CONSERVATION ACTION
News of the September 28, 2001 Conservation Commission meeting
Contact: Stephanie Ramsey, (573) 751-4115;
E-mail: Stephanie.Ramsey@mdc.mo.gov

Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City
Howard L. Wood, Bonne Terre
Stephen C. Bradford, Cape Girardeau
Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis

The next meeting of the Conservation Commission was set for November 1, 2001, in Springfield, Missouri.

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 the following presentations:

• Leonard A. Sonnenschein, President of the St. Louis Children’s Aquarium
  Purpose: Update Commission on progress of the St. Louis Children’s Aquarium.
• Mimi Garstang, Mike Wells, John Drew of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
  Purpose: To discuss Missouri River management decisions.
• Joseph P. Bindbeutel, Chief Counsel, and Bill Bryan of the Environmental Protection Division, Office of Missouri Attorney General Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
  Purpose: To discuss the position of the Office of the Attorney General with respect to the Missouri River.
• Patty Arnold, John Behrer, Lydia Toth of the Missouri Botanical Garden
  Purpose: To discuss funding for the new assembly building in conjunction with the Dana Brown Foundation Overnight Education Center at Shaw Nature Reserve.

The Commission accepted the Report of the Regulations Committee, and amended 3 CSR 10-6.405 General Provisions to expand reciprocal sport fishing privileges with the State of Tennessee. Any person possessing a valid sport fishing license from Tennessee may fish in the Mississippi River and its backwaters within the boundary of Missouri adjacent to that state without purchasing a Missouri nonresident fishing permit. The State of Tennessee will provide similar privileges to Missouri anglers; and amended 3 CSR 10- 11.115 Closings and 3 CSR 10-11.160 Use of Boats and Motors, to open Bull Shoals Lake waterfowl refuge to hunting. The Canada goose population at Theodosia is presently at nuisance levels. These rule changes would allow walk-in hunting of waterfowl, thereby providing an opportunity to reduce the goose population problem without drastic removal measures.

ADMINISTRATION: The Commission also took the following action:

1. Authorized an appropriation for Fiscal Year 2003 from the Conservation Commission Fund, and for appropriations to other agencies.
2. Accepted as a gift 13.55 acres in Jefferson County.
3. Authorized purchase of approximately 159.25 acres of land in Livingston County as an addition to Poosey Conservation Area.
4. Authorized acceptance of $5000.00 to Operation Game Thief from the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
5. Approved recommendation for pursuit of legislation affecting the Department.
6. Revoked all hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for a specified period of time for multiple violations of Missouri Wildlife Code regulations for the following individuals: Steven L. Allmon, Macomb - one year; Bobbie C. Barnes, Mountain View - three years; Michael T. Lester, Fort Leonard Wood - one year; Nathan L. McNeil - one year; Carl I. Ratterree, Mountain Grove - one year; Jason D. Rohde - four years; Howard W. Syler, Sedalia - one year; George M. Trankler, Marble Hill - one year; Robert L. Upchurch, Marble Hill - one year; and Stephen W. Vance, Van Buren - four years.

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