New Current River Film Premiers - Cinema at the Garden
Roots in the Current River run deep and reach beyond the immediate banks. Thomas and Mark Malkowicz share their story in this beautiful video. What's your Ozark National Scenic Riverways story?
Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 June 2012 01:04
Current River announced as one of America’s Endangered Rivers
Today representatives from statewide environmental, fishing, paddling, and conservation organizations put the National Park Service on notice that more is expected in managing the Current River for the future.
American Rivers, a national conservation organization, issued its annual “America’s Most Endangered Rivers” report, and for the first time in the report’s 26-year history, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways park has been named one of the top ten endangered rivers.
“We have to do more today to avert the catastrophes of tomorrow,” says Kally Higgins, spokesperson for the Friends of Ozark Riverways. “We are seeing visible signs that the health of the Current River is in trouble. For example, we have seen in recent years restrictions on swimming at certain areas because of too high bacteria, and we are most concerned over erosion where inappropriate access points have sprung up. In fact, there are more than 130 access points that the Coalition has documented. It works out that it is the equivalent of one access point per mile. It is simply too much for the river to handle.”
The Current River is managed by the National Park Service and was established to provide both recreation and protection for the scenic beauty. The park features more than 350 springs, including the National Park’s largest spring, 338 recorded caves, and 200 wildlife species are found nowhere else in the world.
Speaking at today’s press conference, business owner, Lisa Hollenbeck, co-owner of Alpine Shop of Kirkwood, Missouri, said, “There is a quantifiable return on investment when we invest in our public lands and waters as exemplified by the recreation economy. The Current River offers the kind of access that is good for business and our economy.”
Coalition member Ron Coleman of The Open Space Council St. Louis noted, “The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is one of Missouri’s greatest natural treasures and is deserving of the highest level of management by the National Park Service. Overuse and abuse of this premier Ozark open space must be managed in a sustainable manner that insures for its long term conservation and outdoor recreation value to our state and nation.”
“The Coalition and American Rivers are asking that the National Park Service bring the Current River up to the gold standard of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park,” said Kally Higgins. “We have a chance to write the future general management plan to address the mistakes of the past and guarantee that future generations can enjoy the river for fishing and recreation.”
Contact for more information: Rindy O’Brien, Friends of Ozark Riverways, 202-247-5290 Faye Augustyn, American Rivers, 202-347-7550 Kat Logan Smith, Coalition for the Environment, 314-229-3042
