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MissouriResources

Fall 2014 • Volume 31 • Number 4

MissouriResources

40 yearsMissouri Department of Natural Resources

State of Missouri, Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon

Department Director Sara Parker Pauley

Director, Division of Administrative Support Lori Gordon

Director, Division of Environmental Quality Leanne Tippett Mosby

Director, Missouri State Parks Bill Bryan

Director, Missouri Geological Survey Joe Gillman

Director, Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority Karen Massey

printed on recycled paper

EditorStuart Westmoreland

Design DirectorBelinda Hughes

PhotographersScott MyersAndrew Richmond

Assistant EditorAndrew Richmond

CirculationLuke PetreeShannon Hutton

Editorial BoardLarry ArcherAndrea BalkenbushHylan BeydlerRenee BungartSteph DeidrickStuart Westmoreland

MISSOURI RESOURCES is published quarterly by the MissouriDepartment of Natural Resources to inform readers about important natu-ral resource issues and how they are being addressed. Any correspon-dence should be directed to the editor at the Department of NaturalResources, Publications, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176, or call 800-361-4827. Email address: [email protected]. MoDNR home page: dnr.mo.gov. To subscribe or unsubscribe online:dnr.mo.gov/magazine/subscription.htm.

MISSOURI RESOURCES is available in alternative formats.

As a recipient of federal funds, the Department of Natural Resources can-not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation or veteran status.

If anyone believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination for anyof these reasons, he or she may file a complaint with either theDepartment of Natural Resources or the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S.Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 20240.

Missouri Resources is printed with soy ink on recycled paper at Walsworth Publishing Co., Marceline, MoMission Statement

The mission of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is to protect, preserve and enhance Missouri’s natural, cultural and energy resources.

Fall 2014Volume 31• Number 4

Additional content available forthis story – go todnr.mo.gov/education.

I ’m reminded that change is acore element of life each fall as

the stunning palette of colors re-veals itself on Missouri’s hillsides.We all enjoy the brilliant yellowand bold red leaves displayed bythe maple and oak trees. However, Ialso appreciate the deep brownsand muted burnt sienna that framesthe landscape far in the distance. Ittakes those deeper more mutedshades working in harmony to cre-ate the middle tint of autumn’sscenery—allowing the brilliant col-ors to shine even brighter.

The Missouri Department of Nat-ural Resources has been taking careof Missouri’s natural resources on adaily basis for the past 40 years.Much like fall’s scenery – therehave been many changes during theyears. Some changes have been sub-tle while others have been stark im-provements. As we reflect on theprogress made, I realize it’s thosesubtle changes that have been cre-ating the middle tint of Missouri’senvironmental canvas. Today ourlandscapes, countrysides and met-ropolitan areas are shining brighterthanks to cleaner air, land and water.

Still there is much work to doand future natural resource chal-lenges that await us. To help focus

on these future chal-lenges, the depart-ment is hosting aGovernor’s Confer-ence on Natural Re-sources in Novem-ber. The departmentwill engage its manystakeholders andpartners during theconference to ex-plore our legacy,identify future chal-lenges and prioritizeopportunities tochart the future ofMissouri’s naturalresources.

The future of Mis-souri’s natural re-sources depends on the efforts ofevery community, business, organi-zation, farmer and private citizen.The department will present theNatural Resources Awards of Excel-lence during the conference to rec-ognize those whose leadership andinnovations have helped protect ourstate’s natural resources. Learnmore about these awards in theDNR News section of this issue.

The department’s MissouriDNR40Photo Contest ended on Aug. 1. Wereceived nearly 250 photo entriesthat capture the essence of Mis-

director’s

MissouriResources

Sara Parker PauleyMissouri Department of Natural Resources

souri’s rich natural and cultural re-sources. The winners will be fea-tured in the winter issue of MissouriResources. Learn more about thedepartment’s 40th anniversary atdnr.mo.gov/40.

Together, we can help make Mis-souri an even better place to live,work and enjoy the outdoors.

Above: The Spring Trail at Ha Ha Tonka State Park offers spectacular views of fall foliage. DNR photo by Scott Myers.Front Cover: An MKT Railroad logo on a limestone bluff a short walk east of Rocheport testifies to the Katy Trail’s railroad history.DNR photo by Scott Myers.Back Cover: Three dining rooms at the J. Huston Tavern in Arrow Rock provide a bright, comfortable setting to enjoy the restaurant’s famous fried chicken. DNR photo by Andrew Richmond.

departments18 Explore Missouri 20 DNR News 22 Top Spots 25 … But Not Least

2 Log 100 Missouri Miles in 2014by Steph Deidrick

In 2013, participants in the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge logged enough miles to circle the Earth 46 times – that’s 1.2 million miles! In 2014, the challenge includes new conversions for turning more of your activities into qualifying miles.

8 Looking Below the Surfaceby Justin Davis

The Missouri Geological Survey’s educational water well doesn’t just explain what goes on below the surface of a drinking water well – it shows you. A clear PVC well casing and “down-hole camera” offer an up-close look at our groundwater resources – and why we work to protect them.

14 The Year of the Trailby Megan Hopkins

Voted “Best Trails State” in 2013, Missouri is celebrating 2014 as “The Year of the Trail.” With nearly 1,000 miles of trails in 85 state parks and historic sites, more are added each year for hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding and all-terrain use.

40 yearsMissouri Department of Natural Resources

2 Missouri Resources

(Top) Special Olympians join Gov. Jay Nixonin cutting a 100 Missouri Miles ribbon at Trailof Tears State Park near Cape Girardeau.

Cyclists pass through Tebbetts, in southernCallaway County, on Katy Trail State Park, themost popular trail in Missouri to log miles onin 2013. The logo in the upper left corner isthe e-badge for Crowder State Park – one of14 e-badges created for several state parksand historic sites in the 2014 challenge. Seethe top of page six for details.

