Kyle Kosovich

Thanks! I'm excited about starting a conservation movement in my home watersheds. Growing up in both the Bryant and the North Fork has made me very aware of their importance. K-

Conservation Federation of Missouri Announces Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grant Awards (JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri) – The Conservation Federation of Missouri has awarded $10,800 to conservation organizations in its first year of Missouri Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grants. The nine grants will empower citizen conservation efforts within Conservation Opportunity Areas around the state. The Teaming With Wildlife Coalition includes nearly 250 Missouri organizations and businesses that support additional funding for fish, forest and wildlife conservation and related education and outdoor recreation. The coalition also supports implementation of Missouri’s Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy – a statewide strategy that focuses on partnerships to increase habitat work in priority places – Conservation Opportunity Areas. “It’s wonderful to see citizen conservation groups get involved and take ownership of local conservation efforts,” said Dave Murphy, CFM Executive Director. “Our organization is made of citizen conservationists, and we’re pleased to offer a program that supports their efforts.” The Mini Grant program provides funds for a combination of partnership meetings and on-the-ground habitat restoration. “We’ve learned that partnerships are really key to increasing conservation activities,” said Amy Buechler, Teaming With Wildlife Coordinator. “In many cases, hosting a partnership meeting is the first needed step to jumpstart coordinated activities. In other cases, start-up money is needed to help accomplish a healthy habitat goal.” The Conservation Federation of Missouri is the largest and oldest statewide citizen conservation organization in Missouri, working to conserve natural resources and protect Missouri’s natural heritage. Funding for the 2009 Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grant Program was provided by CFM, as well as through donations from Teaming With Wildlife partner organizations including the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Prairie Foundation, Audubon Missouri, The Nature Conservancy, and Audubon Society of Missouri. To learn more or to make a donation, please visit www.confedmo.org. 2009 Missouri Teaming With Wildlife Mini Grant Awards Audubon Missouri Iatan/Weston Missouri River Corridor Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) Stakeholder Development Audubon Missouri will host a stakeholder forum focused on the Iatan/Weston Missouri River Corridor COA, resulting in the development of an action plan for future collaborative activities. Chert Glade Master Naturalists Canoes for Conservation Funds will be used to purchase two canoes and related equipment to aid in water quality education programs, creek cleanups and riparian restoration in the Shoal Creek and Spring River Conservation Opportunity Areas. Kansas City WildLands Conservation Opportunity Area Volunteer Stewards Training Academy Kansas City WildLands will develop a Training Academy to engage more citizen volunteers in restoring and conserving limestone glades, riparian forest, remnant prairies and woodlands within the Upper Blue River Conservation Opportunity Area in urban Kansas City. Longboat Outfitters Re-invigorating the Bryant Creek and North Fork Conservation Opportunity Areas Longboat Outfitters and Ozark Regional Land Trust will partner to host a stakeholder meeting for the Bryant Creek and North Fork COAs. The meeting will serve to reconnect conservation partners and develop coordinated activities for the future. Missouri River Relief Manitou Bluffs Conservation Opportunity Area Stakeholders Sharing on the River As part of a larger River Camp 2009 event, Missouri River Relief will host a River Managers’ Forum and River Camp Sandbar Hootenanny to share current activities within the Manitou Bluffs COA and sow seeds for future collaborations. The Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region Outreach, Education and Engagement in the LaBarque Creek COA Funds will be used to engage the people who live within the LaBarque Creek Watershed COA by hosting trail building workshops, watershed gatherings, and developing educational materials. Southwest Chapter of Quail Unlimited Roaring River State Park Glade Restoration The Southwest Chapter of Quail Unlimited will restore four acres of glade habitat in the Roaring River Conservation Opportunity Area by removing Eastern Red Cedars. Stream Team 3481 Big Piney River Riparian Restoration Stream Team 3481 will work to establish a 100-foot riparian buffer along the Big Piney River to conserve habitat for declining fish, mussels and hellbenders. Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center Conservation Opportunity Area Committee Development Wildcat Glades will host quarterly partnership meetings for the Shoal Creek COA near Joplin and expand community restoration workdays.

