Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Damming the Osage
The Osage River is one of two major Ozark tributaries to the Missouri River, historically serving as a river highway into southwestern Missouri for a few steamboats, logging rafts and spawning paddlefish. It's history is deep and largely ignored, from its importance to the Osage Nation to the convoluted stories of the building of Truman and Bagnell Dams.
-
A tourist souvenir decal of Bagnell Dam. courtesy of www.dammingtheosage.com
Leland and Crystal Payton have been digging up and chasing down this complex story for many years. The result is a beautiful and comprehensive book called "Damming the Osage - The Conflicted Story of Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Reservoir". The book recently won the silver medal in Best Regional Non-Fiction Mid-West in the 2013 Independent Publishers Book Awards.
Meet Your Presenter
Crystal and Leland Payton
, authors and publishers
Leland and Crystal Payton have been digging up and chasing down this complex story for many years. The result is a beautiful and comprehensive book called "Damming the Osage - The Conflicted Story of Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Reservoir". The book recently won the silver medal in Best Regional Non-Fiction Mid-West in the 2013 Independent Publishers Book Awards.
Related Presentations
Resources & Links
Find out more about this fascinating topic:
- "Damming the Osage" - website
- "Damming the Osage" Blog
- Video about the book and authors
- Q and A about the book
- Lens and Pen Press - find out how to purchase copies of other great books by the Paytons.
- "Tangled History of Osage River" - a St. Louis Post-Dispatch review of the book by Steve Wiegenstein
The Big Muddy Speaker Series in Rocheport
is hosted by these wonderful partners.
- Missouri River Relief
- Friends of Big Muddy
- Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS)
- Les Bourgeois Vineyards
- Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Special thanks to Les Bourgeois Vineyards for giving us the opportunity to use their beautiful space overlooking the Missouri River.
All speakers are presenting for free! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us!
Click here for a list of upcoming presentations»
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Kansas City and St. Charles.
The Big Muddy Speaker Series is partially funded by the Columbia Ecological Services Field Office (USFWS) and the Mo. Dept. of Conservation.
Upcoming Presentations
Introducing the Missouri River Center for Conservation Innovation
October 13, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for an evening with Zack Miller to learn about the Missouri River Center for Conservation Innovation.
See Event
Leave No Trace Training on the Barge
October 14, 2026St. Louis, MO
Join us for a special Big Muddy Speaker Series on the Living Lands & Waters Barge where Perry Whitaker will lead us in a Leave No Trace Training.
See Event
Missouri River Relief: 25 Years on the Big Muddy
November 10, 2026Columbia, MO
Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.
See Event
Plastic Pollution, Gulf Hypoxia, and Water Quality
November 11, 2026St Charles, MO
Jennifer Wendt from MidAmerica Clean Future guides us through understanding regional water quality challenges.
See Event