Posts Tagged ‘Columbia Bottom’

Volunteers hunt for litter along the Missouri River at the 2009 Confluence Trash Bash. This year's clean-up is scheduled for March 27. Credit: Dan Zarlenga, MDC

During 2009, volunteers for the organization Missouri River Relief removed an astounding 57 tons of trash from the Missouri River and her tributaries. That included 636 tires, 370 bags of recyclables, 11 refrigerators and a very long list of other items that have absolutely no business being in our waterways.

When you consider that North County borders two major rivers, each fed by numerous smaller streams, it should be no surprise that littered waterways are a big concern here. That’s why several local groups have come together to sponsor the Confluence Trash Bash, a day when volunteers just like you can help to clean up sites all over NoCo.

Hosted by Trailnet, the Confluence Partnership and Metropolitan Sewer District, this year’s event will tackle trash pick-up along the Mississippi and Missouri as well as at various locations in Maline Creek and Cold Water Creek. You can volunteer to work from either the water or the land, and everyone who participates gets free lunch.

To keep things fun, trash artists will also be on hand to create recycled art from some of the objects found, and prizes will be awarded for the largest, weirdest and most valuable items discovered during the pick-up.

If you’d like to sign up, you can register here. The 2010 Confluence Trash Bash will be held Saturday, March 27, from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Crews will meet at the Chain of Rocks Bridge and spread out from there.

The proposed casino would occupy nearly 400 acres of wetland directly adjacent to the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.

At last night’s St. Louis County Council meeting, the council voted 4-3 to approve zoning changes for the proposed Riverview Casino at Columbia Bottom. At least twenty people, many representing larger groups, spoke in opposition to the casino. Two people, both representing unions, spoke in favor.

Many local residents also called the council prior to the meeting to express their disapproval of the project. The clerk I spoke with said her “anti-casino” list was quite long.

Despite that, and the fact that Columbia Bottom represents a genuine opportunity for North County in terms of eco-tourism, all three NoCo reps – Mike O’Mara, Hazel Erby and Kathleen Burkett -  voted YES on the casino project. Florissant mayor Bob Lowery has also come out in favor of it, citing the need for more (low-wage) service and (temporary) construction jobs.

Thankfully, it’s not a done deal. The casino developers still need to clear environmental regulations, address floodplain issues, and secure a state gaming license…in a state where no more licenses are available.

The new visitor center at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, part of $25 million already invested in one of NoCo's most exceptional natural areas

I wrote about the proposed Riverview Casino a few weeks ago, and how I and many others believe it’s a bad idea for North County. Well, it all comes down to Tuesday night, when the St. Louis County Council votes on whether to approve the casino’s zoning amendments.

In recent years, both the state of Missouri and a handful of nonprofits have invested more than $25 million in the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, believing it’s a unique natural treasure and a potential economic driver for North County. Considered one of the most significant migratory bird corridors in the entire country (especially for Bald Eagles), Columbia Bottom boasts gorgeous scenery, hiking and biking trails, abundant wildlife, and a front-row seat to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Many people think that it can make NoCo a destination for eco-tourism, and I agree. But not if we ruin the place with a big, bloated casino. Plans for the Riverview Casino call for 376 acres of development, including a hotel, convention center, and 8,000 parking spaces…all directly adjacent to Columbia Bottom. And did I mention that the site currently has no sewer or stormwater service, meaning taxpayers would have to foot at least a portion of the bill if this development proceeds?

Currently we have SIX casinos in the metro area, but only ONE natural wonder like Columbia Bottom. Please voice your opposition to this unnecessary and harmful development by contacting the County Council today: (314) 615-5000.

The great Missouri River, flowing swiftly past the northeastern border of North County. Breathtaking even on a cloudy day.

In my opinion, St. Louis has done a dreadful job of showcasing one of its finest features: the mighty Mississippi River. Approach the river on 90% of the local shoreline and you’ll find a dismal, dirty view of factories and other commercial operations. That’s if you can even get near the water.

St. Louis has this amazing natural wonder right at its doorstep and you’d barely even know it’s there. That’s why I think we NoCo residents should count our lucky stars, because North County is the best place in St. Louis to experience the Mississippi.

It also offers a front row seat to the Missouri River and one of nature’s most awesome displays – the confluence of two of the grandest rivers in North America. As if that’s not cool enough, you can view the Mississippi/Missouri confluence either from NoCo, at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, or looking at NoCo, from the Ted & Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park in West Alton.

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Would you ruin this idyllic setting with a casino?

One of North County’s greatest assets is its natural beauty, and few areas of NoCo are more lovely than the sprawling river bottoms bordering the Mississippi River, not far from Spanish Lake.

A development company calling itself North County LLC would like to take these enchanting wetlands, a haven for migratory birds and other wildlife, and build a casino on them. Right next to the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.

The Sierra Club, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Spanish Lake Community Association and many other groups are vehemently opposed to this idea, and so am I. Unfortunately, the St. Louis County Council voted last night to move the process forward, meaning they will vote on the proposed zoning changes in the next few weeks.

If you are opposed to this new casino, please contact your county councilperson ASAP. You can also learn more about why this casino is a “losing bet” for North County by following the nonprofit links above.