All photos by Don Corrigan.
by Don Corrigan
Spring is a great time to bring a few lawn chairs to any one of several riverside parks along the Meramec River. Take time to enjoy the sparkle on the water and longer days of sunshine.
My favorite spot is under a tree at Emmenegger Park, but there are more great river locations to kick back and take in the flowing water at George Winter, Unger, Greentree, Meramec Landing and Castlewood parks.
My idea of river fun on these days is to take a nap somewhere on the shoreline, but the Meramec remains a favorite destination for floating, boating, fishing and swimming.
Beyond its recreation potential, the Meramec supplies drinking water to approximately 70,000 households. It’s a top-ranked watershed in the Midwest, an irreplaceable freshwater resource, a key tributary to the Mississippi River.
The Meramec supports a variety of creatures, including 31 species of global significance. Several species are found nowhere else on Earth.
Fortunately, many environmental groups support river protection, such as the Sierra Club, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, Meramec River Recreation Association, Nature Conservancy and more.
The Meramec River Recreation Association is currently slated to have a meeting and presentation about the river at 2:30 p.m., May 16, at the Wildwood City Hall. A zoom connection to the event may be possible.
Dangers To The Watershed
The Meramec has suffered from overuse and activities such as inappropriate livestock usage, mining, stream bank erosion, and urban and suburban development.
Negative impacts of overuse harm the river’s plants and animals. Habitat loss reduces fish numbers. Flooding events alter natural water cycles, cause water purification costs increase, and recreational opportunities diminish.
The Nature Conservancy has partnered with agencies and organizations to improve Meramec watershed conservation. The Meramec River Conservation Action Plan, spearheaded by the Conservancy and with input from 29 partners, provides a blueprint for groups working in the Meramec River watershed.
As a part of this plan, the Conservancy and partners are undertaking conservation work together to help restore habitats, streambanks, and floodplains.
Projects such as the Growing a Healthy Meramec Project can help residents understand the importance of protecting this irreplaceable waterway.
It’s great to hang out in a lawn chair and enjoy the softly flowing waters of the Meramec River on a peaceful spring day. Such experiences are an inspiration to get involved in efforts to protect the river for generations to come.
Environmental Echo 
Thanks for including the Meramec River in your coverage. One of the most important organizations protecting the Meramec is Open Space STL. For nearly 60 years OSSTL has been working to protect land along the river, and was a key player in acquisition of Castlewood and Don Robinson State Parks, Glassburg and Young Conservation Areas, and recently, additions to Greensfelder Park. OSSTL also is the organizer behind the annual Operation Clean Stream, which takes place on the fourth Saturday in August and involves volunteers throughout the watershed in removal of trash from the riparian corridor.
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