Great Rivers Habitat Alliance (GRHA) was founded in 2000 to protect the commercial development of the 100-year Confluence Floodplain through policy, protection, conservation, public awareness and education. GRHA is committed to protecting public and private land in the Confluence for their best use: agriculture and wildlife. Despite the many benefits to wildlife and people, 90% of the Confluence floodplain wetlands have been altered or lost. Development and flooding continue to be the greatest threats to natural and agricultural habitats. To address, GRHA collaborates with partners to restore wetlands and to protect their conservation, flood storage and habitat values in perpetuity by teaming up with farmers, duck clubs, and other land stewards to protect land and land-use practices important to wildlife, waterfowl and people. An example of that effort is GRHA’s partnership with Ducks Unlimited in securing donated conservation easements to protect private lands in perpetuity.

To address flooding, we are working with local leadership to tackle the issues of floodplain, rise and the filling of the floodplain and we look to partner on up-river watershed projects that increase the floodplain in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The GRHA collaborates with regional influential politicians and officials and began an awareness campaign to inform the public about flood plain developments and new levee construction efforts that typically closely follow new flood plain developments. These awareness campaigns are the initial tools intended to raise attention about the importance of saving flood plains as natural water storage areas, instead of converting them into building sites for new, larger, strip malls and shopping centers.

To effectively fund and conduct its efforts, GRHA filed for and the IRS approved GRHA as a charitable 501c3 organization status, which was approved by the IRS in 2000. GRHA has formed many partnerships with other environmental organizations such as Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Ducks Unlimited, etc. to effectively work on flood plain protection efforts.

Our preservation goal is to protect 60,000 to 100,000 acres of land through easement acquisition and land purchases through federal, state, and private funding sources.

Passage of Missouri Senate Bill 225, which prohibits the use of tax increment financing in 100-year flood plains across the state and ensures the right to discharge firearms; a vital component in preserving hunting in the flood plain. This bill was spearheaded by the NRA.

Halted the expansion of Smartt Field. Owned by St. Charles County, Smartt Field was set for expansion through a federal grant that would have allowed light jets to land in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, which contains two-thirds of our nation’s migratory waterfowl. GRHA was able to convince the county council to pass on the expansion plan, saving taxpayers another flood plain folly.

Public awareness. GRHA has elevated flood plain development as an important issue among the voting public and one that plays heavily during local elections. Before GRHA, most voters were unaware how taxes were funding large-scale flood plain developments. This awareness has helped immeasurably to encourage sustainable development practices.