November 17, 2009 Stream Team 48 joined eight other Southwest Missouri Stream Teams to explore the possibility of forming a Stream Team Association for the area. In attendance were ST's 48, 2011, 2945, 3128, 3308, 3364, 3714, 3719, and 4066. Discussed were goals for the association as well as nominations for an association name to
be voted on at a later date by those present. A President was named by acclamation and a secretary was selected. Adopted goals were to facilitate cooperation with teams in
the Elk River/Spring River watershed and to provide a collective response mechanism for projects both planned and unexpected, as well as provide a forum for sharing team experiences and lessons learned. Four possible names for the association were submitted. The group approved quarterly meetings. An operating board was approved so
that a constitution and bylaws could be drafted. January 13, 2010, the operating board met to draft a constitution and by-laws and create a ballot for an association name to be voted on by all members that week. January 20, 2010 the operating board met once again to finalize the constitution and bylaws. This time an official name was selected for the association: Southwest Ozarks Stream Teams(SWOST). Copies of the constitution and bylaws were distributed to all member teams and are available to activie Stream Teams interested in joining the association. February 20, 2010 SWOST held its first meeting as an MDC recognized Stream Team Association. The meeting held at Carver Monument was hosted by ST #3719. March 6, 2010 the SWOST President traveled to Jefferson City to attend a meeting of the MDC Coalition of Stream Team Associations(currently 15 associations statewide). A petition to make SWOST a member of the coalition was accepted. The coalition has the solid support of both MDC and DNR and provides a vehicle for statewide associations to communicate and address common goals. Southwest Ozarks Stream Teams has been designated a ST #4139 by the MDC. A SWOST website is in the planning stages and should be up and running in the near future. All active stream teams in the Elk River/Spring River watersheds are urged to join SWOST. If your adopted stream is listed below this association was created for you:
Beemans Creek Fidelity Creek North Fork
Big Cedar Creek Five Mile Creek North Indian Creek
Big Sugar Creek Grannys Branch Opossum Creek
Blackberry Creek Grove Creek Patterson Creek
Boynham Branch Harrison Branch Pettis Creek
Brush Creek Hickory Creek Pine Creek
Buck Branch Huffman Branch Saratoga Creek
Buffalo Creek Hutchison Branch Shoal Creek
Bullskin Creek Indian Creek Silver Creek
Capps Creek Jenkins Creek South Indian Creek
Carver Branch Jones Creek Spencer Branch
Cedar Creek Little Lost Creek Spring Creek
Center Creek Little North Fork Spring River
Clear Creek Little Sugar Creek Stedman Branch
Coon Creek Lost Creek Stogden Creek
Deer Creek Mason Spring Creek Sugar Fork Branch
Douthit Branch McDougle Creek Sycamore Creek
Dry Creek Middle Indian Creek Trent Creek
Duval Creek Mill Creek Turkey Creek
Elk River Motley Branch Warren Branch
Elkhorn Creek Murphy Creek White Oak Creek
Elm Spring Branch Newtonia Branch Willow Branch
If you require further information, please e-mail fallsstreamteam@cableone.net