Friends of Cardinal Valley

06/11/2026

There was a lot of talk about “Poo!” Thursday evening in Webb City.

Friends of Cardinal Valley was honored to attend the premiere of Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story after supporting Meredith Ludwig and her production team throughout the past two years.

The film tells the remarkable story of how Webb City transformed wastewater biosolids ("poo"), wood chips, and cow manure into nutrient-rich topsoil. That soil is now helping to restore lands impacted by historic mining and to create habitat for wildlife at Cardinal Valley.

What was once considered waste is now part of a thriving ecosystem.

If you missed this beautiful documentary, follow us and watch for future screening opportunities in our area. It is an inspiring story of innovation, restoration, and the power of community partnerships.

View the trailer and learn more:
www.cardinalvalleyfilm.com

Thank you to Meredith Ludwig and her production team, the Webb City Council, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Missouri DNR, the Missouri Department of Conservation, property managers Randy Haas and John Nichols, our volunteers, and everyone who helped make both the project and the premiere a success.

Hope is blooming in Webb City.

How a Missouri town transformed a wasteland into a natural wonder. Check out our one-and-a-half minute trailer below. Help Tell This Story You’re Invited!The Cardinal Valley Premiere One Night OnlyThursday, June 46:30 pmThe premiere screening of Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story Watch in Webb ...

06/03/2026

Visit the Route 66 Movie Theater on June 4th. Showing Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story!

This Thursday, June 4th, we invite you to learn about something going on in your own backyard! Pretty amazing to learn about what Webb City has taken a chance to improve our environment. Speak with the producers and creators as well. One Show at 6:30.
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Tickets at www.Rt66Movie.com

05/31/2026

We’re excited to share that we received a $600 Spark Good local grant from our Walmart store at 1212 S. Madison St. in Webb City!

This funding will help us purchase outreach booth equipment and educational materials for ongoing public events and nature education programs at the Cardinal Valley Habitat Restoration Area and other local community events.

We would like to sincerely thank Store Manager Chris Hull and the Webb City Walmart team for supporting local conservation, environmental education, and community outreach. Their support will help connect families, students, and residents with the natural beauty and wildlife right here in our own backyard.

Thank you, Walmart, for investing in our community and helping inspire the next generation of environmental stewards!

05/27/2026

A historically proud moment for Webb City! Hope you don't miss it.

9 days left until the premiere of Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story!! Like the land in Webb City, MO that was brought back to life through compost, our documentary has finally come to life with lots of time, patience, and care.

Come see this story of transformation on the big screen! One night only! June 4th! Get your tickets at the door of Route 66 Movie Theater or online:

https://route66movietheater.com/home/

05/20/2026

MAKE THIS SUMMER A NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT! Ever wonder what that plant, bug, or bird is? With the free iNaturalist app, every nature walk becomes an adventure. Snap a photo of any live species anywhere, at Cardinal Valley, in your backyard, or on vacation, then upload it and discover what you’ve found.

It’s fun for the curious at heart, kids and families, and every upload helps support real citizen science.

Help us document what’s returning to Cardinal Valley by adding your discoveries to the Cardinal Valley Habitat Restoration Project. EXPLORE, DISCOVER, & UPLOAD.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/cardinal-valley-habitat-restoration-project

05/17/2026

We’re honored to be mentioned in this news piece! Before European settlement, much of southwest Missouri was a vast sea of tallgrass prairie. Cardinal Valley is beginning to offer a chance to experience a little of what this landscape looked and felt like centuries ago, as Webb City continues its work to restore land once damaged by mining.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/15/2026

From nearly extinct… to growing again in the Ozarks. This Endangered Species Day, we’re celebrating the comeback of the Ozark Chinquapin, a tree that once filled our hills before chestnut blight nearly wiped it out.

We’re proud to support the work of The Ozark Chinquapin Foundation by becoming a member, planting seeds, and nurturing seedlings at Cardinal Valley.

These trees aren’t just part of our heritage, they support pollinators and provide food for wildlife and people.
If you believe in second chances, the Ozark Chinquapin has a great story to tell and a mighty reason to support. https://ozarkchinquapinmembership.org/about-the-tree/

05/09/2026

We enjoyed a walk through the Cardinal Valley wetlands this morning in honor of World Migratory Bird Day! Chad Gardner, member of both Ozark Gateway Audubon and Friends of Cardinal Valley, was our birding guide. He used his expertise to help the group spot and identify over 20 different species of birds. Cardinal Valley Habitat Restoration Manager, John Nichols, was also in attendance and provided the group with a brief history of the project as well as the processes of waste water treatment and compost production conducted by the Webb City Waste Water Treatment Plant near the wetlands. If you would like to learn more about how these processes have helped restoration efforts at Cardinal Valley, we invite you to join us for the premier of Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story on June 4th at the Route 66 Movie Theatre in Webb City.

05/07/2026

Great news! More anglers are using our monofilament recycling bins to properly dispose of fishing line. It is a simple action that helps protect wildlife and keeps this space healthy for everyone. What can we learn from those leading by example? Read on for simple ways to make a difference.
https://www.friendsofcardinalvalley.org/in-the-field/leave-no-trace

05/07/2026

Hundreds of a mix of sandpiper species were photographed just last night at Cardinal Valley wetlands. Curious how this area has become such a birder's hot spot? Join us if you can, Thursday, June 4, 6:30 PM at the Route 66 Movie Theater downtown Webb City for the first showing of the documentary, Cardinal Valley: a Restoration Story. Tickets are available online and at the door. Photo by A.Wild.