Vol67 no3 2006

MISSOURI

Wildlife

MAY 2006 VOL. 67, NO. 3

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NEWS & ISSUES

Timber Stand Workshop CONSERVATION AWARDS

Recognizing Citizen Conservationists ANNUAL CONVENTION

CFM Resolutions Produced NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION 70th Annual Meeting

VIEW FROM THE STONE HOUSE

MISSOURI

Wildlife

It’s Your Call. What’s Next For CFM?

May 2006 Vol. 67, No. 3

In Part, It’s Entirely Up To You. arly April showers are falling as I write these lines. For once, the soil at my farm is saturated! In fact, I had to bail about 10 gallons of water out to read the water meter, while a big thunderstorm was coming from the west. Maybe we will have an abundance of May flowers this year! Maybe there will be almost enough morels for me to get my fill.

At this point we are far enough into 2006 to have some perspective on what it may hold, yet uncertain of outcomes.

Plenty of moisture and an early spring bodes well for things of land. Despite an abundance of serious concerns and challenges to natural resources and outdoors folk proposed and promoted by some, the leadership in both Missouri houses of legislature and our governor hold the line for conservation. There is reason for cautious optimism. By May 12, when the session ends, there may well be cause for jubilation. We have things very good in Missouri!

On a national front, our Washington delegation has taken unprecedented steps in conservation advocacy this year.

Both our Senators and all our Representatives (save Congressman Blunt who is very supportive, but could not sign on because of his leadership role) signed on to the National Wildlife Federation’s “Dear Colleague” letter to raise Teaming With Wildlife funding to $85 million this year! Four new members signed on this year! Furthermore, our delegation, especially Senator Talent, Congresswoman Emerson and Congressman Hulshof have taken strong positions in

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q Individual $20 q Life $1000 q Family $30

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opposition to the proposed sale of lands in the Mark Twain National Forest. As of right now, in fact, actions by Congressman Hulshof may well have stopped the sale before it ever happened.

By the time you read this, the race may already have been run.

You should know that CFM was there for you and played a significant role in every one of these (and many, many other) conservation issues. We represented you in committee hearings, commission meetings, and regulations committee meetings. We represented you in lobbying days in Washington, DC, to help secure the Teaming With Wildlife Funding, and by maintaining contact via phone calls and e mails to staff and members in Washington throughout the year. We represented you with staff and volunteer participation in major programs and events partnering with the National Wildlife Federation. The list goes on and on.

All this is only possible because of your support. Your membership is the currency of conservation in our state, and in many ways across the nation. All states look to Missouri for excellence.

Together, we ordinary folks have created, built and care for an extraordinary conservation legacy. In the future, as in the past, CFM members will lead. We will carry the banner of conservation, we will put back whatever it takes, whenever necessary, to ensure a bright future for wildlife, for our land and for our people.

Our new tax-exempt status means that donations to CFM may now be tax

q Individual $20 q Life $1000 q Family $30

OFFICERS Don Johnson President Glenn Chambers First Vice President Mike Schallon Second Vice President Duane Addleman Secretary Randy Washburn Treasurer STAFF Dave Murphy Executive Director/Editor Lynne Jensen Lampe Design & Production Laurie Coleman Admin. Associate/ Membership and Managing Editor Leigh Love Admin. Associate/ Accounting Missouri Wildlife is the official publication of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, Affliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

deductible. We will always need money to implement our programs and to keep our organization strong.

But there is one thing even more important to CFM than money. Members. Won’t you help us? Each and every one of us knows someone who should belong to CFM, and who very likely will join, if we ask them. Clip out the little membership coupons included here.

Sign up one member on one of these forms and send it in to receive a free CFM lapel pin. Sign up three (a “hat trick” in hockey) and we will send you a brand new CFM embroidered cap. Just our way of saying “THANKS!” Thanks for your membership, thanks for your generous support, and especially thanks for giving of your time and effort to recruit new members.

