Up Front

I’m anxiously awaiting the start of spring — the soft, subtle bite from a crappie on the end of a line, the first gobble from a turkey, and early color of redbuds in bloom. The opportunities of spring are on their way, like the opening of catch-and-keep trout season at trout parks and snagging season for one of the ancient paddlefish that still inhabit our lakes and big rivers today. 

Speaking of ancient fish, Missouri is home to three species of sturgeon — shovelnose, pallid, and lake. All three are part of long-term restoration efforts led by the department in partnership with federal agencies and our neighboring states. Once nearly eliminated from the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, hatchery production, stocking, habitat creation, research and long-term monitoring are being done to aid in their recovery (See Bringing Back the Sturgeon, Page 10).

Like sturgeon recovery, forest management crosses generations. The oaks planted by forest management today will provide shade and acorns for decades to come. The work of timber harvest, timber stand improvement, and regeneration efforts coupled with thoughtful decisions of present day forest managers shape wildlife habitat and forest health for years to come. These efforts play out in real time and are highlighted in A Forest’s Journey, Page 22. 

These are just two recent reminders — steady, persistent conservation work by state and federal agencies, private landowners, and engaged conservationists play out over generations. Your engagement, however big or small, ensures Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife endure for generations to come.

Jason Sumners, Director

JASON.SUMNERS@MDC.MO.GOV