Conservation agent: Fine for driving in river bed is $149.50

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

Roaring River is a popular lace for fishing and swimming, but one activity is known to cause damage to the bed and the environment — off-roading.

Daniel Shores, Barry County conservation agent, said driving vehicles or ATVs through the creek bed is illegal, and the damage it does may go unseen to those who commit the act.

“People drive through the creek bed and get stuck, and that can cause damage,” he said. “When they get stuck, they usually sink up to the axel, then it takes another vehicle to get in there and pull the first one out. That churns up the gravel and leaves ruts in the bed, which changes the flow in certain areas.”

Beyond how it affects the water flow, Shores said driving through the river bed can also cause environmental damage.

“It’s like the food chain we learn about in school,” he said. “Animals feed on microorganisms in the creek bed, so when someone drives over it, that disrupts the environment and takes a step out of the food chain. Often times you can see where they drive through because that part of the creek bed is a different color.”

Shores said he writes about 4-5 tickets per year for driving in the river, which most often happens during summer months where drought leaves the water level low.

“It happens often, and it’s hard to be there all the time to catch them,” Shores said. “I cover all of Barry County for fishing, hunting and outdoor activities, so that encompasses the lake, rivers, trout park and hunting land.”

A ticket for driving in the river bed brings a fine of $149.50, plus court costs, and multiple violations can lead to greater consequences.

“People driving all the way down Roaring River, there’s no excuse for that,” he said. “Farmers are allowed to cross for agricultural purposes, but people with souped up ATVs can cause serious damage. If someone crosses multiple times, that can lead to them losing their hunting or fishing privileges in the state of Missouri.”

Shores said if anyone witnesses vehicles driving in the creek, the best course of action is to take a photo and text it to his cell phone at 417-229-4706, including the time and location of the incident. Shores said he will respond to those reports as time allows.