Map Source: Missouri Department of Conservation
Healthy watersheds are essential to human health and economic prosperity, providing critical ecosystem services for people and nature. Benefits include:
Scientists call these "critical ecosystem services"
Native wetlands provide important flood control and filtration functions that improve water quality and protect surrounding farmland and structures. They also provide critical habitat for native species and a range of recreational opportunities for those interesting in fish, frogs, and waterfowl.
Farmers, ranchers, and other landowners with streambank property are facing loss from erosion throughout the Shoal Creek Watershed. Our project partners, Land Learning Foundation, FWS Partners Program, and local county SWCD offices have technical expertise, and may have funding, to support restoration and stabilization projects for long-term erosion control.
Crop loss and shifting property lines are increasing problems for farmers in Southwest Missouri. Through best management practices, including conservation setbacks, stream buffers with deep-rooted native plants, and - if needed - engineered elements, these loses can be reduced and eliminated.
The Shoal Creek Consortium Initiative focuses on priority areas and challenges in the Shoal Creek Watershed identified by local landowners, conservation partners, and other key stakeholders who have worked for over two decades on watershed and non-point source planning and implementation in Southwest Missouri.
Partners with expertise in farm management, biology and stream ecology, riparian engineering (morphology and bioengineering), and riverine and wetland restoration, are working with the local community to plan and build features that stop erosion, reduce nutrient run-off, restore habitat, and protect water quality.
The Initiative is supported by, among others:
