CONSERVATION ACTION

News of the March 26, 1999 Conservation Commission meeting

Contact: Jo Radmacher, (573) 751-4115;

E-mail: Jo.Radmacher@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission met on March 26 at the Country Club Hotel in Lake Ozark-in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. Commissioners present were:

Randy Herzog, St. Joseph

Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City

Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre

Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for April 28 at Department Headquarters, Jefferson City, in conjunction with the annual Legislative Barbecue.

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:

· David L. Flick, President, The Terra Foundation, Clinton, about a new not-for-profit native grass and wildflower park being constructed in Henry County.

· Outreach Services Chief Shannon Cave of an update on proposed activities-including Department participation as a Bicentennial Commission member-in the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Celebration.

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:

· accepting as a gift approximately 70 acres in Clinton County from the Clinton County Sportsman's Club as a new conservation area.

· purchase of approximately 1 acre in Newton County as an addition to Capps Creek Conservation Area.

· conveyance of approximately 1.03 acres of Capps Creek Conservation Area in Newton County to the Newton County Commission for relocation of a road associated with new bridge construction over Capps Creek.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

Authorized entering into an agreement with Sprint Spectrum L.P. for placement of cellular antennas on an existing water tower located on a portion of Rockwoods Reservation, Saint Louis County.

Approved designation of approximately 145 acres in Callaway County as a Missouri Natural Area.

Approved changing the name of the new office facility on the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, Saint Charles County, to the "Jim Tom Blair Regional Office." (Tentatively, the dedication is being planned on a date to be selected in September.)

Approved expending the balance of the Christie Trust Account for equipment items that will be loaned through the Andrew County Soil and Water Conservation District to landowners in Andrew County for wildlife habitat improvement.