Pre-season Wetland Area Status

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2026 Status of Missouri Managed Wetland Areas as of Late-August

Conservation AreaRepairs & ConstructionWater ManagementHabitat/Food StatusHunting Parties Per DaySelf-Check or DrawHunt Dates
Moist-SoilTimberFloodable CropsBlindsWalk-in
B.K. LeachMinor levee repairs and structure replacements throughout area are currently ongoing. No impact on hunting opportunity.NormalGoodNAFair/Good3 Blinds & 1 ADA Blind12-18Self-CheckOct 24-25
Bob BrownA project to replace the ADA blind is in COE permitting phase.Normal unless river drops below pump intakes (usually happens around the first week of December when the COE drops navigational flow on the Missouri River).ExcellentNAGood012-19Self-CheckOct 24-25
Coon IslandNoneReduced due to budget reductions. Floodwater in late July was captured in Pools 4, 5 and 6. Will not be pumping timber unit.GoodGoodNA0Open HuntingSelf-CheckNov 21-22
Duck CreekWell 1 is still running, but is pumping sand which could cause a breakdown anytime and could delay flooding in units.NormalGoodGoodFair24 Blinds & 1 ADA Blind28 positions + up to 50 ind. in Pool 8 + up to 25 ind. in Pool 7 (Wed, Sat, & Sun).Draw at area HQ at 4:45 AM; 18-20 positionsOct 31-Nov 1
Eagle BluffsConstruction has begun to replace both area river pumps, which is expected to be completed by the 2026-27 waterfowl season.Should be normal pending the completion of pump installation.Good/ExcellentNAFair1 ADA Blind14-18Draw @ 5:15 AM Oct 31, 4:15 AM Nov 1Oct 31-Nov 1
Fountain GroveMac 4 structure replacement.Later due to flooding. Moist soil and ag crop plant growth is behind.GoodGoodGood25 Blinds & 1 ADA Blind4-8 (dry fall) 5-10 (wet fall)Draw @ 5:00 AM both daysOct 24-25
Four RiversNoneDraw Units 1 and 2 - pools will receive further inundation as season progresses. Open Unit 3 – 60% full pool in Presidents Marsh. Open Unit 4 - near full pool. Units 3 and 4 - potential for higher inundation from river and rainfall as season progresses.Fair/GoodNAFair1 ADA Blind15-24 + open unitsSelf-CheckOct 31-Nov 1
Grand PassNorth Pool 7 water control structure repair.Normal. Reduced MO river navigation season may affect water pumping capabilities during late season.ExcellentNAGood1 ADA Blind18-40Self-CheckOct 31-Nov 1
Little RiverNoneWater levels in pools near the west side of the area will be slower to rise due to drought conditions.ExcellentNAGood/Fair06Self-CheckNov 21-22
Marais Temps ClairNoneNormalGoodNANA1 ADA Blind6-9Self-CheckOct 31-Nov 1
MontroseMotter pool levee, 80-acre pool structure repair.NormalFairNANA1 ADA BlindOpen HuntingSelf-CheckOct 31-Nov 1
Nodaway ValleyEast side pump station replacement is scheduled to begin in mid-December to ensure completion by fall of 2027. This could impact late season pumping.Normal unless river drops below pump intakes.GoodNAGood4 Blinds & 1 ADA Blind13-15 + 150-acre open areaSelf-CheckOct 24-25
Otter SloughR7 well needs to be replaced, but work has not yet begun. The well only floods R7 (one of the refuge units), so water levels in the unit are currently dependent on rainfall.NormalGoodNAFair12 Blinds & 1 ADA Blind19-22Draw at area HQ at 4:45 AM; 26 positionsOct 31-Nov 1
Schell-OsageArea is currently closed to waterfowl hunting for the 2026-27 season pending completion of the wetland renovation project.All pools were drained to facilitate wetland renovationFairNANA26 & 2 ADA BlindsClosed to waterfowl hunting for the 2026-27 season pending completion of the wetland renovation project.Closed to waterfowl hunting for the 2026-27 season pending completion of the wetland renovation project.Oct 31-Nov 1
Settle's FordDisabled blind structure in 1-2 pool is being replaced and will become available when construction is completed and there is water in the pool from rainfall. 1-5 (refuge) structure being repaired and pool will remain dry until repairs are complete. 2-3 pool has a damaged water control structure and will not hold water until repairs are completed. 3-1 structure is damaged and needs replaced to hold water. 3-1 pool has a levee breach and MDC is in the process of identifying a long-term solution. The pool is still capable of holding some water for opportunistic hunting.Most pools dry or have very low water levels. Dependent on fall precipitation. Hunting opportunities will be very limited.FairNANA1 ADA BlindOpen hunting, self-check.Self-CheckOct 31-Nov 1
Ted ShanksDown one pump currently, but should not affect ability to flood.NormalGoodNAGood4-8 Blinds & 1 ADA Blind12-18Draw at area HQ at 4:30 AMOct 24-25
Ten Mile PondMultiple units are going to have structures worked on.Dependent on Mississippi River levels and precipitation.GoodNAGood08-17Draw at area HQ at 4:45 AMNov 21-22