WHAT IS A NATURAL AREA?

Much of Missouri's original landscape no longer exists. But thanks to the Missouri Natural Areas System some examples of it are being preserved and protected. Natural areas are important benchmarks to evaluate environmental change and serve as reservoirs of the state biological diversity. Additionally, natural areas provide opportunities for scientific study as well as educational, cultural, and recreational uses. Through protection from development and by managing to preserve the natural characteristics of the areas, the best examples of natural communities are preserved. Natural areas often provide essential habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals.

The Missouri Natural Areas Committee is an interagency committee, consisting of representatives of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, and the National Park Service which coordinate the classification, inventory, designation, and stewardship of natural areas in Missouri. Natural areas are owned by a variety of public agencies as well as private concerns.

The Mark Twain National Forest has a wide selection of natural areas, representing fens, sinkhole ponds, glades, forests and aquatic communities.

BRUSHY POND NATURAL AREA

In certain parts of Missouri a karst topography exists. This type of land surface is created as rainwater filters down through limestone or dolomite forming large caverns and caves. When too much rock dissolves, the cave's ceiling collapses and a sinkhole appears. The sinkhole sometimes will clog up with surface materials and fill with water, creating a pond. Brushy Pond is located in a 10-20 foot deep sinhole near the top of a ridge. The center of the depression is an outstanding example of a pond marsh with a pond shrub swamp surrounding it.

Upland sinkhole ponds provide essential habitat for some rare and endangered species. At Brushy Pond these include sharp-scaled manna grass and three species of sedges. Because upland sinkhole ponds are threatened by siltation and grazing, we are fortunate that Brushy Pond, because of the many pond species, its size, and natural quality, has become a protected natural area.

POND MARSH

Located in the center of Brushy Pond is the marsh. This pond marsh community has a large, floating mat of vegetation. When you walk over the mat, you will feel the water beneath it, causing the mat itself to "quake." Included in the species growing here are sedges, grasses, bedstraw, skullcap, St. John's-wort, and arrowhead. Missouri's only carnivorous plant, bladderwort, grows in oozing, black mud near the center of the mat. These plants capture and digest tiny insects in bladders on their root-like leaves.

POND SHRUB SWAMP

Surrounding the pond marsh is a dense pond shrub swamp. The dominant plants here are rose mallow and buttonbush, with smartweed, pondweed, duckweed, meadow beauty, sphagnum moss, gound nut, and sedges growing in the mucky peat around them. There is a ring of red maple trees edging the pond.

WILDLIFE AT BRUSHY POND

Many animals find essential food and shelter at Brushy Pond. To amphibians such as the marbled salamander and bull frog, the pond marsh habitat is an important breeding ground. Between April and mid-July you may hear the male Blanchard's cricket frog calling for a mate from the floating vegetated mat; listen for a sound like marbles striking against each other in rapid succession. Muskrats find abundant vegetation, especially cattails, to use in the construction of their houses and feeding huts. Cattails are also favored nesting habitat for red-winged blackbirds.

OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

Owned and managed by USDA Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest - Eleven Point Ranger District.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS

Trapping, fishing, camping, collection of plants or animals, and vehicular traffic are prohibited. Enjoy hiking, hunting, picnicking, and nature appreciation at Brushy Pond.

ADDITIONAL NATURAL AREAS

You may wish to visit nearby natural areas on the same day. Listed below are Mark Twain National Forest, National Park Service, and Missouri Department of Conservation natural areas. For more information on a particular site, check ownership and contact the Forest Service District Ranger office, National Park Service - Ozark National Scenic Riverways, or the Department of Conservation Wildlife District Supervisor in the location listed.

Tupelo Gum Pond-------------------------USFS------Winona, MO
Marg Pond----------------------------------USFS------Winona, MO
Overcup Oak Sink-------------------------USFS------Winona, MO
Red Maple Pond---------------------------USFS------Doniphan, MO
Mill Mountain-------------------------------NPS--------Van Buren, MO
Grassy Pond-------------------------------MDC-------West Plains, MO
Golden Seal--------------------------------MDC-------West Plains, MO
Mule Hollow Glade------------------------MDC-------West Plains, MO

SIZE, LOCATION, AND ACCESS

Twenty acres (pond plus buffer zone) in Oregon County. Section 1, T25N, R4W, Greer 7.5 topographical quadrangle. From the junction of U.S. 60 and state highway 19 near Winona, take 19 south about 12 miles. Watch for a horse trail sign at forest road 3174 on the right. Brushy pond is on the left, just off highway 19, about 0.5 miles south of 3174.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Forest Supervisor
401 Fairgrounds Road
Rolla, MO 65401
(314 364-4621 TTY

Eleven Point District Ranger
Rt. 1, Box 69
Winona, MO 65588
(314) 325-4233 TTY