MoDNR's Soil and Water Conservation Program

In the late 1960s, public awareness of environmental issues was growing. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans, one in every 10 Americans at the time, stood up to demand a cleaner and healthier environment. This first Earth Day was one of the largest grassroots demonstrations in the nation’s history — and it worked. The U.S. Congress established the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970 and passed several federal environmental laws, also referred to as acts, during the early 1970s. One of those acts, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), required federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. 

Changes in Missouri state government came in July 1, 1974, with the reorganization of the executive branch into 14 departments, similar to a President’s Cabinet. Under the Omnibus State Reorganization Act of 1974 and Missouri Revised Statutes, section 640.010, RSM, the Missouri General Assembly established the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to consolidate state agencies concerned with some aspect of the land, air, water, energy and cultural resources of the state. This was done to provide better government service to citizens by coordinating the work of state agencies, making them operate more economically, and responsively. 

The newly formed department assumed the broad responsibilities for programs assuring the wise use of land, air and water resources, and administering state parks and historic sites. Throughout the decades, the department has adapted and taken on additional responsibilities as new environmental issues are discovered.

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1974-1984

When the department was originally formed, its programs were organized under five divisions within the department:

  1. Division of Environmental Quality: Responsible for protecting and enhancing the quality of Missouri’s environment. Division programs include air quality, water quality, water supply, solid waste, land reclamation, soil and water conservation, laboratories and four regional offices located in Poplar Bluff, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis. The four policy making commissions within the department were assigned to this division: Missouri Air Conservation Commission, Missouri Clean Water Commission, Land Reclamation Commission and Missouri Soil and Water Districts Commission.
  2. Division of Parks and Recreation: Responsible for administering 54 state parks and historic sites, creating plans for future park development and administering recreation programs in the parks. The state Park Board, Mississippi River Parkway Commission and Lewis and Clark Trail Committee were assigned to this division.
  3. Division of Planning and Policy Development: Responsible for statewide resource planning, administering grants for local parks, and programs in energy and historic preservation.
  4. Division of Research and Technical Information: Administered programs for mineral and water resources, engineering geology and geologic mapping, regulating exploration and production of oil and gas. The State Oil and Gas Council was assigned to this division.
  5. Division of Administrative Services: Responsible for budget planning, personnel, fiscal work and purchasing.

In 1975, the department supervised the replacement of more than 550 dump sites with landfills. The department continued to grow, both within the state parks system and as new programs were added to the department. The end of this era was marked with the discovery of one of the largest superfund sites in the United States, Times Beach Dioxin Contamination, located 20 miles southwest of St. Louis, Missouri. 

1985-1994

In 1988, Missouri witnessed a significant oil spill after a failing weld on a Shell Pipe Line Corporation line broke, pouring 863,000 gallons of crude oil into the scenic Gasconade River. The department was deeply involved in cleanup of this accident, which at the time was one of the largest inland spills in the nation's history. The department continued to persevere. In 1993, the American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri awarded the “Life and Breath Award” to the department’s Air Pollution Control Program for reducing air pollution.

