Grants
Missouri Department of Conservation: Community Conservation Grant, Spring 2020
Glade Restoration of River Bluff Cave
The WCC received an MDC Community Conservation grant to restore a 1.3 acre glad area by River Bluff Cave on the property of Missouri Institute of Natural Science. This area is presently overrun by redcedar and bush honeysuckle which has supressed the native plants and flowers common in healthy glade ecosystems. The WCC will manage and restore the glad habitat in order to promote ecosystem diversity and improve visitor experience/education opportunities. The project calendar for this work is July 1, 2020 through summer 2022, with maintenance continuing.
We will continue to post updates and progress pictures throughout the grant period.
Partners
Missouri Department of Conservation: Community Conservation Grant, Spring 2019
Glade Restoration at Valley Water Mill Park
Partners: Missouri Department of Conservation
Project Description: 2400 E. Valley Water Mill Rd, Springfield, MO 65803
The purpose of this project was to continue restoration efforts on glade, savanna, wetland, prairie habitats at Valley Water Mill Park. Hand extraction, while time intensive, has proven to be the most effective, and least invasive, method of treatment for BHS in sensitive habitats. Watershed Conservation Corps (WCC) provided provide personnel, equipment and herbicide during the project work. WCC removed, applied herbicide to stump-cut bush honeysuckle, at Lake Springfield. WCC also worked with WCO to provide $1300 in volunteer match procured from our local colleges OTC and Missouri State University.
Missouri Department of Conservation: TRIM Grant, October 2019
WCC Training & Certifications
Partners: Missouri Department of Conservation
On October 1st, 2019 the Missouri Department of Conservation approved our application for the Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) Cost-Share Program. Designed to provide Missouri communities with financial assistance for the management, improvement, or conservation of publicly owned trees, the funding received from this program will be used to provide the Watershed Conservation Corps staff, crew leaders and members, and other natural resource managers of Springfield with educational and professional development opportunities. Thanks to the funds made available through the TRIM program, the Corps staff can now purchase study materials and cover the costs of exam fees in order to become International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists®, a professional recognition given to those who are trained and knowledgeable in the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines and other perennial woody plants. Assistance from TRIM also created the opportunity for up to twelve Corps members and other natural resource managers of Springfield to participate in Safety and Woods Worker Training (SAWW). SAWW provides professional sawyers with effective, hands-on training delivered by certified trainers and is focused on safety, cutting techniques, and chainsaw maintenance. The generous assistance of the Missouri Department of Conservation will undoubtedly broaden the knowledge and skillsets of the Watershed Conservation Corps staff and allow for the Corps to expand its services offered, increase the available educational and developmental opportunities for its young employees, and help improve community forests across Missouri.
Seth Wheeler, WCC Program Manager
Missouri Prairie Foundation, March 2019
Prairie Garden Grant
Partners: Missouri Prairie Foundation
The Missouri Prairie Foundation approved our application to continue glade restoration at Valley Water Mill Park.
The entire glade (1.5 acres) will have a native mix of shallow soil prairie/glade appropriate plants such as prickly pear cactus, yarrow, lead plant, prairie pussytoes, butterfly weed, spider milkweed, wild indigo, bluehearts, fringed poppy mallow, purple poppy mallow, wild hyacinth, Indian paintbrush, partridge pea, calamint, lanceleaf coreopsis, plains coreopsis, white prairie clover, purple prairie clover, prairie cinquefoil, pale-purple coneflower, yellow coneflower, rattlesnake master, gum weed, ox-eye sunflower, diamondflowers, round-headed bushclover, rough blazing star, bottlebrush blazing star, prairie blazing star, palespike lobelia, false aloe, sensitive brier, wild bergamot, longflower beeblossom, Missouri primrose, rigid goldenrod, small palafox, wild quinine, slimflower scurfpea, purple beardtongue, pale beardtongue, prairie beardtongue, fame flower, sweet everlasting, slender mountain mint, hairy mountain mint, longheaded coneflower, grayheaded coneflower, Missouri coneflower, hairy wild petunia, rose gentian, blue sage, prairie dock, gray goldenrod, aromatic aster, sky blue aster, late purple aster, stiff greenthread, narrowleaf vervain, wingstem, western ironweed, bird’s foot violet, and golden Alexanders. All plants will be fit for natural Missouri glade environments and will be cared for until established on the landscape by WCO volunteers.
3M Foundation, November 2018
Community Interest Grant
Partners: 3M Foundation
The 3M Foundation awarded our application of $5,000 to buy equipment and supplies for the Watershed Conservation Corp program.