Ham, yes for those who know all about river camping it may not figure into their account to hire a guide to run the boat while you fish, set camp up for them while you fish, cook dinner/dessert while you fish, and do it all again in the moring while you fish. For those who have no gear, and only a little know how, I think it is a great experience and value. For those of you who do have the know how and would rather fish by yourself and have your own time I can also be a comsmissary boat for your camping party. I haul all gear so your boat is light an manurverable. This means I float on ahead of you and fire up lunch, you float around the bend and make a pitstop for some grub and then keep on fishing. While I pack down the lunch buffet and head down stream to set up camp. At night fall you float into a camp that has hot dinner, tents and beds ready to go, and all you do is lay the fishing rods down for a feast. Then when moring comes around you wake up to hot coffee and breakfast and hit the water before the sun if you like. You get absolute maximum fishing hours, great food, great experience, and all you do is meet me at the river and were on our way. Also with my boat we spare no luxury. Tables, chairs, 2 dutch ovens, gas grill, coolers full of BYOBeverage;), shower, and what ever else you may want. As most of you know campfire dinner is always better than anything made at home. Another supper easy one is those cinnamon rolls in the can. They bake up great in a dutch oven. This summer I plan on getting a hand crank ice cream maker and having homade ice cream and fresh baked brownies. Apple dumplings are basicly fresh apple cut up and prepared like an apple pie with sourdough biscuts on top. Its good talking with you all and have a good one. Let me know if you ever need a hand on the river. Thanks

Thanks RSBreth! I appreciate your help and comments. I was a canoe gut to until I paddled a wood flat bottom down the river. You would be surprized how responsive it is and how little water a 20' wood flatbottom draws.

It is $400 for two people per day. That is $50 more each person than a guided fishing trip and your getting an overnight with cooking and gear rental for that $50. If you wanted a half day the second day we could talk about a discounted rate for the second day. Email or call me and we'll work our those details. This is what I do for you on a trip like that. I shop for all the food/drinks you need before the trip, guide your fishing trip, set up camp, cook all meals, including dinner and breakfast, I provide MSR tents, and Exped downmats to sleep on.We will also talk and learn about the stream ecology and history on our float down the river. I also take photos during the trip that you will recieve. All you do is show up with your fishing gear, clothes, and your sleeping bag. If you need any cetain type of gear we can find you someting to use. I hope this clears up your questions. If you or anyone else has any questions or comments please give me a call or email me. You can find all my contact info on my website. Thanks Kyle

My camera is only a 6mgpix Pentax Optio point and shoot waterproof camera. About 4 years old. Nearly all the pictures on the site are with that camera and are shot by me. Thanks for the complements, I hope your right and I don't have enough time... Have a good one.

I agree it was a great day on the river! I took a father and his two sons, 10yrs and 6yrs old, on the North Fork for a ecological fishing trip on Friday too. We caught all kinds of great bugs, saw many types of birds, and caught smallmouth, rainbows, and goggle eye all on the fly rod. It was a great time for everyone, except the crawdads My North Fork Trout Fishing Report I had a feeling it would be a great weekend to catch trout on the North Fork. The moon was a waxing crescent, the water was up from the spring rains, and a front was stalled on the Ozarks and getting ready to dump on us. It seemed to turn out that way too, because the fish ate about anything you would soak in the water. Woolly buggers, caddis emergers, soft hackles, stoneflys, mohair leaches, and pheasant tails all caught fish. Riffles were yielding 8 or more fish each! It was great! Got'a love spring!

Hey guys I was wrong about the song. I thought he was playing Madison brown but it was that song that I thought of after I caught Mr.Brown. He was playing Deep River Blues by doc watson, another great song. If any of you know madison brown I'd be interested too. Gavin sounds like you got a start on it.

With this little tast of spring I'm really looking forward to float fishing and camping. Here are some pics from last year on the Bryant.

WOW! Sweeet! I'm speachless. Wrench-funny you say that about the song myfriend was playing Madison Brownon theguitar across the river when hooked him. A songis inorder for the troutsquatch of the north fork falls.

