missouri · • consider heirloom rings from family or antique stores. • brides can wear their...

MISSOURIresources

Spring / Summer 2010 • Volume 27 • Number 2

Director’s Comment

This nation recently celebratedthe 40th anniversary of Earth

Day. Gaylord A. Nelson, a formergovernor and U.S. Senator from Wis-consin, created the first Earth Dayback on April 22, 1970 as a method toincrease environmental awareness.Senator Nelson believed we needed acomprehensive and nationwide pro-gram that would save the natural re-sources of America. His dedication tothe cause proved successful as he be-came an environmental leader whohelped build the foundation for envi-ronmental law such as the Environ-mental Protection Act, the Clean AirAct and the Clean Water Act.

The remarkable success of EarthDay grew from the seed Senator Nel-son planted back in 1970 and has con-tinued to grow and flourish to thisday. Senator Nelson once asked, “Dowe really have to destroy tomorrow inorder to live today?” Of course not.Our nation continues to learn how toimprove environmental protectionusing new technologies and throughbetter understanding.

In an effort to improve Missouri’senvironment and Energize Missouri,the department is funding projectsthat will reduce energy use, reducefossil fuel emissions and create andretain jobs. The department selected58 communities across the state to re-ceive federal American Recovery andReinvestment Act funding. These com-munities’ projects will reduce theirwaste and help improve Missouri’s en-vironment and improve energy efficien-cies that will reduce their costs andhelp lead the way to a more sustain-able future. The department’s EnergizeMissouri Web site at: www.dnr.mo.gov/transform/energizemissouri.htm hasmore information on this successful ef-fort and how it’s helping Missourians.

Early estimates show that 105 jobswill be created as a result of EnergizeMissouri Communities funding. Com-pletion of the funded projects are an-ticipated to save Missouri communi-ties and counties more than 47.7million kilowatt-hours of energy peryear and reduce CO2 emissions by

11,657 tons, which is the equivalent ofremoving 2,022 cars from our roads.

Another project that helps promotethe environmental benefits of renew-able energy is the American SolarChallenge. The challenge is a compe-tition to design, build and race solar-powered cars in a cross-countryevent. The Road Race will begin aweeklong 1,100 mile journey fromTulsa to Chicago. The department ishosting an event at the State Capitolon June 22 from 1 to 6 p.m. to show-case the efforts of the race. The freeevent is open to the public and willprovide displays and exhibits forviewing while awaiting the arrival ofthe cars and teams that will bechecked in by race officials in front ofthe Capitol. Missouri S&T’s car, SolarMiner VII, is participating.

Events like Earth Day and theAmerican Solar Challenge serve as anopportunity to rekindle our flame forenvironmental protection. It is up tous all to raise awareness of local en-vironmental issues and keep the flamegoing throughout the year.

Spring / Summer 2010Volume 27 • Number 2

State of MissouriGovernor

Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon

Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Mark N. Templeton

Principal Deputy Director / Division of State Parks Director

Bill Bryan

Deputy Director, PolicyDru Buntin

Deputy Director, OperationsDavis Minton

Deputy Director, Water ResourcesMike Wells

Director, Division of Geology and Land SurveyJoe Gillman

Manager, Division of EnergyAnita Randolph

Acting Director, Division of Environmental QualityLeanne Tippett Mosby

Director, Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority

Tom Welch

EditorStuart Westmoreland

Assistant EditorPhilip J. Tremblay

Design DirectorBelinda Hughes

PhotographerScott Myers

CirculationLuke Petree

Alisha Gibson

Editorial BoardLarry Archer

Hylan BeydlerKerry Cordray

Sue HolstByron Murray

Kenneth SeeneyStuart Westmoreland

Mission StatementThe mission of the Missouri Department of Natural

Resources is to protect, preserve and enhanceMissouri’s natural, cultural and energy resources.

MISSOURI RESOURCESis published three times per year by the Missouri

Department of Natural Resources to inform readersabout important natural resource issues and how theyare being addressed. Any correspondence should be

directed to the editor at the Department of NaturalResources, Publications, PO Box 176, Jefferson City,

MO 65102-0176, or call 800-361-4827. E-mail address: [email protected]

MoDNR home page: dnr.mo.govTo subscribe or unsubscribe online:

dnr.mo.gov/magazine/subscription.htm

MISSOURI RESOURCESis available in alternative formats.

As a recipient of federal funds, the Department ofNatural Resources cannot discriminate against any-

one on the basis of race, color, national origin,religion, age, sex, or disability.

If anyone believes he or she has been subjected todiscrimination for any of these reasons, he or she mayfile a complaint with either the Department of NaturalResources or the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S.

Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 20240.

Missouri Resources is printed with soy ink onrecycled paper at RR Donnelley, Liberty, Missouri.

printed on recycled paperMark N. TempletonMissouri Department of Natural Resources

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Above right: Steel beam connectors are a sustainable design element in many of the new buildings at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park.Above: In what could pass as a shot from the Space Shuttle, a close-up reveals lichens on a granite boulder at Elephant Rocks State Park.COVER: Wild bergamot, also known as horsemint or beebalm, is a native perennial in 99 of Missouri’s 114 counties.Cover photo by Scott Myers.

page 2Green Gatheringsby Andrea Morrow and Kathy Deters Whenever people get together, there is waste. From wed-dings and meetings to tailgate parties, the piles of trash left from consumables is considerable – and growing.

page 6The Greening of Johnson’sShut-Ins State Parkby Sue Holst It took only minutes to virtually destroy a major part of one of Missouri’s most popular state parks. In the four-plus years since, accepting the irreparable damage of some natural features at Johnson’s Shut-Ins has been painful. But refocused on the future and sustainability, a new park has emerged.

page 10A Run for the SunSolar Decathlon Showcases Race for Energy Efficiencyby Philip J. Tremblay What’s conceived and built on-campus by Missouri collegestudents, torn down and taken to Washington, D.C., rebuilt,torn down again and brought back to Missouri – where it’sreassembled once again?

14 • News BriefsE-Notes, Letters, Stream Team Notebook, Time Exposures, Resource Honor Roll

20 • Resources to ExploreElephant Rocks State Park

23 • Career ConnectionPaul Simon: Preventing Troubled Waters

25 • One Last WordThe Hidden Resource … Rare Earth Elements

Anyone who has had to clean up aftera wedding, baby shower, family re-union, graduation party or profes-

sional meeting is familiar with the moun-tains of waste that are left behind. Paperplates, disposable cups, food scraps, deco-rations – the volume of discarded materialscan be astonishing.

But there is an increasing interest inplanning special events to reduce this wasteand its impact on the environment. Accord-ing to Cheryl Haney with the Aries Compa-ny, an event rental and production companyin St. Louis. Aries Co. provided green cen-terpieces for the Muscular Dystrophy Asso-ciation’s “Evening Under the Stars,” andconsulted on green aspects of the Tug Mc-Graw Foundation Gala, a private fund raiserhosted by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill atGrant’s Farm in St. Louis.

Though the task may appear daunting atfirst, Haney says planning a green event ismuch easier than most people realize.

“We just remind people to think of thefour R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle andRent!,” Haney explained. “What can bereused? Centerpieces, for one. What can berecycled? Programs, invitations. And rent-ing can reduce the need to purchase unnec-essary items.”

She also recommends other measuressuch as using soy candles in votives. Whenworking with a vendor to add lighting ef-fects, request energy-efficient LED lights.

“Look for vendors that already have agreen plan,” Haney said. “Challenge themto be as green as they can be.”

The Missouri Department of Natural Re-sources offers green event planning tips onits Web site at: dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/GreenTips.htm.

Consider issuing environmental invita-tions – e-vites – and using online registra-tion, rather than stationary. If stationary is amust, choose invitations and thank-youcards printed on recycled-content paper

2 Missouri Resources

(Above) Jacob Luecke, left,Sandy Stover, lower centerand Karen Buschman workon a Missouri Chamber of

Commerce and Industry We-binar production to help re-

duce members’ travel costs.(Opposite page, bottom)

Julia Haslanger of SustainMizzou, provides recycling

bags to tailgaters in theparking lot of Faurot Field.

The volunteer Tiger TailgateRecycling program alsoplaces recycling bins in

tailgating areas.

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with soy-based ink and mailing labels usingwater-based adhesives. RSVPs can be sentvia e-mail or a phone call, rather than an-other piece of paper.

As the saying goes, consider location, lo-cation, location. Choose a site that is closeto attendees, or near mass transportationand an airport for out-of-state guests. Re-ducing travel requirements automaticallydecreases energy use.

