January 27, 2011—Just 30 minutes from St. Louis lies a terrain of sandstone canyons, gorgeous waterfalls, rich plant life, and a stream harboring more than 40 species of fish. This biological wonderland is the LaBarque Creek watershed in Jefferson County, where many conservation partners and landowners have come together to assure long-term protection and public use of this area.
One of the most active partners has been the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, which, since 2004, has provided nearly $1.7 million to purchase land in the watershed for public enjoyment and natural resource protection. One million dollars of this total was part of a $2 million gift donated to the Foundation in 2010 from conservation supporter Mrs. Pat Jones. The Foundation in turn made half of Mrs. Jones’ gift available to the Missouri Department of Conservation for the purchase of 171 acres in the LaBarque Creek watershed.
“We are tremendously grateful to Mrs. Jones,” said Foundation Executive Vice President Rick Thom, “for her wonderful generosity that has enabled the Missouri Department of Conservation to conserve more land in the LaBarque Creek watershed. Pat and her late husband Ted have provided many conservation legacies that make Missouri better for its people and its natural resources. We are pleased that she worked through the Foundation to help make this recent protection effort in the LaBarque Creek Watershed a part of her conservation legacy.”
In 2010, the Foundation also provided more than $350,000 to fund more than 32 projects across the state. A few of these projects were a “Discover Nature” radio program in Cape Girardeau, the Chain of Rocks Bridge Eagle Days in St. Louis, stream protection efforts in Carter County, a Little Blue River Watershed Coalition Stream Workshop, and a children’s fishing event at Bennett Springs State Park. For details on projects receiving Foundation funding in 2010, visit www.mochf.org/projects.
At the Foundation’s December board meeting outgoing president Chris Nattinger of Springfield thanked all board members for their service during 2010, and gave special thanks to outgoing members Jeff Churan, Julius Wall, and Norm Stucky.
The board elected Dave Murphy president for 2011, and elected three new board members: Dave Erickson, Gary Schell, and Richard Mendenhall. They will be welcomed at the first Foundation board meeting of 2011, to be held February 25.
President Murphy expects the Foundation to achieve ambitious goals during 2011. “In addition to continuing our popular Conservation Partnership Grants, we intend to select one or more special, larger projects that will help the Department of Conservation better achieve its goals for the year. We’ll build our fundraising efforts around these special projects.”
Since 1997, the Foundation has invested more than $12 million to protect lands, waters, and wildlife that Missourians value, as well as to increase opportunities for all Missourians to appreciate and enjoy these resources.
The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization that funds projects that immediately address conservation and outdoor recreation needs. It works with the Missouri Department of Conservation and dozens of other conservation groups statewide. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation visit www.mochf.org or call 1-800-227-1488.
