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KIRKWOOD, Mo.— The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) continues to seek public input as it enters the next phase of the planning process for the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center grounds in Kirkwood. From July 1 through July 31, MDC invites public comment on a draft version of the 10-year management plan for the 112 acres surrounding the nature center.
In May, 2016, MDC gathered public comment regarding management of Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center. MDC staff have developed a draft management plan for the area, taking the previous round of comments into account.
MDC wants to know what Missourians think about its nearly 1,000 conservation areas around the state. These efforts constitute MDC’s multi-year process of updating Conservation Area Management Plans using public input on how conservation areas are important to Missourians. To preview the draft management plan for the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center grounds and share comments online, visit mdc.mo.gov/areaplans.
MDC is inviting public comment to aid staff in developing a 10-year management plan for the area surrounding Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center. Interested persons or groups—including recreational users, neighboring landowners, conservation groups, elected officials and government agencies—are invited to view the proposed management plan at mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. The plan includes a link for supplying comments and input.
The plan will remain available for public comment during the month of July. The public comment period for the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center plan will close July 31.
The area surrounding the nature center is managed to promote awareness, understanding, and appreciation of conservation for a diverse audience, through education, interpretive experiences, exhibits, and resource management in an urban setting. The grounds include a nature center building (featuring exhibit space, classrooms, wildlife viewing area, gift shop, and public restrooms), staging area (with water fountain and restroom), 2.2 miles of hiking trails, 3,000-gallon outdoor aquarium, and artificial wetland and waterfall features that are available for public use and enjoyment.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270.
Conservation Area Management Plans focus on natural resource management and public use on conservation areas. The plans do not address regulations on hunting, fishing and other area uses, which are set by the Conservation Commission and enforced under the Wildlife Code of Missouri. MDC will consider all ideas received and will work to balance the issues and interests identified with the responsibility of managing areas for the present and future benefits to forest, fish, wildlife, and people.
Decisions on which ideas to incorporate into area plans and on how to best incorporate them will be based on the property’s purpose, its physical and biological conditions and capabilities, the best roles of the property in its local, regional and state-wide context, and on the professional expertise of MDC staff.
MDC conservation areas cover almost one million public acres for the purpose of restoring and conserving forest, fish and wildlife resources, and for providing opportunities for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about these resources. Most Missourians are within a 30-minute drive of an MDC conservation area.