  • 1985 - Pursuant to an EPA grant, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources assumed responsibility for implementing the provisions of the federal Underground Storage Tank Law (1984), which was enacted as part of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to protect state groundwater. 
  • 1986 - The Water Well Drillers Act was established and the Missouri Well Installation Board was created. The rules written to enforce this statute establish well construction standards aimed to protecting Missouri's groundwater. 
  • 1987 - The Missouri State Revolving Fund Program was established following amendments to the Clean Water Act. The State Revolving Fund provides low-interest loans to municipalities, counties, public water and public sewer districts and political subdivisions for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. Springfield received the first loan in October 1990, for its wastewater treatment plant. 
  • 1988 - Missouri voters renewed the Parks and Soils Sales Tax, which was approved by 2/3 of the voters.
  • 1989 - The Missouri Water Resources Law passed, in recognition of the significance of the conservation, development and appropriate use of water resources in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources was tasked to inventory, monitor and protect the available water resources in order to maintain the quality and quantity of the water resources of the state, protect the public health, safety and general and economic welfare.
  • 1989 - The department’s Missouri Geological Survey opened the McCracken Core Library and Research Center in Rolla.
  • 1990 - Senate Bill 530 was passed, which modified the existing Solid Waste Management Law. The bill included landfill permitting requirements, prohibited certain items from going to landfills, set up a solid waste management fund and provided for the development of 20 Solid Waste Management Districts. 
  • 1990 - Missouri received Battle of Carthage State Historic Site in Carthage, Missouri as a gift.
  • 1990 - Purchased by Missouri in 1987, the Katy Trail State Park rails-to-trails project officially opened.  
  • 1991 - The Interstate Mining Compact law and Interstate Mining Compact Commission were enacted, to advance the protection and restoration of land, water and other resources affected by mining. This is a is a multi-state governmental organization, whose focus is to support mining interests and related environmental protection issues affecting the states, particularly with respect to implementing related regulatory or public policy programs. Missouri is a member of the commission by state statute, and is represented by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director. 
  • 1991 - The Underground Storage Tank Insurance Fund was transferred to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Originally established within the Office of Administration in 1989, the fund was created in response to federal legislation requiring owners and operators of underground storage tanks to have financial resources available to pay for cleanup of spills or leaks from their tanks. 
  • 1991 - The department dissolved its Waste Management Program and divided the program's functions into two new programs: Solid Waste Management Program and Hazardous Waste Management Program.
    1991 - Missouri purchased Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site in Ash Grove, Missouri.
  • 1991 - Missouri purchased Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in Middlebrook, Missouri.
  • 1991 - Union Pacific Railroad donated an additional 33 miles of rail corridor to Katy Trail State Park, from Sedalia to east of Clinton. This park is the nation’s longest rails-to-trails project, stretching from the Machens to Clinton, Missouri.
  • 1992 - The Safe Drinking Water Commission was established, becoming the sixth policy-making commission assigned to the Division of Environmental Quality within Department of Natural Resources. 
  • 1992 - Missouri purchased Big Sugar Creek State Park in Pineville, Missouri.
  • 1992 - Missouri purchased Iliniwek Village State Historic Site in Wayland, Missouri.
  • 1993 - The department's Missouri Geological Survey became the official Missouri Mine Map Repository, established by the State Legislature for the purposes of public safety and protection of property.  The repository houses more than 2,000 maps of underground mines of various mineral commodities. 
  • 1993 - The department's Missouri State Parks established an ADA Advisory Committee and spent about $6.5 million during the next two years on more than 1,000 projects to make the park system accessible and useable for people with disabilities.
  • 1993 - The department established the Small Business Assistance Program to assist small business in their efforts to comply with Section 507 of the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments.
  • 1994 - In response to EPA's Brownfields Program, Missouri's Voluntary Cleanup Law created the state Brownfields/ Voluntary Cleanup Program within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program. The department's program addresses and oversees brownfield cleanups and promotes redeveloping brownfields to protect the environment, reinvigorate communities, jump-start local economies, preserve greenspace and prevent urban sprawl. 

1995-2004

The Great Flood of 1993 and again in 1995, led to the rebuilding of many state parks and historic sites affected by the flooding, including the rebuilding of the entire Katy Trail State Park. In 1997, the department signed off on the Times Beach cleanup plan that was completed and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. After the cleanup, the site was turned over to the State of Missouri. The department was also involved in large cleanup efforts, including the state’s largest (3 million+) waste tire cleanup, the Weldon Spring cleanup and an Administrative Order with The Doe Run Co. to address lead contamination in Herculaneum, Missouri.

