Hinkson Creek is currently on the federal 303(d) list of impaired waters. The impaired portion of Hinkson Creek starts just south of I-70 at Walnut Street and runs 14 miles through the City of Columbia into Perche Creek. A 319 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was awarded to Show-Me Clean Streams in 2004 to educate residents, developers, and the media about water quality issues in the Hinkson watershed. The bulk of this effort will be implemented through “leading by example”. Until May 2008, the Hinkson Creek Watershed Restoration Project will provide cost share funds for developers implementing conservation developments, residents wishing to install raingardens, and residents wanting to participate in the Watershed-Friendly Yards program.   The Project has also committed to cost-sharing bank stabilization projects and tree-planting projects along Hinkson watershed streams.

Although the Hinkson is "not fully supporting" of warm-water aquatic life (according to its federal 303d designation), that does not mean it is lifeless. Far from it. As our little blue friend (above) attests, the Hinkson and its tributaries are still part of a living ecosystem that flows within our city. Orangethroat Darters like this one start showing up in our nets in mid-April when we sample for macroinvertebrates. These fish were found in Grindstone, County House Branch, and Flat Branch creeks.

While the darters were a nice surprise in our sampling nets, our nets also revealed that the aquatic insect community is less diverse than it should be. Stoneflies (a sensitive order of insects) have been notably absent from most of our samples, and mayfly larvae have been all but absent in our samples as well. Development in the watersheds of these tributaries of the Hinkson may be contributing to the declining health of overall stream system. The impacts vary with the stage of development. Initially, sediment plumes from upland erosion on construction sites can fill in streambeds, leaving little habitat for fish, crayfish, and insects. Developments require infrastructure, which sometimes fails, and this can result in sewage and chemical discharges into streams. Finally, the change of land use from forest to residential and commercial use causes streams to become "flashier", causing flooding problems and reducing the stream's baseflow between rains.

Our project offers different opportunities to help our streams by simple adjustments to our usual routines. By enrolling in our Show-Me Yards program, home owners can learn to reduce harmful run-off from their yards. By enrolling in our raingarden program, individuals can detain and treat some of the run-off from impervious surfaces such as rooftops and driveways. By joining in these programs, residents can learn more about how our daily activities can affect streams that may be miles away.  Please click on the icons to the left for more information about our programs.