MISSOURIANS CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE OF STREAMS, RIVERS INVITED TO MEETING

LAKE OZARK -- Missourians who are concerned about the future of their state's streams and rivers will have an unparalleled opportunity in February to see what's being done to conserve and enhance flowing waters in the Show-Me State, during the nation's first comprehensive, statewide stream conservation program.

Registration for the 1993 Missouri Rivers & Streams Conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 5 at The Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark. The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) are sponsoring the conference. Joe Bachant, fisheries programs coordinator for MDC, said several special events will make the conference entertaining as well as informative.

"On both days, we will have a theatrical program titled, 'Lewis and Clark Revisited,'" said Bachant. "Actors will compare the condition of streams as recorded in the explorers' journals with observations made at the same spots in recent years."

Gov. Mel Carnahan will deliver the keynote speech at the banquet the evening of Feb. 5. Other conference events include the unveiling of a citizen-staffed water quality monitoring program, stream seminars for college credit for teachers, demonstrations of stream monitoring techniques, displays illustrating the work of Missouri's 300-plus citizen Stream Teams, the annual Stream Team Awards and judging of the 1994 Missouri Trout Stamp competition.

The conference is open to all Missourians. Registration costs $20. Banquet and luncheon tickets are available at additional cost. To register or receive further information, contact: Conservation Federation of Missouri, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101. Phone: (314) 634-2322.