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1. New MDC Director Has Shown Willingness to Take Risks
for Conservation
2. MDC Construction Projects Target Accessibility
3. Outdoor Events Planned for Eagle Bluffs Dedication
4. International Conservation Group Honors Missourians
5. Outdoor Calendar
Grouse had virtually disappeared from western Missouri by 1880, but they were still to be found in more than 20 northeastern counties and in the Ozarks east of Barry, Webster and Miller counties as late as 1900. The hunting season on grouse was closed in 1905, but this protective measure failed tohalt their decline. By 1934, grouse inhabited very small portions of 19 counties . . . fewer than 100 grouse were present.
-- John B. Lewis, Conservation Contrasts, Chapter 2
Jerry Conley, who will replace Jerry J. Presley as director of the Missouri Department of Conservation Jan. 1, says he sees himself as an innovator, a team-builder and a risk-taker.
JEFFERSON CITY -- Growing up in Cape Girardeau, Jerry Conley used to prowl neighborhood fields and woodlots in search of rabbits and quail to bag with his BB gun. Now, more than 40 years later, Conley is returning to his native state and finds it considerably changed.
Kids today have a harder time finding green space to roam in. For many, nature study happens in school classrooms, or not at all. Conley says he would like to make a difference in the outdoor opportunities available to the next generation of Missourians, and he is in a good position to do so. He's the new director of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The Missouri Conservation Commission voted in August to hire Conley as the MDC's sixth director. He starts work in Jefferson City in mid October. That gives him time to break into the job with help from current MDC Director Jerry J. Presley, who retires at the end of the year.
Conley, 54, is the second director in MDC history to come from outside the agency. The agency's first director, Irwin T. Bode, came to Missouri following service as the director of the Iowa Department of Conservation, the U.S. Biological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Conley's previous jobs include regional fisheries manager for the state of Utah, state fisheries division chief in Iowa, director of the Kansas Fish and Game Commission and, from 1980 until the present, director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Conley attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, and the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he earned a bachelor's degree in fish and wildlife management and a master's degree in fisheries management. His master's research project focused on the flier, a little known species of sunfish that inhabits Missouri's Bootheel region.
Asked what accomplishments he is proudest of from his 16-year tenure in Idaho, Conley says that he presided over the Fish and Game Department's growth from a small, underfunded agency into one that has won numerous awards for its innovative programs. He notes in particular the development of a state-of-the-art fish hatchery system, a thriving non game wildlife program and one of the nation's best state conservation education programs.
Conley also points with pride to the establishment of a huntable wild turkey population in Idaho, the growth of the state's annual elk harvest from 7,000 or 8,000 to more than 30,000, a role of national leadership in wilderness preservation and the reintroduction of several endangered species, including the caribou, timber wolf and grizzly bear.
Since taking the director's job in Idaho, Conley has served as president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He has been named as professional of the year by the WAFWA and received that organization's enforcement award. The employees of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game honored him with their Outstanding Employee Award for his "tenacious leadership and vision."
The Missouri Conservation Commission says it chose Conley in part because of his reputation as a consensus builder. However, he also has demonstrated a willingness to stand his ground on tough issues. Earlier this year, in his column in Idaho Fish and Game magazine, Conley wrote, "I urge you to abandon the sideline and expose yourself to some risk and criticism. Strike a blow for the side with the white hats. Don't wake up someday and find your favorite outdoor pursuit or place of retreat gone or under someone else's control."
Asked if he considers risk-taking necessary for an effective conservation program, Conley said, "I don't think there's any doubt about it. You have to be on the leading edge of innovation to be a leader, whether you're in the private sector or the public sector. We have to continue to earn the confidence of the people in the programs we carry on, and you do that by turning out high-quality products."
When asked for an example, Conley recalled a U.S. Air Force proposal to enlarge a practice bombing range in Idaho. Conley and his department thought the proposed expansion would be detrimental to wildlife, and came out publicly against the expansion as proposed.
"It was a very intense issue," says Conley. "The governor was on the side of the expansion. It was a very difficult situation to work through. But the bottom line was that we had to stand up for the wildlife resource. We did that, and we were able to alter the outcome so that I think it will end up being a win-win situation. The Air Force was forced to reevaluate what their needs really were, and where they could go with the range. They are only going to end up with an expanded range of 10,000 or 12,000 acres, rather than the million that were proposed initially. And it's going to be in an area where it won't have much impact on wildlife.
"We've had to stand up a lot of times against the federal government in cases where we thought their activities might have an adverse impact on the resource," says Conley. "For example, our salmon and steelhead runs were very much affected by hydro development and by dams, and we've had to come up with programs that were not very popular with federal agencies, and stand up for the right of states to manage wildlife and do it on federal land as well as private and state land.
