GRHA - Comprehensive Campaign to Preserve the Confluence

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO PRESERVE THE CONFLUENCE

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance MISSION AND PURPOSE

C H A L L E N G E

Having experienced the devastation of the Great Flood of 1993, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) was formed in 2000 to combat unbridled floodplain development around the Confluence of our major rivers in the Greater St. Louis-region. Since that time, there has been no organization more capable or more committed to preserving our great rivers, floodplains, and wetlands.

Increases in the severity and frequency of flooding in the region is cause for alarm. The devastating Flood of 2019 proves that the mission of GRHA to help preserve the floodplains is more important than ever.

GRHA tackles the policies permitting wholesale floodplain development and encourages thoughtful alternatives. GRHA is dedicated to…

Preserving the natural resources of the floodplain and its rich biodiversity Promoting conservation easements throughout the confluence region Preserving Missouri’s big river floodplains and wetlands Educating the public about the vital importance of floodplains and wetlands A creative approach to preserving floodplain land for its agricultural heritage and wildlife habitat GRHA addresses issues affecting wetland habitat and promotes sensible use of floodplains in the confluence region of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers. Along with collaborating partners like the Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited, GRHA supports preservation of the floodplains of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

The organization’s primary focus is on the Confluence floodplain in St. Charles, Lincoln, Pike, and St. Louis counties in Missouri and Calhoun County, Illinois.

The organization seeks to save our natural floodplain and rural agricultural heritage. GRHA strives to educate public officials to make changes in their policies and legislation that affects regional floodplain development.

As if the flooding were not bad enough, Representatives of Port of Lincoln, USA have announced that their project in Lincoln County is ready to move forward. The primary vision for the port is to serve as a logistics, warehouse, and distribution hub. Port of Lincoln stated that the project would begin applying for permits and is hoping to begin construction in 2019. (The Flood of 2019 has apparently delayed the start; hopefully permanently.) The proposed Port of Lincoln is a 7,120acre development in southeastern Lincoln County. It is all currently within the irreplaceable floodplain. Can you imagine the flooding harms that will occur in this region if they are allowed to take 7,000 acres out of the floodplain and pave it over with concrete or asphalt? Officials in Maryland Heights, St. Charles City, Hazelwood, Bridgeton, and other local municipalities also intend to move forward with disastrous, additional floodplain developments.

We must strengthen the financial resources of GRHA so that the organization can address dangers like the Port of Lincoln project, as well as to continue being the lead agency in the region for preservation and protection of the floodplains and wetlands.

CA SE FOR SUPPORT

am a developer, but I believe in responsible development, “Iand that involves preserving our irreplaceable

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floodplains to do the role they were intended to do.

- Douglas Sansone, Principal, Sansone Group; Board Member, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance

The goal is to raise $2,000,000 during a three-year campaign period, beginning in 2020.

Scientist out measuring the quality of our water and the health of the river.

O U R

C A M P A I G N

To defend the Confluence Floodplain and its irreplaceable habitat and wildlife from destruction by overdevelopment and to advance our educational mission, our Board of Directors is embarking on a campaign that will increase the impact and secure the future of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance.

The goal is to raise $2,000,000 during a three-year campaign period, beginning in 2020. The campaign goal will accomplish the following core objectives:  Educational efforts about floodplain and wetlands for conservation and educational purposes. GRHA will expand our educational and outreach efforts for students and teachers to learn about the many ecological benefits of floodplains and wetlands. We will also use funds to promote and support conservation easements within the Confluence. Host academic conferences open for all to attend.

We will engage in strategic, targeted land acquisition for floodplain conservation efforts in key areas.  Scientific analysis of floodplain and watershed issues to improve our capacity to oppose harmful developments and support regional change. Conduct regional environmental and watershed studies of floodplain issues. Produce scientific studies of specific proposals. primarily focused on providing high-quality opposition to the Port of Lincoln project in southeastern Lincoln County, Missouri, and other major floodplain developments within the Greater Confluence-area. Engage in litigation efforts when necessary to preserve the Confluence. Improve the technical capacity of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance via purchases of video equipment, website improvements, and other technological efforts.

 Build sustainable operating and reserve funds to support the efforts of GRHA over the long-run. Provide for the long-term financial health of GRHA. Help GRHA function in its day-today operations during the period of the campaign, 2020-2022.

MORE ABOUT GRHA Since its establishment, GRHA has made contacts with regional influential politicians and officials and began an awareness campaign to inform the general public about floodplain developments and new levee construction efforts that closely follow new floodplain developments. These awareness campaigns are the initial tools intended to raise attention about the importance of saving floodplains as natural water storage areas, instead of converting it into building sites for new, larger shopping centers and logistics hubs.

