Meet our new Policy Manager, Charles Miller

First of all, an introduction is in order. My name is Charles Miller and I’m your new Policy Manager at Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper and River City Outdoors. I’ve spent the past three years getting a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Before I started law school, I knew I wanted to work on state and federal water policy. I’m incredibly lucky that I was able to fulfill this goal by coming to Missouri and working at the confluence of two important and beautiful river systems that influence not only the rest of the United States, but the rest of the world. 

For many of us, the last three years have been hard. Dealing with huge changes in how we work, live and recreate, and in some cases, dealing with the losses of loved ones. So much of what we do as people is enhanced by or depends upon face-to-face interaction with other human beings. The unfortunate realities of the pandemic impacted me, too. I’m not sure if you’ve heard this, but law school is hard. That difficulty is compounded when life is upended by a global pandemic.

That’s why I was incredibly grateful to be able to start my time at Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper with two in-person conferences in Washington, D.C.: River Network’s River Rally and Waterkeeper Alliance’s Global Conference. Both offered an opportunity to connect with friends and river advocates, both new and old. Both also offered an opportunity to learn from and engage with these advocates. I was able to help some of my old friends from Alabama speak up for enhanced stream connectivity, better funding for sustainable agriculture practices in the Farm Bill, and the designation of a new Wild & Scenic River in their state. Being able to make new friends and connect with old ones, all of whom share a common purpose: protecting and enhancing our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans was the perfect way to recenter myself before embarking on what I am sure will be a fantastic journey at Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper.

I also presented on state responses to the 2019 “Dirty Water Rule,” at River Rally. The divergent responses to this rollback of Federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction demonstrate the importance of state-level advocacy, not only from organizations like Waterkeeper Alliance and Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper, but from ordinary citizens. Many times, state legislators and regulators count on public apathy or unfamiliarity with the processes by which these critically important laws are made. Often, notifications of rulemaking are buried in websites or documents the public at large seldom has occasion to run across. Sometimes state agencies don’t even properly notify the public of critically important rulemakings that impact their right to swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water.

This gap between the importance of these rules and how information about them is shared is precisely why I went to law school. As an intern at American Rivers in 2018, I saw the power that people with a legal education could have. While interning there, the Federal Circuit Court for D.C. handed down a decision forcing a power company to protect endangered species around 7 of their dams. Around the same time, the Supreme Court was considering a case that eventually led to the protection of hunting rights for thousands of Native Americans in Montana and Wyoming. These weren’t abstract disputes between multinational corporations, these were concrete disputes that impacted hundreds of thousands of lives. And more importantly, the good guys won.

Seeing the power to create positive change is what inspired me to go to law school in the first place. Over the past few weeks in D.C., I saw that same power on display. And it’s not just limited to lawyers, lobbyists, policy-makers and those kinds of folks. Educators, biologists, communicators, organizers and people from all walks of life help build that power. Seeing that process is always inspiring. Being a part of it is even more exciting. I’m excited to continue to be a part of that process right here in Missouri. If you have questions or just want to say hi, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at mailto:charles@mowaterkeeper.org.

See you on the river!

Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper Announces Multi-Year Grant to Fund Clean Water Initiative in St. Louis

MEDIA ALERT
January 20, 2022
Contact: Rachel Bartels, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper, rachel@mowaterkeeper.org, 314-884-1473

Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper Announces Multi-Year Grant to Fund Clean Water Initiative in St. Louis

  • Funding comes from a $584,000 Opportunity Fund grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health

  • Three-year project will test both drinking water and source water 

  • Grassroots project to inform Missouri Waterkeeper policy recommendations for clean water investments and regulations

WHAT

Today, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper has announced that it received a $584,000 Opportunity Fund grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The 36-month grant will support a community-led research project to sample and test water quality throughout St. Louis City and County and understand the prevalence of emerging contaminants. 

The grant will be further applied to a strategic communications campaign targeted to Missouri lawmakers and policy decision-makers to promote environmental justice and achieve health equity in St. Louis.

Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper has outlined four key phases for this new project:

  • Phase 1: Collect and analyze tap water samples from randomly selected households identified through grassroots outreach.

  • Phase 2: Test for inequities in water systems by collecting samples of targeted source water near water treatment plants throughout the North St. Louis region, and collect samples of surface water near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and certain tributaries.

  • Phase 3: Produce a report including university-led analysis of collected samples.

  • Phase 4: Amplify research findings via strategic communications campaign targeting local, state and federal policymakers.

WHY

As both state and federal policy lags in protecting people from emerging contaminants, research findings throughout the country reveal a catastrophic, pervasive picture of emerging contaminants in our environment and our bodies. While the Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory lists over 85,000 chemicals and microbiological contaminants, only 91 are currently regulated and regularly tested in local drinking water.

Early testing conducted by Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper confirms the presence of emerging contaminants in tap water and Missouri’s waterways — the source of most local drinking water. Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper will advocate for equitable investments in clean water infrastructure, shift power dynamics, and lay the foundation for lasting community change.

FUNDING

Missouri Foundation for Health’s Opportunity Fund offers the chance for organizations to share game-changing ideas with the hope of making them a reality. By working in collaboration, the Foundation helps nonprofits test projects that have the potential to reduce health inequities and build communities where everyone can thrive. The Foundation granted Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper a total of $584,000 to support its three-year phased approach.

QUOTE

“Water is essential to life. And clean water is vital for healthy people and communities,” says Rachel Bartels, Director of Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper. “We are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with the Missouri Foundation for Health as changemakers to advance environmental justice and equitable investments in clean water infrastructure. This funding will serve as a catalyst for our organization’s mission to protect fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Missourians.”         

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Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper: Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused solely on clean water and dedicated to protecting the right to fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Missourians. To learn more please visit mowaterkeeper.org or @mowaterkeeper on social media.


Conservation Organizations and Local Alderwoman Announce Launch of Trash Free St. Louis Pilot Project in Local Waterways

February 22, 2021 - St. Louis, MO - Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper, Blue2Blue Conservation and Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia today announced the launch of the Trash Free St. Louis pilot project along River des Peres. Support for the project comes from the EPA Region 7 Trash Free Waters Initiative and a donation from the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation. 

Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper is partnering with the Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University and Blue2Blue Conservation to install and maintain three in-stream litter collection devices at key points throughout the River des Peres watershed - Deer Creek Park in Maplewood, Heman Park in University City, and in River des Peres Park in St. Louis City. The trash traps are composed of a floating boom that attaches easily to embankments, stormwater outfalls, canals, or creeks to divert trash from heading further downstream.

“St. Louis and the Missouri and Mississippi Confluence have an important responsibility as the fourth-largest watershed in the world,” said Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper Rachel Bartels. “With 80% of ocean pollution originating inland, we are in the right place to prevent large amounts from moving downstream and eventually reaching the Gulf. It’s our hope that through this program we’ll not only be able to clean up the trash, but also figure out where it’s originating and work to stop it at its source.” 

The organizations will also pilot a monitoring program, the first of its kind in the region, to document the kinds and quantities of waterborne litter collected and map the flow of trash. “We are excited to work with Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper and other partners on this project,” said Tonya Brownlee of the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center. “Our hope is that our analysis of the data collected from the trash traps will help St. Louis area leaders and organizations evaluate decisions regarding future water quality projects and their funding options.”

“After seeing firsthand the negative impacts of pollution on the ocean environment, we started Blue2Blue Conservation to work to remove pollution upstream before it reaches the ocean,” says founder Josh Wilson. “This pilot program is a significant step in doing exactly that, and we look forward to leading volunteer cleanups and engaging the community in this vision for clean waterways and healthy marine life.” 

“This is a positive step in helping to keep River Des Peres – and the Mississippi River it flows into – cleaner for both the animals that live there and humans who rely on it,” said Diane Bauhof, executive director of the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation.

