Disappearing cottonwoods inspire
program, discussion

     (Feb. 9, 2008) – The future of cottonwood trees along the Missouri River will be the subject of an illustrated program and panel discussion at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Betty Strong Encounter Center on the Missouri Riverfront.

     The event will be the second in a series of programs designed to stir interest in the river as a unique setting for a rich diversity of life. Admission will be free.

     Cottonwoods once lined the Missouri and its tributaries on the otherwise stark prairie. Native people relied on the trees to guide them to the river. Cottonwoods were used in certain religious ceremonies and are considered sacred in some contexts. Cottonwood bark was used as fodder for horses, a practice that surprised explorers Lewis & Clark.

     The Corps of Discovery used cottonwoods for firewood and building material. The trees provided shade from the summer sun. Cottonwood forests continue to provide a habitat for wildlife, including bald eagles. But over the last century dramatic changes in the Missouri River have compromised the cottonwoods. The Encounter Center program will explore some of the life-altering factors, as well as historical context, and possible plans for restoring cottonwoods.ottonwoods.

     The speakers will be Mark D. Dixon, assistant professor of biology at University of South Dakota (USD); Kristine Nemec, environmental resources specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Tim Cowman, director of the Missouri River Institute at USD.

     The program is presented by the Betty Strong Encounter Center in cooperation with the Izaak Walton League of America, one of the nation's oldest conservation organizations. Izaak Walton has almost 300 chapters, each dedicated to caring for the country’s natural heritage and improving outdoor recreational opportunities.

     The Betty Strong Encounter Center is a private, non-profit institution built and sustained by Missouri River Historical Development, Inc. (MRHD) located on the Missouri Riverfront, exit 149 off I-29. Admission, all programs, exhibits and activities are free. For more information, visit www.siouxcitylcic.com.

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