Do you and your pals enjoy floating down rivers and streams? Or are you more of an adventurous canoeist? Either way, venturing out on Missouri’s many bodies of water is a fantastic way to experience another aspect of nature.
Why are so many streams curvy rather than straight? These loops and bends in our favorite rivers are called meanders (ME-ANDERS). Many factors affect their patterns.
On its downward course, water moves faster on the outside bends– eroding banks– and deposits sediments on the inner bends– creating sand and gravel bars. Meanders can be a problem. An eroding bank may take away tons of valuable soil and leave a gravel bar. The best way to slow erosion is to maintain a corridor of trees along a river bank. Trees slow the water during floods and tree roots hold stream banks in place.
Missouri has 110,000 miles of flowing waters. Over 5,000 Missouri Stream teams help plant trees, clean up litter, and monitor water quality statewide. This year is the 25th Anniversary of the Missouri Stream Team program.
Discover Missouri’s Waters
- The Stream Team program provides an opportunity for all interests to get involved in river conservation. Membership is free and can be obtained by completing an official membership form.
- Missouri’s streams are not only beautiful and full of life. They’re a big part of Missouri’s outdoor recreation economy.
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Whether your passion is angling for smallmouth or rock bass, keeping an eye out for elusive wildlife, or simply drifting downstream with the current, a day floating Missouri’s streams and rivers will be one to remember.
Want to learn more about floating? Check out MDC’s Field Guide.
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