PROJECTS | Conservation
Watershed works with local landowners, businesses, government agencies, and municipalities to implement conservation practices.
Watershed works with local landowners, businesses, government agencies, and municipalities to implement conservation practices.
Bass Pro Shops: Base Camp
Since 2018, Watershed has partnered with Bass Pro Shops to conduct habitat restoration and invasive species management at their world headquarters in Springfield.
The approximate 55-acre tract that Watershed manages at Bass Pro includes over fifteen acres of ponds, with the remaining landscape consisting of small plots of land (less than 5 acres) separated by the property’s road network.
Over this period, approximately four acres of the property have been planted via seeding and plug installation of native warm-season grasses. Areas previously established with native vegetation for pollinator and wildlife habitat are monitored for invasive and undesirable plant encroachment. The ponds are monitored for undesirable aquatic plants to protect established shoreline native species for bank stabilization.
Invasive species pose a perpetual threat to the property due to the fragmented urban landscape present. In response, WCC implements integrated pest management strategies to actively minimize the impact of invasives. An integrated approach of several land practices allows native plants to acquire the proper site conditions for population growth and sustainability. This process benefits numerous aquatic and terrestrial animals, including a steady plant population of milkweed species (Asclepias spp.) that attract monarch caterpillars to the site annually.
Established native plant populations provide long-term benefits to landscapes, including less mowing, increased water infiltration, drought resistance, pollinator habitat, and increased soil health. Native plants can serve as a great alternative to turfgrass landscapes. Native plants are exceptional biofilters. Many plants can filter our large organic waste materials and compounds for surface runoff sources such as oil and gasoline. The chemical breakdown of these materials not only provides additional mineral resources for plant consumption but reduces the number of harmful contaminants entering surface water and groundwater. Due to the karst geological properties of the Ozarks, adequate pollutant interception and filtration is vital to maintaining healthy streams, and lakes, and achieving clean water for life.
We look forward to our sixth year of partnering with Bass Pro Shops in an effort to promote native habitat conservation!
City of Springfield, Summer 2020
Project Description: Native Plant Landscape Maintenance
Partners: City of Springfield
Through an agreement with the City of Springfield, Watershed Conservation will assist in Springfield’s increased effort to maintain and support native plant growth while taking measures to control invasive species populations primarily along creeks and greenway trails. Six project locations will help to improve three urban streams in springfield, project sites and streams include:
- Fassnight Creek – between Jefferson Avenue and Campbell Street
- Jordan Creek – between Bennet Street and Grand Street, between Grand Street and Mount Vernon Street and between Grant Avenue and Fort Avenue
- South Creek – Between Campbell Avenue and Kansas Expressway and between National Avenue and Campbell Avenue
Watershed will continue to assist our partners in improving native habitats which can be particularly scarce in urban and suburban settings. Watershed will provide services for the City of Springfield aimed to improve the following: recreation opportunities, transportation infrastructure, tourism destinations, and quality-of-life necessities. Through this project and others in the future, Watershed will continue to connect people to our beautiful outdoors, each other, and the places they want to go.
Missouri Department of Conservation: Community Conservation Grant, Spring 2020
Glade Restoration of River Bluff Cave
Watershed 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. Watershed 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
City of Springfield: Jordan Creek riparian corridor, Winter 2019
Project Description: Restoring one mile stretch of Jordan Creek’s riparian corridor
Partners: City of Springfield
Watershed has been working with local partners to continue the rich legacy of sustaining and improving Jordan Creek. For the past month the Watershed has worked to restore a one mile stretch of Jordan Creek’s riparian corridor that runs parallel to Kansas Expressway between Mt. Vernon Street and Grand. While this portion of Jordan Creek was spared the fate of the concrete and development that saw sections of the creek completely enclosed just a mile upstream, it has its own, and perhaps equally detrimental, problems—invasive species.