Man I can feel the stomach turning adrenalin kicking in just thinking about big brown smashing through the water. I'm glad to see that Mr. Brown is still doing well at the falls. I haven't seen him since last spring. Good to hear he's maturing in his old age, last I saw him at the falls he was just a little 26'' guppy Good job...and I raise my beer up in salute too... Looking forward to a picture!

I was on the North Fork this weekend for a bit and it treated me well this time. Started at the Falls first thing in the morning about 8. I took my dog sedge out to practice "stay" and luckly I caught a nice brown before he realized the water was warm enough for him. I introduced him though to Ms. Brown Trout and he seemed to like her cause after I released him sedge was off in the river galavanting in and out of the freezing water like a he was on some new drug. After that Tommy Mckee and I headed down to blair to try our luck with Sedge in the back of the truck this time. He didn't like that much. Chewed up the ceiling a bit in my mom's jeep, oops, sorry mom. Anyway stayed for a bit and caught a decent bow. looked like a cutthrought with the spots all toward the tail though. All landed on the stonefly. Later on...

Thanks everyone I'll look into those leads. FYI only one paddle needed! Gotto go later Kyle

Hey everyone. I am looking for old pictures and stories of the Old White River and the jon boats they used in that day. Particularly Jim Owens and Charlie Barnes and thier boat line in Galena and Branson. I have built one of Chralie Barnes's model boats and want to dedicate a histroy section in my website. I find the old style of float fishing and camping very fun and peacful. They had it right back in those days. any leads would be great. Thanks.

I like some smoked pork

Brian, I remember that day too, was wishin I was on the river too, the weather was nearly exactly like the Satuday the 3rd when I was out for the first fish of the year. Sounds like the catching was the same too. I'll be down on the 31st if your up to some high stick'n? Later man

The first fish of the year are always a very special treat to fisherman. Either that first smallmouth bass or the first limbline set for big flathead catfish, it always feels great to escape the rat race and pursue these finned critters. The river is fishing great right now. Visit my website and contact me to take a float in the Longboat, and land your first fish of the year. -Kyle Visit My Website

Here are some pictures.

Hey everyone, Thought the NF space needed something new and I happened to fish an hour or so today. Mohair landed a nice brownie and a few small bows, but that is not the coolest part. I was walking down stream and could see the bright new gravel patches at the head of a riffle. I though, "O' browns maybe have a few redds here" As I approached, I saw a few fish hovering around at first. Then, like one of those Magic Eye books all the trout began to pop out in like HD-3D. there were about 5 redds and 20 or more medium sized bows paired up surfing back and forth between. The biggest being about 18'' or so, with bright crimson red from its gill plate to its tail fin. It was a great sight to see. The future stock of the river were being laid out before my eyes. I admired the unique sight before me and then waded on down to take out for the day. That was the "biggest" gift of the day and one of the many things I'm thankfull for this year. Have a great one. Later Kyle Kosovich kyle@longboatoutfitters.com

Hello all- I've camped on the Point a few times now between Greer and Turner. Always at the first big bluff you run into facing the west. Above the first huricane creek. There is a big hole and a spot of sand on the opposite side. I plan on camping within the next two weeks and was wondering how that site looks and if it still big enough for a few tents and a campfire. thanks

Well I have to add it was a very awesome night of casting in the moonlight. The river is such a different place in the dark. Strange noizes, splashes that get your imagination wondering, and every little strike on you fly could be the biggest brown you have wrapped both hands around. So then every stike sends adrenalin coursing through you setting the hook like a tarpon fisherman. Yet. Acctually it was just a goggle eye thats now skipping toward you like a flat river rock. Great times! Brian we can start offering guided goggley night trip now huh? Only if Parker will tie us up some more of those flies though. We couldn't have done it without him. It was a great time. Call me nexttime you want to night float the NorthFork maybe you'll catch one off the front of the boat that looks like this one though istead of the little Goggs. (the goggs were extremely entertaining though) That's a brown my dad caught last August. Have a good one. Kyle

