CLEANING STATION UPDATES

from Trout Times 2022

RULES AND REGS

NEW Cleaning Station Installed Cleaning Station Installed

$60,000 project completed in summer 2021

nglers at Roaring River

AState Park spent more than a year without a fish-cleaning station at the park, but as of June 2021, there is a new place to clean fish.

At the end of Campground 3 now sits a brand new fish-cleaning station, a state-of-the-art grinder station, with multiple cutting tables, including an ADA compliant cutting table, two start/ stop control stations, four 60-inch side mount spray hoses and four convenient electrical outlets. The new station improves efficiency while disposing fish remains in an environmentally-friendly manner, through the park’s sewer system to prevent back-gassing. Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resource manager, cuts the ribbon on the new fish-cleaning station in Campground 3, a grinder station that cost about $60,000.

About 50 people attended the ribbon-cutting for the new fish-cleaning station at Roaring River State Park on, learning how the new facility works from Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resource manager.

Laura Hendrickson, Missouri State Parks Ozarks Region Director, spoke at the fish-cleaning station ribboncutting ceremony at Roaring River State Park, thanking Park Natural Resource Manager Joel Topham, left, for his work at the park and with coordinating the building of the station.

The previous station, near the swimming hole, had barrels that contained fish remains, which needed to be cleaned daily.

Joel Topham, Roaring River natural resource manager, said the old station cost about $6,000 per month to maintain, and the new grinder station will cost about half that amount.

“This project is a great example of several different entities working with the public to develop a beneficial solution for park guests and park staff,” said Justin Adams, Missouri State Parks deputy regional director. “We are extremely proud of the effort that all groups put into this project, but especially with all of the donations that helped us make this project a reality. We believe that this Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resource manager, explains how the new fish-cleaning station grinds up fish remains and flushes it through the park’s sewer system.

“This project is a great example of several different entities working with the public to develop a beneficial solution for park guests and park staff.”

—Joel Topham, Roaring River State Park natural resources manager

Missouri State Parks Director Mike Sutherland speaks at the fish-cleaning station ribbon-cutting ceremony at Roaring River State Park. Sutherland lauded the State Parks system and staff for completing the station so quickly, as the old one was torn down a year ago, ground was broken on the new location in Campground 3 in December 2020, and it officially opened.

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Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, right, points out State Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, and State Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, saying the legislators likely hear plenty about issues at Roaring River State Park, like the former fish-cleaning station being torn down a year ago.

new fish-cleaning station will be able to serve the public for many years.”

This project was made possible thanks to the generous donations from the public, the Cassville Chamber of Commerce and Ozark Community Foundation and the Union Sportsman’s Alliance, who provided labor for the construction of the shelter. The remaining costs were shared by Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

At the ribbon-cutting on June 4, 2021, multiple state officials spoke, lauding the efforts locally to complete the project in such a timely manner. They also thanked donors, who through the Cassville Community Foundation raised $25,000 for the about $60,000 facility.

A wall commemorating the donors remains in the works, hopefully to be completed this year. n

Jennifer Battson Warren, Missouri Department of Conservation deputy director-business, speaks at the fish-cleaning station ribbon-cutting ceremony at Roaring River State Park.

Racheal Freeman, representing the Cassville Community foundation, thanked the more than 200 donors who helped raise $25,000 toward the building of a new fish-cleaning station at Roaring River State Park.