  • 1996 - The Underground Storage Tank Insurance Fund’s name changed to the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund. The fund administration of the fund moved to a board of trustees.
  • 1997 - Missouri purchased Route 66 State Park in Eureka, Missouri, .
  • 1997 - Missouri passed a 25% Missouri Historic Preservation Tax Credit. Administers jointly by the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' State Historic Preservation Office, this state tax incentive encourages rehabilitating commercial and residential historic structures – in urban cores, residential neighborhoods and small towns throughout the state of Missouri. 
  • 1998 - In partnership with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the department delivered specialized technical training to more than 1,000 law enforcement officers, allowing them to safely enter and dismantle clandestine drug laboratories. The department also provided millions of dollars of respiratory and personal protective equipment to agencies throughout Missouri in order to prevent exposures, injuries or worse.
  • 1999 - The land that was once Times Beach became Route 66 State Park in Eureka, Missouri.
  • 2000 - The Gateway Clean Air Program began in St. Louis, Missouri.
  • 2000 - Missouri received Morris State Park in Campbell, Missouri as a gift.
  • 2000 - Senate Bill 577 extended the Hazardous Waste Land Disposal and Hazardous Waste Category fees until Jan. 1, 2015, and created the Hazardous Waste Fund.  Paid annually by businesses and individuals that generate hazardous waste, 60% of the fees are placed into the Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund and 40% into the Hazardous Waste Fund.
  • 2001 - Missouri received Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones–Confluence Point State Park in West Alton, Missouri as a gift.
  • 2002 - Missouri received Clark’s Hill/ Norton State Historic Site in Osage City, Missouri as a gift.
  • 2003 - Budget issues in fiscal year 2003 resulted in restructuring the department’s regional offices following closure of the Jefferson City Regional Office.

2005-2014

In the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2005, AmerenUE's Taum Sauk Reservoir breached, releasing 1.3 billion gallons of water that swept through and destroyed Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville, Missouri. Four years later, the Department of Natural Resources joined Missouri State Parks visitors in celebrating the grand re-opening ceremony at the park, which included a new visitor’s center, enlarged campground and riverside picnic areas. In 2011, the department responded to the devastating tornadoes and severe storms that ripped through Joplin, Missouri and surrounding areas. Very little rainfall and record-breaking high temperatures presented Missouri with many challenges in 2012, when 99% of the state was abnormally dry or drier in June, which escalated to extreme drought conditions by August.

  • 2005 - Senate Bill 225 passed, which combined the Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund and the Hazardous Waste Fund together into the Hazardous Waste Fund.
  • 2006 - The department organized a stakeholder workgroup to create e-cycle Missouri, a framework for disposing, reusing and recycling e-scrap in Missouri in an economically sustainable fashion without threatening the environment. 
  • 2006 - Missouri voters changed the name of the Parks and Soils Sales Tax to the Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax, and renewed the tax by the highest percentage to date (70.8%). 
  • 2007 - Missouri received Current River State Park, located at the former Alton Club along the banks of the Current River, as a gift.
  • 2007 - The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program (GVIP) replaced the former Gateway Clean Air Program. GVIP is an emissions testing program for vehicles registered in the St. Louis area, jointly administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and State Highway Patrol. 
  • 2008 - Missouri purchased Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site in Butler, Missouri.