Get outdoors as much as possible this spring! Invest a little time in young people while you are at it.

Dave Murphy Executive Director, CFM

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Email

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ISSN 1082-8591

728 W. Main Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559 Phone • 573-634-2322 Fax • 573-634-8205 Email • mofed@socket.net Online • http://www.confedmo.org

MISSOURI WILDLIFE (USPS 012868) is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November for subscribers and members of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559. Of each member’s dues ($20 minimum) $2.00 shall be for a year’s subscription to Missouri Wildlife. Periodical postage paid at Jefferson City, MO. and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MISSOURI WILDLIFE, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559.

COVER: Summertime and smallmouth bass, a great gift of Missouri streams. Photo compliments of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MAILBAG

A Big Welcome To New CFM Board President he signs of spring are appearing all around us. Our youth turkey season has just been very successful and we are approaching our general spring turkey season here in Missouri. I wish you all great experiences and safe hunting.

I thank you all for allowing me to lead an organization as great as the Conservation Federation of Missouri. When you travel in this country of ours, you get an opportunity to hear what other states think of the conservation system here in Missouri. Believe me, they all recognize that Missouri’s program is at the top of the list. We owe that heritage to the leaders in this state that preceded us. Our goal has to be to improve on that system and pass it on to the generations that will follow us.

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Good hunting and good fishing.

Don R. Johnson President, CFM

Dear CFM Staff & Education Committee, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in making the CLC a success again this year.

I know there is a lot of time and planning that goes into making the conference and CLC a success. I also realize CFM is making quite an investment on CLC and the future of conservation. I know everyone goes out of their way to make the students feel welcome. I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference the last five years. I feel that it is only fitting that I repay the investment CFM has made in me with a lifetime membership. CLC has given me some valuable experience and helped shape my understanding of conservation in our great state. If there is anything at all I can help with please let me know and I would be more than willing to help.

I will be starting my masters in June at Oklahoma State in fisheries ecology.

However, I hope to stay active and involved with CFM and the CLC process.

I am hopeful that after receiving my masters I will be able to move back to Missouri to start my career.

I believe the future of conservation in our state looks quite bright. Again, thanks to the entire staff, Education Committee, and everyone that made this year’s conference and the CLC a success. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely, Dane Balsman Dear CFM, On behalf of the Conservation Leadership Corp of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, we extend our appreciation for funding this program, which allows us to discover the political aspects of policy in conservation. The Conservation Federation creates opportunities for students to network with professionals, while creating interest in how individuals can converge to influence the future through political action for improvement and preservation of Missouri’s outdoors.

We are looking forward to continuing our membership and involvement with the CFM in changing the face of conservation awareness in Missouri.

With sincere gratitude, Members of the CLC

Beautiful CFM Notecards For Sale!

A unique partnership between CFM and Jim Rathert has begun. You can buy fantastic images of Missouri wildlife, caught in the act of living, by renowned photographer Jim Rathert.

Best of all, each of these vivid slices of Missouri wildlife will greatly benefit CFM. The cards are sold only in high-quality sets of 12. There are 3 copies of each of the 4 images in every set (whitetail buck, greater prairie chicken, belted kingfisher, eastern bluebird). Each card is 5 x 7 with a full color photo on the front, a nature note by Jim with our CFM logo, mission statement and contact information on the back and plenty of space for your message on the inside. High quality, matched envelopes accompany each card.

Please order your cards today! We are certain you will enjoy sending them as much as your friends will enjoy receiving them. A dozen cards are yours for only $19. If you order 3 or more sets, you pay only $16 per set. Prices include shipping and handling. To purchase cards, use the form below, call (800) 575-2322 or go to www.confedmo.org Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________ State: ______________ Zipcode:_____________ Quantity (# of sets): _________ Total Price: ________________

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AGENCY NEWS

Public Access To Johnson’s Shut-Ins By Memorial Day? Repair Work Continues To Ensure Parts Of Park Open By Summer Season ne of Missouri’s most popular state parks is expected to reopen in time for the summer tourism season.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and several partners are working to reopen Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, which was severely damaged by the Dec. 14 breach of the Taum Sauk Reservoir. Our goal is to provide public access with interim visitor services to portions of the park by May 27.

