Boone County, Missouri Stormwater

08/25/2026

Watershed Heroes: Hinkson Creek Cleanup

08/25/2026

Watershed Heroes: Hinkson Creek Cleanup
Each spring, when the water levels in Hinkson Creek are just right, a group of volunteers led by Elke Boyd comes together to spend a morning cleaning the creek. This spring, they held the 9th Annual Hinkson Creek Clean-up, canoeing along the creek and picking up trash as they went downstream.
Traveling downstream with five boats, they cleaned from Business Loop 70 East to Broadway, collected over a ton of garbage, and helped keep the creek clean by removing waste from the stream. They made the environment healthier, earning them the title of Boone County watershed heroes!

08/25/2026

What if you could build healthier soils, reduce input costs, and improve your farm’s profitability?

Join Understanding Ag consultants Rodney Saunders and Luke Jones for a FREE two-day regenerative agriculture workshop in Columbia, MO, September 1–2.

This isn’t just classroom learning. Each morning, you’ll learn practical, proven strategies you can take home and apply. Each afternoon, you’ll visit local farms to see those principles in action and learn how they’re being used in real-world operations.

You’ll leave with practical ideas to help you:

- Build healthier, more functional soils
- Reduce reliance on costly inputs
- Strategies for your grazing or cropping system
- Improve profitability
- Build long-term resilience

Reserve your FREE spot today by registering at the link below.
https://understandingag.com/upcoming-workshops/workshop-columbia-mo/

08/13/2026

Greetings!

I hope everyone is doing well this warm and wet summer! The latest edition of the Stormy Day Review offers tips for making a positive impact on our waterways and highlights some of the projects the stormwater team has been working on!

Inside this issue:

Greater Bonne Femme Sub Watershed 3D Flythroughs
How to Safely Drain Your at-Home Pool
A Recap of Creek Week
Regenerative Cropland and Grazing Management Workshop
Highlights a Watershed Hero
Check out the full issuehttps://www.boonemo.gov/stormwater/webpublish/news/2026-Issue-1.pdf

Participate in our quick quiz by visiting the link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/asTJ8WzhE5 or email your answers to [email protected] by August 21. Participants will have a chance to win a water bottle and a rain gauge!

08/13/2026

08/12/2026

Join Understanding Ag consultants Rodney Saunders and Luke Jones for a practical, hands-on workshop designed to help you build healthier soils, more resilient pastures, and a more profitable farm. You'll gain proven regenerative strategies for cropland, pasture, and grazing management through engaging morning classroom sessions and afternoon on-farm demonstrations.
The event is hosted in the Greater Bonne Femme Watershed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, EPA, and Understanding AG.

Event Details: Regenerative Cropland & Grazing Management Workshop
Date: September 1 & 2, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: Jefferson Farm and Garden, 4800 E New Haven Rd., Columbia, MO, 65201
Registration: https://understandingag.regfox.com/workshop-columbia-mo

Who Should Attend?

Farmers and ranchers looking to improve profitability and reduce input costs.

Producers interested in building healthier, more resilient cropland and pastures.

Anyone wanting to restore soil health and grow more nutrient-dense grains, beef, and produce.

Landowners and land managers committed to improving the long-term productivity of their land.

Boone County, MO Stormwater

07/27/2026

Water Festival
Creek Week 2026! Creek Week concluded with the Water Festival, where families could watercolor paint, learn about the Greater Bonne Femme Watershed Initiative, see the relationship between water and erosion, and much more!
Partnered with: Friends of Rock Bridge, City of Columbia Office of Sustainability, Boone County Stormwater, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Conservation Corps, Mizzou Extension, Raptor Rehab, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Missouri Stream Teams, and City of Columbia Water and Light

Image description:
[ a woman is sitting behind a table booth with a tablecloth and tent reading “Greater Bonne Femme Watershed Initiative.” The table also includes the website address “cavewatershed.boonemo.gov”. Around the booth is lush forest trees and grass. There are two people crouched in front and slightly to the side of the table picking out free plants that are sitting on the ground in a tray.
Two tables and a both set up on the left side of the picture there are three children and 3 adults around a table looking at what is on the tabletop, and one child is holding up a piece of paper. On the right side, there is another table with a bench were children are sat at while looking at two adults who are talking. Three other people are standing around the table. In the background there is a tent with more people gathered and another table set up.
A man stands facing a table with a tablecloth reading “Missouri Conservation Corps” and two other people are behind the table, one standing the other siting, looking at the man.
Bridge going over the stream. Multiple people in the creek water and on the shoreline. The water is a murky brown, and around the stream is vibrant green trees and foliage.
A crowd of kids and adults around a large bird and tables set up. An owl is almost entirely covered by the crate; the crates opening is facing the crowd.

07/26/2026

Springs & Wells Tours
Creek Week 2026 Recap! Stephen Bybee, local historian, took participants on a guided walking tour of historic springs and wells in Columbia, starting at Flat Branch Park and through downtown

Image description:
[A man in a neon yellow high visibility vest with orange and grey stripes, is holding papers while talking to a group of people.
A group of people facing away from the viewer are looking down into a storm culvert that is barely visible to the viewer. Around them are rocks, green grass, and trees.

07/25/2026

Exploring Native Plants
Creek Week 2026 Recap! Southern Boone Library hosted the event to highlight their native garden. Grow Native taught about native plants and how soil and water benefit all of us. Attendees received a free native plant to introduce deep-rooted plants into their yard!

[In front of a building's front doors, a table is set up with a tablecloth reading “Grow Native! Missouri Prairie Foundation.” On the table are interactive learning tools for native plants, as well as flyers and handouts. Behind the table, a person with long hair and a baseball cap is sitting and looking down. To the right, there is another table full of small native plants in individual trays. One person is gesturing towards a plant they want.
A toddler is playing with the interactive learning tool teaching about how long native plants' roots are on a table set up for “Grow Native”. The child’s parent is holding a string while the child is reaching for it. A person behind the table is smiling as they look at the interaction.
Two children with their parents are each grabbing handouts that are set up on the Grow Native table.

07/24/2026

Fishing Night
Creek Week 2026 Recap! Missouri Department of Conservation staff at Boone County Nature School gave people of all ages the opportunity to learn fishing basics and take home a fish story to tell.
Image description:
[bright blue sky and green grass and trees around a reflective lake.
Two people fishing in the lake, a father and child, and another person wearing a white sun hat teaching the child how to use their fishing pole.
Multiple people are in frame, watching a child and an person teaching them how to fish in the lake.