  • 2009 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the department with more than $265 million in federal funds for wastewater and drinking water system improvements across the state and for remediating underground storage tanks. It also provided about $200 million in grants and programs to promote the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
  • 2010 - In response to Missouri's Manufacturer Responsibility and Consumer Convenience Equipment Collection and Recovery Act (2008), the department promulgated the Electronics Scrap Management Rule. The department's e-scrap stakeholder workgroup was fundamental in both the law and regulations, which outline how specific unwanted electronic equipment will be collected and recycled or reused at no additional cost to households or home businesses.
  • 2010 - The Missouri State Parks Youth Corps was launched. The program provided young Missourians the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and develop the critical leadership skills needed for success in future careers, while accomplishing interesting projects that helped preserve and enhance Missouri’s state park system. 
  • 2011 - The department announced the Our Missouri Waters initiative, which protects Missouri’s water resources by focusing the department’s fiscal, technical and information resources on the most important issues. 
  • 2012 - The Land Survey Commission was created to provide recommendations on operating, planning and prioritizing the department's Land Survey Program and the design of regulations.
  • 2012 - Missouri received Don Robinson State Park in Jefferson County as a gift.
  • 2012 - The department reinstated "Kitchen Cabinet" meetings with stakeholders in agriculture, business and industry, local governments and environmental groups. These meetings, now called MoDNR Stakeholder Forums, offer forums for open and candid dialogue on issues common to our respective organizations, with the goal of gaining insights and input on Missouri’s challenges. The meetings also provide an opportunity for the department to share some of its key initiatives and discuss how organizations can become involved. 
  • 2012 - In an effort to more efficiently handle permit applications, the department developed Electronic Permitting (ePermitting) to help the regulated community apply for and receive Missouri State Operating General Permits (land disturbance general permits). 
  • 2012 - During Missouri's 2012 drought, the department’s Soil and Water Conservation Program initiated and completed the Drought Assistance Program under Executive Order 12-08. 
  • 2013 - House Bill 28 resulted in the Land Survey Program and Land Survey Commission moving to the Department of Agriculture. 
  • 2013 - Executive Order 12-03 resulted in the Division of Energy being transferred to the Department of Economic Development. 
  • 2013 - The department reinvigorated its compliance assistance efforts, by providing a team that meets with Missouri’s businesses and provides them with a clear set of guidelines on permitting and operations. 
  • 2013 - The department expanded its community services efforts through its Financial Assistance Center. By partnering with the Missouri Rural Water Association, the Missouri Public Utilities Alliance and other groups with specific skills and equipment, the department is able to help smaller communities that do not have access to engineers and other technical staff. The department expanded the availability of engineering grants to help these communities make decisions on their drinking and waste water infrastructure needs. 
  • 2013 - The department launched Environmental Site Tracking and Research Tool (E-Start), an online interactive map of hazardous substance sites throughout Missouri. 
  • 2013 - Missouri purchased Echo Bluff State Park in Shannon County. The park opened July 30, 2016.
  • 2014 - The department launched Geosciences Technical Resource Assessment Tool (GeoSTRAT), a web application that makes geologic and hydrologic data (springs, mines, sinkholes and more) readily available for public use. 
  • 2014 - A 21-year partnership with U.S. Geological Survey resulted in the department's Missouri Geological Survey producing 208 more geologic maps than otherwise would have been possible.