“The Trash-Free St. Louis Project is an excellent example of what we can accomplish for our region,” said Christine Ingrassia, Alderwoman for St. Louis’ 6th Ward. “I'm looking forward to monitoring the results and, hopefully, expanding trash traps into other waterways in the near future."

Partners on this pilot aim to create a model for other organizations to launch similar projects to facilitate cleaner rivers in their own watersheds. Join us on March 8th at 10am at Deer Creek Park as we install one of the trash traps. A clean up of the park led by Blue2Blue Conservation will follow.  

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Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper: Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused solely on clean water and dedicated to protecting the right to fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Missourians. To learn more please visit mowaterkeeper.org or @mowaterkeeper on social media.

Blue2Blue Conservation: Blue2Blue Conservation is committed to preventing downstream ocean pollution through inland waterway cleanup efforts, to increasing awareness of the dangers of pollution and over-consumption and to promoting small changes we can each make in our daily lives to positively impact on the world we live in. For more information, visit Blue2BlueConservation.com. 

St. Louis Aquarium Foundation: The foundation serves as the nonprofit partner to the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station and images the community through access and education programs, serving as the region’s recognized voice for water stewardship. For more information, visit stlaquariumfoundation.org.


Source: https://missouriconfluencewaterkeeper.org/...

Keeping the 'Rivers State' Great

Paddlers Are Paramount to Defending Missouri’s Waterways  

By Elena Richards

Jumping into a local swimming hole or adventuring out to your favorite paddling spot during the summer should be the easiest decision you make all year. 

In a region that boasts thousands of epic miles for kayakers, canoers, and paddleboarders to enjoy, it’s no surprise that so many committed river enthusiasts call this place home. Missouri is the Great Rivers State, after all, with the confluence of the Missouri & Mississippi Rivers in the St. Louis region making up the fourth-largest watershed in the world. And with more than 258,000 miles of rivers and streams flowing throughout our state, and 900,000 acres of lakes for people to explore, Missourians have amazing opportunities to explore outdoors. 

But pollution and lack of water testing threaten these waterways and our ability to enjoy them. According to the CDC, water recreators have higher rates of acute gastrointestinal illness and respiratory, ear, eye, and skin symptoms. Many of these illnesses are caused by water polluted with bacteria from sewage leaks, runoff, and fertilizers, or by chemical pollution from industrial operations. The fact is, when not cared for properly, the same water we enjoy can make us sick. 

The Clean Water Act specifies that all waters should be swimmable and fishable; meaning rivers, lakes, and streams should meet minimum water quality standards to prevent direct health impacts to users. Yet according to the EPA, over 40% of U.S. rivers and streams are unsafe for fishing, swimming, or drinking, as are almost half of all lakes. Clean water protections are being rolled back at the state and federal levels, and budgets for water testing programs are frequently slashed. 

But most concerning is that millions of people recreate in bodies where a water quality sample has never been taken. In Missouri, only around 3% of streams are regularly tested for contamination. And even when data is collected, the critical results—whether it’s safe to swim—are often not readily available to the public. 

That’s where organizations like Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper and Missouri Stream Teams come in, helping connect clean water policy to the people using the waterways. Both are citizen-led conservation groups focused on creating clean and healthy waterways. 

“As your local Waterkeeper, we are out on the rivers testing water quality, investigating pollution and identifying problems,” said Rachel Bartels, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper. “If we or one of our network discovers an issue impacting the waterway, we work collaboratively to address its source and advocate for compliance with clean water laws.” 

This grassroots network is made up of kayakers, fishermen, boaters, and “backyard scientists” who play as the eyes and ears of the river. Today, anyone who regularly engages with local waterways can help protect them with the click of a button. Pollution issues can be reported through Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper’s website, by calling their hotline, or using the Water Reporter app to note changes and observations at usual recreation spots. 

And, this summer, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper is expanding its water quality testing program to include weekly samples at popular sites in the Missouri and Meramec River watersheds. The results will be posted on the Swim Guide, a free app and website that allows users to know whether their favorite swimming or paddling spot is clean and safe to recreate. 

