ST. FRANCOIS                       71 Coonville Creek

Coonville Creek Natural Area

A more-than-two-mile stretch (about 49 acres) along Coonville Creek in St. Francois State Park. Portions of Sections 19 and 30, T38N, R5E and Section 25, T38N, R4E, Bonne Terre 7.5 min. topographic map. Designated September 18, 1979.

Natural Features--Coonville Creek is a small, permanent headwaters stream within the Mississippi River Section of the Ozark Border Natural Division. The creek is fed by numerous seeps, and the streambed is dolomite bedrock with small cascades and cherty gravel bars. Eighteen species of fish are recorded in this stream including the southern redbelly dace, fantail darter and the orangethroat darter. Seeps emerging along the valley create permanent, bog-like meadows or fens. These fens support many rare plants including queen-of-the-prairie and grass pink. The Department of Natural Resources owns this area. The natural and geologic history of Coonville Creek is interpreted in the Mooner's Hollow self-guiding trail brochure. For further information contact the Park Superintendent, St. Francois State Park, Bonne Terre, MO 63628, phone 573/358-2173.

Grass pink (Calopogon tuberosa)