Ozark Society Foundation Youth Engagement Grant
Project Summary
The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks would like to acknowledge The Ozark Society Foundation for awarding the Watershed Natives program a grant of $2,000. The Watershed Natives program was established to meet the growing demand for native plants both residential and restoration efforts. Native plants are integral to soil health, pollinator and wildlife habitat, erosion prevention, biodiversity, and reduction of nutrient runoff.
After a successful inaugural year, the Watershed Native program is expanding by collaborating with Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Springfield Public Schools to establish a nursery to produce native plants. A key element in the long-term success of this program is the integration of high school students in nursery operations and restoration planning.
The generosity of The Ozark Society Foundation will ensure a successful collaboration with area educational institutions and the community. The funds will provide equipment and materials needed by Hillcrest High School students growing native plants through the program. The Watershed Native program and its collaboration with area schools could not be possible without the support of community partners like The Ozark Society Foundation.
Partners
Little Sac Grazing Demonstration
Project Summary
Farming is a major land use in the Sac and James River Watersheds, and nearly all agriculture in these watersheds occurs on private land. Farming operations can occupy a wide spectrum of impact, ranging from land-healing to land-using and abusing. Not all farms are land-healing, but almost no farmer intends to degrade land and water. We find that land-healing farming methods are often adopted once people are exposed to these profitable, productive, and effective practices. With the help of City Utilities, local Natural Resources Conservation Services staff, and the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District, we are working to renovate and reopen the Agricultural Demonstration Area (ADA) to provide another way to showcase and share excellent farming practices.
The ADA is located between Fellows Lake and McDaniel Lake. The land is owned by City Utilities, which has leased the parcel to WCO to manage this endeavor. The ADA will showcase riparian protection, prescribed/rotational grazing, warm and cool season pastures, and alternative watering systems. The ADA will be used for classes, tours, and scientific study, and offer sub-leases to local farmers who want to use the land within the restorative farming principals. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Greene County Soil and Water District will be the primary education partners, and Missouri State University and City Utilities will likely participate in the science and research aspects.
Some of the infrastructure from the original project have been re-used, and some of the previous improvements—like a warm-season grass pasture and a robust buffer of trees along the stream—will be valuable assets. Funds from the Little Sac Restoration and Improvement Project, City Utilities, and a grant from Lucky’s Market have helped bring the ADA back into working order. In 2018, this support allowed us to install new perimeter fencing, refurbish the watering system, install a water crossing, complete interior fencing (except for one water gap), install a new solar power unit for the electric fence, burn several tons of brush and trees accumulated in the process of re-clearing out the pasture areas, and accomplish many other tasks to get the place up and running.
Partners
CU, County Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA, MSU Ag
USDA Conservation Technical Assistance Grant
The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks was awarded the USDA Conservation Technical Assistance Grant for $49,0000 on September 15, 2018. The project is titled the Sac and James River Watershed Conservation Outreach Project and the objective of the project is to promote public awareness and implementation of Farm Bill activities, especially in historically underserved communities and in watersheds critical to drinking water supply. The project partners include the Greene, Polk, Cedar and Dade County NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Missouri Department of Conservation and the grant will end September 15, 2020.
As part of the grant WCO has created a survey to understand what knowledge farmers, producers and growers have of the farm bill practices and cost share programs currently available. A local contact list for the watershed is being generated to disperse the survey. As part of the grant milestones, outreach conservation workshops will be conducted focusing on soil health and managed grazing.
Darr Family Foundation Grant
Project Summary
The Watershed Committee received a $10,000 grant from the Darr Family Foundation (DFF). This funding will be used to help establish a nursery operation, focused on native plants, at Hillcrest High School.
In partnership with Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Watershed Committee has helped develop a 3-year “college and career pathway” program at Hillcrest. SPS describes this pathway this way: “The Environmental and Natural Resource Management Pathway teaches students how to properly manage land, water, soil, plants, and animals. These classes have a focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations.” More recently, school leaders have embraced the inclusion of agriculture within this pathway, and are excited to establish the first Future Farmers of America student organization in the SPS system at Hillcrest. The program will provide industry recognized credential opportunities, and readiness for a variety of college and/or career pathways such as agriculture, environmental restoration, the sciences, and more.
The native plant nursery component of this program is integral. The opportunity for the students to be involved with growing and selling native plants blends science, business, and agriculture. Coupled with the growing demand for native plants in the market, the Watershed Committee intends to market and sell the plants produced to generate enough revenue to support the program. Seed money from the DFF will help us create a truly sustainable program and incredible opportunity for local students.