KEEPING THE 'RIVERS STATE' GREAT

Paddlers are paramount to defending Missouri's waterways.

By Elena Richards

J

umping into a local swimming hole or venturing 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 and 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 get outdoors. But pollution and lack of water testing threaten these waterways and our ability to enjoy them. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (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 love 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 40 percent of US 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 percent 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.

A Voice for Clean Water

This is where organizations like Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper and Missouri Stream Team 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 of Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper. "If we or one of our network discovers an issue impacting a 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. Anyone who regularly engages with local waterways can help protect them with the click of a button; pollution issues can be reported through

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Participating in a river cleanup is one way you can help fight water pollution.

PROTECT OUR WATERS

In watersheds around the world, recreational river users are often the first line of defense. Reportable concerns may appear as mysterious discharges, suspicious changes in water color and clarity, buffer violations, and fish kills. To report water pollution or to get involved/volunteer, contact one of the following groups, or see page 13 for additional information on local water conservation and paddle groups. Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper 314-884-1473 mowaterkeeper.org Missouri Stream Team 573-751-4115 mostreamteam.org