!!! Kiefer Creek Watershed PLan !!!
!!! DRAFT SEctions !!!
!!! READY FOR Public REview !!!
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment began working on the restoration of Kiefer Creek in 2009 when the creek's significant bacterial contamination was first brought to our attention. We quickly fell in love with Kiefer Creek; its clear flowing water, stunning natural watershed, and springs that are a rare treasure for the St. Louis community.
Missouri creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes are integral to our state's identity, character, and daily life. Water quality is tied to many aspects of residents' lives, from the safety of drinking water and swimming beaches, to the bio-diversity of ecosystems. The quality of our water is an indicator of our stewardship of the landscape, and our stewardship of the landscape is, in turn, the result of research, education, and implementation of best management practices. |
Taking care of our watersheds preserves our water resources, which become more valuable every day.
Restoration of this 6.7 square-mile watershed requires strong community support, and landowners play an essential role in reducing pollution and protecting watershed health. They also stand to be the main beneficiaries of a restored watershed with improved property values, reduced flood & erosion risk, and beautiful landscapes of native flora and fauna. The purpose of this website is to help residents, municipalities, agencies, stakeholders, and policy makers understand the complex issues of storm water and non-point source pollution, and how they can help improve watershed conditions in their communities.
|
By researching how the various non-point sources impact the Kiefer Creek Watershed, we can gain insights into many urban and rural watersheds in our region, and especially those in the Lower Meramec Watershed. Kiefer Creek straddles the boundary between suburban and rural landscapes, sitting on the fringe of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The northeastern sub-basin is dominated by development with a crescendo of contiguous pavement along Manchester Road, however this typical suburban development pattern is offset just downstream by lovely Bluebird Park and the Klamberg Woods Conservation Area.
|
The southwestern sub-basin is primarily forested with limited development, but there are many horses and septic systems that could be contributing bacteria to the creek.
In 2010, Kiefer Creek was added to the State of Missouri's List of Impaired Waters due to high levels of bacteria that can make the creek unsafe for swimming and recreation. In 2012, Kiefer was determined to also be impaired for aquatic life use due to high levels of chloride primarily due to road salt applied to melt snow and ice from roads, driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots. On this site, we explore sources and possible solutions to pollution issues and show how the ecology of the watershed interacts with our waterways. Furthermore, we hope to empower people to engage in efforts to keep our creeks, streams, rivers, groundwater and lakes clean from these pollutants.
bacteria |
nature |
Chloride |
Upcoming Events
This website and other efforts related to the Kiefer Creek Restoration Project are partially funded by the Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. MoDNR Subgrant G13-NPS-01. |
The Kiefer Creek Watershed Restoration began as a project of the Water Program at the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. The Missouri Coalition for the Environment works to protect and restore the environment through education, public engagement, and legal action. In late 2017, East-West Gateway Council of Government will complete a comprehensive updated Lower Meramec Watershed Plan, including the Kiefer Creek Watershed. For further current information on Kiefer Watershed initiatives, contact East-West Gateway.
|