweater weather, and warm drinks. Those brightly colored leaves are beautiful on the trees, but they lose their appeal when they start falling to the ground. But even fallen leaves have value. Here are five do’s and a don’t for dealing with autumn leaves. TOP FIVE
Hospitals Strive for Eco-Friendly Certification From GreenCitizen.com
U.S. hospitals can now achieve a Sustainable Healthcare Certification, showcasing their commitment to eco-friendly practices and emissions reduction. FULL STORY
EMG Paddle Trip in early September. Photo by Matt Self
STL Food Waste Challenge - all October All this month, restaurants and breweries throughout the region will participate in this challenge, organized by earthday365 and the Green Dining Alliance. MORE INFO
EMG Member Event: Fall Social & Potluck - October 14 at Noon
Join us for an afternoon get-together! Event will be held at the Humboldt North Pavilion in Tower Grove Park. Please bring a snack to share! Learn more and RSVP here
Volunteering at Belleview Farm Park - November 11 Belleview Farm Park is a natural treasure with an incredible view of the Meramec Valley and 100 acres of woodland and meadow. We'll be working on various stewardship activities, such as invasive species removal, to prepare the park for future public use. MORE INFO
Turkey Time at Rockwoods Reservation - November 11 It is time to talk turkey! Fall is the best time to learn about and celebrate these amazing birds. What better way to get to know them than to walk in their natural habitat while we learn about and watch for them. SIGN UP
EMG Monthly Ex Com Meeting - November 14 All are welcome to join the monthly Executive Committee Meeting to hear updates and progress on all things EMG! MORE INFO
Vounteering at Castlewood State Park - November 17 We will be working on various activities each month, such as trail maintenance, invasive species removal, social trail closing, and other projects that the superintendent deems necessary. SIGN UP
EMG Outings Welcome to All - Join Us! Sierra Club Outings are open to the public. A dollar per person donation is requested. Firearms are not allowed on outings. Participants must sign a liability release. Outings Leaders are volunteers. Outings officially start at the trailhead or river access. Carpooling is encouraged but not the responsibility of the Leader. For more information, Click Here.
Join the Missouri Sierra Club Executive Committee - Nominations due October 11 There's still time to submit your nominations for our Chapter's Executive Committee! You may have heard the recent news - our Chapter is currently accepting nominations for our 2024/2025 Executive Committee. We're reaching out with this friendly reminder that there is still time to nominate yourself or someone else to be a candidate for Missouri Sierra Club's leadership! Candidates are voted on by Missouri Chapter members. Nominations must be received by October 11th! MORE INFO
Expand Your Conservation Horizons! Join the EMG Conservation Committee! If you are ready to engage in outreach, education, research and action on the variety of conservation topics in our region contact Caroline Puffalt, Conservation Committee Chair, at cpufalt@sbcglobal.net.
Looking for other ways to get involved? Fill out the Volunteer Interest Survey! Check out the survey here.
Join the EMG Outings Committee! This is a very active and exciting group within the EMG. We coordinate and run all the hikes and canoe trips. We do trail maintenance and new trail construction at different parks. This is a great way to meet people and become more active in the Sierra Club. Please contact us. We could use YOUR help! Contact Dave Campbell, Co-coordinator for the Outings Group, at davecampbell9009@gmail.com
We're looking for great nature photography! Email it to emg.missouri.sierraclub@gmail.com and we might feature you in our next newsletter. We're always looking for photos from our members! By submitting a photo, you agree to allow EMG Sierra Club to use your photo for promotional purposes only.
Welch Spring on the Current River by Louise Bullock
