Big Muddy Speaker Series

Presentation by Brad Walker, Rivers Director for Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

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
308 N Main St. –  St Charles, MO
(directions below)

Presentation is FREE and open to the public!

The Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are very different systems now than 100 years ago. Billions of dollars worth of infrastructure have channelized and stabilized the rivers, enhanced navigation, been added for flood protection and enabled the use of the river for drinking water, wastewater disposal and power plant cooling. Brad Walker, Rivers Director for Missouri Coalition for the Environment, will explain what we’ve built around these rivers and look at the cost/benefit conversation of the decades-long project to “tame” and use the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

He’ll look at the current political process involved in paying for this infrastructure, especially the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and consider what a better alternative might look like.

Prior to his work in the conservation and environmental sector Brad Walker worked for over 20 years in the construction industry, primarily performing construction management for large wastewater treatment plants in the western US. He then spent two years in Jamaica in the U.S. Peace Corps. For the last eight years he has worked on river issues on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Brad has a B.S in Civil Engineering and a M.A. in Geography.

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: http://www.greenwaynetwork.org/get-involved/big-muddy-paddler-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.