River Hills Traveler

06/30/2025

UPDATE — 2025 Unauthorized Large Group Use Incident
June 27, 2025 (from US Forest Service)

Current Situation
As of today, the estimated attendance is around 405 participants. We anticipate a slow continual increase of participants through the weekend and into next week until the peak of the incident on July 4.

If you are traveling in the vicinity, please be mindful of turning traffic from County Highway 99 onto County Road 430. Participants are also accessing the incident site from other roads that lead into the incident from the north.

Background Information
The Forest Service is responding to an Unauthorized Noncommercial Large Group Use Incident (Rainbow Family Gathering) on the Mark Twain National Forest, Eleven Point/Doniphan Ranger District. The incident is approximately 6 miles northeast of Thomasville, Missouri, in Oregon County along
County Road 430 (Banner Road).

The Forest Service has mobilized a National Incident Management Team with experience managing these
types of incidents. The team works closely with the local community, including law enforcement agencies, throughout the incident to protect the health and safety of everyone involved, and to lessen environmental impacts to the site by providing information and enforcing laws.

An incident of this size can have significant impacts on traffic, communities, local resources, residents, and visitors. Local businesses can expect to see large numbers of Rainbow Family participants visiting stores and buying food and supplies along routes to the incident location.

The Rainbow Family of Living Light is a loose-knit group of people from throughout the United States and other countries who gather annually on a national forest. Since the first gathering near Strawberry Lake on the Arapaho National Forest in Colorado in 1972, the incident has taken place on a different national forest each year.

Forest Orders and Closure Information
The Mark Twain National Forest issued Forest Order 09-05-25-03 closing Forest Roads 4155 and 4155A on June 24 at 1600 hrs. This closure will be in effect through July 14 at 0800 hrs.

06/26/2025

The Arcadia Valley Chamber of Commerce will again partner with Missouri State Parks and Battle of Pilot K**b State Historic Site to celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks display Friday, July 4. The event will go from 7-10:30 p.m. on the historic site grounds.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring insect repellent and a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

For more information, contact the site’s office at 573-546-3454. The Battle of Pilot K**b State Historic Site is located at 118 E. Maple in Pilot K**b.

06/24/2025

The Forest Service is responding to an Unauthorized Noncommercial Large Group Use Incident (Rainbow Family Gathering) on the Mark Twain National Forest, Eleven Point/Doniphan Ranger District.

The incident is approximately 6 miles northeast of Thomasville, Missouri, in Oregon County along County Road 430 (Banner Road).

The Forest Service has mobilized a National Incident Management Team with experience managing these types of incidents. The team works closely with the local community, including law enforcement agencies, throughout the incident to protect the health and safety of everyone involved, and to lessen environmental impacts to the site by providing information and enforcing laws.

Currently, the estimated attendance is approximately 183 attendees.

06/17/2025

A couple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms will also bring heavy rain back to the area along with the potential of some localized flooding today into Wednesday night.

06/17/2025

An update to the National Weather Service (NWS) weather system will create an outage of NOAA weather radios. This outage is expected to be short-term, from Monday, June 16, through sometime on Wednesday, June 18. All citizens to have alternative ways to receive weather warning information during this time.

There are multiple sources to access for weather warnings, including local TV and radio stations, weather apps on a mobile device, and the NWS website at weather.gov/sgf.

The National Weather Service in Springfield will be conducting a required, scheduled update to their Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) system from June 16-18. The NWS uses the AWIPS computer system to display and integrate weather and water information, and to send life-saving information, such as weather and water warnings, to the public.

Springfield officials also noted that this work will not impact their core services of forecast products, and weather watches, warnings and advisories are expected during this period. The KSGF radar will remain operational and products will continue to be distributed as normal.

06/10/2025

Help Clean Up the James at the 2025 River Rescue!

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) will be hosting their annual River Rescue clean-up from 8:00am to 1:00pm where volunteers will remove trash, tires, and other large debris from the James River. This year’s event will be hosted on the James River from Shelvin Rock Access to HootenTown Campground. Lunch and shuttling will be provided for all volunteers.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Register online at: www.jamesriverbasin.com/riverrescue

Trash bags and gloves will be provided.

There is no charge for River Rescue. The event is sponsored in part by Athletic Brewing Company and donors to the Larry Martin Memorial River Rescue Fund. Visit www.jamesriverbasin.com/larry-martin to donate and support JRBP’s cleanup efforts.

Larry Martin first joined the James River Basin Partnership through volunteering. In 2003, he decided to increase his commitment within the organization and joined the JRBP Board of Directors. From 2012 to 2015 he served as the Board President.

06/06/2025

Echo Bluff State Park conceptual development plan survey now online

JEFFERSON CITY – Representatives from Missouri State Parks invite the public to provide input for Echo Bluff State Park’s conceptual development plan update. A 30-day comment period will begin June 4, with a survey available online at mostateparks.com/CDP.