DNR photo by Scott Myers

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The idea for the challenge started in2013, when Missouri was named the BestTrails State by American Trails, a national,nonprofit organization working on behalf ofthe nation’s hiking, biking and riding trails.The national award is presented every twoyears to the state that has made tremendouscontributions to promote and improve theirtrails system.

“After being recognized as the BestTrails State in the nation last year, the firstlady and I launched the 100 Missouri MilesChallenge to encourage folks to enjoy the

(Below) Park interpreterKathie Brennan leads a hikeon Sheppard Point Trail inTrail of Tears State Park.

Log 100 Missouri Miles in 2014by Steph Deidrick

Acrowd joined Gov. Jay Nixon and FirstLady Georganne Nixon in March atRock Bridge Memorial State Park in

Columbia to launch the second year of theGovernor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge.Participants of all ages then hiked their firstmile on the Spring Brook Trail.

The 100 Missouri Miles Challenge en-courages Missourians to complete “100Missouri Miles” of physical activity bywalking, running, biking, rolling, paddlingor hiking throughout Missouri, including inMissouri’s state parks and historic sites.

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tremendous outdoor opportunities theShow-Me State has to offer,” Gov. Nixonsaid. “This year, we’re again inviting Mis-sourians to get out and get active with theirfamilies and friends and make the 100 Mis-souri Miles Challenge part of a healthy, ac-tive lifestyle in 2014.”

More Than a Million Miles Logged

In 2013, Missourians taking the Gover-nor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challengewalked, hiked, rode and rolled enough milesto circle the Earth 46 times.

“Thirteen-thousand people walked 1.2


(Left) Anglers enjoying premier fishing at Montauk State Park near Salem also can logmiles hiking on the park’s trails. (Below) The Finger Lakes State Park WaterTrail near Columbia allows paddlers to earn up to 4.5 miles on the water. The featured e-badge is for Long Branch State Park.

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million miles,” Gov. Nixon said. “That’skind of inspirational.”

In addition to the opportunity to experi-ence the beauty of the outdoors in the state,many participants are motivated by thephysical and mental benefits of hitting thetrails across the state.

“One of our goals in Missouri StateParks is to get more people outdoors, andwe know that trails are like a free tonic forthe mind, body and soul,” said Bill Bryan,director of Missouri State Parks. “The Gov-ernor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge rein-forces the important message that spendingtime on a trail is great for physical and men-tal health.”

The huge success of the program was notonly measurable in the number of mileslogged, but also in the enthusiastic partici-pation from Missourians on social media.Facebook, Twitter and Instagram users tookto their keyboards and touchpads to sharephotos and experiences on Missouri’s trails.

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(Above left) Along Harpst Trail in Weston Bend State Park in Weston, guests can learn about birds common to the park while adding .7 miles to their total.(Above) A hiking or mountain biking adventure on the Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail in Finger Lakes State Park takes guests through the 90-acre Kelley Branch Restoration Area. Ha Ha Tonka State Park’s e-badge is shown at the bottom.

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Log Miles,Earn Badges

In 2014, the campaign onceagain challenges Missourians totake to the trails and enjoy thegreat outdoors. Participants canlog onto 100MissouriMiles.comto track their mileage. The web-site also converts other outdooractivities into mileage; aerobics,Frisbee and yoga are among theactivities on the list.

An addition to this year’s chal-lenge is the opportunity to earn aseries of e-badges. As users logmiles, new icons will appear intheir “Trophy Room.” Badges canbe earned for mileage and specif-ic activities, as well as for log-ging miles at specific state parks.The parks include Dr. Edmund A.Babler Memorial, ElephantRocks, Ha Ha Tonka, Johnson’sShut-Ins, Katy Trail, LongBranch, Rock Bridge Memorial,Route 66, Trail of Tears andWatkins Mill state parks. Manyhistoric sites also have trails forguests to enjoy and add to theirmileage. History buffs can unlockthe Civil War history badge bylogging miles at Battle of Athens,Battle of Lexington, Fort David-son and Battle of Island Moundstate historic sites.

Groups Take on the Challenge

Returning in 2014 is theGroups feature, which allows in-dividuals to join friends andcoworkers to track their mileageas a team. Businesses, education-al organizations and groups offriends have already signed on totake the challenge together.

“A great thing about this pro-gram is, by joining, one becomespart of an active community ofpeople who love the outdoors,”said First Lady Nixon.

Through the Group Directoryonline, users can join an existinggroup or create their own. Those

“A great thing about this program is, by joining, one becomes part of an active community

of people who love the outdoors.”– First Lady Georganne Nixon

A clear stream and sandstone bluffs make Pickle Creek Trail at Hawn State Park, in Ste.Genevieve County, a beautiful place to rack up miles any time of the year. Elephant

Rocks State Park’s e-badge is featured at the bottom of the photo.

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looking to create a group can get started bysubmitting some basic information online.Some groups specialize in a particular ac-tivity while others encourage members tolog all their outdoor activities.

State Officials Embracethe Challenge

In addition to tracking their own miles,the challenge allows participants to followthe governor and first lady as they enjoytrails throughout the state. Many Missouri-ans enjoy seeing how their progress com-pares to others.

In 2013, State Parks Director Bill Bryantook the challenge a step further by settingthe goal to paddle 100 miles with his wife.They took to the waterways and successful-ly completed all 100 miles by canoe.

“We have always enjoyed the outdoors,but the Governor’s 100 Missouri MilesChallenge gave us a goal to work toward,”said Bryan. “It was challenging, but we alsohad a lot of fun.”

For more information and to take thechallenge, visit 100MissouriMiles.com.Participants can also share adventures, postphotos and learn about upcoming events byconnecting with 100 Missouri Mileson Facebook and Twitter.

