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E-mail: Jo.Radmacher@mdc.mo.gov
The Conservation Commission met the afternoon of May 27 and on May 28 at Department Headquarters in Jefferson City. All Commissioners were present at both meetings:
Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City
Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
During the May 27 meeting, the Commission considered a single agenda item-the Department's internal operating budget for Fiscal Year 1998-99. During the May 28 meeting, the Commission approved the budget and took the following action:
PRESENTATIONS
Commission meetings are open to the public. Those wishing to be placed on the agenda for a presentation or other business must send a written request to Director, Department of Conservation, P. O. Box 180, Jefferson City MO 65102-0180, or FAX to (573) 751-4467, at least 10 working days before the meeting date. The Commission heard presentations by:
· Mayor Bob Miget and City Administrator Craig Lindsley of the City of Perryville, the City's Consultant David Rodden and State Representative Patrick Naeger, about use of the Commission's Perry County Community Lake under emergency drought conditions as part of the City's water plant expansion project.
Wildlife Division staff reviewed the Urban Goose Task Force Report, Responding to Urban Goose Problems in Missouri.
Wildlife Division staff reviewed Missouri Waterfowl and Waterfowl Hunting: An Evaluation of the Waterfowl Hunting Program on Missouri Department of Conservation Wetland Areas.
LAND ACQUISITION
The Commission acquires land only from willing sellers and makes annual payments to compensate local governments and schools for lost tax revenues at assessment levels current when acquired. Public access to acquisitions is appropriate only after closing of real estate transactions, at which time boundaries have been marked and further information is available. The Commission approved proceeding with the following:
· offer for sale the approximately 13.3-acre Lone Hill Towersite in Butler County and the approximately 4.0-acre Lincoln Towersite in Benton County.
REGULATIONS
The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee and approved the 1998 early migratory game bird hunting seasons, based on proposed federal frameworks. For rails, snipe, woodcock and mourning doves, hunting seasons are unchanged and shooting hours remain one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. (More detailed information will be provided in All Outdoors as federal frameworks for early seasons are finalized.)
· Sora and Virginia rails: September 1 to November 9 (70 days); limits-25 daily or in possession.
· Common snipe: September 1 to December 16 (107 days); limits-8 daily, 16 in possession.
· Woodcock: October 15 to November 28 (45 days); limits-3 daily, 6 in possession.
· Mourning doves: September 1 to October 30 (60 days); limits-15 daily, 30 in possession.
The early season for blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal is September 12 to September 20; shooting hours sunrise to sunset; limits-4 teal in the aggregate of species daily; 8 in possession.
The Commission approved a minor modification in the deer and fall turkey hunting rules to remove reference to the transportation portion of the taker's permit. A single permit, printed on durable Tyvek paper stock, will be issued for each animal authorized to be taken and will serve as the transportation tag that is surrendered at the check station.
The Commission also approved additional rule changes for the 1999 Wildlife Code. (More detailed information about the rule changes will be provided in All Outdoors. In addition, the rule changes will appear in the July 15 Missouri Register and are subject to public comment for 30 days.)
ADMINISTRATION
The Commission also approved:
· conducting timber sales on Clearwater Conservation Area (Reynolds County), Sunklands Conservation Area (Shannon County), Current River Conservation Area (Reynolds County), and in two compartments on Peck Ranch Conservation Area (Carter County);
· amending the lease agreement with Saint Louis County to add approximately 208 acres to the 604-acre area currently leased in Saint Stanislaus County Park.
· entering into a lease agreement with Empire District Electric Company to develop a public fishing access-named Cooper Creek Access-on 29.43 acres on Lake Taneycomo in Taney County.
· proposed responses to certain Resolutions adopted by the Conservation Federation of Missouri at its annual meeting on March 29, 1998.
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for June 25 near Lebanon.
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