The Confluence is a unique 291,000-acre wetland system formed where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers meet--an area known as the Confluence Floodplain. In addition to its importance for floodwater storage and agricultural production, this area has attracted migratory birds for centuries and boasts a rich waterfowl hunting tradition. Urban development continues to be the greatest threat to this region. To address this concern, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance and Ducks Unlimited team up with farmers, duck clubs, and other land stewards to protect land-use practices important to waterfowl and people. To support that work, GRHA and Ducks Unlimited came together again...

As we close out spring and approach summer, waterfowl have reached their northern breeding grounds and nesting season is in full swing. Reports from many important breeding areas are that heavy winter snowfall and spring rains have improved breeding conditions in most regions. A breeding effort similar to last spring and summer, if not a little better is being reported. That is certainly good news for duck populations and potential fall flights.  As I write this, the May Pond and Breeding Pair survey is being flown by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will provide more insight into this year’s...

Portage Des Sioux - The 2023 Duckfest is set for Saturday October 7, 2023, at the Missouri Wing - Commemorative Airforce Hanger at Smartt Airfield. This year will be particularly special as it is the 10th anniversary of Duckfest. Duckfest provides a great way to celebrate the waterfowling heritage and importance of the Confluence to waterfowlers and waterfowl alike while supporting GRHA’s mission as GRHA is one of four non-profits that the money raised at DUCKFEST supports. One of the most exciting elements of Duckfest is exclusive giveaways. An ATV, water well, pallet of beer, trained puppy, firearm or cash, you never know...

St. Charles – The 2023 GRHA Wetlands Habitat and Management workshop dates have been set for July 17-19th. The workshop is part of GRHA’s Public Awareness and Education pillar and provides training and information 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 of...

Jefferson City - On Friday, May 12, the Missouri 2023 legislative session adjourned sine die. This means the regular legislative session is completed for the year.  This year, the legislative session was quiet for sportsmen with only a handful of sportsmen-related bills introduced, and nothing pro- or anti-sportsmen made it to the governor’s desk for his consideration.  Even though the 2023 legislative session is over, GRHA and our partners will continue to monitor activities in Missouri as issues that sportsmen need to be aware of may arise.  Please share this message with your family and friends as sportsmen throughout Missouri...

Maryland Heights – In April, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance submitted comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in opposition of a 404-permit request by Residential One LLC. The request is to destroy wetlands on a proposed Creve Coeur Apartment complex site located at 12000 Creve Coeur Mill Rd and 1 Gulfport Drive. GRHA has fought at every level of this project, testifying and submitting comments against this project to the Maryland Heights Planning & Zoning Committee and Maryland Heights City Council. We fundamentally disagree with any development within the 100-year floodplain and find the Creve Coeur Lake Apartment...

Dear Mr. LaMontagne, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) represents a group of landowners and citizens concerned about the current floodplain development trends within the Confluence. Our MISSION: Protecting the 100-year Confluence floodplain for the benefit of wildlife, historic waterfowling, agriculture, clean water and people. GRHA was founded in 2002 to directly combat the growing consumption of the 100-year Confluence floodplain through commercial development, address issues affecting wetland habitat, and promote sensible use of floodplains in the Confluence region of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois rivers through policy, protection, conservation, public awareness and education. We fundamentally disagree with any development within...

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...

  Great Rivers Habitat Alliance - Duck Season SomewhereThe Great Confluence is North America's largest, occurring just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, and comprised of the Missouri, Illinois and Missouri rivers. There are 75,000-100,000 acres nearly contiguous habitat managed by private landowners and clubs dating back to the 1800s. In a state that's lost 90% of its wetlands habitat, the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance was created to hold the fort. Long-time friend Mike Checkett joins us today, describing this amazing region, it's long-standing importance to migratory waterfowl, what and how they're protecting what's left.       Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/duck-season-somewhere/id1503110007?i=1000602454316...

Note from the Executive Director Recently I was asked to discuss the Confluence and GRHA as a podcast guest with longtime friend, Ramsey Russell founder of Getducks.com. One of the questions asked was: Why is the Confluence important and why should southern duck hunters who are worried about shortstopping appreciate it?  It’s no secret to us why the Confluence is important, the southern duck hunter however, may not be aware or appreciative of the Confluences importance (Ramsey was unaware until his trip this past fall) and more concerned with Missouri short stopping ducks. I answered in the context of migration explaining...

There is nothing more important than clean water, which is the reason clean water is part of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance mission: Protecting the 100-year Confluence floodplain for the benefit of wildlife, historic waterfowling, agriculture, clean water and people. Clean water will always be a sensitive topic and GRHA certainly understands the importance and dilemma facing the City of St. Charles and their efforts to solve their drinking water contamination issues. However, building new wells and potentially a treatment plant on Whistling Wings duck club and/or anywhere in the 100yr floodplain is not the answer. GRHA received disappointing news in...

With the assistance of GRHA, a partnership group led by Ducks Unlimited (DU) was able to close in February on a threatened property adjacent to the Richard Bong State Recreation Area within the Mississippi Watershed. DU, in partnership with the Bong Naturalists Association (BNA), identified an urgent opportunity for protecting critical habitat on land adjacent to the Richard Bong State Recreation Area in Kansasville, Wisconsin (Kenosha County). This conservation project addressed a true, immediate threat of losing public access land and the wildlife habitat connectivity it supports. DU came to GRHA with a plan to purchase and hold the land,...