Spring cleaning? Don't toss or flush your leftover meds! Improper medication disposal can contaminate our environment. When cleaning out your medicine cabinets this spring, be sure to safely dispose of all leftover or unused medication. This year's Spring DEA Takeback Day is April 27th, but you can find safe and convenient take-back programs every day at bit.ly/missouri-meds

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watershed Center of the Ozarks

We are hiring Conservation Technicians!

Do you know someone interested in working with the National Park Service to restore and maintain our historic lands?

Please send them our way!

You can find more information here.
 

James River Basin Partnership

Click to read the 2023 Annual Report

​

Children and Nature Network

Annual Report
Finding Nature News

 

Springfield Community Resource Guide

 

EPA

EPA to Host Free Job Training in Region 7
Attend an Upcoming Information Session in Jasper County, Missouri

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering this Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI) program to train residents for environmental jobs at the Kansas and Missouri Superfund site cleanups within the historic Tri-State Mining District Superfund sites.

This program will provide participants with multiple certifications at no charge and prepare them for careers in environmental cleanup work. Job placement is not guaranteed after completion of the training program.

Free trainings include: CPR/First Aid; Certified Renovator; Work Readiness; OSHA 10; and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (40-hour HAZWOPER).

To learn more and apply, you MUST attend ONE of the one-hour Information Sessions that will be held during April and May in Joplin, Mo. (English language sessions), and Carthage, Mo. (Spanish language sessions). Visit: SuperJTI.eventbrite.com for more information on how to participate! The program is scheduled to begin in May 2024, with certifications awarded by June 2024.

To learn more about SuperJTI, visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-job-training-initiative

 

Native Plant Sales  Click HERE to go to a dedicated page for native plant sales, 2024

​

Grow Native! professional member Gaylena’s Garden will sell native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and more.

Web link

Springfield, MO (March 25, 2024)—The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) and host Bass Pro Shops® will hold a native plant sale on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1 Bass Pro Dr, Springfield, Missouri.

Native plants beautify landscapes and help support songbirds and other cherished wildlife. Buy native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and more from Grow Native! professional member Gaylena’s Garden.

“Choosing native plants for home landscaping is one of the best actions homeowners can take to support nature’s web of life and add beauty to their yards or property,” said Carol Davit, MPF Executive Director.

Gaylena’s Garden accepts cash, checks, and Venmo, so please plan accordingly. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own crates or boxes for transporting their purchased plants home. Shoppers can also pre-order plants and have their orders ready for pick up at the event. Email gaylenasgarden@gmail.com for a plant list and to pre-order by April 25. Note that you are ordering plants for the April 27 sale in Springfield.

 

Dish to Dirt Program

Read to find out how to subscribe and see what events are coming up.  Learn about composting, free workshops and more! Click HERE.

The Ozarks Clean Air Alliance (OCAA)  Go HERE to find out more. and the Clean Air Action Plan

 

White River Sierra Club

​

The Schoolcraft Ozarks Society

The Schoolcraft Chapter of the Ozark Society presents "Nature's Best Hope," a presentation by Doug Tallamy, best-selling author of Bringing Nature Home and The Nature of Oaks on Saturday, May 18, at 2 PM at the Darr Agricultural Center, 2401 S. Kansas Expressway, Springfield, MO. The City of Springfield's Environmental Services will also be presenting on their Yard Ethic program. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Ozark Society members can attend free. A native plant sale will also be held the same day at the Darr Center from 8 AM to noon (while supplies last).

To register for the event, click here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/natures-best-hope-featuring-doug-tallamy-tickets-846457706787

To become an Ozark Society member, click here: https://www.ozarksociety.net/membership/

See Flyer here

 

Dark Sky Missouri (Click here for more information)

​

Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA)

​

Missouri Recycles (MORA)  

​

Check out what can be recycled at Staples. https://www.staples.com/stores/recycling

 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Department of Natural Resources will host four free pesticide pickups in 2024

 The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will offer four free waste pesticide collection events in 2024. All of the events will be open from 8 a.m. to noon and are open to all Missouri farmers and households.​​

• Sept. 7 – Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center, 14548 State Road H in Mount Vernon.

• Oct. 5 – 901 S. Main St. in Carrollton.

Accepted (Limited to 8,000 lbs. total product weight):

• Herbicides.

• Insecticides.

• Fungicides.

• Rodenticides.

• De-wormers.

• Fly tags.

• Fertilizers containing pesticide.

Not Accepted:

• Pesticide rinsate: For rinsate management information, visit mo.gov/document-search/pesticide-rinsate-management-pub2870/pub2870.

• Paint, explosives.

• Fire extinguishers.

• Yard waste.

• Electronics.

• Trash.

• Pesticides from businesses, pesticide-production facilities, pesticide distributors, pesticide retailers or similar entities.

Register for one of the collection events at pesticidecollectionregistration@dnr.mo.gov. More information about the Missouri Pesticide Collection Program is available online at dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/what-were-doing/events-collections-trainings/missouri-pesticide-collection-program.

​

Department of Natural Resources offers funding to improve water quality

​

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has funding available for projects that will protect Missouri’s waters from pollution caused by stormwater runoff, also known as nonpoint source pollution. Responses to a new Request for Proposals for this federal grant funding are due by
May 1, 2024. An information session to learn more about this funding opportunity will be held       

To be eligible for grant funding, an applicant must implement pollutant-reducing land management practices from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and department-accepted
watershed-based plan. Watersheds with active watershed-based plans include: Black Creek (Shelby County), Deer Creek (St. Louis County), Spring River, James River, Keifer Creek, Perry County Karst, Town Branch-Piper Creek, upper Little Sac River, Greater Bonne Femme, and North and Middle Fabius rivers. Local governments, state agencies, educational institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the grant funding. Research, land purchase and NPDES permit requirements are not eligible.

