BOATING FACILITIES ON THE MISSOURI RIVER
By Mike Cooper
In a recent edition of the Newsletter I promised to
write a report about existing and planned services along the Missouri
River in Missouri. In the past it has been very difficult to plan long
boating trips along the Missouri River in the State of Missouri because
of the lack of services. Fortunately for the boating community this
is changing.
I have just learned about a new marina being
constructed at Washington, mile 68. The facility will have a dredged harbor
and be located South of the boat ramp and North of the highway bridge.
— Nick Kotakis who has provided the only boat gas
service on the Missouri River for many years is planning to continue to
sell gasoline at New Haven, mile 81.5. He can provide 87-octane gasoline
and diesel fuel but it is important to contact him in advance. You can
call him at 636-239-7219. Nick's neighbor, Ralph Haynes has been approved
for grants to install new facilities but the grant program still has not
been funded.
— Upstream at mile 130 is the mouth of the Osage
River. With a short detour of one mile up the Osage you can visit Soda
Popp and get gasoline on weekends or by appointment. His phone number
is 573-395-4741.
— The next services are provided at Cooper's Landing
at mile 170. Cooper's Landing has 91 octane gasoline, a pump out service,
full time mechanic and many other services.
— There are plans to install a new marina at Glasgow,
mile 226. Progress has been made in obtaining leases and planning. It
is possible this project could be opened by the spring of 2004 is grant
funding is made available.
— There have been rumors of parties attempting
to provide boating services in Lexington, mile 364. As far as we
know there will not be any new services ready by 2004. A marina
in this area would be perfect for boaters trying to find services on their
way to the next fueling station at St. Joseph, MO, mile 452. Sunset
Grill and River Towne Resort features 7 luxury cabins located
directly on the Missouri River. With 6 docks, gas, bathroom, pump out
and restaurant. You can contact them at: 866-285-3219. Once you
reach the Omaha area there are many marinas. You can get more information
about the Omaha area from: www.omahariverfront.com
The situation is improving along the Missouri River.
But time is short if new facilities are going to be constructed in time
for the Lewis and Clark Commemoration. Most of these projects
cannot be completed without assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Boating
Infrastructure Program, BIGP. Please contact your US Representatives
to congress to encourage funding for this program.
The new edition of Quimby's Cruising Guide
is now available. It has additional information about services and navigational
information for boating on the Missouri River and other connecting inland
waterways. You can get information about purchasing Quimby's Cruising
Guide at www.quimbyscruisingguide.com.
We will continue to provide information about new services when it is
available.
LEWIS & CLARK MUSICAL
“Corps of Discovery:
A Musical Journey” makes its world premiere May 2,3, and
4th at the historic Missouri Theatre, located at 203 S. Ninth St. Tickets
are available through the University Concert Series at (800) 292-9136,
or online at Concert
Series. These performances are selling quickly, and tickets
can now be purchased for the dress rehearsal. Please come to support
an historic opera created in Columbia, that is going to tour all over
the country!!!
Other scheduled performances include a staged reading
at St. Louis' National Convention of “Opera America” on June
13 and June 15. For ticket information call (800) 430-2966.
EDITORIAL
By Mike Cooper
In our last editorial we attempted to
inform our readers about an important issue to all people in Missouri
who love the Missouri River: the water management plan being administered
by the Army Corps of Engineers.
There are several groups competing for a say in how
Missouri River water will be released from the upstream reservoirs. The
commercial barge companies and farmers and businesses who use them want
to make sure there is sufficient water being released to maintain uninterrupted
barge traffic from April 1 through December 1. The US Fish and Wildlife
Dept. want to interrupt the navigation season to assist the survival of
some endangered fish and bird species. The upstream states want to limit
releases of water from their reservoirs to aid recreational uses of the
reservoirs. Boaters downstream from the reservoirs want to make sure there
is adequate water for recreational boating on the lower river during the
summer months.
Our webmaster, Margot, clearly stated her preference
for making sure the management plan favors uninterrupted barge traffic.
Now it is my turn. I think it is important to protect the environment
and endangered species. I think it is possible to do this while maintaining
barge traffic during most of the navigation season.
What do you think? We would like to post
your opinion about this issue or any other issues on our newsletter.
— Thanks,
Mike Cooper
WANTED: OPINIONS!
