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Stream Bank Protection - Bull Creek Style
David Casaletto
On a beautiful Saturday morning in April, 13 Bull Creek land owners (Lake Taneycomo watershed) along with Missouri Department of Conservation employees came together to plant 150 assorted shrubs and bottom land trees. They also collected and planted around 500 native willow cuttings and planted them in a  section of eroding stream bank. The field day was sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and supported by Ozarks Water Watch through a Teaming with Wildlife mini-grant from the Conservation Federation of Missouri.
Learning about tree planting and riparian protection
Before the tree planting began, a presentation was given on the importance of riparian (streamside) buffers, site preparation for the planting, tree species selection and planting techniques. The group was then able to plant the 150 trees in about 45 minutes and the 500 willow cuttings in around an hour.
Planting willow stakes along the stream bank
In addition, some of the group participated in a macroinvertebrate and fish collection to assess stream health. Their collection included several large stoneflies and water pennies. After the tree planting, the group came together for lunch and to meet and talk with their fellow Bull Creek landowners.
Collecting macroinvertibrates on Bull Creek
The Bull Creek Watershed extends south of Ozark, Missouri to the community of Rockaway Beach which sits on Lake Taneycomo. There are no significant communities within this watershed other than the developments known as Woods Fork and Saddlebrook. About 20% of the Bull Creek Watershed lies within the Mark Twain National Forest and there are multiple areas of special conservation interest. These include the Woods Fork aquatic Conservation Opportunity Area (COA), the Busiek COA and the Bull Creek Dolomite Glade/Oak Woodland Breaks COA. The upper portion of the watershed has been designated the Bull Creek Outstanding State Resource Water and in the lower portion of the watershed the Bear Creek drainage has been identified as an aquatic priority of the Nature Conservancy.
Map of Bull Creek Watershed
The Bull Creek Watershed is fairly pristine compared to many other streams in the region, although the incursions of a growing population and related development will predictably put pressure on riparian corridors and water quality in the streams themselves. The protection of the designated Conservation Opportunity Areas is of particular concern and it is exciting to see landowners coming together to address these challenges that threaten the stream's water quality.
The mission of Ozarks Water Watch to promote water quality through education, research, public policy and action projects is being full-filled in this Bull Creek project. In addition, one of our major areas of focus is to support and encourage allied watershed groups working for common purposes. It is the foundation's hope and desire that the Bull Creek property owners will band together to form a water quality association that will nurture and protect Bull Creek into the future. Ozarks Water Watch is glad to be able to play a small role in this effort. | 
