Whether your interest is conservation, policy, trail maintenance, activism or enjoying our outings, everyone with a love for the outdoors is welcome here. We appreciate you being a part of the Eastern Missouri Group (EMG) of the Missouri Sierra Club.
OPINION: Look-out for Restrictive Solar Panel Ordinances By Stephanie Todd
In the last year, at least two cities have considered very restrictive solar panel ordinances based almost solely on aesthetics. The ordinances are very similar, requiring the color of solar panels be compatible with the roof, no glare on adjacent properties, and requiring all solar panels be positioned in a symmetrical fashion, centered on the plane of roof. Based on citizen’s pushback, Olivette revised their ordinance to be more workable. However, Clarkson Valley is going much further with restrictions that would prohibit all street facing solar panels and require that all solar panels be substantially screened from public view, including adjacent properties. There are other restrictions, but these are the ones that standout.
EMG is supporting the citizens of Clarkson Valley in opposing this ordinance. We have alerted members in the area. In addition, EMG ExCom members, along with Outings Leaders, have commented at Board of Alders meeting, and a letter is being sent to the Board of Alders.
The Sierra Club believes everyone should have the right to install solar panels to produce clean energy and reduce their utility bills. The Missouri Legislature basically agrees. In 2022, Governor Parson signed Senate Bill 820 guaranteeing Missourians who live in a Homeowners Association (HOA) the right to install solar panels on the roofs of their homes without undue burden. In 2026, the Missouri Supreme Court reaffirmed this right. The Bill applies to HOAs, but it seems it would also apply to cities.
Citizens need to be vigilant. It is recommended that people sign-up to receive notices and agendas from your city. If you or anyone you know lives in a city that is considering passing restrictive solar panel ordinances, let EMG know and we will do what we can to help.
The Eastern Missouri Group sold lemonade at the Earth Day celebration at Forest Park in St. Louis. We had over 20 volunteers that worked over 200 hours! This is the 48th year we have been making our famous lemonade. We used some of that money to buy equipment to help water 350 trees that were planted in O’Fallon Park in April. This park suffered severe damage from the May 2025 tornado. These trees were supplied by Forest ReLeaf and planted by 250 volunteers from the Sierra Club and multiple other volunteer organizations and community members. We recently worked with Forest ReLeaf to water these trees. This watering effort will continue for 3 years until the trees become established. If you are interested in helping out, please see the EMG calendar. Thank YOU everyone that volunteered for both the lemonade stand and watering trees at O’Fallon Park!!
Lemonade Photo - Annie Marie Mosher, Dave Campbell, Barbara Kuhns, John Feldmann, George Bahrens, Larry Minth, Joseph “The Juicer” Kofron, Gary Baugham, Diane Lindsay, Jim Young.
Tree Watering Photo - David Maguire, Dave Campbell, John Feldmann, Lisa Dahlgren, Ted Weiss, Chris Gedens, David Mixon. Photos by Dave Campbell
Beginning the Wilderness Trail - Backpacking Trip May 30-31. Photo by Louise Bullock
Remembering Dr. Peter Raven From STLPR Dr. Peter Raven, a world-renowned botanist and conservationist, passed away on April 25, at the age of 89. His lifelong relationship with the Sierra Club began in his youth, serving as a naturalist on Club outings and paving the way for his legacy as an environmental icon. READ ABOUT HIS LEGACY
Are you on the biodiversity map? From Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter Getting on the Homegrown National Park Biodiversity Map showcases your commitment to restoring nature and inspires others to take action. By adding your space, you contribute to a growing movement that regenerates biodiversity and strengthens local ecosystems. Together, our individual efforts create meaningful change! READ MORE
Trump dismantles ocean monitoring network as an El Niño gathers heat From The Oregonian A portion of one of the most ambitious ocean monitoring networks ever built will go dark this month when scientists board a research vessel and motor off the Oregon coast to pull a research buoy from deep out of the Pacific. READ HERE
Missouri regulators approve Ameren solar project in Callaway County From KOMU The project, known as the Reform Project or Reform Renewable Energy Center, will include a solar generation facility and a new 345-kilovolt switching station called the Odyssey Switching Station. Ameren said the facility would be capable of powering about 44,000 homes. READ MORE
WoW! There was a HUGE attendance for the First Sierra Club Happy Hour at the Golden Hoosier! We had over 40 Sierra Club members and friends and family attend. I heard great conversations on a variety of topics. Some people stayed until 9:00! I also heard that we should do this again…so we are. The next Happy Hour will be at the Llywelyn’s Pub on Thursday, July 16, 5:00-till the cows come home! Review and photo submitted by Dave Campbell
Explore Big Spring Area - June 8 Explore Big Spring sensitive area, connect with other nature lovers, and learn about all of the proposed wilderness areas in Missouri and how you can take part in protecting these wild land resources! MORE INFO
Woods, Prairies and Ponds! - June 9
