The Hickory Creek Stream Team

First posted on 03-20-2009

A group of citizens from Neosho have put together a group they call the Hickory Creek Stream Team with a purpose of cleaning up and maintaining Hickory Creek, which flows through part of the town.

Designated as a White Ribbon trout stream and periodically stocked by the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, the creek gets visitors and fishermen from all over southwest Missouri and from as far away as Kansas City.

Kent Oliver heads up the group and said the whole idea began with comments that were being made in the forums of the Ozark Angler website. There was a great deal of discussion about trash along the creek so he and others decided to put together the volunteer group.

Their first event is a stream clean-up project slated for April 11 at the Morse Park Pavilion. To help entice more volunteers, lunch is being provided. The city of Neosho is pitching in by providing use of the pavilion as well as trash dumpsters.

The Hickory Creek Stream Team is looking for plenty of volunteers to help out and would like to collect outdoor related items from area businesses that could be used as door prizes. Oliver said that could be pens, t-shirts, coolers, about anything related to hunting or fishing.

To make a donation, email Oliver at or call him at (417) 592-9435 or contact Travis Gardener by email at or by phone at (816) 896-3310.