Executive Director’s Note - August 2026 – Great Rivers Habitat Alliance

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Executive Director’s Note - August 2026

25.August.2026

As we move through the final week of August, you can feel it, those cooler morning temperatures, the soft shift in the air, and the unmistakable signs that fall is coming. It won’t be long before we hear the whistling wings of mourning doves and blue‑wing teal, watch the sunrise break over the wetlands, and breathe in the familiar scent of harvested fields. This is an exciting time of year for all of us who cherish the traditions of the outdoors, and I hope each of you finds time to celebrate with friends and family as the new hunting season approaches.

With September 1st right around the corner, I want to wish everyone good luck on the fall dove opener. May your mornings be cool, your shots be true, and your time afield be filled with the joy that keeps our conservation heritage alive.

I also want to thank you—sincerely—for your continued support. Whether you engage with GRHA through events, partnerships, philanthropy, or advocacy, we cannot do this great work without you, and our wildlife and hunting heritage would be lost without these collective efforts.

As we enjoy the season ahead, I ask that you continue helping us protect the Confluence by keeping pressure on Ameren. Please take a moment to sign the Mississippi–Missouri Confluence Conservation Coalition petition and encourage others to do the same. Every signature strengthens our voice.

And, help us get the word out about the upcoming youth and first-time hunter waterfowl hunts at the Henges Center with our partner the Missouri Department of Conservation. There is no better place to introduce a new hunter to waterfolwing than the Henges Center!

Finally, I hope you will join us at the upcoming GRHA/DU Partnership Gala, where we will celebrate the life of one of Missouri’s most devout conservationists, Adolphus A. Busch IV. His visionary leadership and fierce dedication to protecting the Confluence shaped GRHA’s mission and identity. I miss his early‑morning calls and texts, and remain committed in honoring his legacy by advancing the vital work he so fiercely believed in.

Wishing you all a safe, meaningful, and memorable start to the fall season.

For the Confluence,

Mike