These programs need volunteers, and outdoor enthusiasts are in a unique position to help while doing things they already love. Protecting clean water can mean signing up for a microplastics or water monitoring program, or it can be as simple as attending a river cleanup or spreading the word about a legislative issue. 

“As a fellow Stream Teamer and a member of several recreational paddling groups who thrive on clean water, we have a responsibility to protect our rivers,” said Melanie Cheney who also works for Missouri River Relief. “I've always appreciated getting an immediate response from Missouri DNR when reporting environmental concerns I come across, and it’s great to be allies with our local Waterkeeper as well.” 

“As outdoor enthusiasts, we rely on the water, and the water relies on us,” said Bartels. “Educating people about issues that impact our shared water is becoming more and more important. This work is crucial to making sure our communities’ health is protected, as well as the freedom to enjoy the places we love.” 

Missouri’s waterways connect us, support life, provide recreation, and what’s more, they nourish our spirits. Protecting these incredible resources should be the next easiest decision. 

Source: http://digital.terrain-mag.com/JulyAugust-...

Lax environmental rules easily lead to more polluted water, lands

By: Rachel Bartels, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper and Marc Yaggi, Waterkeeper Alliance

Except in one area, Missouri’s statewide COVID-19 response has been lax. The one area where it has really stepped up: Suspending environmental regulations.

The state’s Department of Natural Resources has suspended rules governing gasoline volatility, meant to ensure gasoline doesn’t increase ground-level ozone, which can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. It’s suspended rules governing asbestos projects. Asbestos has been linked to lung, larynx, and ovarian cancer. It suspended standards for businesses that generate hazardous waste.

It’s paid special attention to stripping oversight from confined animal feeding operations that house hundreds, sometimes thousands, of cattle and pigs in close quarters. It has loosened rules for dumping milk, allowing more animals per operation, relaxed buffer zones between operations and their neighbors, and waived requirements to construct waste pits that meet state design standards. 

Operations don’t have to disclose if they’re killing hundreds of animals due to slaughterhouse closures. And they don’t have to disclose how they’re disposing of them.

These aren’t minor matters. 

Industrial animal operations produce waste by the ton, which is usually stored in open pits. Even under normal circumstances, that storage method threatens both groundwater that flows to nearby wells, as well our public trust waterways. 

Killing animals when processing plants closed means finding a safe way to dispose of them.

And the quantities of milk being dumped are enough to tax any wastewater plant. One farmer reported dumping 19,980 pounds of milk — in one day. Under the rule suspensions, that milk can go straight into a manure pit, and then bake in the sun. 

Pathogens and algae-feeding phosphorus from cattle waste and excess milk threaten the waters we swim, fish, and boat in. They can also threaten the waters we drink. 

It’s not like our DNR was holding polluters to a high standard before.

An investigation by the Missourian of regulatory action by DNR and local regulators found little action around violations at confined animal feeding operations, low or nonexistent fines for operations that were found to have broken the rules, and operations that were allowed to keep their permits despite repeated offenses.

The Missourian’s review of records found a dairy operation in Vernon County that caused four major spills of animal waste into state waters in three years; a hog operation in Audrain County that paid $4,000 in fines after spilling 5,000 gallons of animal waste into a river; and a hog operation in Saline County that killed fish by polluting a river.

What our already weak environmental enforcement agency is saying now is, “We’re done. We’re closed.”

Worse, this comes at a time when the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which is supposed to set a floor for environmental safeguards, has also backed away.

What both Missouri and the country has a whole need to realize is that today’s pollution won’t be gone tomorrow. In fact, it may not even be gone next year. Dead fish can’t reproduce. Tainted wells don’t just turn clean. 

Our children’s children may still be dealing with the aftermath of the federal and state safeguards we are dropping today. Once polluted, our water, air, and land can take generations to heal. 

(Published in the Columbia Missourian on June 25th, 2020)

Source: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion...