Vantage Point

Jul. 2004 - Vol. 65, No. 7

vantage image Behind the Scenes

Have you ever wondered who takes care of all the facilities and infrastructure that are available to you on conservation areas? Behind the scenes of the wonderful conservation programs and facilities you enjoy are many dedicated men and women playing a vital support role. These men and women are members of the staff of the Design & Development Section of the Conservation Department's Administrative Services Division. They provide professional engineering, architectural, and construction-maintenance services to the Department and the citizens of Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Conservation owns or leases more than a thousand conservation areas located throughout the State. These areas contain nearly 500 miles of wetland levees, 75 shooting ranges, 500 boat launching ramps, 3,000 fishing lakes and ponds, 1,000 miles of roads, 2,500 parking lots, 3,000 buildings and other infrastructure, all of which must be maintained.

Over the past few decades, the Department has focused on improving the conservation areas acquired as part of the "Design for Conservation" plan implemented with the passage of the 1/8th percent conservation sales tax in 1976. The Department constructed nature centers, fishing lakes, wetlands, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, trails, river and lake public use access areas and associated infrastructure so that that the public could make better use of these areas.

In designing these public use facilities, the Department's Design & Development staff worked closely with resource managers and biologists to acquire a good understanding of the biological functions of a project. They then designed projects that remained in harmony with the environment and enhanced the area's natural resources.

Several Design & Development projects have won honors in national conservation engineering design competition in recent years. These projects include the innovative designs of the wetlands at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area near Columbia and Four Rivers Conservation Area in Vernon County and the unique design of the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery at Warsaw, the largest sport fish restoration project in the country.

Lots of Conservation Department staff members contribute their work and expertise to creating facilities on conservation areas.

Most jobs for example, require land surveyors to complete topographic mapping of the site before civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers, as well an architect and drafting technicians, produce construction drawings of the design.

Also, the Conservation Department's contract specialist and clerical staff have to prepare final contract documents for bidding, and contract supervisors would ensure quality construction by the carpenters and heavy equipment operators.

The list of those involved behind the scenes in providing quality conservation facilities is nearly endless. I haven't even brought up the dedicated employees who mow, pick up trash, grade roads and parking lots, clean boat-launching ramps, remedy acts of vandalism, repair infrastructure, clean and maintain public facilities, or those who work to enhance fish and wildlife habitat on conservation areas.

The next time you are enjoying Missouri's beautiful conservation areas and facilities, give a thought to the many people behind the scenes who have contributed to your enjoyment of the great outdoors.

Carter Campbell
Administrative Services Division Administrator