When serving a meal at meetings andspecial events, opt for reusable dishes.Also serve condiments in reusable con-tainers instead of plastic packets. Choosecloth, rather than paper, for napkins andtablecloths; request water coolers insteadof individual water bottles. According tothe Earth Policy Institute, 1.5 million bar-rels of oil are consumed each year in theproduction of plastic bottles. Be sure torequest onsite recycling bins in communi-ties where recycling is available.

In addition to these general guidelines,here are a few specific tips for makingyour special occasion greener:

Tying A Greener KnotAs brides and grooms prepare to begin

their future together, many also want toensure that their planet is as clean and

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Meetings:• Provide recycling bins in public areas and private rooms.• Use cloth napkins and tablecloths. • Use glass or ceramic coffee mugs instead of plastic foam or paper. • Use water coolers instead of bottled water. • Donate extra food and refreshments to local shelters or food banks.• Use online invitations or registration. • Collect and reuse plastic nametag holders. • Use reusable or recyclable signage. • Minimize travel requirements. • Schedule activities within walking distance of each other. • Encourage the use of public transportation via incentives.

Weddings:• Consider heirloom rings from family or antique stores.• Brides can wear their mother’s wedding gown.• Groom; groomsmen rent tux or purchase suits they can wear again.• Bridal attendants can select dresses that can be worn again.• Invites should be printed on recycled content with soy ink or consider

sending e-vites.• Encourage guests to carpool to the wedding and reception.• Use local florists or greenhouses and buy reusable silk flowers or

replantable items when possible.

• Consider close-to-home weddings and receptions in local parks.• Arrange for reusable plates, glasses, cups and utensils and cloth

napkins and tablecloths.• Have your caterer look for locally grown produce and meats.• Ask the venue or caterer to put out bins for recycling bottles and cans.• Encourage guests to buy earth-friendly gifts via a green gift registry.

• Avoid throw-away wrapping materials and unnecessary bows and tissue.

Tailgating:• Use a farmer’s market for fresh produce, buns.• Buy locally produced meat to minimize shipping energy costs.• Purchase condiments in bulk rather than single serving sizes.• Carpool to the game.• If the game is close to one of the tailgater’s homes, have your party in

their yard and walk to the game• Use propane or a chimney starter if using charcoal.• Consider a solar-powered grill.• Durable plastic plates, cups and silverware are reusable and last a

long time.• If your group listens to other games, while tailgating, consider a crank-

powered radio.• When it’s game time, find recycling bins for your various recyclables.

healthy on their 50th anniversary as it wason their wedding day.

“Green is a choice, not just a theme. Somany think ‘green weddings’ must be a‘natural, hippie or granola’ event,” Haneysaid. “This is just not the case. Green wed-dings can and will be just as elegant as thecouple wants.”

Couples looking for green options intheir wedding planning may begin with

Tips for Your Green GatheringCompiled from our green tips Web site at: dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/GreenTips.htm

their ring selection. An antique or heirloomengagement ring, for example, not only hasspecial meaning for the bride, but also savesresources. Brides with a love of nostalgiamay also want to consider borrowing theirmothers’ wedding dresses or purchasing adress from a vintage shop. Grooms can renttuxedos as a green alternative, or purchase asuit that can be worn for other occasions.

Though many couples choose exotic lo-cales for their weddings, Missouri offerslovely reception sites, including state parksand historic sites, that may reduce bothtravel and cost. Some fees may apply; visit:mostateparks.com for a complete listing andbe sure to contact the state park in advance.Choosing flowers and greenery that are lo-cally grown is another way to reduce energyconsumption and introduce a sense of thelocal community to the ceremony.

After the wedding, consider compostingfloral arrangements, having them dried andpreserved or donating them to a local hospi-tal or nursing home. Brides and groomswith a green thumb may also enjoy growingflowers that can be replanted after the party,which will provide a lasting memory of thatspecial day at their first home. Using locallygrown produce and meats provides localflavor and saves on energy costs.

Green wedding gift registries enable cou-ples to request earth-friendly products.Couples can show their appreciation by

treating their guests to green party favors,such as a tree planted in their name or a giftbasket of green products.

Corporate GreenAs conference coordinator for the Mis-

souri Chamber of Commerce, Sandy Stoverplans conferences across the state. Stoverhas made Chamber events greener by takinga few simple steps, such as offering onlineregistration; posting conference presenta-tions on the Chamber’s Web site, rather thanprinting and distributing hard copies; usingelectronic marketing instead of mass mail-ings; and opting for conference calls duringconference committee planning instead offace-to-face meetings, which require moretravel. Stover also hosts numerous educa-tional seminars throughout the state butwith more businesses on tighter budgets,she noticed a decline in attendance.

“I have seen a drop-off in seminar atten-dance, which led me to implement the We-binars last fall,” Stover said. “Webinars re-duce travel costs and save time.”

Choosing reusable or recyclable signagefor corporate meetings and events andreusing nametag holders is another way toreduce waste and save money in futureevent planning. Minimize conference atten-dees’ travel by choosing meeting sites thatare near one another and close to airportsand public transportation.


(Above) A rehearsal or wedding dinner set with

reusable plates, silverwareand glassware provides ele-gance seldom duplicated bypaper plates, plastic spoons

and plastic foam cups.

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A five-day conference for 2,500 can con-sume 62,500 plates, 87,500 napkins, 75,000cups/glasses and 90,000 cans and bottles,according to the Fifth Edition of Profession-al Meeting Management. A few green meas-ures can mean significant savings.

Green Team SpiritThousands of fans will converge at their

favorite stadium before a big football game.No matter what their team colors are, greenis always appropriate when it comes to tail-gating. Start with transportation: carpoolingto the game with friends cuts energy useand provides extra time together. Dress forthe weather to avoid using the car heater,and consider a solar- or crank-poweredradio to keep up on other games.

When it’s time to grill, choose propane.If cooking with charcoal, use a chimneystarter rather than lighter fluid. Solar-pow-ered grills are another option. They maytake a little longer than traditional grills,but are perfect for brats and hot dogs. Pur-chase reusable plates, cups and napkins inyour team colors to reduce waste and savemoney at next year’s tailgate parties. If dis-posables are being used, choose ones madeof recycled materials or that can be com-posted. Take advantage of the recyclingbins provided at most stadiums. If no binsare available, take trash home for recycling.

University of Missouri tailgaters willfind plenty of recycling opportunities forglass, aluminum and plastics types 1 and 2,thanks to Tiger Tailgate, a partnershipamong MU Campus Facilities-LandscapeServices, Anheuser-Busch Recycling, MUIntercollegiate Athletics, Sustain Mizzou,City of Columbia and N.H. Scheppers Dis-tributing. Students distribute bags that canbe used to collect several types of beveragecontainers, as well as cardboard, and per-sonally thank tailgaters for participating.

Check if your favorite tailgating venue hasa similar program. If not, consider contacting

the school or college and encourage them toplace recycling bins on their grounds.

“While it is extremely important to cheerand root for the Missouri Tigers, it is alsovital that we all stand up for the core valuesthat Mizzou represents: Respect, Discovery,Responsibility, and Excellence. Recyclingdefinitely falls under those categories,” saidMike Madden, Tiger Tailgate recyclingmanager. “It benefits not only the universi-ty, but the community as well.”

With proper planning, any event can begreener and more earth-friendly. For thosewanting professional guidance, Haney sug-gests consulting with an event planner. Tofind one near you, check with the Internation-al Special Event Society at: www.ises.com.

“Greening doesn’t have to add to yourbudget. Greening is just making good deci-sions based on environmental impact,”Haney said. “Your event can and will be asgreen as you make it.”

Andrea Morrow and Kathy Deters are for-mer public information staff for the Depart-ment of Natural Resources.


(Top left) Locally grown flo-ral arrangements can be of-fered as party favors toguests. Later the decora-tions can be composted.(Above) Planning a greenwedding can still preservecherished traditions.

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Dec. 14, 2005. A concrete wall at the front of Taum SaukReservoir gives way. More than 1.3 billion gallons ofwater are unleashed down Proffit Mountain. The water

rages into Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, ripping up trees, scouringout mountainsides – annihilating in seconds what nature took mil-lions of years creating.

Besides destroying or extensively damaging many of the facili-ties, it also altered the landscape of the valley, including a desig-nated Missouri natural area. The shut-ins themselves were filledwith boulders, gravel and debris.

More than four years later, the park is fully open again – and ashowcase for how green a park can be.

“We have used Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park to showcase themission of this department. By making an effort to include sustain-

The Greening ofJohnson’s Shut-Ins State Park

by Sue Holstphotographs by Scott Myers

able and “green” features wherever possiblein rebuilding this park, we have led by ex-ample,” said Bill Bryan, the department’sstate parks director.

