August 2021 Conservation Commission Action

The Missouri Conservation Commission met Aug. 26 for a budget workshop and closed executive session and Aug. 27 for a closed executive session and regular open meeting. All were held at MDC Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City.

Commissioners attending were:

• L. (Barry) Orscheln, Chair
• Mark L. McHenry, Vice Chair
• Steven D. Harrison, Secretary
• Margaret (Margy) F. Eckelkamp, Member

Presentations

The Commission received the following presentations/reports:

• Director’s Comments — Sara Parker Pauley, Director
• Feral Hog Presentation — Travis Guerrant, State Director MO/IA, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services; Amy Salveter, Public Services Staff Officer, USDA USFS; and Jason Jensen, MDC Community and Private Land Services Field Chief
• Mark Twain Lake Catfish — Ross Dames, District Supervisor
• Paddlefish — Joe McMullen, Scientist
• Report of the Regulations Committee — Mike Hubbard, Deputy Director and Chair, Regulations Committee
• Fiscal Year 2021 Year-End Financial Report — Andrew Bond, Chief Financial Officer
• Fiscal Year 2021 Year-End Report of Information Technology Projects Completed — Douglas Fees, Information Technology Services Chief
• Fiscal Year 2021 Year-End Report of Major Construction Projects Completed — Jacob Careaga, Infrastructure Branch Chief
• Major Construction Projects Status Report — Jacob Careaga, Infrastructure Management Branch Chief
• Information Technology Projects Status Report — Douglas Fees, Information Technology Branch Chief
• Quarterly Permit Suspensions/Revocations Report — Catherine Lucia, Internal Auditor

Administration

The Commission:

• Approved recommendations for changes from the mid-year Wildlife Code review and orders of rulemaking to finalize changes initially approved during the May 21 Commission meeting.
• Gave initial approval to a proposed regulation that sets a minimum length limit of 26 inches for blue catfish and flathead catfish on Mark Twain Lake.
• Gave initial approval to proposed regulation changes that would allow the expanded use of bicycles and electric bicycles on most department-area service roads and multi-use trails and to MDC definitions of bicycles and electric bicycles.
• Gave initial approval to a proposed regulation that adds Lost Valley Fish Hatchery near Warsaw to MDC areas where free fishing is permitted only by reservation for educational and other organized groups.
• Gave initial approval to several proposed regulation changes for paddlefish, related fishing methods, and commercial fishing.
• Approved the donation of approximately 45.83 acres in Taney County as an addition to Drury-Mincy Conservation Area.
• Approved the donation of approximately 105 acres in Washington County as an addition to Pea Ridge Conservation Area.
• Approved the submission of the estimated Fiscal Year 2023 appropriation requests to the Office of Administration budget director pursuant to Section 33.220 RSMo.
• Approved the consultant contract for Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery Renovation in Laclede County.
• Approved the sale of an estimated 1,517,504 board feet of timber located on 924 acres of Compartment 1, Rocky Creek Conservation Area in Shannon County.
• Approved the sale of an estimated 2,378,524 board feet of timber located on 639 acres of Compartment 8, Clearwater Conservation Area in Reynolds County.
• Suspended or revoked one or more hunting, fishing, trapping, or other privileges of 7 individuals for cause:
  1. Jacob I. Foster, Scott City, Hunting, 1 Year;
  2. Sylvia R. Hankins, Benton, Hunting, 1 Year;
  3. Ricky J. Isbell, Cullman (AL), Hunting, 1 Year;
  4. Nicholas D. Lara, Lockwood, Hunting, 1 Year;
  5. Brad R. Smith, Florence, All Sport, Addition of 2 Years to Current Revocation;
  6. Cole F. Teter, Cape Girardeau, Hunting, 0 Years; and
  7. Dalton C. West, Ironton, Hunting, Until July 8, 2026.
• Set the next regular meeting for Oct. 22, 2021.