Big Muddy Speaker Series

Presentation by David Shorr, Missouri River Dredgers Group

NOTE – This month’s presentation will be the second MONDAY (not Tuesday as usual)

Monday, May 13, 2019

• 7 p.m. presentation (6 p.m. Social Hour)
• Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro in Rocheport, MO
• Google Map – Directions Below

The Bistro Restaurant is now closed on Tuesday, 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 5 p.m. 

Hosted by Missouri River Relief

Most folks assume that the Missouri River is muddier than it was historically. Because of channelization and upstream dams, it actually moves 1/5 of the sediment than it did 100 years ago. So it’s kind of like the “Big Not So Muddy”.

Mixed in with that legendary mud is a LOT of sand. Before it was channelized, sandbars were one of the dominant features of the river. The Omaha tribe’s name for the Missouri River, “Smoky Waters”, probably comes from the visual signature of this river that wandered through the great plains – clouds of blowing sand on windy days.

That sand is one of the most important commodities that the Missouri River provides. Most of the barges that people see moving on the Missouri River are actually local barges, moving barges to and from dredges harvesting sand from the bottom of the Missouri River. Most people assume that these dredges are keeping the channel clear in the river for barges. In reality, the engineering of the river channel does that on its own. The dredges are usually working to the side of the actual channel.

It is estimated that 80% of the concrete in Missouri uses sand from the Missouri River.

David Shorr is a Missouri River expert. He is a former Director of the Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources, is a founding member of the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee and is a lawyer for Lathrop & Gage.

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.