Protecting the Sni-A-Bar Creek Watershed

In an effort to be proactive and protect the natural resources of Eastern Jackson County, several area cities and organizations have come together to preserve a natural watershed.

The West Branch Sni-A-Bar Creek Watershed Consortium was established in June as a way to protect the West Branch of the Sni-A-Bar Creek. The consortium includes the cities of Grain Valley, Blue Springs and Lake Lotawana as well as Jackson County, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Conservation Department and the Mid-America Regional Council. Members also represent the Lake Lotawana Association and the Carriage Oaks Homeowners Association.

“We wanted to be proactive and protect the resources within this watershed from the impact of development,” said Jeff Fisher, director of public works for Grain Valley and chairman of the consortium. “We are working to educate the public about what they should and should not do with the watershed as well as minimizing any potential damage.”

A watershed is an area of land that drains into a common body of water such as a creek, stream, river or lake.

Fisher said this consortium is a “great thing” because many times, such organizations are not created until the damage has already been done. The creek begins near Lake Lotawana, running through unincorporated Jackson County and the southern edge of Blue Springs before ending in Grain Valley.

The goal is to promote and improve the sustainability, conservation, protection and management of the cultural and natural resources.

Fisher said right now, the area has little development, so informing people of what should happen to protect this watershed is crucial.

Plans include monitoring the amount of erosion taking place within the watershed, public education and the filtering of any pollutants into the area. Fisher said all can impact wildlife, fish and the environment.

“We can’t do it alone,” Fisher said. “We need the community to understand that what we do impacts this watershed.”