The first Stream Team event of the year was March 23, 2024.    FATC volunteers met at Babler State Park to do Bonhomme Creek water monitoring at two sites: outside the park (highway location) and at the Pond ball fields.

FATC participants were myself (Harold Bates), Bob Hassett, Ken Welter, Chris Roth, Bill Grelle, Don Varner, Dave Rodecap, Mike Chambers, and three new members, Joe Ackerman, Mitch Brewbaker and Brian Collins.  With two sites to test and a good number of men to help, we split into two groups.   Mike Chambers led the team at the highway location.   I led the team at the ball fields.   The water level at both locations was very low.  At the Pond ball fields we found weak riffles but not many invertebrates, producing a score of 16 which is a “fair” rating.  Mike Chambers and company at the highway creek location had a higher score of 20 for the invertebrates, which is a “good” rating.  Other tests at both locations included water flow, oxygen, and nitrate levels, as well as a description of the surrounding land.  The weather for the day started cold at 8:30 a.m. and ended up sunny and mild. 

Thanks to all the men who came to help!    The next Stream Team event will be at a new creek in Brentwood, Missouri called Black Creek.    The date will be added to the calendar soon.