Welcome to Great Rivers Habitat Alliance

Great Rivers Habitat Alliance was founded in 2000 in order to directly combat the growing consumption of the 100-year Confluence Flood Plain through commercial development. Primarily comprised of St. Charles County flood plain land owners, GRHA tackles the policies permitting wholesale flood plain development and encourages thoughtful alternatives.

Since its establishment, GRHA has made tremendous progress increasing the awareness of policy makers and the general public about flood plain developments and new levee construction efforts. These awareness campaigns have raised attention about the importance of saving flood plains as natural water storage areas, wildlife habitats, and productive farming communities.

GRHA is also working toward the reform of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the entity ultimately responsible for allowing the mass destruction of our nation’s flood plains. GRHA has joined the National Wildlife Federation and several other like-minded conservation groups to form the Corps Reform Network. This coalition of groups aims to change the Corps style of “business as usual” and to provide citizens with genuine accountability.

• Read About GHRA on GRIST - "Tempting Fate: Fifteen years after the Great Flood of 1993, floodplain development is booming"

Appeals court decides St. Peters TIF case should go to trial. Click here to read the decision.

GRHA Victories:

• Passage of Missouri Senate Bill 225, which prohibits the use of tax increment financing in 100-year flood plains across the state and ensures the right to discharge firearms; a vital component in preserving hunting in the flood plain. This bill was spearheaded by close GRHA ally, the NRA.
• Halted the expansion of Smartt Field. Owned by St. Charles County, Smartt Field was set for expansion through a federal grant that would have allowed light jets to land in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, which contains two-thirds of our nation’s migratory waterfowl. GRHA was able to convince the county council to pass on the expansion plan, saving tax payers another flood plain folly.
• Challenging the legitimacy of blighting productive farm ground. GRHA and co-plaintiff St. Charles County are eagerly awaiting an appeals court decision to determine if open space and farm land can be called blighted under state law. If victorious, tax payers will no longer be forced to finance flood plain developments through tax increment financing (TIF).
• Public awareness. GRHA has elevated flood plain development as an important issue among the voting public and one that plays heavily during local elections. Before GRHA, most voters were unaware how taxes were funding large-scale flood plain developments. This awareness has helped immeasurably to encourage sustainable development practices.

Learn More About GRHA by Clicking Here