Big Muddy Speaker Series

Presentation by Joe Bachant, retired Research Ecologist and Water Advocate

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

6. p.m. Meet at Big A’s Restaurant
7:00 p.m. Presentation

NOTE – The St. Charles Speaker Series is now changing to 7:00 p.m. 

At Big A’s Restaurant (in the back room)
308 N Main St. –  St Charles, MO
(directions below)

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

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.