Steph Deidrick is the division informationofficer for Missouri State Parks.

(Left) Whispering Pines Trail in HawnState Park is a favorite of backpack-ers, who can earn up to 9.75 miles on the trail.(Below) Bob Burnett, a Navy veteranfrom Chaffee, Mo., was recognized forlogging 1,800 miles in the 2013 100Missouri Miles Challenge. The e-badgefor Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and Historic Site is shown above.D

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(Top) Drill bits such as these are attached to 20-foot drilling rods and are capable of cutting through rock.(Above) B&H Well Drilling and Pump Service’s drilling

equipment is ready to begin work on an educational water well at the Missouri Geological Survey in Rolla.

(Right) Crew members begin drilling the borehole and drilling rod sections are added as depth increases.

Drilling rods are stored on a horizontal rack on the drill rig.

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by Justin Davis

We depend on good quality waterfor drinking. For many Missouri-ans, that water comes from a well.

Have you ever wondered how a waterwell is constructed? What actually goes onbelow ground? Is it as simple as drilling ahole? The Missouri Department of NaturalResources recently installed an educationalwater well that clearly answers these deep questions.

Located at the department’s Missouri Ge-ological Survey in Rolla, the 200-foot-deepwell was constructed using clear well cas-ing, and it may be the first well of its kindin Missouri. This well offers a unique op-portunity for students, educators, welldrillers and others to literally see the under-ground workings of a water well and to ob-serve the interaction of well constructionmaterials used to ensure clean, safe drinkingwater in Missouri.

Constructing a WellMost water wells are drilled deep enough

to intercept water from an undergroundlayer of water-bearing permeable rock orunconsolidated materials such as gravel,sand or silt, known as an aquifer. Aquifersnot only hold, but transmit significant quan-tities of water.

Proper construction of a well affords ac-cess to groundwater while ensuring thewater is safe for use. Casing, or pipe madeof PVC or steel, is placed in the upper por-tion of the drilled borehole to hold backloose rock and soil. The casing also pro-vides a barrier to keep surficial bacteria and

other potential contaminants from enteringthe well.

“Our clear PVC is commonly used inalgae farming, double containment and avariety of industrial applications whereflow indication is important,” said BrianGordon of Georg Fischer Harvel, manufac-turer of the casing. “We are excited to see itused for this purpose. It’s always rewardingto see new applications for our plastic pip-ing systems.”

The space between the borehole wall andthe outside of the casing is known as the an-nulus. The annulus is filled with sealingmaterial to prevent contaminants from mov-ing down through the annulus and intodeeper aquifers, minimizing the risk that thewell will act as a conduit for surface con-taminants to flow into drinking watersources. One material used to seal the annu-lus is grout, which typically is made of ei-ther neat cement or bentonite clay.

The Missouri Geological Survey’sdemonstration well has four different grouttypes placed in the annulus. The lowermost60 feet of the annulus was sealed with neatcement and bentonite clay slurry. Both werepositioned using a small-diameter pipe,known as a tremie pipe, that was loweredinto the annulus and through which thegrout was pumped. The uppermost 60 feetwas filled from the surface with solid ben-tonite clay chips and bentonite granules,each approximately three-eighths and one-sixteenth of an inch, respectively. The waterlevel or depth to the nearest aquifer in thiswell is approximately 125 feet belowD

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Groundwater is a valuable re-source that must be understood

to ensure availability for future gen-erations. Missouri has significant,high-quality groundwater resources.The department employs geologicscience to protect critical groundwa-ter resources from potential contam-inants and safeguard its availabilityfor current and future use.

The state’s geology mostly is com-posed of porous sedimentary rockslike sandstone and fractured lime-stone and dolomite, which are capa-ble of storing a lot of groundwater.Much of Missouri contains an abun-dance of fresh, drinkable groundwa-ter available for use. Several billiongallons of groundwater are pumpedfrom the state’s geologic formationsevery year, and the demand likelywill increase.

Missourians use groundwater fordrinking, food production, cleaning,cooling, heating, manufacturing andrecreation. The natural beauty ofwater is the central focus in many ofour state parks and historic sites, anda focus area of protection for the de-partment. Therefore, we all are in-vested in this vital resource.

The Show-Me State has 159,180registered water wells, of which133,462 are private domestic waterwells. Each year, approximately 3,100private domestic water wells aredrilled. Municipalities and businesses

Ensuring Clean Groundwater – It’s in Our Nature

Clear casing is suspended above the well and lowered into the borehole.

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ground surface, which is common for most privatewater wells in the Missouri Ozarks Region. While allgrout types and placement methods used in this wellappear to have adequately sealed the annulus, thoseplaced via tremie pipe more uniformly filled the an-nular space.

By lowering a down-hole video camera into thewell, the various grout types can be seen through theclear casing. This technology allows staff to deter-mine the ability of each grout type to seal the annulus.

“This was a unique opportunity to visualize howeach commonly used grout type performs,” said GregBonnot, B&H Well Drilling owner, Bonnots Mill,whose company drilled the well.

in the state operate more than 4,300public wells, some supplying asmuch as 2 million gallons of watereach day.

Protection of groundwater re-sources hinges on our scientific un-derstanding of aquifers and properconstruction methodologies for wellsthat tap those resources. Informationgained from sources such as the edu-cational well helps determine the ef-fectiveness of well construction ma-terials, and aids in establishingconstruction requirements that areprotective of Missouri’s criticalgroundwater resources.

The state Well Installation Boardestablishes construction standardsfor wells drilled in Missouri. The Mis-souri Geological Survey is responsi-ble for protecting the quality of Mis-souri groundwater by ensuring welldrilling contractors employ environ-mentally safe drilling and construc-tion practices as set by state regula-tions. Staff from the MissouriGeological Survey test and licensewater well contractors to do businessin Missouri.

