Missouri Conservation Corps works primarily in invasive species removal, habitat restoration, and tree planting. We do not specialize in creek cleanups, but we sure enjoy it when we get to organize and lead them. On a warm and sunny June 14th, Missouri Conservation Corps met a group of 85 eager members of the Missouri Scholars Academy at Bridge #2 on Columbia’s Flat Branch Creek. The Scholars, from high schools across Missouri, were at MU for a three-week residency program focusing on advanced learning, problem-solving, and leadership. The group had walked down the MKT Trail from the MU campus to meet up with Missouri Conservation Corps staff and volunteers in order to clean up an impacted portion of Flat Branch Creek. After handing out bags, gloves, and some essential safety tips about cleaning an urban creek, we split the group into three squads, each squad led by a seasoned creek cleanup veteran. Working from Bridge #3 back to Bridge #1, the three squads collected trash, bottles, fabrics, scrap metal, camping gear, sleeping bags and blankets, a stroller, and two shopping carts out of Flat Branch Creek in less than two hours.
Members of each squad methodically scoured their sections of the creek to find and remove garbage, focusing on problematic removals such as sleeping bags and landscaping fabric wrapped around submerged trees and logs. Despite the difficulty of the project, and the widespread nature of the garbage involved, the scholars were not deterred and seemed to enjoy the challenge. Once the garbage was pulled out of the creek and hauled up the trail to a pickup site, the total estimate poundage was more than 700 pounds of trash and debris removed from the creek.
In order to pull off an event on this scale and with this many volunteers, Missouri Conservation Corps had a lot of outside help, and would like to thank Missouri Stream Teams, Volunteer Columbia, MCC board members and volunteers, and the staff and students of the Missouri Scholars Academy at MU. We also need to thank Missouri Stream Team Summer Intern Sam Brusven for his assistance and for his wonderful photos…see the gallery below! We look forward to another environmental collaboration with the Missouri Scholars in 2026!
Photos by Sam Brusven for Missouri Department of Conservation/Missouri Stream Team and for Missouri Conservation Corps