For more information on conceptual development planning, please visit mostateparks.com/CDP or call Daniel Engler, planning section manager, at 573-751-8462.

Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Conceptual development plans, or CDPs, guide the future use and development at each state park and historic site. CDPs support the mission, purpose and direction of each facility. These long-range plans outline area use, site goals, development objectives, research needs and project phasing while ta...

06/02/2025

Youth fishing day at Ripley Lake

In celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week, the Eleven Point Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest will host a youth fishing day at Ripley Lake, weather permitting, on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Participation is open to all kids ages 2-15. Fishing licenses are not required June 7 and 8, 2025 throughout the state of Missouri, but size and daily limits still apply. The free event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon. Door prizes will be provided to the first 50 kids. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the U.S. Forest Service have limited fishing gear to provide, so participants should bring their own equipment and bait.

The event aims to promote and introduce kids to fishing on public lands. Staff will be on hand to assist with angling techniques and instruction. The MDC recently stocked hundreds of fish in Ripley Lake to increase angler success.

Games, crafts, and other activities will also be available. Some refreshments will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own water and snacks. Children MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Directions to Ripley Lake from Doniphan, Mo>:
• Take Highway 160 west 9 miles to Highway C.
• Turn right/north onto C and travel about 1 mile.
• Turn right onto Forest Road 3240 at the entrance sign and continue another mile to Day Use area.

For more information about Ripley Lake, go to

Surrounded by hardwood forest, Ripley Lake Recreation Area is one of the few fishing spots in this part of the forest, and it is used mostly for primitive fishing and picnicking. Ripley Lake is a 20-acre lake with an average depth of 12 feet. The lake is stocked yearly with catfish.As you drive in,....

05/24/2025

MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL for NEW SUBSCRIBERS! Half-price 12-month print subscription with full online access (which includes archives).

Memorial Day Sale! New subscribers to The River Hills Traveler can sign up for 1 year online access for only $13.50!Sale ends Monday, May 26 at 11:59 p.m.

04/01/2025

ROLLA — The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted a severe weather event moving through Missouri over the next few days. These storm systems could result in 6-15 inches of precipitation over parts of the state. Forest Service personnel are preparing for the event and will be closely monitoring the water levels of local creeks and rivers as the storms move into and through the area.

Predictions also include chances of high winds and hail. Please stay tuned in to local weather stations for timely and accurate local weather conditions and updates.

Public safety will remain important even after the initial storm fronts move through. If the storms stall out over southeastern Missouri, as predicted, rising rivers could inundate multiple Forest recreation sites. Greer Crossing, Deer Leap, and Float Camp, on the Eleven Point Ranger District will be temporarily closed until after the storm systems move through.

On the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District, the season opening of North Fork Recreation Area will be delayed until after the weekend and the site can be evaluated for safety. Gates are being closed at Bar K as well, as that low-lying site often floods during heavy rains.

The Houston/Rolla/Creek Ranger District expects Stone Mill (near Fort Leonard Wood) to be impacted by higher water levels, so it also will be temporarily closed.

Forest Service personnel will monitor recreation sites, roads, trails, and other infrastructure over the coming days and will alert the public if any additional closures need to occur from storm damage or flooding.

The primary concern for everyone at Mark Twain National Forest is public safety, so please stay alert. Do not drive through moving water, as just a few inches can carry a vehicle downstream with it.

Baseball-sized hail and up to 70 mph wind gusts are predicted to occur with the initial storms, so remaining indoors as these fronts move through is recommended.

03/14/2025

Warning horn below Table Rock Dam not operational

BRANSON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers advises all individuals downstream of Table Rock Dam that the warning horn, which typically signals changes in water levels, is not operational. While the horn at the dam continues to function and will sound before any water level changes, those farther downstream may not hear it.

Residents and visitors downstream should closely monitor water levels. If flows increase and water begins to rise, immediately move to higher ground. The Corps strongly recommends wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket whenever near or on the water.

The Table Rock Project Office is actively working to restore the downstream warning horn. However, a timeline for its repair or replacement is not yet available.

For additional information, please contact the Table Rock Project Office at (501) 340-1950. Updates on water releases from Table Rock Dam can be accessed on the Little Rock District website, www.swl.usace.army.mil, by selecting the “water level” button on the homepage.

The official homepage of the Little Rock District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

05/12/2024

[8:30 PM 5/11/24] For all our aurora timing folks who have been asking, this is from the most recent update from the Space Weather Prediction Center!

[9:39 PM] edit for clarity- these times are for the entire United States. Our highest chances of seeing the aurora anywhere in the country are a combination of how high (G1-G5) the storm intensity is (G5 is strongest) paired with the most darkness. The storm affecting the entire earth will be strongest right when Missouri and the rest of the greater Ozarks region is nearing sunrise. Never say never... G4 is still incredibly strong.

7pm - 10pm: Max G4
10pm - 1am: Max G4
1am - 4am: Max G4
4am - 7am: Max G5
7am - 10am: Max G4