Comments on: TELL US YOUR SIMPSON LAKE or GREENTREE PARK STORIES!

By: Jacklyn

Jacklyn — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:19:57 +0000

And I thought I was the ssenlibe one. Thanks for setting me straight.

By: Danelle Haake

Danelle Haake — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:17:45 +0000

Don,

Thank you for the information you shared with our community. I hope you were able to report the fish kill you described to the proper authorities – the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Emergency Response unit. They can be reached either by calling 573-634-2436 (24/7) or by visiting http://www.dnr.mo.gov/concern.htm.

When it comes to our local urban lakes and streams, some might say, “oh, it’s just a couple of fish” or “gee! I didn’t realize anything was even living in this nasty water…” Well, there are fish in our streams – I’ve seen them in Deer Creek, Grand Glaize Creek, Gravois Creek, Sebago Creek, Sugar Creek, Two-Mile Creek, and in the River des Peres! In many of these, I’ve also seen crayfish and mayflies and several other kinds of aquatic insects. So, yes, there is life in our urban streams.

And you know, a few dead fish is still a few dead fish – and something killed them. We have to make sure the authorities are made aware of this! When the state receives information on these instances, two things happen 1) they have proof that problems exist and 2) they have proof that the citizens care. Both are vital to improving our water resources.

As a river enthusiast who works to protect and improve all of our local waterways (yes, including the River des Peres!), I would like to encourage anyone who comes across a fish kill (or turtles or other animals) to PLEASE call 573-634-2436 to report it.

Danelle Haake
Webster Groves

By: Donna Halsband

Donna Halsband — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:58:57 +0000

Thanks for calling attention to Simpson Lake. Our Service Learning students have done clean-up and honeysuckle removal each semester for about 10 years. It’s one of those jobs that never seems to go away. especially when it has flooded.
We did do a fairly comprehensive water testing program there about 7 years ago and the lake was healthy. There is a really gross cove by MSD that we have never touched as it looks like it needs folks with hazmat suits.
My understanding from St. Louis County Parks is that neighbors to the park use it as a dumping ground. Very sad.
It’s such a lovely little lake and I hope your efforts will lead to more care for this beautiful resource. We will keep up our efforts!

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:08:45 +0000

Interesting. I probably rode my new, but old-fashioned, bike through the parking area at Simpson Lake even as you were counting the cups, bottles and balls. It was actually surprising how pristine it looked, though there were no illusions.

I did experience pangs of yearning to somehow get a remaining sailboat down from the garage rafters. However, at my age such pangs are disconnected from reality, and a car bike rack is a vital part of negotiating Marshall Rd Hill from our Kirkwood home.