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.
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