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Bonne Femme Watershed Education Project
The Bonne Femme and Little Bonne Femme watersheds are located in southern Boone County and cover 92.4 square miles. This area of thriving wildlife includes Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the Three Creeks State Conservation Area.
Along the watershed approximately 10,000 acres of farmland are dedicated to planted soybeans, wheat, and corn. Another 30,000 acres consist of grazing pastures where livestock is abundant. An overall lack of management of pesticides, herbicide, and sediment contamination from crops along with livestock waste runoff in the Bonne Femme Watershed are contributing factors to nonpoint source pollution to its streams. This poses a threat to the quality of local drinking water, wildlife, and the well being of the stream itself.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Bonne Femme Watershed Education Project is an educational program designed to prepare stakeholders and other residents in the Bonne Femme and Little Bonne Femme watersheds for participation in a watershed partnership. The program will include development and distribution of watershed informational materials and meetings to help residents better manage and perserve the Bonne Femme watersheds.
A conference will consist of giving presentations to 50 stakeholders and watershed residents to emphasize water quality protection, regulation of watershed activities, and watershed stewardship. A twelve page booklet will be developed outlinging the history of the Boone Femme watersheds, their chief components and uses, and the major threats to water quality. Additionally, a watershed consensus statement developed during the conference will be mailed to 1,000 residents in the Bonne Femme and Little Boone Femme watersheds. Finally, boundry signs of the watersheds will be erected adjacent to Highway 63, Route M, Providence Road, and the Katy Trail.
OBJECTIVES
1. Increase watershed resident awareness and appreciation of the natural resources, economic resources, and threats to water quality in the Boone Femme and Little Bonne Femme watersheds.
2. Increase awareness among farmers, developers, home owners, enviromentalists, and other watershed residents of the concerns that other stakeholders have about water quality and water quality regulations
PRODUCTS
The participants in the Boone Femme and Little Bonne Femme Watershed Education programs will learn about watersheds through a Watershed Appreciation Booklet, a Watershed Awareness Conference, and the distribution of the Watershed Stewardship Consensus Statement. Watershed boundry signs will be placed along state and county highways and the Katy Trail.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Black Oak Institute (Show-me Clean Streams)
COOPERATIVE AGENCIES
Show-Me Clean Streams, Rockbridge Memorial State Park, Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District, Boone County Health Department, University of Missouri Enviromental Studies Initiative
CONTACT
Black Oak Institute
9642 South Route N
Columbia MO 65203
James R. Davis
telephone: 573-882-3384 / 657-6108
email: davisjr@missouri.edu
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