Soon after the breach, the Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources began thelengthy process of environmental recovery,restoration and eventually redevelopment ofthe park. The department was able to offi-cially open the completed day-use area ofthe park in the valley in June of 2009. Thissummer will also feature a new campgroundin the Goggins Mountain area of the parkand the Black River Center, which is a neworientation center in the valley.

After the breach, the first priority wasenvironmental recovery and resource

restoration, especially the East Fork of theBlack River and the fen, according to GregCombs, the district supervisor for state

parks in the eastern part of the state and theonsite project manager for rebuilding thehistoric park.

“We first focused on the restoration ofthe quality resources because that is whatmakes this park special. From there, we de-signed our development to be in concertwith those resources,” Combs said.

And that redevelopment incorporated en-vironmentally friendly design conceptswherever feasible and possible.

“We always try to incorporate environ-mentally friendly features on any remodelor construction of a new facility in stateparks,” said Jane Lale, planning and devel-opment director for the department’s Divi-sion of State Parks. “This situation wassomewhat unique because we basically hadto build almost an entire park.”

Many of the features are ones that indi-viduals and businesses can incorporate into


(Opposite page) The BlackRiver Center serves as thepark’s new cornerstonebuilding. Its green featuresinclude geothermal heatingand cooling and energy-effi-cient lighting.(Inset) The pervious pavinghas decorative openingsthat allow storm water tosoak in rather than run off.(Below) Smaller rocks thatwere washed down the sideof Proffit Mountain in De-cember 2005 have becomepart of the park’s new struc-tures. The designs are remi-niscent of construction workdone by the Civilian Conser-vation Corps in many stateparks during the 1930s.

“We first focused on the restoration ofthe quality resources because

that is what makes this park special.”- Greg Combs, eastern parks district supervisor

their own homes and buildings. For exam-ple, a geothermal heating and air condition-ing system is being used at the Black RiverCenter and all facilities have energy-effi-cient appliances as well as interior and exte-rior lighting to reduce energy use.

To make use of natural light, skylightsand tube lighting have been installed in allstructures, including the shower house andseasonal quarters. Windows are low solarheat gain coefficient and an ecoscreen fab-ric solar shade has been installed on thelarge window that faces east in the BlackRiver Center conference area. Both reducecooling costs in warm-weather months. Theoffices have occupancy sensors to make ef-ficient use of lights and low-flow faucetsand on-demand water heaters were added.

To ensure the long-term use of the orien-tation building, steel roofing and steel and

concrete siding were used along with ma-sonry walls and Douglas fir beams. At thepark’s maintenance building, an outdoorwood furnace was installed for heat and acistern was built to collect rainwater forwashing equipment and other uses.

Pervious pavers, which allow water to fil-ter through them into the ground, have

been used on most of the parking areas andfor the campground parking pads. In theday-use area of the park, an undergroundwastewater system with biobeds was incor-porated into the redevelopment. This inno-vative treatment system, which was selectedbecause of the limited space available, al-lows the wastewater to be pretreated thenevenly distributed among the biobeds be-fore being absorbed into the ground.

Storm water in the day-use area valley iscollected in bioswales. The drainage systemaround the Black River Center and thebraided road system collects the stormwater runoff and allows the water to bemore naturally absorbed into the ground.This technique was used to minimize runoffinto the river and any impact to the watertable near the fen.

While many of the designs were onesthat can be commonly used, other featuresare unique to the park. The water from thebreach washed many rocks and bouldersdown the mountain into the park. Thesesame rocks, mainly rhyolite, granite anddolomite, have been incorporated into thedesign of many buildings and features, suchas the bridges, culverts, boardwalk pillars,shelters, pavilions, and the seat wall nearthe park store.

The various types of stone used on theoutside of the Black River Center mark theprogression of geologic time from oldestrock on the bottom to younger rocks nearthe top.

Boulders were also employed at strategiclocations in the reconstruction of the EastFork of the Black River to help stabilize


(Above) The stone used onthe exterior of the BlackRiver Center mimic the

order of rock layers found in the nearby St.

Francois Mountains.(Inset) Cedar trees that

once grew where the newcampground is now provide

sturdy, decorative seatingfor visitors to Johnson’s

Shut-Ins State Park.

banks and return the stream to its naturalOzarks appearance.

When clearing was required for the newcampground in the Goggins Mountain areaof the park, tree removal was kept to a mini-mum to help retain the natural feel of thearea. Cedars that were cleared from the areawere used to make benches for the park.Other trees such as dogwood, redbud andred oak that were cleared from the newcampground area were transplanted into thevalley to help replace the trees that werelost during the breach. Only native plantsand grasses were planted in the campgroundand the valley. Native trees and shrubs suchas cottonwood, sycamore and green ash andshrubs such as sumac and rough-leaveddogwood were planted along the banks ofthe reconstructed river to help stabilize it.Other native trees and shrubs have beenplanted in the scour channel and have beeneffective in helping to stop erosion andstorm runoff.

“This park has always been special be-cause of its natural features. What visitorswill see today is not the same as it was be-fore 2005,” Bryan said. “But we have triedto rebuild a park that reflects those naturalqualities while incorporating the sustainableand environmentally friendly features thatwill showcase it into the future.”

Sue Holst is the division information officerfor DNR’s Division of State Parks.

Large rocks that were washed into the park’s fragile fen are now part of thelandscape and a permanent reminder of recent events and recovery. The fen isa natural wetland community and a designated Missouri natural area.(Bottom) New energy-efficient camper cabins provide a rustic place to stay forvisitors to the park.


American pioneers moved into thewilderness of their time with log cab-ins. These structures were brought to

the continent in the 1700s by Swedish set-tlers. The cabins used readily available tim-ber, needed no nails and went up quickly.

Today’s pioneers face a “wilderness” de-fined by rising energy demand, vanishingnatural resources and many economic chal-lenges. Housing today needs to be innova-tive – adapting to the latest energy-savingtechnologies, using recycled materials and


A Ru n fo r th e Su nSolar Decathlon Showcases by Philip J. Tremblay

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they must be attractive to bothhomeowners and mortgagelenders. Comfort and sustain-ability are features that reachwell beyond those offered by thetraditional log cabins of the past.

For several years, MissouriUniversity of Science and Tech-nology, Rolla, students, facultyand a support network of con-tractors, manufacturers, design-ers and inventors have competedin the Solar Decathlon, spon-sored by the U.S. Department ofEnergy. While faculty offer ad-vice and guidance and the pro-fessional network offers finan-cial support and practicalexperience, this effort is primarilystudent-driven. The Missouri De-partment of Natural Resources’Division of Energy is one of theteam’s financial sponsors.

Missouri S&T participationin the Solar Decathlon in 2002,2005, 2007 and 2009 has result-ed in state-of-the art demonstra-tion homes that return fromcompetition and serve as on-campus teaching tools. Locatedin the Solar Village on the cam-pus at Rolla, the homes also pro-vide student housing acrossfrom the Gale-Bullman Multi-purpose Building on West 10th

Street. You can watch progress of the on-campus reconstruction at:solarhouse.mst.edu/webcams.html.

Stuart Baur, PhD., assistant professor inthe Civil, Architectural, and EnvironmentalEngineering Department at Missouri S&T,served as the faculty advisor for the 2005and 2007 solar homes. The 2009 advisorwas Katie Grantham Lough.

Baur sums up the general purpose of thestudent competition: “It is to learn fromprevious designs and improve upon future

designs, resulting in energy efficiency in allfuture and existing homes. With globalwarming becoming an increasing concern, itis important that we do our part in minimiz-ing our impact on our environment for fu-ture generations.”

Luke Sudkamp, a senior in architecturalengineering and the project manager for the2009 team said, “The team’s philosophy issimple – educate everyone who is interestedin solar living.”

At the National Mall, students offer toursto the public with the intent of increasingknowledge regarding opportunities and lat-est developments in solar technology. Themyriad questions that arise during tours arereflective of the incredible diversity em-ployed to create the solar homes. Regard-less of the seemingly strange or innovativetechnology, materials or systems used, theprojects still must work, and work well.

In the 2007 and 2009 Solar Decathlons,the Missouri S&T team placed 11th out of20 entries. In each of these years, TeamGermany, Technische Universität Darm-stadt, finished first. The German studentsfocused on producing surplus energy byusing the maximum overall building dimen-sions allowed, applying solar photovoltaicsto every available surface and other new


Race for Energy Ef f iciency

(Opposite page) Crowdstour 20 solar-poweredhomes on the National Mallin Washington, D.C. duringthe 2009 U.S. Department ofEnergy Solar Decathlon.Missouri’s entry is secondfrom the right, on the uppertier of homes on display.(Inset) Juror JonathonKnowles looks over the recycled sorghum interior ofMissouri’s Show-Me House. (Below) Anna Osborne,Team Missouri, paints theceiling of the Missouri entry.

