Exposing Corruption, Injustices and the Truth.
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| O'Fallon Watchdog |
Exposing Corruption, Injustices and the Truth.
Citizen's persistence helps creek
By Kathy Etling
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
08/04/2007
Lisa Markham of O'Fallon, Mo., didn't set out to change the world, so she'll happily settle for making a
difference in one small section of St. Charles County. What Markham did — and how she did it — could serve
as a template for other environmentalists dismayed by the degradation of the nation's rivers and streams.
It was in 2005 when Markham, 47, a graphic artist, first learned that one of her neighbors was planning to have
his property rezoned. Curious, she phoned David Woods, O'Fallon's director of planning and zoning, who
explained that the rezoning would involve seven parcels of land totaling 35 acres located at the intersection of
Highway K and Mexico Road. Woods said that once rezoning was complete, construction would commence
on a "big box" commercial development similar to those springing up all over St. Charles County, the Midwest
and the nation at large.
Markham knew that piece of land. One of her neighbors had purchased some of the property in years
previous but had never developed it. This "benign neglect" left Belleau Creek in a pristine state despite the
tentacles of rapid growth and development that were threatening to strangle its beauty. Here, however, mature
oak and hickory trees soared 80 and 90 feet above Belleau Creek's still unspoiled riparian corridor. The
creek averaged between four and five feet in width and was only about four feet deep, but within its crystalline
waters swam bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow bullhead, red shiners, orangethroat darters and all manner of
microinvertebrates.
"I knew the creek was special," Markham said. She and her husband, James, a Maryland Heights firefighter,
had often walked there in the past, enjoying the creek's solitude despite its proximity to Highway K. "I've seen
red fox and wild turkey near the creek. Deer too, before the area became so built up," she said.
Since Markham considered Belleau Creek a treasure, she worried about what was in store for it once
construction got under way. She discovered that plans called for the rechannelization and re-piping of more
than 2,000 feet of creek, as well as extensive damage to an emerging wetland and two small tributaries.
Markham, who belongs to the Sierra Club, had attended water quality monitoring classes. She'd inventoried
micro invertebrates and learned how to judge stream health, both of which had already proved invaluable
during lunch hours she'd spent glued to the Internet, searching for allies in the looming battle for Belleau
Creek. "One (water quality monitoring) teacher, who also worked for the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources, had told us that protecting an existing natural creek is always less expensive than recreating one,"
which is what developers must do whenever mitigation projects are mandated by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers.
A developer whose plans will hurt a stream or wetland must first apply for a 404 permit from the Corps of
Engineers. Before such a permit is issued the developer must submit an alternatives analysis to explain why
the development can't be built elsewhere, an action which would save wetland, stream or both. In this case the
COE required the developer to perform a rigorous analysis of possible alternatives. This bought some time as
Markham forged ahead with her mission.
She contacted Missouri's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Department, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. She
wrote letters, telephoned agencies and enlisted help from individuals. She spoke with Adolphus Busch,
another St. Charles property owner, who mentioned that fewer species of fish than he'd previously noticed
now seemed to inhabit Dardenne Creek, a portion of which flowed through Busch's property and into which
flowed Belleau Creek. "Dardenne Creek has become so highly urbanized," Markham said. "It's a perfect
example of what occurs when little or nothing is done to preserve a stream in its natural state."
All the agencies Markham contacted responded quickly. Representatives of each visited the creek. "The
person from EPA explained how this portion of creek is an aquatic resource of national importance, that each
headwater, creek and each larger stream serve as the kidneys of the great rivers." Markham said.
Markham's efforts resulted in so many individuals and people from state and federal agencies asking the
developer so many questions that he finally amended his plans to perform only grading at the site.
One citizen can make a difference, as Markham found out. It helps, of course, if that citizen is as
knowledgeable and persistent as Markham was.
Many other cases are continuing:
— Efforts to protect the Bourbeuse River's threatened scaleshell mussel from sedimentation and pollutants by
improving Crawford County watershed practices farther upstream in the Little Bourbeuse River, Brush Creek
and Lick Creek. MDC fisheries biologist Kenda Flores, of the agency's Sullivan office, worked with
landowners to obtain USFWS and other funding to install fencing and wells, and to implement erosion
reduction practices. "Most people don't realize how many resources (and how much funding) are at their
disposal," Flores said.
— Efforts to help save LaBarque Creek, in Jefferson County, by MDC and concerned citizens who hope to
persuade landowners to provide green spaces and a better riparian corridor along the creek. "More homes
and roads mean increased runoff and erosion," Flores said. "Homes located near any source of water are
more valuable, as long as they're not in a flood plain."
— Efforts by Dennis Sullivan, De Soto, to clean up Joachim Creek. Sullivan is trying to garner support for an
anti-erosion project on the creek in a nearby park.
— Efforts by Stream Teams, all over the state, to clean up, police and protect many of the state's streams.
Watchdog Response: Another good name for this story could be “the Power of One”. Born out of Mrs.
Markham’s passion for a small stream near her home came a true champion. She took the initiative to
educate herself as to what was being proposed. She wasn’t content with what she heard at city meetings
concerning this. She went to the experts to compile her information and remained persistent. Not only have
her efforts ensured when development does happen near this stream. It will be done right but her efforts
have helped educate our elected officials and us citizens as a whole to the little gem that we have in our
city. Thank You Mrs. Markham for all of your efforts in making O’Fallon a better place.