Grant awards can range from $50,000 to $400,000 and projects can span up to three years. Authorized by Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act, the grant funding is provided by EPA and administered by the department.  

Nonpoint source pollution occurs when excess surface runoff from rainfall or snowmelt carries pollutants, such as chemicals, bacteria, sediment and debris, into nearby waters. Nonpoint source pollution is the greatest threat to water quality in Missouri and the nation. Controlling this type of pollution is particularly challenging. Because stormwater runoff travels across the landscape collecting pollutants, it is difficult to pinpoint and address their specific sources.

To respond to the Request for Proposals, visit dnr.mo.gov/water/what-were-doing/nonpoint-source-pollution-section-319/subgrants. For more information about the application process or about watershed-based plans, contact the department’s Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant Program at 573-751-5723 or 800-361-4827, or by email at MoDNR.NPSprogram@dnr.mo.gov.

​

EPA

​

There are upcoming webinars on climate and energy topics offered by federal agencies and others. All webinars are free of charge, but space may be limited or require registration in advance. Let us know if you have upcoming webinars you would like us to include in future newsletters. Our previous webinars can be found here.

​

Federal Webinars

The following webinars are being offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies this month.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webinars  

 

Portfolio Manager. ENERGY STAR offers several webinars on Portfolio Manager every month. These webinars explain how to navigate different parts of Portfolio Manager, from basics to advanced features.

Find dates and register

 

Portfolio Manager – Ask the Expert. Every other Wednesday at noon, ENERGY STAR holds Portfolio Manager "Ask the Expert" webinars that give users an opportunity to ask their questions directly to EPA experts in an open forum. Want to talk to a “real” person? Have a question about how Portfolio Manager calculates your score? Want to learn more about switching to Green Power? Join this public forum to ask your Portfolio Manager questions.

Register

 

Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) Energy Code Webinar Series

Join the DOE Building Energy Codes Program for the 2023-2024 Energy Code Webinar Series! This monthly webinar series, regularly scheduled for the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. (Eastern), will provide an opportunity to learn, discuss, and engage on timely and important energy code topics throughout the year. Each monthly webinar will be presented across a range of engaging formats, from topic-based lectures to expert panels and interactive discussions. 

​

Ozark Soul

Ozark Riverways Foundation
Ozarks Greenways

Missouri Department of Conservation  

Conservation Commission Names Jason Sumners as Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission has selected Jason Sumners as the next director of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), effective June 1, 2024. Sumners currently serves as the deputy director of resource management for MDC and will succeed Sara Parker Pauley, who will retire this spring after 30 years of public service, as director.

“The Commission did a national search for the director position because we knew we had tough shoes to fill with Sara leaving,” said Missouri Conservation Commission Chair Steven Harrison. “Jason is uniquely poised for this director role with his background, experience, and national connections in conservation. We are looking forward to a smooth transition with Jason at the helm with high expectations with him as the next director.”

“I am excited and humbled by this opportunity the Commission has entrusted me with and the conservation team I get to work with across the state and country,” Sumners said. “The Missouri outdoors have defined my personal and professional life, so getting to serve in this capacity and continue to tackle the ever-evolving challenges in conservation is an exciting endeavor.”

MDC protects and manages the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state, and provides opportunities for citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Sumners will become the tenth director in the Conservation Department’s 87-year history.

"We congratulate Jason on being named the new MDC Director and thank the Conservation Commission for its thoughtful and thorough search to replace Director Pauley," said Governor Mike Parson. "While we'll miss Sara's leadership, we look forward to Jason using his unique qualifications to build upon Missouri's rich history of fish, forest, and wildlife preservation. MDC is one of the best departments in the nation, and we thank Jason for his commitment to continuing that legacy as a member of our cabinet."

“Jason brings a wealth of leadership experience in conservation, both at the state and national level, as well as a diverse background in wildlife management,” said Pauley. “I’m confident he will continue that exceptional leadership he has exemplified during his career at MDC as he becomes your next director, including working collaboratively with partners and the public to carry out the conservation mission.”

As deputy director of resource management, Sumners had responsibility and oversight for the resource management efforts of the agency, including statewide resource management, regional resource management, and protection. He also led the regulations committee. Prior to his deputy director role, Sumners served as Science Branch chief, leading a team of more than 80 scientists that specialize in fish, forest, and wildlife research and management. He began his career at MDC in 2008 as a private lands deer biologist and later became the head of the state’s deer management program.

During Sumners’ tenure at MDC, he has been instrumental in developing the agency’s strategic and operational direction, served as chief of the Wildlife Division, led the state’s white-tailed deer management program, took part in Missouri’s elk reintroduction efforts, developed a private lands deer management program, and led the Department’s effort to develop and implement a chronic wasting disease (CWD) management and surveillance strategy. Jason also worked at the national level on the Relevancy Roadmap for state fish and wildlife agencies to enhance conservation efforts through broader engagement.

Jason received a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science in Biology from Mississippi State University. He is a National Conservation Leadership Institute fellow, professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club, active with many non-government organization partners, represents MDC on numerous regional and national committees, and has been recognized by the Conservation Federation of Missouri and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for his leadership in science-based approaches to wildlife conservation. He has published popular and scientific articles on wildlife, natural resources management, and conservation relevancy.

Sumners grew up in the small town of Lincoln, Mo., where his love for the outdoors began. His interests include hunting, fishing, and camping. He and his family live in Hartsburg, Mo.