Well everyone, the DNR called me and I talked with them about this situation and this is what they had to say. The operator- -not allowed to mine in the stream- -allowed to cross the stream- -not allowed to mine below water level- -not allowed to have sifting equipment on the gravel bar- -allowed to dig gravel pits in flood plain- also he said that- -the operator must be bonded for damage repair if operator hit bankrupt- The guy I talked with said that he has personaly inspected this operator is one of the best in the state. He has not violation, works at restoring and maintaining his sites, plants river cane for swainson's warbler, and has bought out another operator that was not mining correctly. Hopefully the operator plans to keep this up, if it's true. If you want to voice your oppinion on the matter there is a meeting at Jeff City May 29 at 10:00. Here the public will get to voice concerns and the operator will get to tell his side of the story. If it does go to a hearing then only the people that spoke up during the public coment period will get to present. This is all I know at the moment.

Exactly! Hellbenders. My dad caught one cat fishing down there off the bridge before. I think if we had the chance at a heareing we could have a chance to stop it. I'm working on seeing if we can still stop this or not. I urge anyone to call, email or write a letter because the file that stuff away for the case.

Hello I saw the post yesterday on the gravel mining and had to do some reseach on it. I grew up on that river and do not want to see it get jacked up by a gravel minning opp. If any of you have been on that stream I'm sure you would agree. Apparently the applicant Spring Creek Materials, owned by Travis Morrison, wants to build a few floodpain pits for gravel removal and remove gravel from one gravel bar. The biggest problem is the way he has constructed floodplain pits in the past. He constructs the pits close enough to an eroding bank on an outside bend that the erosion breaches the buffer between the pit and the channel during a flood and gravel pours into the pit. This is a serious problem since the pit is deeper than the bottom of the creek channel, gravel from the bottom of the creek erodes into the pit. This is known as "headcutting" with the stream bed dropping for long distances upstream. When the bed erodes in this manner the banks become less stable, and they tend to collapse and erode more. It's great for the operator because the pit then has a fresh supply of gravel to mine. There is no minimum distance required between the pit and the stream channel, so the DNR has been powerless to stop it at the other locations this excavator mines. They recently renewed a permit on Spring Creek a little north of Twin Bridges where he operated 2 pits this way for years. Please be a hero, and pass this on to other Stream folks they should be aware of what's going on. >>>This is what DNR has to say about it>>>> The Land Reclamation Program appreciates your concerns with the permit > expansion for a new sand and gravel mining site sought after by Spring > Creek Materials in Ozark County. We encourage the public to take part > in the application process of new gravel mining permits or sites. > > We have your comments of concern on file. The staff director of the > Land Reclamation Program will take your comments into consideration when > making the decision to grant or deny the permit expansion. The > department’s Land Reclamation Program can not simply deny this permit > application based on requests. The permit application is in compliance > with the provisions of The Land Reclamation Act and an application that > meets the standards of the Act must be recommended for approval. > > As stated in the public notice there is an option for you to request a > public meeting or a formal hearing. If either of these requests is > desired they must be submitted by the end of the public comment period > which is Thursday March 27, 2008. These requests may be submitted by > e-mail, facsimile or regular mail. If the company agrees to participate > in a public meeting then a meeting will be scheduled. > > If a hearing is requested, you must provide evidence that the operation > of this site will unduly impair your health, safety or livelihood. If > no evidence can be provided the permit expansion will be approved. If > you believe that you have credible evidence you may submit a request for > a hearing. The hearing request would be presented to the Commission at > one of their regularly scheduled meetings. The Land Reclamation > Commission meets every two months in Jefferson City, Missouri. As the > petitioner, the burden of proof would be on you to prove that operation > of this site will unduly impair your health, safety or livelihood. If > the evidence is conclusive that your health, safety or livelihood will > be unduly impaired, the Commission may grant a hearing. > > If you wish to request a public meeting, formal hearing or have any > other questions please feel free to contact me by phone at (573) > 751-4041, by e-mail at chris.thiltgen@dnr.mo.gov or by mail at > MDNR/DEQ/LRP, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, Missouri 56102-0176. > > > Chris Thiltgen > Environmental Specialist > Missouri Department of Natural Resources > Land Reclamation Program > Telephone: (573) 751-4041 > Fax: (573) 751-0534 > chris.thiltgen@dnr.mo.gov > I just recieved this so I am not sure if there is still time to save it. It looks like if there is time then we might be able to prove this > If a hearing is requested, you must provide evidence that the operation > of this site will unduly impair your health, safety or livelihood. Not sure but worth a try? Thanks everyone. pass it on. Kyle