By Kathy Etling
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
08/04/2007
Lisa Markham of O'Fallon, Mo., didn't set out to change the world, so she'll happily settle for making a
difference in one small section of St. Charles County. What Markham did — and how she did it — could serve
as a template for other environmentalists dismayed by the degradation of the nation's rivers and streams.
It was in 2005 when Markham, 47, a graphic artist, first learned that one of her neighbors was planning to have
his property rezoned. Curious, she phoned David Woods, O'Fallon's director of planning and zoning, who
explained that the rezoning would involve seven parcels of land totaling 35 acres located at the intersection of
Highway K and Mexico Road. Woods said that once rezoning was complete, construction would commence
on a "big box" commercial development similar to those springing up all over St. Charles County, the Midwest
and the nation at large.
Markham knew that piece of land. One of her neighbors had purchased some of the property in years
previous but had never developed it. This "benign neglect" left Belleau Creek in a pristine state despite the
tentacles of rapid growth and development that were threatening to strangle its beauty. Here, however, mature
oak and hickory trees soared 80 and 90 feet above Belleau Creek's still unspoiled riparian corridor. The
creek averaged between four and five feet in width and was only about four feet deep, but within its crystalline
waters swam bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow bullhead, red shiners, orangethroat darters and all manner of
microinvertebrates.
"I knew the creek was special," Markham said. She and her husband, James, a Maryland Heights firefighter,
had often walked there in the past, enjoying the creek's solitude despite its proximity to Highway K. "I've seen
red fox and wild turkey near the creek. Deer too, before the area became so built up," she said.
Since Markham considered Belleau Creek a treasure, she worried about what was in store for it once
construction got under way. She discovered that plans called for the rechannelization and re-piping of more
than 2,000 feet of creek, as well as extensive damage to an emerging wetland and two small tributaries.
Markham, who belongs to the Sierra Club, had attended water quality monitoring classes. She'd inventoried
micro invertebrates and learned how to judge stream health, both of which had already proved invaluable
during lunch hours she'd spent glued to the Internet, searching for allies in the looming battle for Belleau
Creek. "One (water quality monitoring) teacher, who also worked for the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources, had told us that protecting an existing natural creek is always less expensive than recreating one,"
which is what developers must do whenever mitigation projects are mandated by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers.
A developer whose plans will hurt a stream or wetland must first apply for a 404 permit from the Corps of
Engineers. Before such a permit is issued the developer must submit an alternatives analysis to explain why
the development can't be built elsewhere, an action which would save wetland, stream or both. In this case the
COE required the developer to perform a rigorous analysis of possible alternatives. This bought some time as
Markham forged ahead with her mission.
She contacted Missouri's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Department, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. She
wrote letters, telephoned agencies and enlisted help from individuals. She spoke with Adolphus Busch,
another St. Charles property owner, who mentioned that fewer species of fish than he'd previously noticed
now seemed to inhabit Dardenne Creek, a portion of which flowed through Busch's property and into which
flowed Belleau Creek. "Dardenne Creek has become so highly urbanized," Markham said. "It's a perfect
example of what occurs when little or nothing is done to preserve a stream in its natural state."
All the agencies Markham contacted responded quickly. Representatives of each visited the creek. "The
person from EPA explained how this portion of creek is an aquatic resource of national importance, that each
headwater, creek and each larger stream serve as the kidneys of the great rivers." Markham said.
Markham's efforts resulted in so many individuals and people from state and federal agencies asking the
developer so many questions that he finally amended his plans to perform only grading at the site.
One citizen can make a difference, as Markham found out. It helps, of course, if that citizen is as
knowledgeable and persistent as Markham was.
Many other cases are continuing:
— Efforts to protect the Bourbeuse River's threatened scaleshell mussel from sedimentation and pollutants by
improving Crawford County watershed practices farther upstream in the Little Bourbeuse River, Brush Creek
and Lick Creek. MDC fisheries biologist Kenda Flores, of the agency's Sullivan office, worked with
landowners to obtain USFWS and other funding to install fencing and wells, and to implement erosion
reduction practices. "Most people don't realize how many resources (and how much funding) are at their
disposal," Flores said.
— Efforts to help save LaBarque Creek, in Jefferson County, by MDC and concerned citizens who hope to
persuade landowners to provide green spaces and a better riparian corridor along the creek. "More homes
and roads mean increased runoff and erosion," Flores said. "Homes located near any source of water are
more valuable, as long as they're not in a flood plain."
— Efforts by Dennis Sullivan, De Soto, to clean up Joachim Creek. Sullivan is trying to garner support for an
anti-erosion project on the creek in a nearby park.
— Efforts by Stream Teams, all over the state, to clean up, police and protect many of the state's streams.
Watchdog Response: Another good name for this story could be “the Power of One”. Born out of Mrs.
Markham’s passion for a small stream near her home came a true champion. She took the initiative to
educate herself as to what was being proposed. She wasn’t content with what she heard at city meetings
concerning this. She went to the experts to compile her information and remained persistent. Not only have
her efforts ensured when development does happen near this stream. It will be done right but her efforts
have helped educate our elected officials and us citizens as a whole to the little gem that we have in our
city. Thank You Mrs. Markham for all of your efforts in making O’Fallon a better place.