The Grand River Basin stretches from lower Iowa to its confluence with the Missouri River near Brunswick, Missouri running through farms, TNC’s Dunn Ranch Prairie and Little Creek Farm. At Little Creek Farm, TNC demonstrates how landowners can incorporate sustainable practices to keep cattle out of rivers and streams, improve soil health and minimize harmful nutrient runoff and soil loss due to stream bank erosion. In the St. Louis region, the health of the Mississippi River has been damaged by harmful nutrient overflows from agricultural lands and from surcharges in the city’s combined sewer system. Failing septic systems and impervious surfaces that do not allow for the absorption of stormwater also have harmful impacts to the river. TNC is collaborating with partners and communities on projects that reduce stormwater runoff by incorporating green infrastructure practices. Success stories include a 150,000-gallon underground cistern at Jubilee Community Church that captures 100% of the rainfall from the church’s roof to irrigate the new farm and orchard.
The Meramec River is an irreplaceable freshwater resource, providing economic and recreational resources for local communities and suppling drinking water to approximately 70,000 households in the St. Louis region.
Threatened by livestock use, historic mining, stream bank erosion, and urban and suburban development, TNC is working with agricultural producers and other partners to stabilize eroding stream banks, provide non- river watering sources for livestock, establish river buffers and demonstrate how nature-based solutions can lessen the impacts of flooding while providing habitat for wildlife and aquatic species.
The Current River is home to an impressive array of plants and animals, including more than 35 globally significant species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth.
With guidance from TNC, private landowners are adopting sustainable land use practices, primarily through conservation easements. TNC also promotes sustainable forestry methods and works with farmers to develop economically viable and ecologically friendly ways to keep livestock out of the river.
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 9
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker