In 2001, Western Rivers Conservancy reached out of its western focus area to protect one of best known river confluences in the country, the Missouri and Mississippi confluence. Where the two rivers meet—which is the storied launch point and endpoint of Lewis and Clark’s 1804-1806 expedition—WRC bought and permanently protected a 1,067-acre property. In addition to its historical significance, the lands included crucial wetlands that waterfowl utilize while migrating along the Mississippi Flyway. To conserve this special spot and establish a new recreation area, WRC transferred the land to the state of Missouri and city of St. Louis. Today, Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park is a cherished destination for bird watchers, hikers and history buffs alike. One year later, in Montana, WRC protected access to some of the country’s most cherished fly fishing water when we conserved the Three Dollar Bridge site and three miles of the Madison River, a project you can read about in our May 2019 River of the Month.
