top of page

Welcome to OzarksEnvironmentNews.com!  This is your virtual bulletin board – a place to share information and celebrate your events, your accomplishments, your projects as well as a place to find info about organizations of like-minded folks, cool places to go to experience the outdoors at its best, and resources offering data, information, expertise.  You are invited to share your news and enjoy the news of others! Got news? Report it to info@ozarksenvironmentnews.com   Please note: we make every effort to ensure accuracy in our website; however, we cannot be responsible for info garnered from sites other than ours.
The mission of OzarksEnvironmentNews.com is to facilitate communication and to celebrate efforts and accomplishments among the environmental community of the Southwest Missouri Ozarks and to provide useful information to those who live in or visit the Region. Learn more...

Breaking News

Children and Nature Network

Annual Report
Finding Nature News

 

 

 

 

Springfield Community Resource Guide

 

EPA

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

 

Temperate grasslands and prairies in the Midwest are among the most endangered

ecosystems on the planet. The White River Group of the Sierra Club is hosting Brian

Edmond, a member and volunteer with the Missouri Prairie Foundation, to talk about

these lands and the plants and animals that live there.

 

This important program is being held on Weds, April 17th from 6:30 to 8 in the

Community Room of the Schweitzer-Brentwood Branch Library , 2214 S. Brentwood

Blvd. in Springfield. The program is free and open to the public.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation protects over 3,700 acres in Missouri. Come hear

about this amazing organization and the good work it does in our state.

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

Planet Unity Recycling Event, April 13, 9-12. Unity of Springfield is once again hosting a community-wide recycling event. You're invited to bring your old or unwanted paper, electronics and metal and we will recycle it for you. The paper shred truck charges $5 per box and the metal and electronics recycling is free. We will be accepting monetary donations.

 

James River Basin Partnership

Click to read the 2023 Annual Report

2024 JRBP EARTH DAY CLEANUP REGISTRATION
Celebrate Earth Day by making an impact on our beloved James River and Lake Springfield. Join us for our annual cleanup on Monday, April 22, 2024, from 1:00-5:00 pm.

DID YOU KNOW...that your kiddos can join the James River Partnership for free?  There are some cool things for them when they join!
Go to:  www.jamesriverbasin.com/cleanwaterkids

 

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.

Dark Sky Missouri (Click here for more information)

Missouri Institute of Natural Science

We are looking for a part-time Museum Assistant to help with administrative tasks. Below is a job description. Let me know if you have any questions - Samantha Forir (MINS Board Member) Go to for more details:  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=829612045838643&id=100063695647578&mibextid=qC1gEa

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.

  • April 6 – MFA Agri Services, 226 N. Walker St. in Montgomery City.

  • 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:

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

April 2, 2024

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.mJoin Webex Meeting

Teleconference Call Number: 1-650-479-3207

WebEx Meeting number (Access Code): 2632 651 7885

Meeting password: DNR

 

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
April 2, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. virtually via Webex.         

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.

Earth Day Festival Springfield, MO  

𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

We are excited for a unique and diverse day of music!

Be sure to snag those tix at https://www.earthdayspringfieldmo.org/ and remember ALL PROCEEDS of your ticket purchase go to local environmental organizations!

Schedule of Events

 

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 ExpertEvery 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  

 

fish don't want your meds.jpg

"Fish Don't Want Your Meds" was created by the Missouri Product Stewardship Council (MOPSC), a coalition of governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), a national policy advocate and consulting nonprofit.

 

“People with unused medications in their medicine cabinets shouldn’t have to wait for a twice-yearly DEA take-back day to safely dispose of them,” said Angie Snyder, Chair of the MOPSC. “This campaign will help protect people and the environment.” 

 

“Missouri’s new take-back campaign is a great way to educate consumers about pharmaceuticals responsibility,” said Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Missouri Product Stewardship Council to make sure all residents connect with these valuable resources.”  https://missouripsc.org/initiatives/pharmaceuticals/

I

The people of Southwest Missouri are known for their ability to work together to solve problems.  Communication is a critical component of those efforts. All advocacy work takes a toll on its warriors – we all need to celebrate our successes.

 

OzarksEnvironmentNews.com, created by Barbara Lucks, is a vehicle for both of these important components of a successful effort – communication and celebration.

Barbara Lucks grew up on a family owned and operated resort at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Her father built the resort in 1932, just as the Lake was filling. She grew up with a love and respect for everything outdoors and of nature.  Following graduation from Missouri State University, she stayed in Springfield and returned to a familiar pursuit – a career in corporate-level hotel management.  In 1994, she joined the City of Springfield as the Materials Recovery/Education Coordinator and was instrumental in positioning Springfield as a regional recycling hub.  She left the City in 2016, as the City’s first Sustainability Officer, to go into private consulting. She has an extensive resume – both professional and as a community volunteer leader.

Got news?  Let us know!

INFO@OZARKSENVIROMENTNEWS.COM

Subject Line: Ozarks Environment News

EEA_2019_41.JPG
Children and Nature Network.jpeg
Learn more
bottom of page