Breeding Bird Survey: In June, WGNSS conducted the 3rd Annual Breeding Bird Survey at Busch C.A., Lost Valley Trail, and Blue Grosbeak (Weldon Spring) Trail. Thanks to the following individuals for their time and expertise: David Becher, Dennis Bozzay, Jeannie Moe, Anne McCormack, Connie Alwood, Kent Lannert, Bruce Wetteroth, Doug Corbett, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Loy Barber, Tom Parmeter, Torrey Berger, Mike Grant, Sue Gustafson, Bill Rudden, Yvonne Homeyer, Jim Ziebol, Tom Bormann, Ron Goetz, Nancy Snider, Kevin Renick. And special thanks to Jim Moe, who has tallied the survey results on a spreadsheet for each of the past 3 years, and to Jim Ziebol, who organizes the Survey and prepares the color distribution maps.

Holnam Update: The proposed project to construct the largest cement plant in the world and quarry a 2000-acre limestone strip mine along the Mississippi River in southern Jefferson Co. and northern Ste. Genevieve Co. is still on hold. Despite requests for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from elected officials, public agencies, national environmental organizations, local environmental groups, the Heritage Preservation Coalition started by Karen Holden in Ste. Genevieve County, and from concerned individuals, the Corps of Engineers has still not decided whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Instead, the Corps has asked Holnam to conduct an Environmental Assessment and then give that data to the Corps. The Corps will then issue an Environmental Assessment report and proceed with one of 3 options: deny the permit, issue the permit, or conduct further study in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement. The requests for an Environmental Impact Statement have been overwhelming. At last count, requests for an EIS have come from Mo. Gov. Bob Holden, US Sen. Dick Durbin, US Congressman Lacy Clay, Sen. Patrick Dougherty, Sen. Wayne Good, Rep. Joan Bray, Rep. Barbara Fraser, Rep. Cindy Ostmann, Rep. Kathryn Fares, Ill. Sen. Evelyn Bowles, Mayor Francis Slay (City of St. Louis), the St. Louis County Council, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Defense, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest, Prairie Rivers Network, Mississippi River Basin Alliance, River Alliance of Wisconsin, American Rivers, American Lands, Les Amis, Missouri Parks Association, Missouri Audubon, Sierra Club, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, St. Louis Audubon, Endangered Species Coalition, St. Louis Herpetological Society, American Bottom Conservancy, Heritage Preservation Coalition, concerned individuals, and of course, WGNSS! An effort of this magnitude obviously involves many people, and we are lucky that so many committed individuals have been willing to devote their time and energy to work together to fight this proposed project. We owe a special debt of gratitude to our attorney Maxine Lipeles and the students and staff at the Environmental Law Clinic of Washington University. And thanks also to Karen Holden (whose 160 acres in Morrison Hollow are adjacent to the Holnam site), who has graciously allowed WGNSS members to do birding surveys and botany walks on her property.

North County Truck Stop (Proposed): Dora Gianoulakis, a former Board member and current President of the Spanish Lake Community Association, is busy fighting a proposed truck stop in the vicinity of I-270 and Lilac. The proposed site contains Watkins Creek, which empties into the Mississippi River. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please call her at 314-741-4100.

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