"There are a lot of times you end up getting into pretty intense disagreements with people who are involved in development projects," says Conley. "We have always tried to work with developers, but there's times when we have had to say, 'That's not an appropriate thing to do on public land.'"
Conley also has earned a reputation as an innovator. Under his direction, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game adopted a point-of-sale permit issuing system a year before Missouri's "POS" system went into effect. He says the two agencies' work in developing computer-based permitting systems will serve as a model for other states. Idaho Fish and Game's computer home page won first place this year in a competition sponsored by the Association for Conservation Information. Missouri's home page -- which opened just this year -- placed second.
Conley has always emphasized direct communication between the public and the agencies he has managed. In Idaho, he hosted an award winning statewide radio talk show. He says he doubts he will have time for a similar show in Missouri, but he intends to look for opportunities to let Missourians talk directly to him and to involve them in conservation issues.
Noting Missouri's role as a national conservation leader, Conley says, "There's one disadvantage to running ahead of the pack, and that's the fear that the pack is going to catch up with you. If we are going to stay ahead, we need to admit that we don't have all the answers and go after the best that other departments are doing -- beg, borrow or steal their best ideas and also from the public."
Conley says he would like to see the MDC's programs become less centralized to take advantage of local ideas and opportunities and get citizens involved with wildlife. He says the national "Teaming With Wildlife" initiative offers a chance to channel funding for non-game wildlife into local programs through community grants. Because "Teaming With Wildlife" enjoys broad support from the outdoor equipment industry and citizen groups, Conley says it also is an ideal vehicle for increased popular involvement in conservation.
"I really am excited about the new job," says Conley. "I expect to throw a lot of energy into it, and expect a lot out of the Conservation Department staff, but they will get a lot in return. Hopefully, I can make it fun for people to do their jobs and be excited about what they do."
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New construction and upgrades at conservation areas are planned with disabled users in mind
JEFFERSON CITY -- Most people give little thought to accessing their favorite fishing, hunting or nature viewing spots. They hop in their cars drive as far as they can, then go on foot the rest of the way to a prime fishing hole or hunting spot. When you re a person with a disability, it isn't that easy. You may have to call ahead to make sure there will be paved trails for your wheelchair. A visit to a shooting range takes research to find out whether shooting stations are at a convenient height for use in a wheelchair, or provide warning lights to alert those who have hearing impairments when shooting starts and stops.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is working to make visits by persons with disabilities to conservation lands and facilities as effortless as they are for those without disabilities. Throughout the state, construction of new facilities and renovations at older facilities are providing disabled persons with access to MDC areas, buildings and shooting ranges. The list of MDC facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities continues to grow. Projects that have recently been completed or are near completion include:
A fishing jetty and parking access at Robert Talbot CA in Lawrence County; Renovations to existing trails and the picnic area at Rockwoods Reservation in St. Louis County; Asphalt walks added to the target range at the Forest 44 Shooting Range in St. Louis County; Trail and parking facilities at Rush Creek CA in Clay County; Ted Shanks CA in Pike County now has a disabled accessible hunting blind; In November, parking facilities, a privy, pavilion, and fishing dock will be available to persons with disabilities at Austin Lake in Texas County; Bob Brown CA will have a disabled accessible hunting and viewing blind, boardwalk and parking lot in November; Work is nearly done on: a chairlift at MDC's office in Jefferson City; the shooting range at Scrivner Road CA; a boat ramp, parking lot, fishing dock and privy at Harrison County Lake; restrooms, a shelter and trail at Kennedy Woods in St. Louis; a fishing pond, privy, trail and two picnic shelters at Buchanan County s Mark Youngdahl Urban CA; and the accessible shooting, archery and trap ranges at Pigeon Hill CA in Buchanan County; Accessible archery and trap ranges at Apple Creek CA in Cape Girardeau County and a static archery range in Little Black CA in Ripley County are slated to be opened in the spring. Also, a trail and viewing blind for persons with disabilities at Little Bean Marsh CA is scheduled to be completed this spring.
If you would like more information on MDC s disabled accessible facilities contact: Human Resources Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Or phone 573/751-4115.
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The Missouri Department of Conservation has scheduled a variety of special activities Oct. 12 to draw visitors to one of the nation's largest, most innovative wildlife areas.
McBAINE, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation will officially unveil Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area with a "fun fair" and dedication ceremony Oct. 12. Visitors will get to explore the wide range of outdoor opportunities available at the 4,756-acre facility, tour outdoor exhibits and participate in a variety of other activities.
Eagle Bluffs CA has attracted national attention as an innovative method for addressing wetlands habitat loss and economical, environmentally sensitive wastewater treatment. Missouri has lost more than 94 percent of its historic wetlands along the Missouri River. Eagle Bluffs is one of about 10 sites where the state has sought to restore 50,000 wetland acres. In 1989, as the MDC began making plans to restore Eagle Bluffs, the city of Columbia was searching for a way to meet its needs for wastewater treatment.