Hello I saw the post yesterday on the gravel mining and had to do some reseach on it. I grew up on that river and do not want to see it get jacked up by a gravel minning opp. If any of you have been on that stream I'm sure you would agree. I found this out.... Apparently the applicant Spring Creek Materials, owned by Travis Morrison, wants to build a few floodpain pits for gravel removal and remove gravel from one gravel bar. The biggest problem is the way he has constructed floodplain pits in the past. He constructs the pits close enough to an eroding bank on an outside bend that the erosion breaches the buffer between the pit and the channel during a flood and gravel pours into the pit. This is a serious problem since the pit is deeper than the bottom of the creek channel, gravel from the bottom of the creek erodes into the pit. This is known as "headcutting" with the stream bed dropping for long distances upstream. When the bed erodes in this manner the banks become less stable, and they tend to collapse and erode more. It's great for the operator because the pit then has a fresh supply of gravel to mine. There is no minimum distance required between the pit and the stream channel, so the DNR has been powerless to stop it at the other locations this excavator mines. They recently renewed a permit on Spring Creek a little north of Twin Bridges where he operated 2 pits this way for years. This is what DNR has to say about it The Land Reclamation Program appreciates your concerns with the permit > expansion for a new sand and gravel mining site sought after by Spring > Creek Materials in Ozark County. We encourage the public to take part > in the application process of new gravel mining permits or sites. > > We have your comments of concern on file. The staff director of the > Land Reclamation Program will take your comments into consideration when > making the decision to grant or deny the permit expansion. The > department’s Land Reclamation Program can not simply deny this permit > application based on requests. The permit application is in compliance > with the provisions of The Land Reclamation Act and an application that > meets the standards of the Act must be recommended for approval. > > As stated in the public notice there is an option for you to request a > public meeting or a formal hearing. If either of these requests is > desired they must be submitted by the end of the public comment period > which is Thursday March 27, 2008. These requests may be submitted by > e-mail, facsimile or regular mail. If the company agrees to participate > in a public meeting then a meeting will be scheduled. > > If a hearing is requested, you must provide evidence that the operation > of this site will unduly impair your health, safety or livelihood. If > no evidence can be provided the permit expansion will be approved. If > you believe that you have credible evidence you may submit a request for > a hearing. The hearing request would be presented to the Commission at > one of their regularly scheduled meetings. The Land Reclamation > Commission meets every two months in Jefferson City, Missouri. As the > petitioner, the burden of proof would be on you to prove that operation > of this site will unduly impair your health, safety or livelihood. If > the evidence is conclusive that your health, safety or livelihood will > be unduly impaired, the Commission may grant a hearing. > > If you wish to request a public meeting, formal hearing or have any > other questions please feel free to contact me by phone at (573) > 751-4041, by e-mail at chris.thiltgen@dnr.mo.gov or by mail at > MDNR/DEQ/LRP, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, Missouri 56102-0176. > > > Chris Thiltgen > Environmental Specialist > Missouri Department of Natural Resources > Land Reclamation Program > Telephone: (573) 751-4041 > Fax: (573) 751-0534 > chris.thiltgen@dnr.mo.gov > I just recieved this so I am not sure if there is still time to save it. It looks like if there is time then we might be able to prove this If a hearing is requested, you must provide evidence that the operation > of this site will unduly impair your health, safety or livelihood. Not sure but worth a try? Thank everyone pass it on. Kyle