Introduction
This directory gives locations and brief descriptions of Missouri Natural Areas. These areas have been designated by the Missouri Natural Areas Committee which consists of representatives of the Department of Conservation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Natural areas are defined as biological communities or geological sites that preserve and are managed to perpetuate the natural character, diversity, and ecological processes of Missouri's native landscapes. They are permanently protected and managed for the purpose of preserving their natural qualities. The Missouri Natural Areas Committee specifies that these areas represent the highest and best use of such tracts. Participating agencies will not authorize any use or diversion of these areas which is incompatible with the objective of natural area management, unless there is a critical public need for which there is no alternative. The goal of the natural areas system is to designate, manage and restore high quality examples of every extant natural community in each of Missouri's natural sections.
The natural areas program began in 1970. The fledgling program began by selecting the best areas only on land owned or managed by the Department of Conservation. By 1976, the six-year-old program contained 49 areas with about 6000 acres. All of them were managed by the Department of Conservation, but many were owned by The Nature Conservancy and the L-A-D Foundation of St. Louis, two private organizations that acquire natural areas for preservation.
In 1977, several events strengthened natural areas protection. In that year, the new conservation sales tax made possible increased emphasis on the identification and acquisition of natural areas. High quality areas could be purchased if equally good examples did not exist on Conservation Department land. In the same year, The Department of Natural Resources joined the Conservation Department to create an interagency Missouri natural areas system, which extended the designation of natural areas to state parks. Representatives from each department made up a new Missouri Natural Areas Committee to oversee the effort. The Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways joined the Committee as voting members in 1990. The natural areas program broadened the scope of natural community protection by providing for registration of natural areas owned by other agencies, organizations, and individuals through cooperative agreements with these owners. All four cooperating agencies agree that the natural areas system should encompass the best examples of all the state's native ecosystems.
Before an area is designated as a Missouri Natural Area, it undergoes a careful nomination process which includes review by the Missouri Natural Areas Committee and approval by the Conservation Commission, the director of the Department of Natural Resources, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways superintendent, and the Mark Twain National Forest supervisor. Natural area classification systems used for selecting and designating areas by the Missouri Natural Areas Committee are: the Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri by Paul Nelson, Aquatic Community Classification System for Missouri by Bill Pflieger, and Geologic Natural Feature Classification System for Missouri by Art Hebrank. Today, the Missouri natural areas system consists of 167 areas containing over 37,000 acres. They range in size from 1 acre to 5,387 acres and are distributed among 74 of the state's 114 counties.
Some of these natural areas are scenic and accessible. Others are remote and must be located on foot with map and compass. Some areas can withstand considerable human traffic without harm. Others easily could be harmed by overuse. Some areas contain native Missouri habitats that were once abundant, such as prairies, streams, oak-hickory forests and limestone glades. Others contain rare or endangered species or unique natural communities or features that have always been uncommon, such as large springs, natural bridges, fens and sinkhole ponds.
What values do these natural areas offer? Why should they be protected? Natural areas are a type of natural resource containing relatively undisturbed native habitats. They can be used as research areas for comparison with more modified habitats and as places to study ecosystems, plants, animals and their interrelationships. They can be used as demonstration areas or models for natural community management on less pristine, but recoverable areas.
Natural areas and their animals and plants are genetic reservoirs of living wild species of potential use to man. They can be home for rare, threatened or endangered species. Our domesticated livestock, food crops, pets and garden flowers all have their roots in the natural world. We have used only a tiny fraction of the world's plants and animals in this way. Natural areas may contain the penicillin, corn and potatoes of the future--just waiting to be discovered.
Natural areas can be valuable educationally as outdoor classrooms, settings for nature interpretation activities and places for individual nature study and appreciation. The simple beauty of some can provide pleasure and inspiration. Natural areas are also part of our cultural heritage. They represent the environment of the Native Americans--the environment that the Spanish, French and American explorers and pioneers fought, overcame and, in many instances, destroyed. A region's history and culture are influenced by the surrounding natural environment. In fact, some of the roots of our uniquely American culture may be exposed in natural areas.
Natural area managers aim to maintain or enhance the natural quality of the ecosystem. This is accomplished in a variety of ways. On some areas, natural forces are allowed to shape the plant and animal communities without intervention. However, correcting the results of human influences and disturbances often requires active management. On several natural areas including prairies, glades, savannas, and woodlands, fire, herbicides, and selective cutting are used to manage and restore natural communities. Exotic species eradication, water level manipulation, and providing adequate buffer land are other management methods used in natural area maintenance and restoration. Most natural areas are open for public visitation and study. All natural features are protected, and only foot traffic is permitted within these areas. Other restrictions may be posted on some natural areas. Contact area managers for regulations.
The Missouri Natural Areas System has made a good start toward preserving the natural features of the state, but much work remains to be done. Many terrestrial and aquatic natural communities in several natural divisions and sections of the state are still not well represented. Different approaches to natural area management and protection are underway. Designation of larger landscapes containing many natural communities representative of a region's land type associations, and managing these areas to restore their native character will be undertaken by the Missouri Natural Areas Committee in the years to come.
The Missouri Natural Areas Committee is currently chaired by Jerry Vineyard, DNR, with Richard Thom, MDC, as Vice-Chair. Other Committee members are Doug Eiken, Debbie Schnack, and Paul Nelson of DNR; Gary Novinger, Carl Hauser and Tom Hutton of MDC; Tom Griffiths and Charlie Putnam, NPS; and Kris England and Lynda Richards, U.S.F.S. The Natural Areas Coordinators are Mike Currier, DNR, and Karen Kramer, MDC. The following people have served in the past on the Missouri Natural Areas Comittee since the Committee was founded in April 1977: Bill Alden (USFS), Allen Brohn (MDC), Gene Brunk (MDC), Bill Crawford (MDC), Arlin Epperson (DNR), Dave Foster (NPS), Glen Gessley (DNR), Wayne Gross (DNR), George Hartman (MDC), John Karel (DNR), Bill Kickbusch (USFS), Fred Lafser (DNR), Bill Palmer (DNR), Bill Pflieger (MDC), Arthur Sullivan (NPS), Jim H. Wilson (MDC) and John Wylie (MDC).
The Committee and the cooperating agencies, organizations, corporations and individuals, have provided a firm foundation for protecting natural areas. The Missouri Natural Areas System will help ensure our natural heritage for today's enjoyment and study, as well as for the future.