The city's existing wastewater treatment plant was near its capacity. Furthermore, Perche Creek, into which the city had been channeling treated wastewater, was reclassified under new water quality standards, so the city could not empty effluent from its wastewater treatment plant into the creek. The city was faced with a choice: upgrade the treatment plant to make effluent cleaner, or build a pipeline to carry wastewater to the Missouri River. The river's larger volume of water would dilute the effluent enough to meet state clean-water standards.
The pipeline was the least expensive alternative. But Columbia residents decided on a more natural approach. Cooperation between the city of Columbia, MDC and other state agencies produced a plan for using water from the treatment plant to flood the wildlife area.
Water enters Eagle Bluffs CA through a series of pipelines after treatment in the city's wastewater plant and "polishing" in a wastewater treatment wetland the city operates. Water-control structures allow MDC to channel the water where it is needed within the conservation area or stop the flow if water-quality problems develop.
The city has an intensive monitoring program to ensure that the water leaving the wetlands either meets or exceeds the regulatory standards required for discharge into the Missouri River. The University of Missouri Wetlands Center conducts research to determine the ecological effects of these wetlands.
Two types of wetlands occur on Eagle Bluffs, seasonal and semi permanent. Seasonal wetlands are those which generally occur during times of flooding -- fall, winter and spring -- and are dry during the summer months. Semi-permanent wetlands tend to hold water longer, up to several years.
Eagle Bluffs CA opened for waterfowl hunting last year, and it is expected to provide diverse recreational opportunities. Students will gain a place to study wetland plants and animals; trails will provide hiking and nature viewing opportunities, and anglers will have seasonal access to bank fishing on the Missouri River. The area also will furnish small game, archery deer, turkey and other hunting opportunities.
A brief recognition and dedication ceremony conducted by MDC Director Jerry Presley will begin the Fun Fair at 9 a.m. A day of fun activities for everyone will follow, with live otter and eagle shows, exhibits and demonstrations. MDC's stream table and an electro-fishing boat that is used in fish management will be on display. And there will be many other displays and activities to help you enjoy and learn more about wetland conservation and outdoor recreation.
For more information, contact the Eagle Bluffs office at (573) 445 3882 or MDC's Information Services Division (573) 751-4115 ext. 239.
-arleasha mays-
JEFFERSON CITY - As one of his final acts as President of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Jerry Presley, Missouri Department of Conservation Director, presented John L. Morris and Martin Mac Donald of Bass Pro Shops with the President's Award at the IAWFA's 88th annual conference in September.
Morris and Mac Donald were honored for leadership in the outdoor recreation industry and conservation community and specifically for supporting Teaming with Wildlife, an initiative by the IAFWA and other conservation organizations to fund programs for all wildlife species and provide more outdoor educational and recreational opportunities for the public. Last March, Bass Pro Shops joined the growing national coalition of organizations and businesses supporting Teaming with Wildlife and became a leading proponent.
In receiving the award, Morris responded, "The future really depends more on how we manage our resources than absolutely anything else. It's pretty much our obligation and responsibility to try to put something back and to be involved. We believe that to achieve great success it takes great team work. Federal agencies working with state agencies, conservation groups, individuals and businesses have to reach out to each other to make great things happen. We decided to lend support to Teaming with Wildlife because we really felt it absolutely was and is the right thing to do."
Presley and the Missouri Department of Conservation also received awards. The prestigious Seth Gordon Award went to Presley, who has served 39 years with the MDC. A native of the Missouri Ozarks, Presley served as IAFWA president for the past year. In conferring the award, IAFWA officials recognized Presley as an "energetic and committed leader in conservation, a thorough professional, a capable administrator and always a gentleman." Some of the accomplishments attributed to Presley included his implementation of strategic and regional planning, and being instrumental in the 1977 one-eighth percent conservation sales tax in Missouri.
The Boone and Crockett Club award accompanied the Seth Gordon Award. Mr. Presley accepted it. Boone and Crockett cited MDC's special programs such as the Missouri Stream Team Program, Respect Landowners Initiative, the Coordinated Resource Management program and the strong ethics component at all levels of MDC education programs.
