August 2, 2003

Roubidoux Creek Clean-up

On August 2nd the Roubidoux Fly fishers Association teamed up the with the Navel SEABEE detachment from Fort Leonard Wood and cleaned up Roubidoux Creek. Nearly 4 tons of trash and over 25 tires were removed from the creek.

Afterwards we awarded the SEABEE detachment with a plaque thanking them for all their work and dedication to Roubidoux Creek. Mark Van Patten then presented them with an award making them offical partners of the Roubidoux Fly Fishers and Missouri Stream Team #1 See the photos!

June 30, 2003

Free Fly Fishing clinic a success

The free fly fishing clinic put on by the Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association on June 7th was a great success. Nine people showed up to learn fly casting, fly tying, and how to read river waters from some of central Missouri's best: Chuck Tryon, Dave Tharp, Hack Hale and G.A. Maxwell. Plans are already in the making for next years clinic.

February 1, 2001

Central Missouri fly fishing organization helps improve streams throughout Missouri

The Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association based out of Waynesville Missouri has contributed to a number of conservation and community projects since its inception in 1988. Their organization was the original stream team in the state of Missouri. This concept has been hugely successful and copied by many other states throughout the country.

Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association and $500 donation by the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers to the Missouri Department of Conservation's, Stream Team Unit was used to establish a revolving fund that helps streamline the recycling of waste tires. The revolving fund eliminates the need for stream teams to pay for the recycling of tires found in the streams they steward. While the Missouri Department of Natural Resources eventually reimbursed the stream teams for their tire recycling, up front cash was needed. At a recycling price of $2 per car tire and up to $30 per truck tire, the fees could become quite expensive for some teams. Most teams are made up of volunteers and that up front money is not always available. The revolving fund eliminates this dilemma by paying for the recycling of the tires. The reimbursement money is then sent back into the revolving fund to help the next stream teams tire recycling effort.

Already this winter, three of Missouri's stream teams have taken advantage of the revolving fund and many more are expected with the approaching spring and summer heavy clean-up months. The programs creator Mark Van Patten of Missouri's Stream Team program, says at the current time there is $2,500 in the revolving fund. However, Mark hopes that eventually about $5,000 will be in the fund and will be available to help with tire recycling. Like the stream team concept, the success of this program has been great and a number of other states are looking to Missouri for guidance with similar programs.

If you would like information on the recycled tire revolving fund or Missouri Stream teams contact Mark Van Patten of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Stream Team Unit, 573-751-4115 ext. 3892

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