St. Peters – Despite a very rainy night on March 23, 2023, we saw a great turnout at our spring Happy Hour held at Hobo’s at the Legion in St. Peters. More than forty attendees enjoyed a cold drink, great food, and the opportunity to catch up and compare seasons. It seems the 2023 season was the best in many years.

As was mentioned that night, one of the goals of the GRHA happy hour is to bring all stakeholders together for fellowship, and facilitate communications between clubs, landowners, managers, and conservation partners. We need to stay informed of current events in the Confluence and be ready to step up when issues may be negative to our common interests. and to assist each other when such issues arise.

The Club Manager and Landowner Happy Hour also kicked off the announcement of the 2023 Wetlands Habitat Management Workshop and the formal announcement of our Duck Club Partnership Program. The Duck Club Partnership program is designed to bring the Confluence clubs together to support GRHA and each other, and most importantly, protect the historic waterfowling tradition in the Confluence.

The recent attempt by the city of St Charles to acquire Whistling Wings through eminent domain for a wellfield is a prime example of how GRHA can help the clubs protect the critical habitat in the Confluence and why we need to work together. Because GRHA is well positioned, stands strong and was willing to fight, the city is looking elsewhere for their new wellfield and promised to not look at duck clubs. We pledge we will continue to watch the city.

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) was founded in 2000 to directly combat the commercial development of the 100-year Confluence Flood Plain through policy, protection, conservation, public awareness and education. We can only be successful with your support.

With the landowners and club’s support, we can continue to fight to protect the Confluence for future generations, help restore existing natural habitats and promote policy that limits development in the 100-year floodplain.

See the Duck Club Partnership Program Information Here.