Big Muddy Speaker Series

Presentation by Joe Bachant, retired Research Ecologist and Water Advocate

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Where – Westport Coffeehouse Theater – 4010 Pennsylvania Ave. Kansas City, MO

6 p.m. – Social Hour
7 p.m. – Presentation. Presentation will be filmed – After 7 PM, Please enter through Green Room Burgers

PLUS – This presentation audio will be streaming live on KCDV.tv!
(See past videos here)

Presentation is FREE and open to the public!

Joe Bachant retired in 2002 from a 30-year career as Resource Coordinator at Missouri Department of Conservation. As a Research Ecologist, a temporary role, he was instrumental in establishing the Missouri Stream Team Program.  He continues to fight for citizens’ rights to clean water and the importance of natural stream processes.

This will be an “old-fashioned stand up and talk presentation” according to Joe. Joe will share some of his history fighting for Missouri’s waterways, such as the citizen battle to keep dams from being built on the Meramec River, but will also focus on the future issues our water resources face in our state and the country from the Clean Water Act to water redistribution.

Some say “water is the new oil”. In an era of climate change, increasing population and continued development, we can no longer take for granted our abundant freshwater resources here in Missouri. Various states and entities are looking at the Missouri River as the solution to their water problems and these political and natural resource issues will only continue to get more complex.

Joe will be sharing his new idea: a citizen-driven petition to amend the state constitution to include waters of the state as a public trust. He’ll share his latest draft and invite comments and ideas on strengthening it.

Joe Bachant is a retired Research Ecologist with a 30 year career in the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. He was instrumental in establishing the Missouri Stream Team program. He continues working as an advocate for water and river resources and climate change issues. He was awarded the Life Time Achievement Award by the Missouri Stream Team program in 2014.

Directions

Westport CoffeeHouse – 4010 Pennsylvania Kansas City, Mo – www.westportcoffeehouse.com

The Westport CoffeeHouse is in the Westport entertainment area, midtown KC, south of downtown and north of the Plaza.  The main intersection is Westport Rd and Broadway.  From this intersection, go west on Westport Rd one block to Pennsylvania. Turn north (right).

OR you can get there from the intersection of Southwest Trafficway and Westport Rd.  Go east on Westport Rd to Pennsylvania. Turn north (left).

Westport Coffee House is approximately one block down on the west side of Pennsylvania.  Parking can be had either south of the coffee house in the large parking lot or just north of the coffee house alongside the building.  Enter through Green Room Burgers or Westport CoffeeHouse.