Litter Pick-Up Planned for Shady Creek

On May 4, we will gather at 10am to collect litter that has accumulated in Shady Creek at Lorraine Davis Park. This park is located in Webster Groves near the confluence of Shady Creek with Deer Creek (map). Trash bags, work gloves, drinks, and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!!

River des Peres in the News

Recently, the River des Peres Watershed Coalition has been in the news quite a bit. Danelle Haake, the current Chairperson of the Coalition, was interviewed the morning of April 22 by Doug McElvein of the KMOX morning show "Total Information" (am 1120). The audio of the interview may be downloaded.

Cindy Duhigg, Danelle Haake, and Howard Webb of the Coalition were interviewed and photographed by Don Corrigan and Diana Linsley of the Times for their April 18, 2008 edition. Those articles and images may be found by visiting the Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times (note: different images are available for the two different articles).

The Coalition has also found its way into the Journal on February 19. The article included interviews and photos of Danelle Haake and Dan Sherburne by Shawn Clubb. The article was printed in the West County Journal, the Kirkwood-Webster Journal, the South County Journal, and the South Side Journal.

Planning Forum Series Continues

The River des Peres Watershed Coalition invites everyone—citizens, civic and municipal leaders, agency personnel—who is interested in the River des Peres and its tributaries to take part in our next planning forum. At our first three meetings, we defined the critical issues we recognize for the River des Peres, developed ideas on how we can address these critical issues, and voted on the ideas that we will pursue in the coming months and years. At our next meeting, we will first vote for new officers and then begin working on these new efforts to improve the River des Peres. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at the Heman Park Community Center in University City. Doors open at 6 pm and the meeting will begin promptly at 6:30. Refreshments will be provided.

The River des Peres faces several problems, including water quality, hydrology, public awareness, and habitat quality. There is much that we can do to address the needs of this abused urban watershed. The time has come for the River des Peres Watershed Coalition to move to a new level of action. It is critical that this process include everyone concerned with the River des Peres watershed; it's going to take a lot of ideas and hands to assist this watershed to become, once again, what it can and should be. Please make a point to join us at the May 27th meeting, when we set the direction for Coalition's future.

Summaries of the previous three forum meetings may be found on our 'Minutes/Agendas' page. Contact Danelle Haake by phone at 314-941-0489 or email riverdesperes@gmail.com with questions or comments. We look forward to your enthusiastic participation in improving our River des Peres.

View an interactive map to the Heman Park Community Center

Or get directions from FROM: Address or Intersection: City: State: ZIP Code: Country: Canada United States

Coalition Presents at EPA Conference

The River des Peres Watershed Coalition presented a poster display and several brochures at the 2008 EPA Region 7 Wetlands and Watersheds Conference the week of April 7-11, 2008. The poster, entitled "Planning a Watershed-Wide Volunteer Water Quality Event" was on display throughout the week and generated interest from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff, several watershed coordinators, and other professionals at the conference.

May 4, 2008 - Shady Creek Clean-up at Lorraine Davis Park from 10am to 2pm

May 7, 2008 - St. Louis Water Symposium 8am to 5pm at UMSL

May 27, 2008 - RdPWC Community Planning Forum (part 4) 6:30-8:30pm at the Heman Park Community Center