Missourians enjoy the cleanestand highest quality water experi-enced in decades. This year marksthe 40th anniversary of the SafeDrinking Water Act and the depart-ment’s 40th year protecting, main-taining and improving the quality ofsurface and groundwater in the state.

Combined with a down-hole camera, the clear casing employed in the edu-cational water well will allow for a unique opportunity to view the inside of an operational well.

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(Above) GeologistJustin Davis guidesthe down-hole cam-era used to inspect

wells during a demonstration for

Rolla Middle School students.

(Right) Rolla MiddleSchool studentslearn about the

down-hole camerafrom Davis and fellow geologistBrad Mitchell.

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EducationStudents with school groups from vari-

ous levels, from elementary to university,visit the Missouri Geological Survey inRolla to learn about the state’s diverse natu-ral resources.

“Students and teachers alike enjoy see-ing this unique well and learning about ourrole in ensuring safe drinking water,” saidHylan Beydler, information officer, Mis-souri Geological Survey. “Water is vital to

life. The educational well and the down-holecamera provide many visitors clear insightabout this precious resource.”

Learn more about private water wells andlocate well drillers licensed to do business in Missouri at dnr.mo.gov/geologygeosrv/wellhd/.

Justin Davis is a geologist with the Mis-souri Geological Survey, a division of theMissouri Department of Natural Resources.

(Above) Story author Justin Davis, a geologist, showsRolla Middle School students a remaining segment of theclear casing used to construct the educational well.DNR photo by Hylan Beydler

(Left) This graphic illustrates the construction and compo-nents of the Missouri Geological Survey’s educationalwater well. The focal point of this well is the 120 feet ofclear PVC casing, coupled in 10-foot increments, that allows observation of the grout between the clear casingand bedrock.DNR illustration by Mark Gordon

W ith nearly 1,000 miles of trails for guests to enjoy, Missouri’s stateparks and historic sites are full of opportunities to enjoy hiking, bik-ing, water and equestrian trails. In celebration of the state’s award-

winning trails, Missouri State Parks is celebrating 2014, the Year of the Trail. “Our state park trails are the best of the best, and we are excited to celebrate

that excellence with thousands of hikers, bikers, paddlers and equestrians whowill enjoy our trails in 2014,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks,a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “Right here, closeto home, we have some of the very best trails in the country.”

The Year of the Trailby Megan Hopkins


Fall 2014 15

The “Year of the Trail” was made officialby Gov. Jay Nixon with a proclamation thathighlighted Missouri’s designation as theBest Trails State in the nation by AmericanTrails organization.

The celebration includes trail-relatedspecial events and programs as well as anew GeoChallenge on the Missouri StateParks mobile app that challenges guests tonavigate to trailheads in state parks and his-toric sites.

Nearly 1,000 Miles to Explore

Missouri State Parks offers a blend of ge-ological formations that create a uniquecombination of trail types across the state.No matter where in Missouri, guests can ex-perience an exciting trail adventure. Eachtrail also has updated mapping and signage,and in some cases, interpretive informationor educational programs. These options en-courage visitors to experience the full quali-ty of the trails.

There are trails throughout the state thatare perfect for people of all interests. KelleyBrent, trails planning coordinator for Mis-souri State Parks, recommends guests lookinto the many different types of trails thatstate parks offer and pick a trail to best suittheir preferences and capabilities. Frombackcountry backpacking trails to pavedtrails, finding a trail to suit your abilities isimportant when planning a trail adventure.

There are many reasons to get out on atrail, including fitness, enjoyment and ac-tivities, such as bike or equestrian riding,bird watching, wildlife viewing, backpack-ing or camping.

“A trail adventure is an excellent way to reconnect with nature and others,” said Brent.

(Opposite page) The Braille Trail at ElephantRocks State Park offers a great opportunity forguests of all skill levels to hit the trail.DNR photo by Ben Nickelson

(Top) Hawn State Park is full of hiking and back-packing trails that showcase the diverse naturallandscape of western Ste. Genevieve County.(Right) The Boardwalk Trail at Pershing StatePark is perfect for a family outing to learn aboutthe wetland biodiversity that was once commonin northern Missouri. D

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Missouri State Parksstaff have worked hard tocreate materials that areuseful to guests and maxi-mize their experiences. Agreat way to fully enjoy allthe trails have to offer is toget Trails of MissouriState Parks, which is a de-tailed overview of thetrails in 58 state parks andhistoric sites.

“It is a comprehensive publication thatincludes all of our trails, maps and trail in-formation, including a summary of eachtrail with a map that includes contour lines,GPS coordinates for trailheads and out-standing features like overlooks,” saidBrent. The book also explains “the newstandards of how we categorize and com-municate our trail information.”

Trails of Missouri State Parks has wontwo national awards for its efforts to edu-cate and communicate with park guests

(Top) Stretching 240 milesacross the state, Katy TrailState Park offers opportuni-

ties for half-hour strolls or five-day bicycle journeys.(Right) A short drive from

St. Louis, Cuivre River StatePark is a great place to headfor a full day on the trails.

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about all that Missouri trailshave to offer.

Since 2005, MissouriState Parks has added 205miles of trails to the system,making it even more enjoy-able for hikers to be out-doors. The trails system isconstantly growing to in-clude more options for ex-ploring the outdoors in asafe way.

“Spending time outdoorsmakes us happier andhealthier, and with the besttrails right here in the Show-Me State. We want Mis-sourians to get outside andhit the trail in a state park orhistoric site close to home,”said Bryan. “They’ll be gladthey did.”

To find out more abouttrails in Missouri StateParks, visitmostateparks.com.

Megan Hopkins was a sum-mer intern with MissouriState Parks.