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Baur explained that each year, the DOEreceives more and more proposals for entryand increases the standards required of theteams. The teams admitted into the compe-tition must demonstrate greater potentialeach year and the finished products of theteams that return must achieve new levels.

The Show-Me Team, consisting of stu-dents from Missouri S&T and Missouri Uni-versity-Columbia, has began the process ofapplying for entry into the 2011 Solar De-cathlon. As in 2009, the house will be builton campus and be designed to be taken apartand moved to Washington D.C. where it willspend a month being judged. Improvementson the 2009 designs will be the key as tohow the house does in the various contests.

The Show-Me HouseThe team’s 2009 Show-Me House is a

single 15 ft. by 50 ft. module capped by ahinged roof, 14.5 ft. at its highest point.Structural insulated panels in both the roofand walls provide an R-40 insulation value.The roof supports an 8-kwh array of photo-voltaic panels for electricity. The roof alsoincludes an evacuated-tube solar waterheating system for a variety of home uses,including radiant floor heating. The roundtubes absorb heat over a larger angle thanflat plate collectors.

The Chameleon Home Automation Sys-tem, designed by the Show-Me Team, con-trols the interior environment. Residentscan program the system with touch screens

technologies. The teamwon the net metering(least electric powerrequired) contest andperformed well in ar-chitecture, lighting de-sign, comfort zone andhot water contests.

Second place in2009 went to the Uni-versity of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign.Their entry, GableHouse, was a blend oftraditional homebuild-ing and advances in

energy-efficiency technology. Third placewent to Team California, from Santa ClaraUniversity, California College of the Arts.

Scoring the CompetitionScoring the decathlon contestants is not

as simple as glancing up at the scoreboardduring a sporting event. Once the housereaches Washington D.C. it is judged in sev-eral contests by many experts on how wellit meets the criteria established for thatyear. In 2009 there were 450 possible sub-jective and 550 objective points to beearned (see inset in top photo).

“The Solar Decathlon is forever chang-ing,” Baur said. “It is difficult to compare2009 results to previous competitions due torule changes, changing teams, and differentjurors scoring the houses.”


(Top) Early October

sunshine powers up the

solar homes for attendees

of the 2009 Solar Decathlon

in Washington, D.C.

(Above) Nearly ready for its

trip east, the house sits on

the Missouri University of

Science and Technology

campus at Rolla.

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The solar houses are reconstructed on the Na-tional Mall before judgingand public tours. At right isthe University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee entry. Beyond itis the Team Missouri solar home.

found throughout thehouse. Sensors withinthe structure activateheating or air condi-tioning for indoorcomfort. Chameleonalso controls humidi-ty, automatically runsappliances at the mostefficient time of day –solar noon in a solar-powered house – orturn lights on and offand even open andclose windows.

Windows admitnatural light and LEDfixtures provide mostof the lighting needs.Americans with Dis-abilities Act require-ments are addressedin most of the Show-Me House, includingthe height of cabinets and countertops.

Cost and Effort; Benefit and Experience

Just getting to the building constructionphase is a challenge. The effort cost around$600,000 in 2009, most from grants andvarious sponsorships.

“The structure of Team Missouri isunique from many teams in the decathlon,”Baur said. “The team includes faculty advi-sors and students from various disciplinesand backgrounds. Students are elected to of-ficer positions by team members. These of-ficers are project manager, director of de-sign and construction, director of publicrelations, director of finance and secretary.”

Students join the team voluntarily, andcarry the bulk of the work – design deci-sions, fundraising, and building. A mainfaculty advisor oversees the work of the stu-dents and helps ensure they reach bench-marks on schedule. Other faculty serve onthe advisory board to assist team membersin their area of expertise.

Ten to 15 students from MU participatedon the 2009 team, compared to about 35 stu-dents from Missouri S&T. In the 2011 con-test, MU will add business and journalismstudents, as well as those from the Architec-tural Studies and Interior Design programs.

“Former students are also welcome toadd their input and the current team willconsult with some of the more involved for-

mer team members,” said Baur. “The twouniversities have worked together again tosubmit a proposal for the 2011 Solar De-cathlon … final acceptance to be announcedin mid April.”

Younger members from the 2009 teamare now leading the team’s efforts for the2011 decathlon. “Provided entry, many ofthese members will see the project all theway to completion, but others will graduatebefore the [2011] decathlon,” Baur said.

“In addition to Department of Energyproviding each team a $100,000 grant overtwo years, a lot of the funding for the proj-ect comes from monetary donations, in-kinddonations, university support and other re-search grants,” said Baur.

“Missouri S&T also will continue to par-ticipate in the Solar Decathlon because ofthe experience the students receive,” hesaid. “Students are able to learn about team-work, leadership, and communication be-tween engineers and architects. This experi-ence prepares the students for some of theproblems they will face when they graduateand start their careers.”

For more information on the team, visit:solarhouse.mst.edu/team.html; the Show-Me House at: solarhouse.mst.edu/; or thecompetition at: solardecathlon.org.

Philip J. Tremblay is a public informationcoordinator and also serves as assistant ed-itor of Missouri Resources.


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Katy Trail StatePark Celebrates20 Years

Katy Trail StatePark, the longest com-pleted rail-trail in thenation, will celebrate

its 20th year this spring. More than 20 years ago, the de-

partment and innovative individualshad a vision to turn a railroad corridorinto a hiking and bicycling trail. Thetrail is built on the former railroad cor-ridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas(MKT or Katy) Railroad. After the rail-road ceased operation in 1986, thedepartment made use of the NationalTrail System Act, which allowed rail-road corridors no longer in use to berail banked on an interim basis forrecreational trails. Using a donationfrom Ted and Pat Jones, the depart-ment was able to acquire and developthe initial trail from St. Charles toSedalia. Currently, the trail stretches225 miles from St. Charles to Clintonand serves approximately 300,000 hik-ers and bicyclists every year.

The department will mark the 20thanniversary with special events, pro-grams and exhibits throughout theyear. A kickoff event was held on May 8at the Katy Trail trailhead in Rocheport,which was the site of the ceremony forthe official opening of the first segmentof the trail on April 28, 1990. The eventincluded remarks by Gov. Jay Nixon,recognition of groups and individualswho made the trail possible.

Other events and programsthroughout the year include the 10thannual Katy Trail Ride, which will beheld this year June 21-25 from St.Charles to Clinton. A special ticketbook program will encourage peopleto visit every community along the trailfor special prizes and incentives. Spe-cial exhibits at key trailheads will givea brief history of the trail. Other eventsare being planned in cooperation withmany of the communities along thetrail. Edward Jones, the financial serv-ices firm established by Ted and PatJones, is the title sponsor of the 20thanniversary events.

For more information about KatyTrail State Park, the Katy Trail Ride orupcoming 20th anniversary events,visit: www.mostateparks.com or calltoll-free at 800-334-6946.

Bi-State Reporton Water Issues

The Department ofNatural Resources,the Arkansas Depart-ment of Environmen-tal Quality andArkansas Natural Re-sources Commission

have released the first report on bi-state water issues to governors JayNixon of Missouri and Mike Beebe of Arkansas.

The report focuses on the qualityand quantity of water resourcesshared by the two states.

An agreement signed by the states’governors in 2008 asks the agenciesto identify shared water resources andimplement plans to protect them in aregion both environmentally and eco-nomically important to both states.

Officials with the three agenciesmet in Arkansas in August 2009 toidentify opportunities to collaborateon future projects important to thehealth and beauty of the states’shared resources. The agencies com-mitted to continue working on such is-sues as minimum stream flows, nutri-ent criteria, water quality reportingand water use.

Detailed information about themeeting is included in the report,which can be found on DNR’s Webpages at: dnr.mo.gov/env/wrc/.

The agencies will continue this workin 2010 with a meeting in Missouri.

Recycled ProductsDirectory on CD

The Recycled Prod-ucts Directory is avail-able on CD throughthe Missouri MarketDevelopment Program and will bemailed, at no cost, to individuals. Buy-ing products made from recycled ma-

terials supports recycling by strength-ening the market demand for thesematerials. If more recycled productsare purchased, more new productswill be created – as well as new jobsand businesses.

There are 91 Missouri companieslisted in the directory and a total of378 businesses, nationwide. Theproducts, which are made from recy-cled materials, are listed in 21 cate-gories and include playground equip-ment, recycled glass bird feeders andglass lollipop yard decorations. Thereis even a recycled-product deer standin the directory.

