The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Interactive Meramec River Quiz

Test your knowledge about the Meramec River with our interactive quiz!
Can you answer all of the following questions and get a perfect score?  Click on the links that you think best answer each quiz question below.  Good luck!

1. How many globally significant aquatic species call the Meramec home?

   3 species

   3 species | Incorrect

   11 species

   11 species | Incorrect

   22 species

   22 species | Incorrect

   31 species

   31 species | Correct

   Correct - six of these species have their best known populations on Earth within the Meramec watershed

2. How many native fish species have been documented in the Meramec?

   29 species

   29 species | Incorrect

   78 species

   78 species | Incorrect

   125 species

   125 species | Correct

   Correct - the river is plentiful in rainbow trout, brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, paddlefish, flathead catfish, white crappie, and more

   792 species

   792 species | Incorrect

3. Which of the following popular recreational activities can be enjoyed without harming the river?

   Canoeing

   Canoeing | Correct

   You're partially correct!

   Hiking

   Hiking | Correct

   You're partially correct!

   Birdwatching

   Birdwatching | Correct

   You're partially correct!

   All of the above

   All of the above | Correct

   Correct - The Meramec River is a great spot to get out and enjoy nature!

4. In 2010, the Conservancy co-sponsored the Open Space Council’s annual Operation Clean Stream event, cleaning up nearly 500 miles of riverways in the St. Louis area. The trash removed was enough to fill:

   110 full-size pickup truck beds

   110 full-size pickup truck beds | Correct

   Correct - 2,000 volunteers collected approximately 275 cubic yards of trash

   2 dumpsters

   2 dumpsters | Incorrect

   98 bathtubs

   98 bathtubs | Incorrect

   The Indian Ocean

   The Indian Ocean | Incorrect

5. Threats to the health of the Meramec include which of the following?

   Gravel and lead mining

   Gravel and lead mining | Correct

   You're partially correct!

   Urban and suburban development

   Urban and suburban development | Correct

   You're partially correct!

   Inappropriate livestock management

   Inappropriate livestock management | Correct

   You're partially correct!

   All of the above

   All of the above | Correct

   Correct - All of these activities can degrade the river's health by causing severe sedimentation and nutrient loading in the river. The river also faces threats from discharge and runoff from sewage treatment plants, concentrated animal feeding operations, and other unsustainable activities.

6. The Meramec is known for highly abundant and diverse populations of:

   Freshwater mussels

   Freshwater mussels | Correct

   Correct - The Meramec River contains some of the most diverse and unique mussel populations in North America, including globally rare mussel species. Mussels have been an important source of food, tools, buttons, and jewelry.

   Freshwater eels

   Freshwater eels | Incorrect

   Leeches

   Leeches | Incorrect

   Plesiosaurs

   Plesiosaurs | Incorrect