CONSERVATION ACTION

News of the September 29, 1999 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Jo Radmacher, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Jo.Radmacher@mdc.mo.gov

The Conservation Commission, with all members present, met on September 29 at the newly-dedicated Jim Tom Blair Regional Office on the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in Saint Charles County.

Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
Ronald J. Stites, Plattsburg
Randy Herzog, St. Joseph
Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City

The Commission presented Volunteer Service Awards toEtta May Eagle of Warson Woods for 2,000 hours of volunteer services at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, and to Jim Goessling of Saint Charles for 2,000 hours of volunteer services at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area.

The Commission also presented a Special Achievement Award for personal actions beyond the call of duty to Resources Technician James A. Schultz of Defiance.

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:

Douglas W. Flannery, Whitewater, about Department management of Lake Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County.
Greg Poleski, President, Greenways Network Inc., Saint Charles, about greenway planning, rivers and trails in the Saint Louis area and conservation opportunities.
Ron Coleman, Executive Director, Open Space Council for the Saint Louis Region/Meramec River Recreation Association, Saint Louis, about future partnership and land acquisition opportunities in the Meramec River Greenway.
Jef Hodges, Regional Director, Great Plains Region, Quail Unlimited Inc., Clinton, about Quail Unlimited, upland management and the Department.
Wildlife Division staff summarizing habitat restoration efforts on Ted Shanks Conservation Area.

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:

purchasing approximately 2.1 acres in Hickory County as an addition to Mule Shoe Conservation Area.
purchasing approximately 2 acres in Wayne County as an addition to Coldwater Access.
exchanging an approximately 3.73-acre portion of Hidden Hollow Conservation Area, Macon County, for an approximately 3.7-acre adjacent tract owned by the Macon County Commission.
conveying an approximately 2.37-acre portion of Elmslie Memorial Conservation Area, Marion County, to the Marion County Commission for bridge replacement across South Fork of North River.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

Authorized implementation of certain adjustments in the Fiscal Year 2000 internal budget.
Established a new Private Lands Section to promote conservation of fish, forest, wildlife and natural community resources among Missouri's private landowners.
Authorized seeking an appropriation (and authorization for appropriations to other agencies) for Fiscal Year 2001 from the Conservation Commission Fund.
Accepted a preliminary status report on the Elk Reintroduction Feasibility Study currently being conducted.