River Soundings

Rivers Soundings is a conference for people who live near, work on, rely on and love the Missouri River.  This annual event includes panel discussions on issues related to big rivers and the Missouri River in particular.  Each year speakers and panelists are experts from around the country who gather to share and discuss challenges and success stories.  Our goal is to bring together people from up and down the river to look for common goals and active strategies to get there.

The 2023 theme is Human Structures and Big Rivers.  The keynote address will be given by Steven Hawley author of Cracked.  Other speakers include:  Jennifer Wendt, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative; Danelle Haake, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center; Charles Perkins, St Charles County Soil and Water Conservation District; Dan Burkhardt, Magnificent Missouri; Bob Menees, Great Rivers Law; Tom Boersig, Missouri Chapter American Fisheries; Chris Geddes, River City Outdoors and many more.

Friday September 8

  8:30  am Doors open
  9:00 am Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (Colin Wellencamp, Jennifer Wendt, invited mayors)
10:00 am The Art of Conservation — in the Missouri River Valley (Dan Burkhardt, Magnificent Missouri)
11:00  am Break
11:15 am Salt Pollution  (Danelle Haake, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center)
12:00 pm Lunch Break – (brown bag or pre-order from Bike Stop Cafe)
1:00  pm Soil Retention and Water Protection Structures (Charles Perkins, Soil and Water Conservation District)
2:00 pm A River Destroyed and Then Reconstructed (Michael Bollinger)
2:50  pm Break
3:00 pm Making Decisions About Water Levels in the Upper Missouri/ Dams in Missouri (Ryan Larsen, USACOE)
4:00  pm Keynote Address  Steven Hawley author of Cracked
5:30 pm Happy Hour/Dinner Emmeneggar Park by Opossum Woods. On the banks of the Meramec

Saturday September 9

8:30 am Doors open
9:00 am Great Rivers Law Panel discussion (Bob Menees, Great Rivers Law, Kelly Hunter Foster, Water Keeper Alliance)
10:00 am Backwater Sloughs and Sturgeon (Tom Boersig  MO American Fisheries, Caroline Pufalt, Sierra Club)
10:50 am break
11:00 am Blueways: Accesses, Partnerships, and Programs (Ashley Maue, St Charles County Parks)
12:00 pm Lunch (brown bag or pre-order from Bike Stop Café)
1:00 pm Expanding Access to Big Rivers  (Chris Geden, River City Outdoors, Rebecca Rodriguez, Missouri Department of Conservation, Matt Green, Big Muddy Adventures)
2:00 pm David Lobbig Memorial Presentation  (Jim Karpowicz, Missouri Coalition for the Environment)

 

Event is brought to you by the Missouri Department of Conservation Streams Unit and Greenway Network.  It is sponsored by Dan and Connie Burkhardt, Missouri Sierra Club, Terrain Magazine and Fresh Thyme

The conference will be held at Powder Valley Conservation area on September 8-9.  The address is 11715 Cragwold Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122.  The doors will open at 8:30 am each day for check-in.  The conference will start at 9 am.

You may bring your lunch or you may order a box lunch directly from Bike Stop Cafe.  It will be delivered to you at the conference.  You will need to order separately for each day you are attending.

FRIDAY LUNCH  https://bike-stop-cafe.square.site/product/river-soundings-boxed-lunch-sept-8th-/2986

SATURDAY LUNCH  https://bike-stop-cafe.square.site/product/river-soundings-boxed-lunch-sept-9th-/2987

Friday Night dinner and reception will be held along the banks of the Meramec River at Emmeneger Park, a few minutes drive from the conference center.  Prepare for outside dining and bring a comfy chair if you like.

Please register individually.

River Soundings 2023
River Soundings. Sept 8-9 at Powder Valley Conservation Area. Space is limited. Please register individually.
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River Soundings includes panel discussions and presentations. REGISTER for each day you wish to attend. Space is limited for some things but we will do our best to accomodate everyone.
Many people request contact information for attendees so that they can connect with people at a later time. We would like to provide your name, email and organization on a printed sheet to be distributed in person at the meeting. Your information will not be shared at any other time or format.
You may bring your lunch or you can pre-order your lunch directly from Bike Stop Cafe using the links below. Your lunch will be delivered to you at Powder Valley. You will need to place separate orders for Friday and Saturday. You may need to copy the links and paste them into a new browser window.

Friday Evening Dinner

Will you be attending dinner? ($20 per guest)
Friday Evening Dinner Total

Your tax free donation to support this conference will be greatly appreciated.  Please include River Soundings in the Donation comments box.

Email questions to greenwaynetwork@gmail.com