(Above) Taking the trail atBattle of Pilot Knob StateHistoric Site is a fun way toexplore Missouri’s storiedCivil War history.(Left) Meramec State Parkhas seven trails whereguests can enjoy the pris-tine beauty of the MeramecRiver and its surroundingbluffs, caves and forests.

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explore

Fall campouts, nature programs and haunted hikes areamong the events guests can enjoy in Missouri State

Parks this October. Fall is becoming one of the most popu-lar seasons for guests to visit Missouri’s state parks andhistoric sites, and there are a variety of events for guests toenjoy. Here are some ideas for guests looking to celebrateHalloween and enjoy fall.

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State ParkJohnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, near Lesterville, is a Hal-

loween favorite for guests and locals in the community. OnOct. 25, they will host Halloween Happenings, a vaude-ville-style program that includes songs, jokes and skits.The program will start at 7 p.m., and will be followed by atime for kids to meet the Creatures of the Night.

“We have something for all ages, from jokes for the lit-tle kids to stories that will pique the interest of the adults.And we want the event to be fun, not scary for the kids,”said Janet Price, park interpreter.

The program will be held at the Black River Center.Some hay bales will be provided for seating or guests canbring their own lawn chair.

Watkins Mill State Park and Historic SiteIn the fall, Watkins Mill State Park and Historic Site, lo-

cated in Lawson, is popular with visitors and is a greatplace to take photos and camp.

“The park is very beautiful with the fall colors,” said

Mike Beckett, facility manager. Making fall even more fun at Watkins Mill State Park

and Historic Site this year is a new event, the HalloweenCampout on Oct. 25. The campout will include two con-tests for the spookiest campsite, and K-9 costumes, spookynature program, and campsite trick-or-treating. Guests areinvited to bring candy to pass out to the trick-or-treaters,and guests, especially kids, can wear costumes if they want.

To participate in the campout, reservations are preferred,and normal camping fees will apply. The event will start at5:30 p.m., and campers can make reservations by calling877-422-6766.

Fall in Missouri Parksby Megan Hopkins

Fall events throughout Missouri stateparks offer the opportunity for kids tohave a fun outdoor experience. (Bottom) Live bird programs are amongthe fall programs available to WallaceState Park guests.

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Wallace State ParkWallace State Park is less than an hour from

Kansas City, and is a serene escape from city life.Making fall even more special at the park is someHalloween fun.

On Oct. 25, guests can enjoy campsite decorat-ing and pumpkin carving contests at the park.There will be treats available throughout theevening, and prizes will be awarded to the win-ners of the contests. The event is from 7-10 p.m.at the park’s amphitheater, and guests are able toview the decorated campsites until 10 p.m.

Crowder State ParkIn the fall, Crowder State Park, near Trenton,

has “colorful leaves and cool evenings,” saidAnna Purcell, park superintendent, making it agood time of year to enjoy more than 17 miles ofhiking, biking, and equestrian trails.

On Oct. 31, guests can take a Halloween Night Hikethrough the park, at 6 or 7 p.m., and then enjoy crafts. The6 p.m. hike is a nature hike, so guests are able to view thefall scenery. The 7 p.m. hike is a “haunted” hike. Bothhikes are for all ages. Guests should arrive just before thetime they plan to hike.

Ha Ha Tonka State ParkThe fall atmosphere surrounding Ha Ha Tonka around

the Lake of the Ozarks is beautiful, with the ruins of a turn-of-the-20th-century castle surrounded by fall colors, andthe park does even more to decorate for Halloween. Cam-denton Elementary School students provide jack-o-lanternsthey have carved to help set the mood along the scenic Castle Trail.

On Halloween, guests can participate in the Ha HaHaunt from 5-8 p.m. Visitors can dress up and hike the Cas-tle Trail. Upon reaching the castle ruins, they will receive atreat bag, make s’mores, enjoy hot chocolate, crafts andplay games for prizes.

“We put out tons of fun and spooky decorations,” LarryWebb, a park interpreter, said, “but we don’t scare anyone.”

This is the 23rd year for the free event, which allowsvisitors to come and go throughout the three-hour event.

To find out more about any of these events or see what ishappening at a park or historic site near you, visitmostateparks.com.

Megan Hopkins was a summer intern with Missouri StateParks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources.

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(Top) Everyone loves s’mores, especially guests at the Ha HaHaunt at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.(Right) Ha Ha Tonka State Park offers several scenic vistas thatmake it a beautiful place to visit in the fall.

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dnrNatural ResourcesAward of Excellence

The future of Missouri’s naturalresources depends on the efforts ofevery community, business, organiza-tion, farmer and citizen. Many innova-tive Missourians are leading the way inthe protection and enhancement of ournatural resources. Their actions deservethe highest recognition.

In honor of the Department ofNatural Resources’ 40th anniversary, thedepartment is accepting nominationsfor its very first Natural ResourcesAward of Excellence. The awards aredesigned to recognize leadership andinnovation in managing our state’s nat-ural resources. Award categoriesinclude: Community/Local Government;Small Business and Industry (up to 200employees); Large Business andIndustry (more than 200 employees);Institution/Public Sector Facility orEducator; Agriculture; andService/Civic/Nonprofit Organization.

Help the department recognizeMissouri’s natural resource stewardswho are creating new technologies,reducing wastes, establishing educa-tional programs and much more to helpcare for our environment. To learn moreabout the Natural Resources Award ofExcellence, categories and nomina-tions, visit the department’s website atdnr.mo.gov/governor-conference.htm.Nominations must be submitted by Oct. 6, 2014.