The Missouri Market DevelopmentProgram operates under the Environ-mental Improvement and Energy Re-sources Authority, a financial arm of theDepartment of Natural Resources. TheRecycled Products Directory also isavailable online at: dnr.mo.gov/eiera.Click on the symbol for Recycled Prod-ucts Directory. For assistance, call Mar-ket Development at 573-526-5555.

State Parks Youth Corps Launched

An innovativesummer pro-gram is benefit-ing both youthsand state parks and historic sites. TheState Parks Youth Corps, an initiativeby Gov. Jay Nixon and funded throughfederal American Recovery and Rein-vestment Act money, is providing anopportunity for youth between 17 and24 to experience state parks whilelearning valuable work skill training.The added benefit is that they will en-hance Missouri’s 85 state parks andhistoric sites.

Under the new program, YouthCorps members are earning $7.25 anhour and may work up to 240 hoursfrom May 1 through Sept. 30. Cate-gories for participants vary and in-clude such areas as trail and buildingmaintenance, park/site aides, officeassistance, habitat restoration; specialevent, communication and interpretiveassistance; and artifact managementand natural history aide.


News Briefs

The program is a partnership be-tween DNR’s Division of State Parksand the Department of Economic De-velopment’s Division of Workforce De-velopment. Staff from the Division ofState Parks developed the specificprojects and DED’s Workforce Invest-ment Boards recruited and selectedincome-eligible applicants for the newyouth positions.

For more information about theState Parks Youth Corps, call 800-592-6020 or go to: thinkoutside.mo.gov.

Geologic MapsNow Published

Five new geologicmaps are available forportions of Callawayand Osage counties.

The department’s Division of Geologyand Land Survey creates the mapsthrough the STATEMAP component ofthe National Cooperative GeologicMapping Program, which is co-fundedby the U.S. Geological Survey.

Areas of coverage include Mokaneand Luystown at a scale of 1:24,000.Bedrock and surficial material mapsare available for Mokane West andLuystown quadrangles. A surficial ma-terial map is also available for MokaneEast. These bedrock and surficial ma-terial maps continue ongoing map-ping projects by the department.

Bedrock geologic maps provide in-formation about the layering ofbedrock units and faulting, folding ordeformation that may be present. Themaps also provide information aboutthe distribution and structure of lime-stone, sandstone, coal and granite.Surficial material maps focus on all ofthe deposits above bedrock. This in-cludes soil, but it also includes up toseveral hundred feet of deeper uncon-solidated rock and material.

Geologists with DGLS have beencreating geologic maps of Missouri formore than 100 years.

For more information or to pur-chase these or other Missouri geolog-ic or topographic maps, visit:missourigeologystore.com, call 800-361-4827, 573-368-2125 or visit the Di-


environmental notes

War, a depressed economy and natural dis-asters may grab headlines, but the business ofrecycling is alive and well.

Missouri State Fair, with help from SocialVentures Midwest Assistance Program, a Min-nesota-based, 9-state nonprofit and the John-son County Sheltered Workshop in Warrensburgrecycled more than 18 times the amount of recy-clables from the 2009 fair than in 2008. Morethan 9 tons were recycled, compared to lessthan a one-half-ton in 2008. In tons, this was6.98 cardboard, .64 plastic, .27 aluminum, 1.33newspaper and .81 unrecyclable for a total of10.03 tons collected and another 9.23 recycled.

Fair Director Mark Wolfe said major contributing factors to the success werebetter grounds coverage with increased number and placement of bins – from 50 in2008 to a total of 390 in 2009. Anheuser Busch Recycling/County Distributing Co.provided 40 of the bins and 350 came from the Missouri Department of Natural Re-sources and WCA Waste Corporation. Two cardboard compactors also were donat-ed by DNR’s Solid Waste Management Program and WCA. One compactor wasused on the bags from the beverage container bins and the other for compactingcollected cardboard for transport.

Pioneer Trails West Central Missouri Solid Waste Management District, RegionF, assisted in collections with the Johnson County Sheltered Workshop. The Mis-souri Office of Administration supplied bags and the Missouri Recycling Associa-tion helped with bin placement and cardboard collection during Missouri State Fairsetup and teardown.

Recycling Growth in Lean TimesFrom Waste & Recycling News

According to an American Forest & Paper Association survey released in March2009, the U.S. hit a record 57.4 percent paper recovery rate in 2008, up from 56percent in 2007.

American consumers recycled polyethylene terephthalate containers at thehighest rate in 10 years, according to the National Association for PET ContainerResources, the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers, and the PET ResinAssociation. The groups reported a 2008 PET recycling rate of 27 percent, thehighest recycling rate in more than ten years and nearly a 10 percent increase over2007 figures.

The recycling rate for aluminum cans increased to 54.2 percent in 2008 as com-pared with 52.8 percent in 2007, according to industry trade groups that track recy-cling trends.

Overall steel recycling rates reached a record high, according to the Steel Recy-cling Institute. The steel recycling rate reached 83.3 percent for 2008 as 82 milliontons of domestic steel scrap was used to make new steel products in the U.S. andforeign countries.

To find out how to increase recycling in Missouri communities, check the DNRWeb pages at: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/docs/RecycDOliststatewide.pdf orhttp://dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/computerlist.htm.

A Fair Amount of Recycling

News Briefs

vision of Geology and Land Survey,111 Fairgrounds Road in Rolla. Formore information about STATEMAP,see: dnr.mo.gov/geology/statemap/missouri-maps.htm.

Support for ParksVia the Internet

A new Web pagehas been establishedto assist people whowant to make a dona-tion to help maintainMissouri’s 85 state parks and historicsites – making it easier and more con-venient to show your support for Mis-souri state parks.

People who access the new Webpage: mostateparks.com/donations.htm receive instructions onhow to donate online or by mail. Eitherway, they will receive a confirmationthat can be used as record of their do-nation. The state park system does

$2.9 Million Grant andLoan for Monroe County

The Missouri departments of Natu-ral Resources and Economic Develop-ment have presented the MonroeCounty Public Water Supply DistrictNo. 2 with $2,940,553 in grants andloan for drinking water improvements.

Natural Resources provided a$1,065,250 grant and a $1,065,200loan through the American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act’s State Revolv-ing Fund program. In addition to theRecovery Act funding, the departmentawarded a $310,103 rural water grant.The DED’s Community DevelopmentBlock Grant program provided the dis-trict with a $500,000 grant.

Monroe County PWSD No. 2 servescustomers across three counties,Monroe, Audrain and Montgomery.The district will replace approximately2,700 self-read water meters with newradio-read meters. The new radio sys-


LettersYour “functional art” picture of the hot water plumbing sys-

tem (volume 27, #1) was interesting, but mainly what I sawwas a lot of copper and metal fittings. Folks discuss the “out-put” benefits of “going green,” but few discuss where the rawmaterials come from. For example, solar requires both exoticand non-exotic metals (many from other countries), and ALL ofthem require mining. About the only thing more difficult to per-mit in the U.S. than a new mine is a nuclear plant, and we allknow how that issue is turning out.

Please discuss both sides of this issue.

Michael WilliamsColumbia

The photograph of the waters at Ha Ha Tonka Springs(Winter 2010) is absolutely glorious. It reminds me of a Monetpainting. This is a wonderful work of photographic art. Kudosto the photographer.

Thomas McBrideAnnapolis, Mo.

I would like to get copies of your collection of stories on theNew Madrid Fault. Also, could you tell me where the RichterScale device (closest to Bowling Green) is located that

records the small quakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone? Isit possible to visit this facility and see one of the small earth-quakes being recorded? Does this have any pattern as to whattime of the year, or time of day offers the best chance to ob-serve small seismic activity? Any information on this subjectwould be appreciated.

Erwin HiltyBowling Green

Editor’s NoteSeismographs that detect and record ground motion are

available at St. Louis University’s Earthquake Center at 3507Laclede Avenue in room 303. Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday. Tours can be arranged by calling 314-977-2236. Small earthquakes occur in the New Madrid SeismicZone every week. For more information visit: dnr.mo.gov/geology/.

Letters intended for publication should be addressed to “Letters,” Missouri Resources, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or faxed to(573) 522-6262, attention: “Letters.” Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Space may require us to edit your letter.You also can e-mail Missouri Resources staff at: [email protected].

not receive any general revenue andis funded primarily by half of the one-tenth of a cent parks, soils and watersales tax. Currently, it is estimated thatthe average Missourian pays $6 a yearthrough the sales tax to support thestate park system. Supporters havebeen able to donate to the state parksystem at individual state parks andsites for many years.

