By Jody Miles, Co-Executive Director of Earth’s Classroom, Inc.

The early morning was nearing upper 70s, clear, sunny and humid. The shade felt quite comforting. Our group had gathered at Pacific Palisades Conservation Area to begin our day. However, before we pushed off onto the Meramec current, Rick Clawson, from MDC, discussed with us his knowledge of the bats of the Meramec Drainage Basin. Dialogue of unique facts and questions were gratefully shared.

Boarding our canoes at about 10:20 am we were off. I was told that this section was a turning point in clarity and quality of the river compared to the previous, up-river days. At first glance I concurred. Several years since I had done this section, but my memory served me well. This seven-mile section had beautiful riffles and bluff lines. The bluffs were different down here, much more sandy vs. hard dolomite.

The trip started and ended with harsh evidence of direct human impact on this beautiful stretch. Before our first meander was taken we examined a large Eastern Spiny Softshell turtle. (Must have been a female by its large size.) Thinking it was only basking on the sandy bank, we floated close to see our luck at catching it for an on-the-spot educational moment. But, seeing the blood soaked sand we knew different. Shot through the neck and base of head, it was left there to dry up in the sun. Its eyes still had a clear gaze at us. Must of lost its life just within hours of our visit.

Ironically, just 100 yards before pulling off at Allenton Access, I repeated my same excitement of an educational moment with the largest freshwater mussel we had seen all day. It was a washboard mussel about 10 inches long and 5 inches tall. However, freshly a victim to some other human’s flirt with power, a firecracker had been stuck down its respiration vent and blown its fleshy mussel to bits.

Being a person of high respect and appreciation to all intricate life, I worked to hold my professional composure.

Moreover, the body of the trip was full of healthy life. Bill, my educational-partner-in-crime, and I led the group up through a narrow channel, by canoe, only 5 to 6 feet in width that laid perpendicular to the Meramec. This channel was being cleared out by the largest rodent of North America…the beaver. Working hard not tread upon land, piles of river silt and mud had been slapped up everywhere along the shallow canal by the beaver. The canal (about 30 yards long) met up to the backside of its dam, which held 10 to twelve inches high of water.

Later on, a large mussel bed was examined in shallow, warm waters of the Meramec. With about 45 species existing in the Meramec, it was a pleasant surprise to see about 11 or 12 different species all together. We observed the pimple-backed, butterfly, pocketbook, common mucket, three-ridged, and pig toe…just to name a few. Oh, yes, this was a wonderful educational moment! And as my excitement built with sharing I took a personal notation of observation in my head. Most of the species I found were male (because of longer posterior end). Do some females separate themselves and stay in deeper waters to draw in their host for their young? Hum, I do not know!?

After a horrible site nick-named the “Detroit Rip Rap” (many, many cars from about the 1940-60s piled on the banks and into the waters), I had everyone gather their canoes under a bluff that overhung the river. Glancing up I pointed out the white “splats” placed on the overhung rock formation. With many mysterious clues I finally gave up the culprit whom did the white markings, which incased the growing young; an adult Dobson fly. Also, known as a hellgrammite in its aquatic larvae stage.

It was a fantastic day of education! And even though temperatures persisted into the low 90s, I didn’t hesitate too long to jump in. Even though 12 inch-deep- water looked to be several feet deep; very murky.

After pulling off the river at Allenton Access we drove off to a historic, 3-story, building, which housed the Great Pacific Coffee Company in downtown Pacific, MO. Another 3 hours of visiting, dancing, piano playing, touring, intriguing presentations from the local organizations, and a big ice-cold margarita; the day finished with much fulfillment.