If you missed our summer events or just want another opportunity to support GRHA, boy, do we have an option for you! GRHA is raffling off a Krieghoff K-20 for $100 a ticket with a maximum of 500 sold. Krieghoff is a family-owned company that produces some of the finest rifles and shotguns with passion and craftsmanship. With more than 130 years of experience Krieghoff has become one of the most trusted gun manufacturers out there. The K-20 with Standard Engraving, Screw in Chokes, Adjustable Comb is the perfect gun for shooting sporting clays, skeet, or a day in the...

In 1999, a group of floodplain landowners became extremely concerned about the construction of a 500-year levee to protect a commercial development project alongside some of the best wetland habitats in the Confluence. Garnering support from other conservation interests, the group formed Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) in 2000. The Alliance, which now has the support of more than forty state, federal, and nonprofit organizations, works to protect the floodplain from commercial development. That same  partnership continued efforts through the early 2000’s with habitat programs, the development of DU’s Conservation Easement Program, and with GRHA instrumental in policy efforts and...

As the picture below attests on July 16, 2024, all lanes of Interstate 70 once again flooded and were closed due to local heavy rains. These rain events are becoming more common, and this event was eerily similar to the flooding that occurred on Interstate 70 and Mid-Rivers Mall following a 10-inch rain on July 26,2022. Flash flooding in areas around St. Louis, especially near Mid Rivers Mall and Interstate 70, seems to be increasingly common and displays the impacts of commercial development in the floodplain. This certainly is not something new or unexpected! Check out this St. Louis Post-Dispatch...

The 2024 GRHA Wetlands Habitat and Management workshop dates have been set for July 15-17th. The workshop is part of GRHA’s Public Awareness and Education pillar and provides training and information to landowners and property managers regarding the fundamentals of habitat management, options and techniques for waterfowl hunting properties. A combination of in-class presentations and on-site field tours demonstrate the current state-of-understanding of waterfowl and wetland ecology and contemporary hunting strategies in a practical management format. The workshop focuses primarily on moist-soil wetland types and includes landscape considerations for agriculture, forest, shrub-scrub, and emergent habitats, along with perspectives of hunting pressure...

In 2022, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance embarked on an exciting new venture to protect more than 181 acres of floodplain habitat along the Mississippi River and create what we will call the GRHA Foster-Rollins Floodplain Conservation and Education Area. The property is just south of St. Louis and adjoining Cliff Cave County Park and is now the largest property currently owned by GRHA. That journey took another step when GRHA closed on the property on April 11, 2024. Future steps will include restoration and management. The area will be open to the public and managed to enhance the adjacent public...

The annual GRHA Sporting Clays Shoot and Fundraiser was held Thursday March 28th at the beautiful Strathalbyn Farms Club where shooters experienced some great shooting opportunities, food, fellowship and raised some big bucks for our Confluence conservation mission. The weather was spectacular with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60’s. The day started with a two-man flurry thrown at the 5-stand field with the top team winning a pair of Stoeger STR-9mm pistols. The winning flurry team was Zach Nannini and Joe Laster. Strathalbyns great food is well known, and they did not disappoint with mini-Kobe beef hotdogs and bacon jam...

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance is embarking on an exciting new chapter. At our March 28th meeting, the Board recognized with gratitude our outgoing President Chris Hyams for his 6 years at the helm and welcomed David Bub as our organizations 6th President. Chris has had a tremendous tenure leaving a legacy of growth and success, transitioning his leadership role to  Chairman of the Board. His tenure has seen GRHA grow and flourish. We look forward to sharing more about his contributions in our next issue. Job well done Chris! GRHA President and Chairman of the Board tenures are 3-year commitments....

Could there be anything better than enjoying the bounty of this falls harvest with fellow hunters and friends? We did not think so! On Thursday March 7th,  GRHA held its inaugural annual Wild Game Dinner at the St. Louis Racquet Club. By all accounts, the event was a tremendous success! Among the items enjoyed by the attendees included passed quail and chucker poppers, duck quesadilla’s, venison and duck cassoulet, pastrami goose breast atop sauerkraut, elk loin au poivre and trout almondine. A tremendous menu was provided by Chef Shawn and his staff. It was indeed a magnificent event with great...

We wish you Happy Holidays and hope you have been enjoying time in the Confluence. That time spent in natural spaces reminds us why we continue to fight for this treasure for both people and wildlife. We are thankful for your past support! Alarming threats continue to arise and remind us our work is not over. In 2023, GRHA successfully thwarted the eminent domain wellfield proposal at Whistling Wings and continued to speak against the proposed development of an 800-unit apartment complex in the 100-year floodplain, wedged between Creve Coeur Lake and Hwy 141. This project not only risks the...

In 2022, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance embarked on an exciting new venture to protect more than 181 acres of floodplain habitat along the Mississippi River and create the GRHA Foster-Rollins Floodplain Conservation and Education Area. This property is just south of St. Louis and adjoining Cliff Cave County Park and will be the largest property owned by GRHA. Late in 2022, the properties owners, Tom Rollins and George Foster, approached GRHA with the idea of conserving the property by selling the property to GRHA at a significant savings. Great Rivers Habitat Alliance proposed the creation of a conservation and educational...

GRHA partners with Ducks Unlimited in many ways, including the Confluence Conservation Easement Program. In 2003, in response to the growing interest created by GRHA, Ducks Unlimited identified the Confluence as a conservation priority. When approached by GRHA, DU proposed developing a land protection strategy that focused on protecting 30,000 acres of private duck clubs, and the Confluence Conservation Easement program was hatched. These easements, held by Ducks Unlimited through the Wetlands America Trust, preserve the land in perpetuity, with a goal of eventually assembling enough parcels to effectively create a wall of protection against commercial development in the Confluence....

In late November, GRHA staff and Board members helped host outdoor writer T. Edward Nickens “Eddie” and his photographer Frank on several hunts and tours of the Confluence. Eddie and his photographer were in town to write an upcoming article for the Ducks Unlimited magazine. The article will highlight the importance of the Confluence, its history and the partnership between GRHA and DU. The Over & Under and Quacker hunt clubs owned by the Holton and Costello families were kind enough to provide lodging and some quality hunts while the group was in town. Rounding out the support team was...