In order to effectively conduct and fund awareness campaigns and other efforts, the IRS approved

GRHA as a charitable 501(c)3 organization status in Fall 2000.

One of GRHA’s future goals in 2000 was to acquire one or more conservation easements within the regional floodplain during our early years, working closely with Wetlands America Trust and Ducks Unlimited. The ultimate preservation goal has been to help Wetlands America Trust and DU protect 60,000 to 100,000 acres of land through easement acquisition and land purchases through federal, state, and private funding sources. The organization will continue making contacts with influential people addressing issues of concern.

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Tighter Floodplain Development Rules: Great Rivers Habitat Alliance helped propose and strongly supported the Jefferson County (Mo.) ordinance enacted in May 2019 where Jefferson County became the first local government in Missouri to institute tighter floodplain development regulations at the local level. Encouraging other cities and counties to implement this same change is one of our highest priorities.

Passage of Missouri Senate Bill 225 in 2007: This law prohibits the use of tax increment financing (TIF) in 100-year floodplains within rural areas across the state and ensures the right to discharge firearms; a vital component in preserving hunting in the floodplain.

Halted Smartt Field Expansion: Owned by St. Charles County, Smartt Field was set for expansion through a federal grant that would have allowed light jets to land in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, which contains almost half of our nation’s migratory waterfowl.

GRHA was able to convince the county council to oppose the expansion plan, benefiting both taxpayers and conservationists.

Passage of Missouri House Bill 1434 in 2016. HB 1434 gives county governments greater say over the use of TIF within St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson counties. History has shown that counties have governed more responsibly, on the whole, than municipalities when it comes to floodplain development.

St. Charles County, in particular, has been an ally of GRHA. Media coverage: GRHA executive director, David Stokes, has become one of the most frequently cited commentators on floodplain issues in the Midwest. During the Flood of 2019, Stokes was a major source for numerous articles on the disaster and was quoted by the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Business-Journal, Hannibal Courier-Post, and many other newspapers. Stokes also regularly appears on talk radio on KMOX, KTRS, and NPR in St. Louis.

Public awareness: GRHA has elevated floodplain development as an important issue among the voting public and one that plays heavily during local elections.

Before GRHA, most voters were unaware how taxes were funding large-scale floodplain developments. This awareness has helped immeasurably to encourage sustainable development practices.

Watchdog Role: GRHA routinely monitors and testifies or submits public comment on floodplain regulations and development proposals.

Clean-Up Efforts: GRHA held our first, major park clean-up efforts in 2018 in conjunction with the Open Space Council of St. Louis.

There were 55 volunteers at Robert Winter Park along the Meramec River who removed over 200 tires and 16,000 lbs. of scrap metal debris from the watershed.

We thank Missouri-American Water and Luby Equipment for their support of the clean-up.

Educational Conferences: In 2018 and 2019, GRHA sponsored the River Soundings conference in Forest Park. The all-day conferences on floodplain and water policy culminated with a keynote address in 2018 by John Barry, author of “Rising Tide,” the definitive book about the 1927 Mississippi River Flood. In 2019, the keynote was given by Chad Pregracke of Living Lands and Waters. Over 100 people attended each conference, which has been supported by our friends at Maritz and Missouri-American Water.

Partnerships: GRHA works closely with many other non-profit agencies to achieve our mission.

This includes national groups such as Ducks Unlimited, American Rivers, Delta Waterfowl, National Wildlife Federation, and the Sierra Club. It also includes statewide groups such as Missouri Stream Team, Prairie Rivers Network, and Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Finally, we work with other local organizations such as Neighbors of the Mississippi, the Open Space Council, and Greenway Network.

CA SE FOR SUPPORT BOARD MEMBERS: James T. Blair, IV David Bub Adolphus A. Busch, IV Jason Cleveland Paul Dalba John Davis Richard C. Holton, Sr. Richard C. Holton, Jr. Chris Hyams Ryan McCarty Mark Merlotti Don C. Musick, III Lawrence Niemann Douglas Sansone Jason Schnuck Henry Schwetye Tim Sheahan Bob Sivewright Andrew R. Spann Philip von Gontard Patrick Wittenbrink Nancy Ylvisaker

For more information and how to support Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, please call David Stokes at 314-918-1007 or email dstokes@grha.org

once they are gone, they are gone forever.

- Rick Holton, Sr., Board Member, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance Chairman, Deer Creek Watershed Alliance

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“ Our floodplains must be preserved, because