2015-2024

Missouri experienced several droughts and a historic flood, all within a relatively short timeframe. Abnormally dry conditions extended through fall and winter 2017, with dry conditions re-emerging in late spring 2018. The drought of 2018 was notable in its localized intensities and its overall impacts to both agriculture and public water supplies. Ninety-eight percent of the state experienced dry to exceptional drought conditions at its peak. The 2019 flood caused an estimated $20 billion in losses impacting the Missouri and Mississippi River basins. The duration of this flooding also surpassed that of the 1993 flood, with locations on the Missouri River in declared flood state for 279 days and on the Mississippi River for close to 100 days. The drought of 2022 impacted both Missouri agriculture and navigation on the Missouri River. Abnormally dry conditions extended through summer, with dry conditions re-emerging in fall in west and southwest Missouri. After a few short months of normal conditions, another drought alert was issued in May 2023, which has been extended through September 2024.

  • 2015 - Missouri State Parks was awarded nine Certificates of Excellence by TripAdvisor. This prestigious award recognizes establishments that consistently receive great TripAdvisor reviews from travelers. 
  • 2015 - Missouri State Parks opened a new loop trail at Harry S Truman State Park, marking its 1,000th Mile of Trails. The state park system officially includes a cumulative 1,000 miles of trails for the public to enjoy. 
  • 2015 - The department ramped up its process improvement efforts to employ a Lean in Government process improvement strategy.  Enhancing Effectiveness and Efficiency (E3) is a system of principles and tools that help the department focus on increasing value by reducing outdated or inefficient processes and allowing staff to work more effectively and provide better service.
  • 2016 - As part of their centennial celebration, Missouri State Parks hosted a Centennial Passport Program. Everyone was challenged to visit all 88 Missouri state parks and historic sites to get their passports stamped. 
  • 2017 - The park system celebrated 100 years of Missouri State Parks since it was officially established in April 1917.
  • 2018 - The department was identified as the lead agency to develop a 10-year plan and award more than $41 million in Volkswagen Trust Funds to eligible projects in Missouri that will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide pollution. The trust was established in 2016 following a settlement between the United States and Volkswagen AG, et al after VW violated the Clean Air Act.
  • 2018 - The department received a National Notable Achievement Award in the category of “Outstanding Use of Redevelopment Potential or Leveraging of External Resources to Accelerate Cleanups" from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its contribution on the Bannister Federal Complex transfer project in Kansas City. Specifically, the team was recognized for creative solutions and communication leading to a successful transfer of federal property to the private sector for redevelopment.
  • 2019 - The department dissolved its Solid Waste Management and Hazardous Waste programs. What was the Hazardous Waste Program Permit and Enforcement sections were combined with the Solid Waste Management Program and became the new Waste Management Program. The remaining Hazardous Waste Program Tanks, Federal Facilities and Superfund sections became the new Environmental Remediation Program. This was done to streamline the departments waste enforcement and permitting functions. 
  • 2019 - Under Gov. Mike Parson’s executive order, the Division of Energy returned to the department on Aug. 28, 2019. The move was part of a major restructuring of four state agencies to improve economic and workforce development in Missouri.
  • 2020 - The department's’ Division of State Parks and Missouri Office of Geospatial Information received a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award from Esri, a global leader in location intelligence. The team was honored for its vision, camaraderie and willingness to dive in and experiment with new technologies. Missouri State Parks and the Office of Geospatial Information has created an enterprise geographic information system (GIS) to support their growing information management needs. 
  • 2020 - The Katy Trail State Park celebrated its 30th anniversary since opening in 1990.
  • 2020 - The majority of the department's staff worked remotely from March 2020 through May 2021 following the closing of state office buildings due to the Covid pandemic.
  • 2020 - Covid impacted operations in state parks including park and campground closures. After the parks and sites reopened, MoStateParks saw record day use and overnight attendance. Operational changes included one-year reservation window for camping, 100% camping reservations, free same-day reservations for camping and mobile camping check-in and ORV permit sales. 
  • 2021 - Sappington African American Cemetery State Historic Site in Arrow Rock, Missouri opens The department dedicated the Sappington African American Cemetery State historic Site on June 5, 2021.
  • 2021 - The department accepted ownership of the Rock Island Corridor. The department and MoStateParks plan to develop the 144 miles of the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad corridor, which stretches from Windsor to Beaufort, into a public recreational trail. 
  • 2021 - The Soil and Water Conservation Program (SWCP) moved from the department’s Division of Environmental Quality to the Missouri Geological Survey to better align functions. The 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution unit moved from SWCP to the Financial Assistance Center to provide additional leveraging and partnership opportunities for pass-through funding.
  • 2021 - The department launched its new website! The departments 20 year old website was completely redesigned and reorganized to improve customer experience and allow users to find the information they need easier and faster. The new website includes a document search feature, the first-ever developed for a Missouri state government website. 
  • 2022 - EPA approved the redesignation of Jackson and Jefferson counties from “nonattainment” to “attainment” for the outdoor air quality standard for sulfur dioxide. This action marks the culmination of nearly a decade of work by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri’s industries to improve air quality in these areas.
  • 2022 - With funds received from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), the department was able to offer competitive community water infrastructure grants for communities to complete drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects.
  • 2022 - With funds received from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), the department start the Missouri Hydrology Information Center (MoHIC). The MoHIC team and its partners are dedicated to serving Missouri citizens during both flood and drought by providing accessible user-friendly information through an online dashboard now in development.
  • 2022 - Missouri State Parks launched an enhanced online reservation system, allowing the public to buy and send eGift cards, reserve shelters and schedule tours online. The new system also includes interactive park maps and photos to preview each campsite.
  • 2022 - After considering comments and suggestions by the public during four public meetings held at the park, Missouri State Parks renamed the Ozark Mountain State Park to Shepherd of the Hills State Park. 
  • 2022 - Vehicles registered in Franklin County no longer need an emissions inspection for vehicle registration through the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program. The action comes after years of effort by the department , regulated facilities, and citizens working together to reduce air emissions. Over the past 20 years, ground-level ozone concentrations in the St. Louis region have steadily declined, making it possible to pursue the removal of these mandated requirements. 

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