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Release: Gov. Nixon announces $750,000 for stream and river bank projects in southeast and southwest Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced $750,000 will be made available to landowners to implement conservation practices that improve stream corridors and habitat in five counties in southeast Missouri and five counties in southwest Missouri, through natural resource damages settlement money from the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) and the Newton County Wells Site.

“These settlement dollars will help landowners in these counties put conservation practices in place to protect stream and river banks on their lands,” Gov. Nixon said. “By putting these dollars to work to prevent soil erosion, we’re helping to protect our natural resources for generations to come. Meanwhile, I’ve directed the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to continue working with local communities to identify additional projects that would benefit from settlement funds.”

Soil and water conservation districts in Barry, Barton, Jasper, Lawrence and Newton counties in southwest Missouri will have $500,000 available for projects. Soil and water conservation districts in Iron, Reynolds, St. Francois, Washington and Wayne counties in southeast Missouri will have $250,000 available. Soil and water conservation districts will approve contracts for the settlement funds with landowners through voluntary cost-share conservation practices in designated watersheds.

Funds will be available to assist with planting trees, shrubs and grasses; fencing livestock away from stream corridors and providing an alternative water supply; stabilizing eroding stream banks; and, in southwest Missouri, improving and protecting karst habitats.

The funds for southeast and southwest Missouri are available from a settlement to compensate for natural resources injured by the historical mining activities of ASARCO. In addition, funds from a settlement to compensate for natural resources injured by the release of hazardous substances at the Newton County Wells Site are available in southwest Missouri.

Landowners may contact the soil and water conservation district offices in the eligible counties to find out more about participating. A map of district offices is available online at swcd.mo.gov.

For more information about the Missouri Soil and Water Program, visit dnr.mo.gov.