Trails of Missouri StateParks Recognized

The Coalition forRecreational Trailshas awarded MissouriState Parks with the2014 Annual Achieve-ment Award for Trailsof Missouri StateParks, a book detail-ing the many trails in state parks andhistoric sites. The award recognized

the project as an outstanding use ofRecreational Trails Program funds inthe category of Education and Com-munication, and was accepted inWashington D.C., by U.S. Rep. LacyClay on behalf of Missouri State Parks.

The Annual Achievement Award ispart of an ongoing effort by the Coali-tion for Recreational Trails to buildawareness and appreciation for theRecreational Trail Programs. Theaward in the Education and Communi-cation category specifically honorsprojects that enhance trail use and en-joyment through increased environ-mental awareness, promotion of trail-related safety, and encouragement oftrail-related outdoor recreation.Trails of Missouri State Parks began

in 2008 as part of a project to invento-ry and manage the trails in stateparks. The publication is a 422-page,full-color book that lists detailed infor-mation about the trails found in 58state parks and historic sites.

Sandy Creek Covered Bridge is one of four re-maining historic covered bridges in Missouri. Builtin 1872, it was one of six bridges built to link theJefferson County seat of Hillsboro to St. Louis.The bridge was built using the Howe-truss design,which was named for and patented by WilliamHowe in 1940. Three of the four remaining historiccovered bridges in Missouri also use the distinc-tive Howe design. This photo, taken around 1913, was shot by

Charles Trefts, a St. Louis photographer who left arecord of more than 60 years of photographs ofbuildings, street scenes, parks, churches and evencatastrophic events. His photos were mostly takenin the St. Louis area, but he sometimes chose ruralMissouri for his work. Look closely for the little girl, probably a Trefts family member, standing on the left side of the bridge wearing a bonnet.

An even closer inspection shows that the automobile parked in the middle of the bridge has two American flags attached tothe front of the vehicle. While we don’t know exactly why the flags were there, it is believed that the Trefts family was possi-bly on a vacation trip for the 4th of July and stopped to make this photograph along the way. To view more of Charles Trefts’photographs, visit the State Historical Society of Missouri’s online database at statehistoricalsocietyofmissouri.org.

Send your photo to “Time Exposures,” c/o Missouri Resources, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176. Original photos will be returned via insuredmail. Pre-1980 environmental and natural resource photos from Missouri will be considered. Please try to include the date and location of thepicture, a brief description and any related historic details that may be of interest to our readers.

Time Exposures

Fall 2014 21

For news releases on the Web, visitdnr.mo.gov/newsrel.

For a complete listing of the department’supcoming meetings, hearings and events, visitthe department’s online calendar atdnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

Looking for a job in natural resources?Go to dnr.mo.gov/hr.

dnrTable Rock State Park Makes Top 100

Table Rock State Park has beenrecognized among the Top

100 Family FriendlyPlaces to Boat andFish in the U.S., by

Take Me Fish-ing, earning the

ninth spot on thelist. The Take Me Fish-

ing campaign was initiated by theRecreational Boating and FishingFoundation in order to create a list forfamilies and outdoor enthusiasts ofthe best family-friendly places to boatand fish.

The park’s marina, State Park Mari-na, was also recently designated asMissouri’s first “Clean Marina.” Thisvoluntary enrollment program byOzarks Water Watch and the MissouriStream Team Watershed Coalition isbeing piloted on Table Rock Lake, andis funded in part by the Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources andTable Rock Lake Marina Association.Table Rock State Park, located sixmiles west of the Hollister exit onTaney County Road 165, offers camp-ing areas with easy access to thewater, hiking and mountain bike trailsand a range of shelters and picnicareas that help make the park theideal place for playing in and aroundthe lake’s clear waters.

Earth Science Week 2014

To be held Oct. 12-18, Earth Sci-ence Week will promoteawareness of the dy-namic interactions ofthe geosphere, hy-drosphere, atmos-phere, biosphere andhuman systems.“Earth’s Connected Systems,” thisyear’s theme, engages young peopleand others in exploring the numerousways geoscience illuminates naturalchange processes.

On National Fossil Day, Oct. 15,visitors to the Missouri State Capitolcan examine fossils embedded in the

building’s limestone walls, floors andstairs. Visitors to the Ed Clark Muse-um of Missouri Geology, in Rolla, willreceive a small Crinoid fossil (Mis-souri’s official state fossil).

Join millions Oct. 16 at 10:16 a.m.during the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut to practice the “Drop, Cover, andHold On” earthquake drill.

Geologic Map Day will be held Oct.17 to promote awareness of the study,uses and importance of geologic map-ping for education, science, business,and public policy concerns.

On Oct. 18, a Missouri Geological

Survey staff geologist will host an edu-cational booth at the Gem and JewelryShow, held at the Expo Center inSpringfield and sponsored by the OzarkMountain Gem and Mineral Society.

Learn more at dnr.mo.gov/geology/education.htm.

The Spring River Watershed Partnership is “Spring River Proud.” This mottoaptly describes the dedicated, community-based volunteer group that answered thecall to protect their local watershed near Carthage, in Jasper County.

After a local Stream Team sampling found high levels of bacteria in 2005, theJasper County Health Department began to assist with the sampling to betterunderstand the water quality problem. They, too, wanted to ensure a healthy streamfor the many citizens that use it for fishing, swimming and boating.

Local citizens thenswiftly formed theSpring River WatershedPartnership. By 2010,the partnership formeda board, drafted awatershed managementplan and secured funding to implementpractices aimed atreducing sources of bacteria.

To date, the part-nership has markedover 200 storm drains with wording that says, “No Dumping,” and, “Drains to SpringRiver.” This reinforces the message that storm drains, no matter where they arelocated, are for storm water – nothing more. The group also installed a demonstra-tion rain garden, sponsored a rain barrel cost-share program and provided educa-tional information throughout the watershed.

