Upcoming in Rocheport, Mo.
Hydrology of the MR340: Racing on the Missouri River
Presentation by Carrie Elliott, geologist at US Geological Survey, River Studies Branch
Carrie Elliott will be sharing some of what she’s learned about the hydrological behavior of the Missouri River both in her career studying the river AND her experiences training for and racing in the MR340.

Presentation by Carrie Elliott, Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center River Studies Branch
Tuesday, February 21st, 2023
- NOTE – This month’s presentation is on the THIRD Tuesday of the month, not the 2nd Tuesday as normal. Next month we plan on returning to our 2nd Tuesday schedule
- 7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)
- Register for Virtual Zoom Option here.
- Watch it LIVE on our YouTube Channel (and you can also catch the recording there later)
- The Bistro at Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport, MO
- Google Map – Directions Below
The Bistro Restaurant is closed on Tuesdays, but the bar will be open. You ARE welcome to come early, bring some food and gather with friends before the presentation. Speaker Series attendees are welcome after 6:00 p.m.
Hosted by Missouri River Relief

Carrie at the MR340 Finish Line ’22.

Carrie in New Haven during the ’22 MR340.
In 2022, to celebrate the mid-career milestone of 20 years of working as a hydrologist on the Missouri River Carrie Elliott entered and finished the MR340. Before the race Carrie understood a lot about how the river works and generally where to be in the channel, but as she trained that spring she began to look at the river and all data she’s collected about the river in new ways. Have you ever wondered which sections of the river are faster, how changes in flow change the river’s speed, or exactly where in the channel flow is the fastest (and why)? Come hear data-driven answers to these questions and more.
Carrie has worked at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Columbia Environmental Research Center in Columbia, Missouri for 20 years. She has studied the Missouri River and its tributaries at a range of scales over much of the basin, from Montana to her local section of river in mid-Missouri. Much of her research has focused on understanding habitats used by the endangered pallid sturgeon. She has spent thousands of hours on boats mapping the river’s bottom and currents. Last summer, while surveying habitat Carrie and a co-worker discovered a steamboat wreck. Carrie spends much of her free time paddling and cycling along the banks of the Missouri.
Directions
- 14020 W. Hwy BB, Rocheport, MO
- Take I-70 to the Rocheport, MO, exit (Exit #115). It’s the first exit east of the Missouri River.
- Head north toward Rocheport.
- After about a mile, turn left at the sign for Les Bourgeois Bistro. Follow the signs to the Bistro. You will probably need to park in the lot above the Bistro and walk the trail down.
- The presentations are held in upstairs in the restaurant. The restaurant is no longer open on Tuesdays but the bar is! You are welcome to bring your own food or snacks.
Resources & Links
Dig deeper for more info on this topic
- Carrie’s Past BMSS Presentation: River of Sand – The Bottom of the Big Muddy – Big Muddy Speaker Series
- Columbia Environmental Research Center
- BLOG – Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project – a fascinating look at the work of CERC scientists to learn about the pallid sturgeon.
- ARTICLE – “New details emerge about shipwreck near Boonville” by Teagan King, Columbia Missourian, Oct. 14, 2022.
- MR340 website (mr340.org)
- Facebook – MR340 Facebook Group
The Big Muddy Speaker Series in Rocheport
is hosted by these wonderful partners.
Click here for a list of upcoming presentations»
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!
The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place in Kansas City and St. Charles.
The views and opinions expressed by our presenters do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of Missouri River Relief, the Big Muddy Speaker Series or any of the partners that support this public forum. The Big Muddy Speaker Series believes that hearing diverse perspectives is a crucial building block for an informed public.