Upcoming in St. Charles, Mo.
Reconnecting Rivers and Floodplains – Reconciling Theory & Practice
Presentation by David Galat, PhD, former Associate Professor with University of Missouri Fish and Wildlife Coop Unit
Connectivity between large rivers and their floodplains is an ecological driver in river systems. Dr. Galat will be sharing some of the research on floodplain connectivity on large rivers around the world as well as the Lower Missouri River, and reconciling the theory and practice of connectivity.

Presentation by David Galat, PhD, former Associate Professor with University of Missouri Fish and Wildlife Coop Unit
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
4:30 p.m. Free Paddle trip with Big Muddy Adventures! (details below)
6. p.m. Meet at Big A’s Restaurant
6:30 p.m. Presentation
At Big A’s Restaurant (in the back room)
308 N Main St. – St Charles, MO
(directions below)
The importance of seasonal flooding to reconnect large rivers with their floodplains is essential for their ecological integrity. With channelization and levee protection along the river and its tributaries, the Lower Missouri River (LMOR) has been disconnected from much of its floodplain, with channel incision making such connection even more difficult.
When it come to projects attempting to reconnect the river and its floodplain on public lands, there are often real-world difficulties that arise between the theory and actual practice. Dr. Galat’s talk will be focusing on reconciling these difficulties. Dr. Galat will be sharing some of the research on floodplain connectivity on large rivers around the world as well as the Lower Missouri River.
This presentation covers four topics. First, connectivity and its attributes in large rivers are reviewed. Then, past and present changes in lateral connectivity of the LMOR are described. Next, the importance of lateral connectivity for fish spawning & nursery is illustrated in general and specifically for an intensively managed wetland pool at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. Lastly, additional examples are presented of enhancing lateral connectivity along the LMOR through the Missouri River Recovery Program by habitat creation.
Dr. David Galat is a former Associate Professor of Fisheries at the University of Missouri. He is currently a science adviser for the Nature Conservancy’s Great Rivers Partnership and has served on the Science Advisory Panel for the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee. He is currently trying (and failing) to stay home more with his chickens.
Free Paddle Trip with Big Muddy Adventures!
Join expert Missouri River guide Mike Clark of Big Muddy Adventures before the presentation for a up and downstream paddle through downtown St. Charles on the Junebug canoe. Space is limited – PLEASE REGISTER on the Greenway Network website.
Here’s the link to register – fill out your name and the month you want to join the paddle trip: www.greenwaynetwork.org/get-involved/educational-events/big-muddy-speaker-series-paddle-registration.php.
This opportunity brought to you by the generosity of Greenway Network and Big Muddy Adventures.
Meet by the river behind Big A’s at 4:30. You’ll be back by 6 p.m.
Directions
To Big A’s on the Riverfront, our host for the Speaker Series.
To get there from I-70
- Take I-70 to exit 229B – the 5th St. Exit
- Merge onto 5th St. headed north toward St. Charles.
- After about 1 mile, turn right on Monroe St.
- Turn left onto N. Main St.
- Big A’s will be on your right (308 N. Main St.) Additional parking is available in the rear.
- View on Google Maps.
Resources and Links
Dig deeper for more info on this topic –
- The Nature Conservancy’s Great Rivers Partnership – Mississippi River Basin
- PAPER – “Flow and Form in rehabilitation of Large River Ecosystems: An Example from the Missouri River” – by Robert Jacobson, PhD; and David Galat, PhD.
- PAPER – “Hydrologic and geomorphic considerations in restoration of river-floodplain connectivity in a highly altered river system, Lower Missouri River, USA” by Robert Jacobson, Tyler Janke and Jason Skold.
- PAPER – “Missouri River Postflood Evaluation Synthesis” by David Galat and Michael Headrick
- PAPER – “Restoring Ecological Integrity of Great Rivers: Historical Hydrographs Aid in Defining Reference Conditions for the Missouri River” – by David Galat and Robin Lipkin
- PAPER – “Design of a Naturalized Flow Regime” – by David Galat and Robert Jacobson
- PAPER – “River Floodplain Connectivity and Lateral Fish Passage:A Literature Review” by Brian S. Ickes, Jon Vallazza, John Kalas, and Brent Knights
The Big Muddy Speakers Series in St. Charles
is hosted by these wonderful partners:
- Greenway Network
- Missouri River Relief
- Friends of Big Muddy
- Big Muddy Adventures
- Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
- Big A’s Restaurant
All speakers are presenting for free and Big A’s is sharing the space for free! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Rocheport and Kansas City.
A special thank you to Greg Poleski of Greenway Network and Mike Clark of Big Muddy Adventures for making this happen!