THOMAS TO CHAIR WETLANDS COMMITTEE; HOWARD SEEKS SPOT

A Southeast Missouri legislator has been named as chairman for the five House members on a joint House-Senate Wetlands Task Force, while another is hoping to be named to head senators on the panel.

House Speaker Bob Griffin recently named Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, to be chairman of the House delegation of the committee. Thomason handled legislation in the House this year that led to the establishment of the wetlands task force.

Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, who was the overall sponsor of the wetlands legislation, said Monday he has asked Senate President James Mathewson to name him chairman of the Senate's members. Mathewson has not yet named Senate members to the panel.

"I have not only asked to be on it, but I have asked to chair it," said Howard. "It is traditional that the person who sponsors the resolution gets to chair the committee. I have visited with Sen. Mathewson about this."

Thomason said he is anxious for the Senate members to be appointed so that the committee can organize next week when the General Assembly convenes for its annual two-day veto session.

Howard said he believes the veto session would provide an opportunity for the task force not only to get organized, but possibly to hold a hearing to receive input from state agencies.

Howard sponsored his bill creating the task force because of concern about new federal efforts to create, maintain and restore wetlands in the nation. Under the federal guidelines, for every acre of wetlands that is used for some other purpose, another acre must be created.

Both Howard and Thomason have taken a particular interest in the policy because much of the prime farm land in the Bootheel is drained swamp land.

Thomason said he fears if the federal government puts too much pressure on Missouri to come up with additional wetland acreage, Southeast Missouri could suffer.

Howard said he is concerned that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is not seeking adequate public input on wetlands in Missouri and believes the joint committee is essential to monitoring the state agency on this issue.

Both legislators agree that wetlands are a vital natural resource, but they also agree that wetlands policy must include legislative input and not just bureaucrats in the Department of Natural Resources.

"Ninety percent of Missouri's wetlands have been destroyed since the mid-1800s," noted Thomason. "We in the General Assembly have decided to form a committee that can work with other departments of state government to conduct studies to find a resolution to the wetland issue."

Wetlands are defined as "land containing much soil moisture." Wetlands include swamps, forested wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, stream beds, and natural ponds and lakes. Nationwide there are 99 million acres of wetlands, excluding Alaska; Missouri has 450,000 acres of wetlands.

Wetlands help Missouri farmers by serving as a natural flood control mechanism as well as stabilizing weather. Without wetlands, the state would become hotter and drier, which would affect the growing season.

Wetlands also provide habitat for fish and wildlife and they also serve as filters for rainwater and standing water.

"The committee's goal is to study the situation and find ways to protect existing wetlands and restore previously destroyed wetlands," explained Thomason.

Serving with Thomason from the House are Reps. Sam Leake, D-Laddonia; Phil Smith, D-Louisiana; Jon Selsor, R-Kimmswick; and Mark Elliott, R-Webb City.

The committee is scheduled to issue a report in January.