The correlative strength between water quality and invasive species has grown increasingly high over the past decade. Science is showing that certain species, when grown in such disproportionate volume to other flora, can impact riparian areas in a way that are not dissimilar to industrialization and urbanization. Invasive species characteristics like defoliation rate/period, allelopathic effects of plant material, nutrient uptake, increased photoperiod, root structure, forest succession suppression, etc. have measurable impacts on our water. In fact, studies are showing that with the influx of invasive species within riparian corridors, water quality, and the biological indicators that are related to impairment, are becoming damaged—one author suggesting that “wintercreeper (an invasive species) infested riparian areas within the Midwest behave, ecologically, in a similar fashion to parking lots.”
The point here is that while invasive species management projects in sensitive areas still find themselves routinely relegated to the domains of ideology or aesthetics, the science is trending in an altogether different direction. There is no need to appeal to some “pre-Columbian hope” as a justification for these types of projects—neither a need to take-up an indefensible ideological position that would have us indebted to a “mother earth” or something equally as fallacious. Invasive species treatment projects in riparian areas find their justification in the same category as our other proven approaches to water protection—through their propensity to abate conditions related to impairment.
We’re excited that our local leaders are taking steps to add invasive control into their arsenal of water improvement strategies, and we’re honored that we can bring our expertise to table, while educating and employing youth at the same time.
City of Nixa, Winter 2019
Project Description: Island bed restoration
Partners: City of Nixa
Christian County – The Property of Nixa Public Works; located at 1111 W. Kathryn St. Nixa, MO 65714. Site: 7,840 ft2 (0.18 acres) island bed located on the southern border of the property, immediately adjacent to Kathryn Street.
Project Overview
Watershed and City of Nixa implemented four shrubs and four trees into this island to favor the following benefits therein: establish canopy cover, provide forage and habitat for wildlife, increase the island’s capacity to capture storm water runoff, and to improve aesthetic value of the property while also increasing property value.
Watershed provided one qualified crew leader and one corps member for the project. These participants were responsible for transportation, planting, and mulching of the trees once planted. Watershed provided the following: transportation to and from site, personal protective gear, communications equipment, and emergency plans with respect to the location.
Missouri Department of Conservation: TRIM Grant, October 2019
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 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, Watershed 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 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 staff and allow for Watershed to expand its services offered, increase the available educational and developmental opportunities for its young employees, and help improve community forests across Missouri.
Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Summer 2019
Project Description: Glade Restoration at Lake Springfield
Partners: Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Project Details:
Need and objectives: Convert three (3) acres from a mixed cool-season grass and Johnson grass stand to a mix of native warm-season grasses and wildflowers to represent a Dry-mesic Limestone/Dolomite Prairie.
Project area and habitat type: The project areas consist of three (3) acres of cool seasons grasses long with the invasive Johnson grass. The area is only maintained once a year with brush hogging. Just east of the projected native restoration area is a steep slope approx. two-hundred (200) yards long that is not mow able. Native grass plugs and native flower plugs would be planted to stabilize the slope along with giving it a more attractive native look.
Expected benefits: The native prairie would drastically improve the wildlife habitat. With implementing native plants, it would invite more native wildlife to the area. With the park inside the Springfield City limits, it offers a large community a short drive to enjoy the abundance of natural resources found in the park. The annual estimated parks attendance is one-hundred thousand (100,000). This project would enhance the visitors experience with promoting recreation such as wildlife photography and hiking.
Approach/ methodology: An aquatic safe herbicide would be applied that follows the vegetation plan that is assigned to the park. The aquatic safe herbicide would be applied three (3) times with an early summer, fall and late fall application. Early winter a native seed mix would be broadcasted on the three acres. In the late spring, surveying of the to determine germination success. Vegetation would be mowed at the height of 6 inches during the first growing season to decrease competition for noxious weeds. The second year the mowing height would be raised to twelve (12) inches to decrease competition for broadleaf. Mowing would not be allowed on the third year. Burning regimes or winter mowing will be the maintenance plan to maintain the prairie.
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 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
Current Grants
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.