MDC Shows Off The Mississippi For 'Day On The River'

Hundreds of people had a chance to get up close and personal with the Mississippi River on Saturday during the Missouri Department of Conservation’s 5th annual “Day On The River” at the Riverfront Park in downtown Cape Girardeau.
 
MDC naturalist, Angela Pierce said it is an opportunity to get out on the river and learn about what it has to offer.
 
“We wanted to bring people to the river,” she said. “A lot of people in Cape Girardeau have never been on the river, or don’t really come down to see the river or use the river. It really is a massive navigational channel, so we depend on it.”
 
People could go on free boat rides, learn to fish, see big river fish up close and talk to river conservation experts.
 
Shannon Laute, who had never attended the event before, enjoyed the boat ride but wished it was longer.
 
“It’s so pretty out there,” she said. “It’s a great thing to do.”
 
During the event people could sample and learn how to prepare Asian carp, an invasive species in the Mississippi River. MDC agents gave fileting demonstrations throughout the day.
 
Pierce encourages people to eat Asian carp because it is crowding native species and, she said, because it tastes good.
 
Day on the River is growing, according to Pierce. She said their attendance numbers nearly double each year.