The partnership is truly making the watershed citizens it serves “Spring RiverProud!” This is a shining example of teamworkdisplayed every day by local citizens to protect,preserve and enhance our Missouri waters.

To learn more, visit springriver.jaspercounty.organd dnr.mo.gov/omwi.htm.

Our Missouri WatersSpring River Proud

The Spring River Watershed Partnership educationalbooth at Kids Fishing Day on Kellogg Lake, June 2013.

Brett Nicho

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M ountain biking is a unique way to get out-doors and enjoy nature, while having some

fun and even getting in a good workout.There are 14 state parks and historic sites that

feature trails that are great for mountain biking. Ifyou’re looking for a mountain biking adventure,make sure to check out the trails at Finger Lakes,Stockton, Thousand Hills and Lake Wappapellostate parks.

Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail at FingerLakes State Park is a 2.75-mile trail along the Kel-ley Branch stream through a wooded landscape,including a waterfall. Riders experience a naturalsurface, and may also experience steep grades andinclines of more than 10 percent, physically chal-lenging obstacles, bluffs or drop-offs next to thetrail and water/stream crossings without bridges.

Lakeview Trail at Stockton State Park is an 8-mile trail running through young woodlands, aswell as more mature oak and hickory trees. Ridersare able to take a break at the beach, which isright along the trail. Riders at Stockton also canride the Umber Ridge Trail, which is 1.75 miles.Riders experience a natural surface, and also mayexperience a road or highway crossing.

Thousand Hills Trail at Thousand Hills StatePark is a 10.5-mile trail through hilly, rugged,wooded terrain passing through savanna restora-tion units and Forest Lake. Riders experience anatural surface, and also may experience steepgrades and inclines of more than 10 percent, aswell as stream crossings without bridges.

Lake Wappapello Trail at Lake WappapelloState Park is a 12.75-mile trail through varied andrugged Ozark terrain with shoreline views and ahost of wildlife viewing opportunities. Riders ex-perience a natural surface, and also may experiencesteep grades and inclines of more than 10 percentthat feature physically challenging obstacles.

Visit mostateparks.com to learn more aboutmountain biking in Missouri State Parks.

topspots

Top Spots toMountain Bike

(Above) Finger Lakes State Park offers a 2.75-mile trail for those crav-ing a mountain biking adventure.(Below) Mountain biking in Missouri’s state parks is a great way toenjoy the outdoors while getting a great workout.

DNR pho

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DNR pho

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Nickelson

A t one time, the river landing wasthe hub of Arrow Rock commer-

cial activity and the site of severalwarehouses. By 1860, the Arrow Rocklanding was one of the busiest riverports between St. Louis and KansasCity. Remnants of an old wagon roadare visible adjacent to the trail.

Following the record floods of1993 and 1995, the area began revert-

ing to bottomlandforest and wetlands.Interpretive signsexplain the historyof the landing, cul-tural features suchas the former ware-house sites and boatbuilding yard, andthe natural process-es that are now oc-curring in the area.

The trail passes a portion of the blufffrom which Native Americans extract-ed flint to make their tools and points,giving Arrow Rock its name. Beaver,otter and wading birds – or signs oftheir activity – are frequently visiblein the old channel.

River Landing Trail was construct-ed in 2007 as a joint project of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Serv-

ice, the Department of Natural Re-sources and the village of ArrowRock, with grants from the NationalPark Service. Ongoing maintenance iscarried out by the Manitou BluffsChapter of the National Lewis andClark Trail Association and theFriends of Big Muddy. The trail linksthe historic site to the 1.6-mile linearLewis and Clark Trail of Discovery on the Jameson Island Unit of the BigMuddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

Fall 2014 23

trailshighlight

(Left) The RiverLanding Trail beginson a winding pathwith panels of infor-mation about wildlife,vegetation, and his-tory along the trail.(Below) As visitorsmake their way to theend of the trail, awooden walkwayleads them over anold river channel andonto the Lewis andClark Trail of Discov-ery. The Trail of Dis-covery meets theMissouri River one-half mile to the south. DNR photos by Andrew Richmond

River Landing TrailArrow Rock S ta te His tor i c S i te


RockMatters

The word “granite” comes from the Latin wordgranum – a grain – in reference to its coarse-grained

structure. Missouri granites contain large amounts of theminerals quartz and feldspar. They also contain lesseramounts of plagioclase, hornblende, biotite, muscovite,chlorite and epidote. The specific amounts of these min-erals vary, depending on the particular granite. Many ofthe granites contain trace amounts of sericite, sphene(titanite) and fluorite.

Granite may range in color from white, tan, brown, redand gray, but pink and red granites predominate inMissouri. Fine-quality granite is abundant in the south-eastern part of the state, particularly in Iron, St. Francois,Madison and neighboring counties. It has long beenquarried for building, structural, and monument purpos-es, as well as for countertops, riprap, ballast, crushedaggregate, paving blocks, landscaping and other spe-cialized uses.

Graniteville granite, also known as “Missouri Red,” hasbeen mined from Iron County for more than 150 years.Missouri Red and other Missouri granites have beenused in monuments and architectural projects across thenation and around the world. Eight large columns of pol-ished granite from Graniteville reside inside the MissouriCapitol and the Governor’s mansion entry consists of animposing portico with four dignified pink granite columns.Other notable structures include the Eads Bridge footingsin St. Louis; the Adolphus Busch Memorial atBellefontaine Cemetery and Anheuser-Busch Brewerybuildings in St. Louis; the Thomas Allen Monument

(named for Allen, elected to the U.S.House of Representatives from Missouri in 1881); a42-ton obelisk, made from a single piece of granite, inPittsfield, Mass.; and the Clarence F. BuckinghamMemorial Fountain in Grant Park, Chicago.

