The Big Muddy Speaker Series is a free, recurring public-education program devoted to the Missouri River, with presentations spanning ecology, science, history, culture, conservation, commerce, and river use. Presented by Missouri River Relief with regional partners, it connects subject-matter experts with communities along the river. Big Muddy Speaker Series
From grassroots gatherings to a statewide series
The series grew from informal “Big Muddy Sessions” held at a cabin overlooking the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, where early gatherings combined potlucks with talks and discussion. It subsequently expanded to communities along the river; current programming is centered in Columbia, St. Charles, and Kansas City, with local organizations helping host each series. Big Muddy Speaker Series
What the talks cover
Programming deliberately treats the Missouri River from several perspectives rather than focusing solely on environmental science. Recent subjects have included river geomorphology and lidar, water quality, conservation photography, grassland-river restoration, local history, pollution, wildlife, and community conservation, with speakers drawn from government agencies, universities, conservation groups, authors, historians, and other regional experts. Big Muddy Speaker Series
Community-based river education
A defining feature is accessibility: presentations are free and open to the public, and presenters and host venues help make the programming possible. Missouri River Relief describes the larger purpose as strengthening people’s connection to the Missouri River by making expertise and river stories available to curious community members, not just specialists. Big Muddy Speaker Series
Current series
As of November 2026, the program lists presentations in Columbia and St. Charles, while the Kansas City branch currently has no upcoming event posted. Columbia’s November 10 program marks 25 years of Missouri River Relief, while the November 11 St. Charles presentation addresses plastic pollution, Gulf hypoxia, and water quality; the series also maintains an archive of past presentations.