We're glad you're thinking
of contributing, and would love to add you to our E-mailing list! If interested,
or would like to be included on the mailing list for Newsletter announcements,
E-mail Mike Cooper at: Cooper's
Landing
ARCHIVES
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Between 200 to 400 volunteers are expected to join at
Cooper's Landing to begin this year's River Relief Clean-up on May 3.
River Relief's mission is to clean-up and restore the
Missouri River by coordinating local volunteers and businesses with government
agencies to conduct massive one-day clean-ups of the river banks and islands.
By conducting volunteer clean-ups and on-the-river educational events,
River Relief seeks to inspire in people a sense of stewardship and love
for this great natural resource. To read more about River Relief, click
here: River Relief For a Cleaner Missouri
River.
IMPROVEMENTS TO BOAT RAMP
In March, Cooper's Landing added 24 feet of concrete to
the bottom of the boat ramp. This photo was taken while the river was
at 4 feet on the Boonville gauge. This ramp is now usable during extremely
low river stages when many other ramps in this area cannot be used.
It's Not Wise
to Fool with Mother Nature (con't):
MO SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH STATE ON RIVER FLOW
By Margot Gendreau
According to the Associated Press
on April 23, Missouri acted properly when it placed the Missouri and
Mississippi rivers on a list that potentially meant more regulation of
private property.
The case focused on a 1998 decision by the Missouri
Clean Water Commission to place the rivers on the state's "impaired
waters" list. The list is sent to the federal Environmental Protection
Agency, which can add or remove waterways before approving a final list.
Many waterways are listed bacause of contaminants. But
the Missouri and Mississippi were included on the 1998 list because of
a loss of natural habitat caused by channelization.
As you've read from the previous issues, several agricultural
and business groups sued, claiming the state neither followed normal rule-making
procedures nor proved the rivers were "impaired" by a pollutant.
They contended that habitat loss does not qualify as a reason for the
listing.
In its decision, the Missouri Supreme Court concluded
that the 'impaired waters' list is an 'intergovernmental communication"
— not a state rule, and thereby not subject to the rules and regulations
process.
The 2002 version of the impaired waters omits the Missouri
River but includes five miles of the Mississippi, citing lead and zinc
pollutants from the Herculaneum lead smelter.
The EPA has not made a final decision on whether
to include the Missouri or Mississippi rivers on the 2002 final list.
To All
Interested in
Missouri River Flow Issues:
The US Army Corps
of Engineers is holding several public hearings related to the Upper Mississippi
River System Flow Frequency Study. The dates for the public hearings on
the Missouri River are:
- Tuesday, MAY 6 -
St. Louis, MO Spazio Banquet and Conference Center in Westport 12031
Lackland Road St. Louis, MO
- Wednesday, May 7
- Kansas City, MO Hyatt Regency Crown Center 2345 McGee Street Kansas
City, MO
- Thursday - May 8 -
Omaha, Ne Holiday Inn Omaha-Central-I-80 3321 South 72nd Street Omaha,
NE
Upper Mississippi
River System
Flow Frequency Study
(Formerly
the Upper Mississippi, Lower Missouri, & Illinois Rivers Flow Frequency
Study).
For more information about
this study or the public hearings go directly to the US Army Corps of
Engineers website on the subject at: FlowFrequency/flowfreq.htm
Thanks!
Steve J. Johnson
Missouri River Communities Network
Outdoors Building
200 Old Business 63 South
Columbia, MO 65201-6081
Phone: 573-256-2602 Fax: 256-1216 Steve
Johnson or visit www.moriver.org
Get Your Bicentennial
Navigation Map
U. S.
Corps of Engineers released a beautiful, highly informative Guide
to Recreation and Visitor Safety for the Lower Missouri River.
This multi-page map and guide separates the Missouri River into sections
according to Lewis and Clark's journal entries. It includes Missouri River
Access, Public Lands and Parks, boat ramps with fuel, the current river
channel as well as the Missouri River in 1879, the Katy Trail State Park
and trail heads, Lewis and Clark's journal entries, campsites, and so
much more. The guide's design and durability is practical and essential
for boat navigation, and will make an excellent souvenir for this monumental
occasion.
This guide is supported by the following agencies: US
Corps of Engineers, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department
of Natural Resources Division of State Parks, and the US Fish &
Wildlife Service. For river maps and info, call the Missouri River
Information Center Toll Free:
1-866-285-3219. The map is also available from Missouri River Communities
Network in Columbia. Your donation of $5 will be greatly appreciated;
e-mail Steve Johnson. or call 573-256-2602.
Mike
Cooper - Proprietor
Margot Gendreau - Editor
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