Donations will help repair andmaintain existing buildings such asvisitor centers, lodges and historicstructures. They will also provide newpublic facilities and services such asboardwalks, educational exhibits, up-graded park campgrounds and inter-pretive programming.

For more information about Mis-souri state parks and historic sites,call 800-334-6946, voice or 800-379-2419, Telecommunications Device forthe Deaf. Information is also availableat: mostateparks.com.

tem will transmit water readings di-rectly to the district.

In addition to the water meters, thedistrict will use the grant and loan toinstall a new 100,000 gallon elevatedstorage tank, booster pump stationand distribution system improve-ments. The district will contribute$100,000. The projects are estimatedto cost $3,040,553 and expected to becompleted in December 2010.

For more information, contactDNR’s Water Protection Program at800-361-4827 or visit the department’sWeb site at: dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/srf.

Public Water Systems Fail to Test

Thirty-nine publicdrinking water systemsin Missouri have chron-ically failed to com-plete drinking watertesting required by the Department ofNatural Resources. The systems havehad at least three major monitoring vi-olations in a twelve-month period.While failing to monitor does not nec-essarily mean the water is unsafe, rou-tine testing by a facility is crucial tomaintaining a safe water supply.

The department requires all publicwater systems to test for bacteria atleast once a month to verify these sys-tems are providing safe drinking waterto the public. Most community andnon-community public water systemsin Missouri comply with all monitoringrequirements and meet all drinkingwater standards. The list of 39 sys-tems represents only 1.4 percent ofthe approximately 2,800 public drink-ing water systems in Missouri.

Bacteriological testing can be thefirst step in identifying and correctinga problem. The next step is to investi-gate the cause of any bad samplesand perform corrective action, such asrequiring a boil water order or disin-fecting and flushing the system. Apublic water system that has a chronichistory of both failing to monitor andexceeding contaminant levels cannotverify the quality of drinking water forits customers.

For more details visit the depart-ment’s Web site at: dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/chronic/index.html.

These system’s owners have beensent multiple violation notices in addi-tion to certified letters informing them


Pershing State Park Stream Team3625 has formed a partnership with stu-dents from Brookfield High School. Thefocus of this partnership is the protectionand rehabilitation of Locust Creek, astream that runs through Pershing StatePark. Tom and Lisa Woodward, of La-clede, have attended the Volunteer WaterQuality Monitoring workshops to learnhow to identify water quality indicatorspecies such as macroinvertebrates.Macroinvertebrates are animals withoutbackbones that are tiny, but largeenough to be seen without a microscope.

Surveying the aquatic species in theflood-damaged Locust Creek proved tobe a real challenge. The stream banksare very steep and because it is a prairiestream, finding the proper habitat for the macroinvertebrates is difficult.In a true example of scientific exploration, the team jumped at a chanceto be part of a pilot project investigating the use of artificial substratebaskets for macroinvertebrate capture.

Three metal mesh baskets were acquired for the team to use. Thebaskets were then stuffed with cobble-sized rocks, woody debris andsycamore leaves – all parts of the natural habitat that would have beenfound in the stream bottom of Locust Creek before the flood damagetook place. To keep the baskets in place, Tom Woodward, who is the su-perintendent at Pershing State Park, and assistant Lee Wilbeck, Brook-field, ran a light cable from the baskets to well-anchored posts in thestream bank.

The rehabilitation project is proving to be a worthwhile and valuableendeavor. After the baskets were in place just a few weeks, aquatic in-sect species took up residence in the providedsubstrate. Brookfield High School students lenda hand by helping to sort and identify the insectsthat are captured. The Pershing State ParkStream Team found caddisfly, mayfly, dragonfly,and damselfly larvae, as well as several crayfish.

“The rehabilitation of Locust Creek is worth allof the effort it will take,” Woodward said.

Lee Wilbeck moves a bucketcontaining a basketful of artifi-cial habitat to study the aquat-ic insects in Locust Creek.

Pershing State Park Stream Team Partnership

Stream Team Notebook

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that chronic failure to monitor is unac-ceptable. The department also makeson-site inspections and attempts toreach an agreement with the responsi-ble parties to ensure sampling re-quirements will be met. If noncompli-ance continues, the departmentpursues enforcement action.

For more information, contact the de-partment’s Water Protection Program at800-361-4827 or 573-751-8309. The listcan be found at: dnr.mo.gov/env/pmnr/pmnr09-01.htm.

New President forBotanical Garden

Peter Wyse Jackson,director of the NationalBotanic Gardens of

Dublin, Ireland, has been named suc-cessor to Peter Raven, the longtimepresident of the Missouri BotanicalGarden, a popular St. Louis attraction.He will work with Raven during thetransition period.

Trustees of the Botanical Gardensaid Wyse Jackson will begin Sept. 1,2010 as garden president and direc-tor. Raven will continue full-time aspresident emeritus through July 2011and will work after that on special proj-ects as needed.

Raven is regarded as one of theworlds leading botanists. In the 1970s,he transformed the Missouri BotanicalGarden into a world-class center forbotanical research, education andhorticultural display.

Wyse Jackson has given the Na-tional Botanic Gardens of Ireland newpriorities in environmental sustainabili-ty, biodiversity, and conservation.

Wyse Jackson said it is a crucialtime for the environment, with a quar-ter of the world’s 400,000 known plantspecies – medicinal and otherwise – indanger of extinction.

He said he would rally financialsupport for the Botanical Garden andoffer leadership for its mission of iden-tifying plants and protecting theirhabitat, even as plants are threatenedby the spread of new diseases,pathogens and invasive species.

Landfill Expansion inStoddard County

The Departmentof Natural Re-sources has issueda construction per-mit to Lemons Land-fill LLC to constructthe Lemons Horizon-tal Expansion in Stoddard County.

Lemons will use the expansion todispose of non-hazardous waste in asanitary landfill located about one milenorth of U.S. Highway 60 in Dexter.

The department reviews all applica-tions submitted by cities, counties andprivate owners to ensure solid wastedisposal areas are properly designedand constructed. Other technical fac-tors that protect Missouri’s environ-ment are also examined.

Questions and comments regard-ing the sanitary landfill or the depart-ment’s role in regulating solid wastesanitary landfills may be sent to theMissouri Department of Natural Re-sources, Solid Waste ManagementProgram, PO Box 176, Jefferson City,Mo. 65102-0176 or by phone at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.


For news releases on the Web, visit:

www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/index.html. For a

complete listing of the department’s upcoming

meetings, hearings and events, visit the depart-

ment’s online calendar at: www.dnr.mo.gov/

calendar/search.do.

A view of underground lead mining at Doe Run Lead Company, Shaft No. 6at Rivermines, a community now incorporated, along with Elvins, Flat Riverand Esther, into Park Hills. The photo was taken in May 1915 and is providedby Charles E. McNew, Desloge. McNew’s grandfather, Ervin Levi Barton, isstanding on the rock at the far upper right.

Mining in Missouri’s historic Lead Belt, one of the richest lead oresources in the world, also involves the communities of Bonne Terre, Deslogeand Leadwood in central southeast Missouri.

Send your photo to “Time Exposures,” c/o Missouri Resources, PO Box 176, Jefferson City,MO 65102-0176. Original photos will be returned via insured mail. Pre-1970 environmental andnatural resource photos from Missouri will be considered. Please try to include the dateand location of the picture, a brief description and any related historic details that might beof interest to our readers.

Time Exposures


Earlier this year, 750 students and 70 faculty and staff of HickoryHills K-8 School moved into a new building. The old building,

having served the Springfield community since 1952, had been sur-rounded by a growing city. A safer, quieter site at 4650 E. StateHighway YY is now graced by a $19.5 million, 118,000 square-footfacility that is likely to become one of Missouri’s first LEED® certi-fied elementary-middle schools.

“We may not know what level of certification we will receive forover a year,” said Principal Kelly B. Allison. “This is a lengthyprocess, but the best case scenario would be a Gold Level.”

According to Jack Ball Architects PC, Springfield, the project,guided by firm president J. Christopher Ball and project coordina-tor Ryan M. Faust, was designed to achieve the 40 to 43 pointsneeded to obtain silver certification under the LEED standards es-tablished for schools.

“Achieving LEED points was never the primary goal,” accordingto the architects. “The real goal was making smart, sustainable de-cisions that would result in a great building for the school districtand the community.”

After three years of planning and construction, the 22-acre siteaccommodates the new building, fields for soccer, football andsoftball, a playground and parking. The building features a heatingand cooling system that is 40 percent more efficient than whatwould be minimally required. It is expected to pay for itself in sevento 10 years.

