Conservation Action, June 30, 1999

The Conservation Commission met on June 30 at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Conference Center in Kansas City. All Commissioners were present for the meeting:

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 July 30 at the Regal Riverfront Hotel in Saint Louis, in conjunction with the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association annual meeting.

The Commission presented Joseph Polka of Pleasant Hill with an Award for contributing 2,000 hours of volunteer services at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs.

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 a presentation by:

the Board of Directors, Jolly Mill Park Foundation, Pierce City, about acquisition opportunities adjacent to Capps Creek Conservation Area in Newton County.

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:

conveyance of an approximately 8.73-acre portion of Compton Hollow Conservation Area, Webster County, to the Charles B. Edel Trust, Springfield, to correct an area boundary discrepancy.

conveyance of an approximately 0.611-acre portion of James Bridge Access, Ray County, to the Ray County Commission to facilitate new bridge construction.

ADMINISTRATION:

The Commission also took the following action:

Considered bids received for construction of wetland developments on Settle's Ford Conservation Area, Bates and Cass counties, and authorized entering into a contract with the low bidder.

Authorized entering into an architectural services contract for preparation of construction documents and other services for the construction of the proposed Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus.

Approved proposed responses to certain Resolutions adopted by the Conservation Federation of Missouri at its annual meeting on March 28, 1999.

Approved providing a grant through the Missouri Botanical Garden to support the 16th International Botanical Congress scheduled August 1-9, 1999 in Saint Louis.

Authorized conducting vegetative management restoration projects on approximately 200 acres of Clearwater Conservation Area, Reynolds County, and on approximately 186 acres of University Forest Conservation Area, Butler and Wayne counties.

REGULATIONS

The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee and approved:

one additional change in the 2000 Wildlife Coderevision of reciprocal sporting fishing privileges with the State of Nebraska.

a restricted quail hunting season on the newly-acquired Capps Creek Conservation Area, Newton County only until 1:00 p.m. from November 1 through November 30 to sustain the existing population.