Meramec River Conservation Action Plan

MERAMEC RIVER CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN MAY 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This plan would not have been possible without the time, input, data, and material contributions of numerous individuals and organizations. We would like to thank in particular Rob Pulliam and Kevin Meneau of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Abigail Lambert of Ozark Regional Land Trust, Ron Coleman and Brittany Barton of Open Space Council, Rob Jacobson of the U.S. Geological Survey, Bob Pavlowsky of Missouri State University, Dave Wilson of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, and the many people who participated in workshops and meetings over the past years. Funding for this project was provided by Crystal Light through a “Collaboration for U.S. Freshwater Sustainability” grant. Support was also provided by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the individuals who reviewed this plan and provided valuable comments. The Nature Conservancy Team: Steven J. Herrington, Director of Freshwater Conservation, Missouri Kristen Blann, Freshwater Ecologist, Minnesota Todd Sampsell, State Director, Missouri Doug Ladd, Director of Conservation, Missouri Cynthia Pessoni, Conservation Programs Coordinator, Missouri Amy Hepler Welch, Operations & Marketing Coordinator, Missouri John Heaston, CAP Facilitator and Platte River Project Manager, Nebraska Blane Heumann, Director of Fire Management, World Office Betsy LePoidevin, Director of Philanthropy, Missouri Usman Khan, Marketing Intern, Missouri Meramec River Conservation Partners and Participating Organizations: American Bird Conservancy Belews Creek Watershed Partnership Conservation Federation of Missouri East-West Gateway Council of Governments Friends of LaBarque Creek Great Rivers Greenway Kayak Swarm Meramec Regional Planning Commission Meramec River Tributary Alliance Meramec State Park Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri Department of Natural Resources Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership Missouri State University Missouri Stream Teams Open Space Council Ozark Regional Land Trust Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute Saint Louis County Department of Parks Shaw Nature Reserve Teaming With Wildlife, Missouri Conservation Federation University of Missouri U.S. Department of Agriculture – Farm Services Agency U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Forest Service Meramec River overlook. © Bill Duncan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he Meramec River flows over 200 miles northeast from the Ozarks in east- central Missouri to its confluence with the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. It T is among the most biologically significant river basins in mid-continental North America, with diverse and rare aquatic and terrestrial plants, animals, and natural communities. The Meramec and its tributaries also provide important economic and social bene- fits to the region, including a productive fishery, significant tourism and recreational use and associated economic inputs, and drinking water supplies. Although considered in relatively good health, a number of problems and activities degrade aquatic habitats and fish and wildlife resources throughout the basin. Fortunately, the Meramec and its tributaries have benefitted from decades of conservation actions from a variety of conservation, planning, and environmental organizations and agencies. The Meramec River Conservation Action Plan is the culmination of nearly four years of collaboration among 29 conservation stakeholders to develop a unified blueprint for en- suring the sustainability of aquatic resources in the Meramec River Basin. Developed using The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation Action Planning Process, this plan comprehen- sively identifies and prioritizes target resources for conservation, the current health and problems affecting those resources, the source of the problems, and the best actions max- imizing the benefit and long-term protection, restoration, and conservation of the Mera- mec River and its aquatic resources. Eight conservation targets were selected to best capture the biodiversity and ecological processes of aquatic resources of the Meramec River Basin. The Lower Meramec River Drainage, Middle Meramec River Drainage, Upper Meramec River Drainage, Bourbeuse River Drainage, Big River Drainage, Huzzah and Courtois Creek Drainages, and La- Barque Creek Drainage were aquatic ecosystem targets, for which actions in those water- sheds will ensure the conservation of all associated native biodiversity therein. Freshwater Mussels were designated as a separate target given their unique ecological vulnerabilities and special conservation needs. Viability, or health, rankings for the targets in varied from “Poor” to “Very Good”, with an overall rank of “Fair” for the Meramec River Basin. The Lower Meramec River was ranked “Poor” primarily due to the relatively widespread effects of urbanization on stream function throughout much of the lower river. The Middle and Upper Meramec were ranked “Good”, reflecting relatively unimpaired floodplain connectivity and hydrology, though land floodplain conversion from agricultural practices are a concern. The Bourbeuse River was ranked “Fair” because of the high concentration of livestock farming and ranching throughout its tributaries and main stem floodplain, though its hydrology is minimally impaired and it supports a good sport fishery. Despite also having a good sport fishery and relatively unaltered hydrology and floodplain connectivity, the Big River was ranked “Fair” due to the presence of several main stem dams and the serious historical and current impacts to ecosystem function from heavy metal contamination. The Huzzah and Courtois Creek and LaBarque Creek drainages were the healthiest targets in the basin, being ranked “Very Good” for excellent hydrology, in-stream and floodplain connectivity, riparian corridor condition, and diverse biological communities. Freshwater mussels were ranked “Fair”, reflecting recent patterns of biodiversity and population declines throughout the Meramec River Basin. A variety of problems – or stresses – stemming from multiple sources – or threats – im- pair targets in the Meramec River Basin. Twelve stresses were identified as degrading tar- Man overlooking the Meramec River. © Bill Duncan gets in the basin, with Excessive Suspended & Bedded Sediments, Altered Floodplains & Meramec River Conservation Action Plan | 2 Wetlands, Altered Riparian Corridor, and Contaminated Sediments being the most prob- Table of Contents lematic. The first three stresses are interrelated and widespread throughout the basin, with streambank erosion as a potentially significant factor contributing excessive sedimentation Introduction ................................. 4 in the Meramec River and its tributaries. Although geographically narrow in scope, Con- taminated Sediments was also highly ranked because of its severe impacts when present and potential to degrade multiple targets, particularly those within or downstream of the Conservation Targets for Big River. Thirteen threats were identified as being the sources of the stresses degrading the Meramec River .................... 9 the targets. The six highest-ranked, or critical, threats were Livestock Farming & Ranch- ing, Housing & Urban Areas, Mine Tailings & Industrial Effluents, In-Stream Gravel Mining & Reaming, Dams & Water Management, and Transportation, Utility, & Service Health of Meramec River Corridors. Livestock Farming & Ranching was the most widespread threat across the tar- Targets ........................................ 13 gets, reflecting the historical and current agricultural footprint within the river and tributary floodplains responsible for multiple stresses degrading targets. Housing & Urban Are- as severely alters stream function in the St. Louis area is thus of particular concern to the Factors Degrading Lower Meramec River, as well as the Big River, and Freshwater Mussel targets. Mine Tail- Meramec River Targets ......... 17 ings & Industrial Effluents from historical and current heavy metal mining in the Ozarks are the primary source of the Contaminated Sediments that most strongly affect the Big River. In-Stream Gravel Mining & Reaming and Dams & Water Management threats Taking Action to Conserve degrade targets in multiple ways, though the extent of their impact in the basin is poorly the Meramec River ................. 29 understood. Transportation, Utility, & Service Corridors are also widespread and impact targets in multiple ways. A situation analysis identified the root causes the critical threats, as well as conditions and stakeholders that could ameliorate their effects across the Mera- Next Steps for mec River Basin. Implementing the Plan .......... 36 We extracted over 400 goals, objectives, and strategies, as well as research and data needs, from over 40 conservation plans, policies, and publications and for conserving aquatic References ................................ 38 resources in the Meramec River Basin. These were synthesized into 87 unified objectives to serve as a template for future conservation planning for this as well as other river basins. The planning team further refined these to 12 objectives and 14 strategic actions for ad- Appendices. .............................. 41 dressing critical threats in the Meramec River Basin. Strategies were prioritized by ranking several factors relevant to how that

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