Features such as water fountains in all elementary classrooms,a sky-lighted hallway, fresh air ventilation and energy-efficient light-ing make the building very user-friendly. A wetland basin on a cor-ner of the property collects storm water and makes it available for

Sgt. Brett Barnes, a Division of State Parks ranger sergeant atMark Twain State Park, Stoutsville, has had to take the heat,

but his dedicated efforts also have earned him some recognition.During the June 2009 Katy Trail Bike Ride, he helped dozens of rid-ers who were sidelined by extreme heat.

In October 2009, Sgt. Barnes, who received strong support fromfellow DSP staff, was named Employee of the Month for the Depart-ment of Natural Resources. In November he was named State Em-ployee of the Month.

Sgt. Barnes coordinated safety and law enforcement logisticsfor the annual bike ride. He made several 170-mile round-trips inthe evenings before the ride to participate in monthly planningmeetings for the event. He arranged for rangers and other law en-forcement to provide overnight coverage during the event. He alsoarranged, during rush hour traffic, an escorted crossing over theMissouri River Bridge at Jefferson City by 300 riders.

Later, Barnes also coordinated an organized crossing of busyHighway 19 at Hermann.

“Brett Barnes’ contribution during the Katy Trail Ride was no-ticed by the majority of the participants,” said Dan Paige, who wasthe Division of State Parks’ acting director at that time. “It was thehottest week of the summer, and there were a number of medicalemergencies,” he said.

Several DSP employees nominated Barnes for recognition.Quinn Kellner, Natural Resources Manager at Edward and PatJones-Confluence Point State Park, said, “Dozens of riders wereunable to complete the first 60 miles of the five-day, 225-mile rideand had to be picked up at remote locations along the trail. There

were also several medical emergen-cies that required transportation andtreatment,” Kellner added.

Sgt. Barnes located and transport-ed many riders himself and workedwith other rangers and departmentstaff to ensure that all riders were ac-counted for daily.

Another nominator, Alex Kovac, apark ranger corporal, said, “Brett goesabove and beyond to establish goodrelationships with fellow departmentstaff and agencies that we work with. Throughout the week of theKaty Trail Ride, he made notes of different people and agenciesthat assisted us in the event so he could send them notes of grati-tude afterwards.

“I can honestly say that I have never had a supervisor that Ilearned more about what to do and how to treat people than BrettBarnes. If given the opportunity, I will be a better supervisor for hav-ing had him as one,” Kovac added.

Other DSP staff who nominated Sgt. Barnes for recognition are:Natural Resource Managers Keith Petersen, Debra Ray and JimGast; Dawn Fredrickson, Katy Trail Coordinator; and Mary De laGuerra, office support assistant.

The Palmyra resident began working with the department as astate parks seasonal aide in June 1994. He also has held the posi-tions of park maintenance worker I and II and rose through theranks as park ranger.

Sgt. Brett Barnes Willing to Take the Heat

Sgt. Brett Barnes

other uses. Thebuilding features arooftop terrace andgreenhouse. Eachclassroom at Hicko-ry Hills School hasits own “smartboard” – a modern,electronic black-board display.

“This is a touchscreen, interactivemarker board thatis connected to a computer,” said Allison. “We also have demon-stration models for both solar panels and a wind turbine that willgenerate power to heat the greenhouse,” he said.

Seventh-grade science teacher Jeff Birchler expects the greenfeatures of the new school to help provide environmental educationas well as shelter. “Our green curriculum is spread throughout alldisciplines and all grade levels. From kindergarten through eighthgrade, our students experience lessons on all subjects that haveties to our green theme,” Birchler said.

The 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – are practiced by studentsand staff. As data is generated that reflects the building’s energyconsumption, students will be monitoring.

Birchler summed up the school’s importance to young minds asthey begin to view the school in a real word context. “This use ofresources will teach students the economic value, as well as theenvironmental value of doing these things.”

Hickory Hills School Going for the Gold

Hickory Hills School Library

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I f friends invited you on a safari tosoutheast Missouri to observe a herdof native elephants, would you think

they had lost their minds? Did theysay pink elephants?

They did. Elephant Rocks StatePark in Iron County is home to a size-able herd of ancient pink elephants.Well, huge boulders that look like ele-phants if you use a little imagination.The herd stands frozen in time atop amassive stone monolith, the high pointin the park.

The largest, usually called Dumbo,measures 27 feet tall, 35 feet long, and17 feet wide. It tips the scales at ahefty 680 tons.

How were the elephant bouldersformed and how did they get here? Astudy of St. Francois Mountains’ geol-ogy reveals that they were not trans-ported at all. They were formed inplace, right where they stand.

The elephants are formed of coarse-ly crystalline red granite, called Gran-iteville Granite, after the nearby town.The granite is composed predominant-ly of two minerals – potassium feld-spar and quartz.

Formation of the granite beganabout 1.5 billion years ago whenmolten magma a couple of miles be-neath the earth’s surface slowlycooled and solidified (see graphic on

page 22). Over the next billion-or-soyears, most of the overlying rock waseroded away. The granite expandedupward and cracks and fracturesformed. A network of arched sheetingfractures and vertical joint fracturesbroke the upper part of the graniteinto a mass of large, squarish blocks.These are the building blocks formaking elephants.

Next, we need a geologic processthat will round off the edges and cor-ners of the blocks – a two-stageprocess. The elephants were first pre-formed beneath the earth’s surface,and then exposed by erosion. In stageone, water moved down from the sur-


Resources to Explore

Iron County

by Art Hebrankphotographs by Scott Myers

has been eroded from above the corestones, but is still in place around thebottoms. These are future elephants.

Once the granite elephants areformed, atmospheric weathering con-tinues to modify their shapes and sur-faces – even today. Rainwater soaksbetween grains and into small frac-tures at the surface of the granite.When the water freezes, it expands,flaking off mineral grains. This fur-ther rounds the boulders and con-tributes to their rough surface. The in-nocent looking gray-green lichensthat grow on many granite surfacesalso modify the elephants. Lichensproduce a weak organic acid, power-ful enough to dissolve the rock’sfeldspar grains.

Physical, chemical and biologicalforces work together to form one ofthe most interesting features seen onthe tor’s whale-back ridge. The shal-low, rounded rock basins, often filledwith water, are popularly called solu-tion pans or bird baths. Water retainedin the basins facilitates freeze-thawaction and is conducive to growth oflichens. Rotting plant debris in thepools increases acidity of the waterand further deepens the basins.

face through the fractures in the gran-ite. Along the fractures, subsurfaceweathering broke down feldspargrains into clay, disintegrating thegranite. The result was a network ofgranite masses surrounded by disinte-grated granite. The solid, roundedmasses are called “core stones” andthe disintegrated granite is “grus.”Much later, after the entire Ozark re-gion was uplifted, streams eroded andwashed away the grus, freeing thecore stones. The elephants were born.

The landform is properly called a“tor” – a stack or pile of spheroidallyweathered, residual granitic-rockboulders, sitting atop a bedrock massof the same rock. While tors existelsewhere in the United States andworldwide, they are nowhere abun-dant as they are here. Elephant Rocksis certainly Missouri’s finest tor andone of the best examples of this inter-esting igneous-rock landform in theentire Midwest.

At Elephant Rocks, tors at differentstages of development can be seen.On the high point is the end product:disintegrated granite is all erodedaway, leaving the elephants standing

free atop the massive granite mono-lith. At British tors, they call thismonolith a “whale-back ridge.”Below the ridge, where the granitemasses are still lined up side by side,the erosion is incomplete. The grus


(Above) The McNew family enjoys a shaded picnic table tucked among the bouldersat Elephant Rocks State Park.(Top) The Ricky Skiles family, Owensville, explores the giant boulders that rest atop abase of bedrock in the St. Francois Mountains of Iron County.

More Than Just RocksElephant Rocks State Park is more

than just rocks. The park incorporatesfeatures of historic significance andoffers a broad range of family-orient-ed recreational opportunities.

The Sheahan Brothers Quarry, oneof three in the park, opened in 1889and operated for 63 years, producingthe fine red granite called “MissouriRed.” Also open to exploration are theruins of an old granite-block enginehouse built in the 1890s.

Also, don’t overlook the diverserecreational opportunities. The biggranite elephants provide chances forrock climbing and the newer sport ofbouldering. Park features are easilyaccessed from the Braille Trail, amile-long paved loop trail designed toaccommodate visitors with visual orphysical disabilities. The first of itskind in Missouri state parks and na-tionally recognized, it offers trailsideinterpretation printed in both Englishand Braille. The park also has a play-ground and a large picnic area with 30sites situated among the boulders.