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HUNTING
Bag Limit
Opens Closes (Daily-Possession)
Bullfrogs 6/30/96 10/31/96 8-16 (See Wildlife Code)
Common Snipe*+ 9/ 1/96 12/16/96 8-16
Coyotes 5/ 6/96 3/31/97 Some restrictions during
deer season. (See Wildlife Code)
Crows 11/ 1/96 3/ 3/97 No Limit
Deer/Turkey (Archery) 10/ 1/96 11/15/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
11/27/96 1/15/97 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer (Firearms) 11/16/96 11/26/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer (Muzzleloader) 11/16/96 11/26/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
12/ 7/96 12/15/96 See Regulations, available mid-July
Deer 1/ 4/97 1/ 5/97 Open only to hunters with unfilled
(Firearms & Muzzleloader Any-Deer Bonus Deer Tags for
in units 1-17, 22, 58 & 59) open units. See Regulations
Dove*+# 9/ 1/96 10/30/96 15-30
Ducks and Coots*
North Zone 10/26/96 12/14/96 Five ducks daily with no more
Middle Zone 11/ 2/96 12/21/96 than 4 mallards (no more than 1 female),
South Zone 11/23/96 1/11/97 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 pintail,
Youth-only Duck Hunting Dates 1 black duck, 1 hooded merganser or
North Zone 10/19/96 10/19/96 1 canvasback. Daily bag for coots is
Middle Zone 10/26/96 10/26/96 15. Possession limits are twice the
South Zone 11/16/96 11/16/96 daily limit.
Furbearers 11/20/96 1/20/97 No Limit
Geese and Brant
Blue, Snow and Ross' Geese*+# Daily bag limits include no more than
North and Swan 10 blue, snow or Ross' geese; 2
Lake Zones 10/26/96 1/19/97 Canada geese; 2 brant; and 2 white-
2/17/97 3/9/97 fronted geese. Possession limits for
Middle and Schell-Osage Canada geese, brant and white-fronted
Zones: 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96 geese are twice the daily limit. For
blue, snow and Ross' geese, the
South Zone 11/23/96 3/ 9/97 aggregate possession limit is three the
White-fronted Geese and Brant daily limit.
North Zone 9/28/96 10/ 6/96
10/26/96 11/ 3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Swan Lake Zone 10/26/96 11/ 3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Middle and Schell-Osage
Zones 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96
11/29/96 1/31/97
South Zone 11/23/96 1/31/97
Canada Geese
North Zone 9/28/96 10/ 6/96
10/26/96 11/3/96
11/29/96 1/19/97
Swan Lake Zone 10/26/96 11/ 3/96 (Unless a quota of 5,000 geese is
11/29/96 12/29/96 reached before Dec. 29; a daily limit
of 10 shot shells.)
Middle Zone 11/ 2/96 11/ 7/96
11/29/96 1/31/97
Schell-Osage Zone 11/29/96 1/ 7/97
South Zone 11/23/96 1/31/97
Groundhogs 5/ 6/96 12/15/96 No Limit
Pheasants and
Gray Partridge 11/1/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Quail 11/1/96 1/15/97 8-16
Rabbits 10/1/96 2/15/97 6-12
(may include only
2-4 swamp rabbits)
Ruffed Grouse 10/15/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Sora and Virginia Rails*+ 9/ 1/96 11/ 9/96 25-25
Squirrels 5/25/96 1/15/97 (See Wildlife Code)
Teal*+ 9/ 7/96 9/15/96 4-8
Turkey 4/21/97 5/ 4/97 1 bearded bird per week
Turkey (Fall Firearms) 10/14/96 10/27/96 (See Wildlife Code)
Woodcock*+ 10/15/96 12/18/96 5-10
FISHING
Trout Parks 3/ 1/96 10/31/96 5-10
Trout Parks 11/8/96 2/ 8/97 Catch & release Fri., Sat.,
(Winter Tag Required) Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trout Management Areas Open All No Closed 5-10 (See Wildlife Code)
(Trout Permit Required) Year Season
Trout (Trophy and Wild) Open All No Closed 3-3 (See Wildlife Code)
Trout Management Areas) Year Season
(Trout Permit Required)
Black Bass
(streams, specified zone) 5/25/96 2/28/97 6-12 (See Wildlife Code)
(impoundments) Open All No Closed (See Wildlife Code)
Year Season
Bullfrogs 6/30/96 10/31/96 8-16 (See Wildlife Code)
Paddlefish 3/15/97 4/30/97 2-4 (See Wildlife Code)
Nongame Fish Stream Gigging 9/15/96 1/31/97 20
(See Wildlife Code for creel limits on other species.)
TRAPPING
Beaver 11/20/96 3/31/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
Coyotes 11/20/96 2/15/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
Furbearers 11/20/96 1/20/97 No Limit (See Wildlife Code)
___________
*Hunters of migratory birds are required to have a migratory bird
hunting permit in addition to other appropriate permits (See Wildlife Code).
+Subject to final federal approval
#Complete waterfowl details will be found in the Migratory Bird Hunting Digest,
to be available from permit vendors and MDC offices in early October.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
October 21 Montauk State Park, Route 5, Salem, Mo.
(For additional information contact the Department Director.)
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