Join us for a leisurely 4.27 mile hike through the woods, a few open prairie spaces, etc. There are lots of picnic tables if you’d like to bring lunch and eat overlooking the lake. You definitely could spend an entire day here! MORE INFO
EMG ExCom Meeting - June 9
Join the Eastern Missouri Group Executive Committee Meeting and hear updates and voice your thoughts on how EMG is impacting the region. MORE INFO
Protect our Parks & Soils - June 10 Learn how to protect our Parks, Soils and Water funding and talk to your outings participants and members about the upcoming vote. This training will take place via Zoom. MORE INFO
Clean Energy Presentation - June 11 Join the Sierra Club and Renew Missouri for a presentation on clean energy in rural Missouri! Participants will learn about the benefits and benefits to solar across the state. MORE INFO
Outings Leader Meeting - June 11 Join our monthly meeting with Outing Leaders to discuss upcoming hikes! MORE INFO
Energy Burden Community Listening Session - June 17 Join us at the Child and Family Empowerment Center in North City to discuss the impacts of persistent energy burden - rising energy bills - in St. Louis. Dinner provided, vegan options available. MORE INFO
GO Green Justice Team Monthly Meeting - June 17
Join us on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7:00pm as we fight for clean, affordable, renewable energy for our communities. MORE INFO
MO Sierra Space | MOSS - June 24 Join the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter new & returning members, supporters, volunteers, allies, and staff to intentionally connect from across the state to: 1) build community amongst ourselves as teammates in Sierra Club’s mission, vision, values, and norms; 2) share updates on campaigns, victories, or other goings on in the state; 3) provide actionable steps to support grassroots organizing efforts for MO communities and environment. RSVP HERE
Sierra Club EMG Pint Night - October 22
Please join us on October 22nd at Alpine Shop in Kirkwood for happy hour! Learn about the mission of Sierra Club; America’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organizations. We offer it all: bird walks, tree ID hikes, trail maintenance, map reading, invasive cleanups, even water events. We offer training to become outings leaders so that YOU can lead a group and encourage others to get outside and smell the fresh air! There will be raffles, lots of conversations and meeting new people. Save to your calendar!
Bryant Creek State Park Combined Paddle & Service Project By Ed Bayham In May, the Missouri Chapter continued a tradition of combining a paddle on an Ozark Stream with a service project supporting a local park. This year we focused on one of the newest state parks, Bryant Creek. The co-leaders were Ed Bayham, a volunteer from St. Louis, and Marisa Frazier, a staff member from Springfield. We had 15 club members for the paddle, joined by 4 local paddlers. Due to low water levels, we put in at Sycamore Access, just below the historic Hodgson Water Mill. We finished 7.4 miles downstream at Warren Bridge Access. The Bryant winds past striking bluffs and wooded hillsides and was uncrowded for a weekend.
On the following day, eleven members participated in glade restoration at Bryant Creek S.P. Working under the direction of Nick Connolly, the park superintendent, we moved cut cedar logs for dispersal the clear the emerging glades for prescribed burns.
EMG members who participated were Ed Bayham, John Feldmann, Dave Mixon, and Natalie Johnson.
Photos submitted by Ed Bayham
O'Fallon Park Tree Watering - June 12 After the 2025 tornado, O’Fallon Park was left with less than 15% of its original tree canopy. In Spring 2026, Forest ReLeaf partnered with GRG, STL City Forestry and other community groups to replant over 350 trees. Sierra Club is looking for help watering new saplings in preparation for their first year of growth. This activity will require volunteers to walk short distances while carrying buckets of water. We will provide all tools and gloves necessary to weed, water and mulch. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! SIGN UP
North City Canvass + Clean Up - June 13 Energy burden continues to be a huge issue in St. Louis, especially in primarily black and brown parts of our city. Join us in North City to clean up the environment as we talk to fellow St. Louis residents about their experiences with energy burden. MORE INFO
Centennial Greenway Trash Pick Up - July 11 EMG has volunteered to adopt a 2-mile section of the Centennial Greenway for trash pick-up. We will meet in the parking lot near Half Price Books on the northeast corner of Delmar and McKnight in University City which is the mid-point of our 2-mile section. Our section of the Greenway extends from Olive Blvd to Shaw Park and we will break into two groups. One group will walk 1-mile north to Olive Blvd and the other will walk 1-mile south to Shaw Park. You will find that you’ll have fun being social with other trash haters during this event. SIGN UP HERE
Looking for IT help As an organization managed by volunteers, so is our website! Are you interested in helping us update and manage our website? After completing a 1 hour online training, you can help build our group's digital prescence! Reach out to Chapter Coordinator Ashton Rowling (ashton.rowling@sierraclub.org) to get involved.
This ship-wreck in Forest Park was not caused by the tornado. Rumor has that it was caused by a "TEMPEST." On Tuesday, June 2, Rick Armstrong invited people to join a hike and the Shakespeare Play in Forest Park. Photo by Rick Armstrong.