Granite often is found in rounded outcrops created byweathering that is best exemplified by the giant ele-phant-shaped boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park inGraniteville. These “elephants” lie at the core of theOzark Mountains and provide us with a rare glimpse ofMissouri’s volcanic past. They are popular with historybuffs who like to read the names of the 19th-centuryminers who used to work in the areaand who carved their names intorocks, children who love to climband scramble over and throughthe rocks, and parents whorevel in taking pictures oftheir children pretending topush the rocks.

Crushed granite andmonumental dimensionstone comprise nearly allof Missouri’s entire graniteproduction. The demandfor Missouri Red and othermonumental granites likely willnot decrease in the future. The growing use of crushedgranite secures a promising future for granite production inMissouri. Learn more at dnr.mo.gov/geology/.

Granite Granite is one of the oldest rocks exposed in the state. An intrusive igneous rock,granite cooled slowly and solidified from a large body of hot liquid magmabeneath the surface of the Earth’s crust, surrounded by pre-existing rock.

(Right) Primary minerals in Missouri Red Granite are potassium feldspar and quartz.DNR photo by Mark Gordon.

(Bottom right) This large lichen-adorned granite boulder is an appropriate grave marker for thelate Henry A. Buehler, state geologist of Missouri for 36 years. DNR photo by Hylan Beydler.

Did you know the used oil from one oilchange has the potential to pollute onemillion gallons of water if disposed ofimproperly? Apply this figure to the esti-mated 200 million gallons of used oilimproperly disposed of by do-it-yourselfmechanics annually, and the potentialenvironmental damage is staggering.

When oil is recycled it is cleaned of contaminants such as dirt, water, oiladditives and heavy metals. Once cleaned, oil can be treated and re-refined into a host of lubricating oils, including motor oils,for use in your car. Since the natural lubrication properties of oil don’t wear out, this process can be repeated indefinitely.

If you change your own oil, take care to use a drip pan to catch all used fluids, don’t dump or spill oil on the ground andabsolutely do not pour it into a storm drain. The best course of action is to collect any used oil (don’t mix with other waste flu-ids) in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid and take it to a service station, an oil collection center, or an auto parts store forrecycling. Stores like AutoZone, O’Reilly, Advance, and Walmart have used oil collection programs. The service is free, butcheck with your local store first to make sure it participates.

did youknow

One Quart of Oil Goes a Long, Long Way

Many of Missouri’s small commu-nities face the need to repair or replacewater and sewer infrastructure. It’s nota surprise. Larger communities facethis same challenge. However, smallcommunities often need additionalhelp with the technical, managerialand financial resources to addressthese infrastructure challenges.

“Proper handling of wastewaterbenefits the community by keepingthe environment safe and healthy forall who live in the area, includingwildlife,” said Mayor Lueckenhoff.“It also helps this community be apleasant place to live.”

Because many of Missouri’s smallcommunities are home to fewer than1,000 residents, paying for engineer-ing, construction and maintenance ofdrinking water and wastewater sys-tems can be costly to divide amonglimited households. The departmentawarded a $21,600 Small CommunityEngineering Assistance Program grantto Ewing to evaluate necessary up-

grades to its wastewatertreatment and collectionsystems.

“The grant will benefitevery household connect-ed to the sewer system byoffsetting some of the costof this project. Money wedo not have to spend onengineering costs will beput toward the construc-tion phase of the project.We are making every ef-fort to spend the citizens’money wisely,” addedMayor Lueckenhoff.

The department is im-plementing an effort calledCommunity Services. Itfocuses on the needs of thestate’s small communities,like Ewing, by providing

grants, loans and technical assistance. In addition, the department is part-

nering with the Regional PlanningCommissions, Missouri Public UtilityAlliance, Missouri Rural Water Asso-ciation and other businesses and enti-ties that offer specific services, skillsand specialized equipment to helpMissouri’s smaller communities.

The department’s CommunityServices efforts are bringing the nec-essary resources to small communitiesto figure out the best solutions to ad-dress their environmental challenges.I guess you could say – we’re tryingto be a good neighbor. To learn more,visit the Web at dnr.mo.gov.

Renee Bungart is deputy director ofcommunications for the Departmentof Natural Resources.

not least

L iving life in a small town hasmany advantages for the fami-

lies that call them home. I grew upplaying outdoors, building forts in thewoods, exploring nearby creeks andquenching my thirst straight from thegarden house or well pump. Cheeringon the local hometown team – regard-less whether your family played in thesport – was always a great way tospend time with the neighbors.

I have shared these same experi-ences with my children and hope theywill continue to witness the joys thistype of life can bring to its residents.As adults, however, we begin to real-ize that living in a small town can alsobecome complicated by disadvantagesthat are often difficult to tackle due tolack of resources.

The city of Ewing is no exceptionto this situation. For this reason,Mayor Linda Lueckenhoff reachedout to the Department of Natural Re-sources to seek assistance for theirsmall community of 456 residents.

Being a Good Neighborby Renee Bungartphotograph by Andrew Richmond

Linda Lueckenhoff, mayor of Ewing,hopes sewer infrastructure improve-ments in her town will improve condi-tions for the 456 residents she serves.

Fall 2014 25

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESPO Box 176Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE PAID

MO Dept. ofNatural

Resources

J. Huston TavernStep back in time to Arrow Rock’s frontier heyday when you dine at the J. HustonTavern at Arrow Rock State Historic Site. The tavern is the oldest continuously servingrestaurant west of the Mississippi River with 180 consecutive yearsof service to the public.

Enjoy a meal of award-winning fried chicken or stop by the icecream shop for a quick treat. Visit jhustontavern.com for hours ofoperation and make sure to check out upcoming special events.

missouri resourcesdnr.mo.gov/magazine/docs/mr-fall-2014.pdf · rocks, ha ha tonka, johnsonks...

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