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The Conservation Commission met March 13 at The Daniele Hotel, 216 North Meramec Avenue, in St. Louis. The open meeting began at 10:15 a.m. with all Commissioners present:
John Powell, Rolla, Chairman
Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg, Vice Chairman
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph, Secretary
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City, Member
Commissioners presented awards for 2,000 hours of volunteer service to Volunteer Naturalist John Demmitt and Volunteer Naturalist Jack McGinnis, both of Saint Louis. A report of public comment about mineral exploration on conservation areas was accepted, several operating procedures were approved, and the next meeting was set for April 15 in Jefferson City.
Hearings
Dennis R. Ballard, Sturgeon, Chairman of the Wild Turkey Blue Ribbon Panel appointed last year, presented the Panel¢s report.
Tony Valenti, Chesterfield, discussed rule 3CSR10-7.410 (1) (D) of the Wildlife Code that deals with the pursuit of furbearers, squirrels and rabbits with dogs during daylight hours of the firearms deer season.
Willis Corbett, Saint Louis, (accompanied by Dennis Auping, New Melle), discussed the Department¢s field trial areas statewide.
George Eberle, April Ford-Griffin and others conveyed appreciation for Commission support of the Riverfront Trail projects, shared future plans and invited continued participation.
Bill and Cyndi Weiss, Fenton, presented ideas about mountain-bike riding on Conservation Areas.
Approval to
>> enter into a cooperative agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS of U. S. Department of Agriculture) and Ducks Unlimited Inc., to provide joint funding for a position in southeastern Missouri to promote fall/winter reflooding of cropland, particularly rice fields, to benefit wildlife.
>> provide a grant to Ducks Unlimited Inc. as a one-time addition to the Department¢s annual support of wetland conservation projects in prairie Canadato recognize the 10th anniversary of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
>> proceed with contracts with the low bidders for construction of the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery, Benton County, and for lake development at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, Saint Charles County.
>> convey approximately 0.15 acres of Huzzah Conservation Area in Crawford County to the Crawford County Commission for an existing bridge upgrade.
>> enter into an agreement with Ozark Regional Land Trust to help fund purchase of 3 acres in the town of Sarcoxie, Jasper County. The site contains the entrance to Sarcoxie Cave, which houses a population of state-endangered and federally-threatened Ozark cavefish.
>> amend an existing Community Assistance Program agreement with the City of Arnold, Jefferson County, to provide a cash grant reimbursement for paving an expanded parking area at the City¢s Flamm City Access on Meramec River.
Land Acquisitions
The Commission acquires land only from willing sellers, based on identified conservation needs and current property value appraisals. Payments in-lieu-of-taxes are made annually to compensate local governments and schools for lost revenues. Approval was given the following acquisitions:
>> 574 acres in Boone County as a new conservation area. The tract, north of Hartsburg, has one-half mile of frontage on Katy Trail State Park.
>> 518 acres in Saint Clair County as a Commission-owned addition to Wah-Kon-Tah Prairie CA.
>> 302 acres on Starks Creek in Hickory County as an addition to Mule Shoe CA, providing for public fishing access and protecting Niangua darter critical habitat.
>> 172 acres in Madison County, the last of ten parcels for exchange with the U. S. Forest Service (authorized by the Commission at its September meeting).>> 120 acres in Harrison County as an addition to Pawnee Prairie CA.
>> 74 acres in Clay County as an addition to Cooley Lake CA.
>> 14 acres in Harrison County as an addition to Grand Trace CA.
Area Names
The Commission consolidated eleven areas in Shannon, Carter, Reynolds, Wayne , Iron and Bollinger counties into five:
>> Current River CA will encompass 29,331 acres in Reynolds, Shannon and Carter counties, including what was previously named Deer Run CA.
>> Logan Creek CA will encompass 11,814 acres in Reynolds and Shannon counties, including what was previously named Dickens Valley and Powder Mill CAs.
>> Coldwater CA will encompass 9,274 acres in Wayne and Bollinger counties, including what was previously named Hiram CA.
>> Clearwater CA will encompass 10,770 acres in Reynolds County, including what was previously named Webb Creek CA.
>> Ketcherside Mountain CA will encompass 4,957 acres in Iron and Reynolds counties, including what was previously named Proffit Mountain CA.
In addition, the following names were given to recent acquisitions:
Name County Acres Diana Bend CA Howard 1,118 Moniteau Creek CA Howard 844 Swift Ditch Access New Madrid 146 Barclay CA Dallas 389 Capps Creek CA Newton 120
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