“Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for Fighting,”  by Joe Bachant
Channel: kcdigitalvideo
Date: 23/05/2016

Download Transcript: 
http://kcdv.tv/big-muddy-speakers-series/pdf/joe-bachant.pdf

“Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for Fighting,” 
by Joe Bachant, Tuesday, February 23, 2016

In this video Joe Bachant, retired research ecologist and water
advocate, discusses past, present & future struggles to maintain
water quality, stream integrity and a sustainable public water
trust.

Joe Bachant retired in 2002 from a 30-year career as Resource
Coordinator at Missouri Department of Conservation. As a Research Ecologist, a temporary role, he was instrumental in establishing the Missouri Stream Team Program.  He continues to fight for citizens’ rights to clean water and the importance of natural stream processes.

This will be an “old-fashioned stand up and talk presentation”
according to Joe. Joe will share some of his history fighting for
Missouri’s waterways, such as the citizen battle to keep dams
from being built on the Meramec River, but will also focus on the
future issues our water resources face in our state and the
country from the Clean Water Act to water redistribution.

Some say “water is the new oil”. In an era of climate change,
increasing population and continued development, we can no longer take for granted our abundant freshwater resources here in
Missouri. Various states and entities are looking at the Missouri
River as the solution to their water problems and these political
and natural resource issues will only continue to get more
complex.

Joe will be shares his new idea: a citizen-driven petition to
amend the state constitution to include waters of the state as a
public trust. He’ll share his latest draft and invite comments
and ideas on strengthening it.

Joe Bachant is a retired Research Ecologist with a 30 year career
in the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. He was instrumental in
establishing the Missouri Stream Team program. He continues
working as an advocate for water and river resources and climate
change issues. He was awarded the Life Time Achievement Award by
the Missouri Stream Team program in 2014.

Big Muddy Speakers Series (Kansas City) hosted by 
Healthy Rivers Partnership (http://www.healthyriverspartnership.com/),
Lakeside Nature Center (http://www.lakesidenaturecenter.org/), and
RiverRelief (http://www.riverrelief.org/) 
at the Westport Coffeehouse Theater (http://www.westportcoffeehouse.com)

Musical Credits:

"The Carnival of the Animals," by Camille Saint-Saëns. 
A complete recording of all fourteen movements by pianists Neal
and Nancy O'Doan and the Seattle Youth Symphony conducted by
Vilem Sokol.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals

Live broadcast of Big Muddy Speaker Series:
http://www.kcdv.tv

Index of the Big Muddy Speaker Series:
http://www.kcdv.tv/big-muddy-speakers-series

For information about upcoming presentations visit:
http://bigmuddyspeakers.org/kansascity/