As long as the big pink elephantsand man have coexisted in Missouri,there have been visitors to these rocks.Native Americans, pioneer settlers

and Victorian-era tourists all came tomarvel at the giant boulders. After thearea became a state park in 1969, visi-tation skyrocketed and now the parkhosts about 250,000 visitors annually.

Elephant Rocks State Park is onHighway 21 in Graniteville. For moreinformation, visit: mostateparks.com.

Art Hebrank is the site administratorat Missouri Mines State Historic Site.


Formation began approximately 1.5 billion years ago

with a hot molten magma a couple of miles below the

surface. The magma cooled slowly and solidified into a

large mass of crystalline igneous rock called granite.

Over time,

much of the

overlying rock

eroded, allowing

the granite to expand

upward. Cracks and fractures

then formed a network of arches. Vertical joint

fractures broke the upper portion of the once solid

granite into a mass of large, squarish blocks.

Rainwater

penetrated

these fractures

and joints.

Groundwater disintegrated

the adjacent granite, widening the cracks and

rounding off the corners of the blocks. The large,

spheroidal rock masses formed beneath the surface

are called core stones.

Later, after the

Ozarks was uplifted

about 250 million years ago,

the disintegrated granite began to be eroded,

exposing the preformed “elephant rocks.” This

erosion is still taking place today.

Solution pans, also known as bird baths, attract the interest of Ashton Miller and hersons from Texas.

(Bottom) Brad Wood and family, Eureka, explore the 1890s block engine housethat is a link to the granite quarries that once made this part of

Missouri famous.

How theElephants

Formed

DN

R il

lust

ratio

n by

Bet

h B

yers

In 1969, the famous singer/song-writer Paul Simon wrote the

1970 hit song “Bridge Over Trou-bled Water.” Today, a man with thesame name prevents water from causingtrouble in Missouri. He is a civil engineerwith an emphasis on dam safety working inthe Missouri Department of Natural Re-sources’ Water Resources Center in Jeffer-son City.

While going to school at the Universityof Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri Universityof Science and Technology), Paul Simonworked on flood studies for the local U.S.Geological Survey office. This experienceinstilled in him an interest in water. As a re-sult, he focused on water and constructionmanagement while pursuing his master’sdegree in civil engineering. He knew hewanted to work in a field related to waterand got his wish when he landed a job thesummer after he graduated as a dam safetyengineer for the department. About fouryears later, he was promoted to a civil engi-neer-dam safety.

The Department of Natural Resourcesregulates any dam that is 35 or more feettall and is not regulated or owned by thefederal government, which totals approxi-mately 660 dams across the state. A typicalday in the life of a dam safety engineer mayinclude going out to inspect dams, writinginspection reports or reviewing constructionpermits for new or existing dams. Survey-

ing new damsto make sure that they werebuilt according to the construction plans isalso part of the job.

“There is a good mix of field and officework,” said Simon. Some time is also spentmapping dams in geographic informationsystems and creating emergency actionplans for high hazard dams.

“I have the best job in the state,” saidSimon. “I get to help protect public safety,work with owners and work outside. I get tosee a lot of the state and meet a lot of inter-esting people. I enjoy helping the ownersprotect their investment and the peopledownstream. My job is very gratifying and Ifeel like I’ve accomplished something.”

Simon also likes the personal relation-ships that come with working with the damowners. “I jokingly get called ‘that dam en-gineer’ a lot,” said Simon.

Although Simon holds a master’s degreein civil engineering, the requirements forthe civil engineer position call for a bache-lor’s degree in engineering and four yearsof professional experience in civil engineer-ing. Graduate work in geotechnical, hy-draulic or civil engineering can be substitut-ed for the experience on a year-for-year

Paul Simon, a dam safetyengineer with the Depart-ment of Natural Resources’Water Resource Center,takes measurements at thetop of a dam to verify that itis high enough to safelycontain the water volumeproduced by a major storm.


Career Connection

Paul Simon

by Jennifer Siegphotographs by Scott Myers

Preventing Troubled Waters

basis for a maximum of two years. Registra-tion as a professional engineer by the Mis-souri Board of Architects, Professional En-gineers and Land Surveyors is also requiredfor the job.

In addition to the education and experi-ence requirements, Simon feels that “peo-ple” skills are essential in performing thisjob. “I work closely with dam owners andthe general public. Sometimes I have to beunderstanding, patient and strategic in help-ing them understand the situation and whythey need to comply.”

Simon feels that he makes a difference tothe residents of Missouri by helping protectthe public from the economic and environ-mental impacts that would result from adam failure.

For more information about this job orother career opportunities with the Depart-ment of Natural Resources or other stateagencies, visit the Office of Administra-tion’s Web site at: //oa.mo.gov/pers/.

Jennifer Sieg is a public information spe-cialist with the department’s Soil and WaterConservation Program.

(Bottom) Dam safety starts with an inspection of the toe of a dam to make sure it is not damaged or leaking.

(Inset) Survey data is immediately delivered to Water Resource Center computers by GPS technology.

(Below) Checking a dam’s downstream hazard classification involves verificationof homes and other structures in the area likely affected by a failure of the dam.


“I have the best job in the state. I get to helpprotect public safety,work with (dam) ownersand work outside.”- Paul Simon, civil engineer

One Last Word

Rare earth elements (REEs) withmysteriously unusual names such

as gadolinium and lanthanum holdvast potential for business, energy anddefense technologies.

Most are actually metals in rela-tively high concentrations in theearth’s crust. The task is finding theseimportant elements in sufficient con-centrations that are economically re-coverable. For this reason, some irondeposits in Missouri have been the re-cent focus of REE experts who havebeen evaluating rock core samples todetermine their potential. Some ofthese elements are classified by theU.S. Geological Survey as strategicand critical to the United States.

Most of the 16 naturally occurringrare earth elements are found in Mis-souri. The largest concentrationsoccur in southeast Missouri. They in-clude gadolinium, dyprosium, lan-thanum, cerium and yttrium.

Often called “rare earths,” thesenaturally occurring elements are key

ingredients of “green technology.”There is increasing demand for suchrare earths for various green products,from the magnets in wind turbines andautomobiles to the manufacture of solarpanels, energy-efficient fluorescentlamps and automotive components.

According to Jerry Prewett, Geo-logical Survey Program director withthe department’s Division of Geologyand Land Survey, rare earth elementshave important and diverse properties.

“One very exciting developmentuses five rare earth elements in mag-netic refrigeration. This new technol-ogy has the potential to replace con-ventional refrigeration, reducingenergy consumption and carbon diox-ide emissions,” said Prewett. Two ofthe fine REEs required, gadoliniumand dyprosium, are found in Missouri.

REEs also have been important inthe development of cellular phones,computer monitors, televisions, fiberoptic cables and energy-efficientlasers. Magnetic rare earths contribute

to industrial applications in aero-space, medical, instrumentation, elec-tronics and motion control. The min-erals present in Missouri’s depositscould prove to be strategic to the U.S.Department of Defense.

One important and growing REEuse is for rechargeable lanthanumnickel-hydride batteries. They offerlonger battery life, fewer disposal is-sues and are used in hybrid vehicles.Lanthanum is found abundantly inMissouri ore deposits.

Since 1948, most of the world’sREEs came from India. Since 1990,the world has depended on China forthe critical minerals.

Rare earths have an annual globalimpact in the billions of dollars. Ac-cording to the USGS, the U.S. contin-ues to be a major consumer and im-porter of rare earth products. In 2008,the estimated value of refined rareearths imported by the U.S. was morethan $127 million. Based on prelimi-nary investigations, Missouri’s de-posits may support some of theworld’s future critical rare earth ele-ment needs.

Hylan Beydler is division informationofficer for the department’s Divisionof Geology and Land Survey.


The Hidden ResourcesRare Earth Elements in Missouriby Hylan Beydler

Missouri REEs – Hybrid Electric Uses

DIESEL FUEL ADDITIVE- Cerium- Lanthanum

NiMH BATTERY- Lanthanum- Cerium

CATALYTIC CONVERTER- Cerium- Lanthanum

UV CUT GLASS AND POLISHING POWDER- Cerium

LCD SCREEN- Yttrium- Cerium

OXYGEN AND ENGINE SENSORS- Yttrium

ELECTRIC MOTOR/GENERATOR- Dysprosium

Average REE Use in Vehicle/Pounds

standard car ......................................10hybrid electric and all-electric .... 20-25

photo illustration by Scott Myers

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESP.O. Box 176Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

Nonprofit Org.US POSTAGE PAID

MO Dept. ofNatural

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