“A River in Renaissance” is the proposed theme for the first Meramec River Basin Summit, scheduled for September 2007. Planning for the summit has been underway for several months.

The summit will bring both public and private individuals and organizations together who have played a role in the past and will continue to contribute to restoration, conservation, agricultural, and outdoor recreation benefits within the Meramec basin.

The hope of the groups organizing the summit is that communication and dialogue growing from the event will further inspire people to appreciate and embrace the cultural and natural benefits of the Meramec basin.

The summit will be preceded by an eight-day media float trip, scheduled for the end of July.

Joanne Grady, Branch Chief for Fish Conservation, joined the planning committee at the April meeting and was assigned to the Marketing and Promotion Committee.

The regularly scheduled planning meetings occur at different venues within the Meramec River watershed. The April meeting was held at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis. The May meeting is tentatively planned to occur at Route 66 State Park.