Many things must happen before this is possible, but staff members are working with AmerenUE and MACTEC, the company in charge of the cleanup and restoration, toward this goal. Only a portion of the park will be accessible; the other part will be blocked off to the public. If the boardwalk can be repaired, access will be provided to the shut-ins but swimming will not be allowed anywhere in the park for safety reasons.

Interpretation, including outdoor exhibit panels and a self-guided auto tour will be provided. A trail is being developed through a boulder field that was created when flooding from the reservoir breach washed boulders down the mountain.

Several picnic tables will be in place but camping will not be available in the park this summer. This short-term plan will be in place for this season only.

As of March 16, more than 5,000 truckloads of sediment and 800 truckloads of mulch had been removed from the park. About 450 loads of this mulch,

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Our First-Ever CLC Winners!

These members of CFM’s Conservation Leadership Corps are winners of the 2006 CLC Conservation Achievement Award.

Pictured from left to right are Dane Balsman, Nicki Carter, Neal Hutton, Cory Gregg, and Adam Boman

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made from the hundreds of uprooted trees pushed by the flood into the park, were transported to St. Joe State Park to help stabilize the tailings area. Several areas of the park were re-seeded and sediment was removed from the fen.

Major infrastructure issues that must still be resolved include restoring running water and a wastewater system to the park, and repairing the park office and store.

Planning also is underway for the long-term redevelopment of the park.

The process will be similar to the regular conceptual development plan process followed for all parks and sites but will be at an accelerated pace. The division will be working with the planning consultants at MACTEC to help coordinate this process. The department has hosted several public meetings to garner input.

An online survey also will be available on the department’s website at www.mostateparks.com/jshutinsdamage.htm. The goal is to have a redevelopment plan in place by early fall.

Stream Restoration: Our agency also has been working with stream specialists from the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and MACTEC to develop a plan for the restoration of the portion of the East Fork of the Black River that was damaged by the event.

Flooding from the Taum Sauk breach filled the stream and floodplain above the shut-ins with sand and boulders and

blocked its channel. The stream restoration concept and a planning schedule have been approved, and the department is seeking public input on this plan as well.

The public can view the plan online at www.mostateparks.com/jshutinsdamage.htm. Comments on the stream restoration plan will be accepted until May 2 and should be sent to Black River Stream Restoration Team, 3199 Riverport Tech Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63043. If all goes according to plan, work on this restoration will begin in July and be completed sometime this fall.

Black River/Taum Sauk Reservoir Cleanup: At public meetings held in Lesterville, local businesses and residents have told us that repairing the quality of the Black River continues to be a top priority. Department staff members are working with AmerenUE and MACTEC to address this issue.

Improving turbidity, or water clarity, has posed the most significant challenge.

Normally, turbidities in the Black River system are near 1 turbidity unit except during rainfall events. Turbidity units in the East Fork immediately following the upper reservoir collapse approached 3,500 turbidity units; following flocculation of the lower reservoir, the turbidity levels below the dam had dropped to about 10 turbidity units. Since then the turbidity readings have risen to about 30 to 40 turbidity units at the highway 21 bridge in Lesterville. This increase of

turbidity is due to rainfall, wind and wave action within the reservoir, which has re-suspended some of the sediment in the reservoir. Turbidity in the Black River has steadily decreased since the upper reservoir failure and current readings range from 1 to 5 turbidity units.

Sediment present on the streambed continues to be very evident on the East Fork between the lower reservoir and its confluence with the Black River. Within the reservoir itself, and downstream to Clearwater Lake, conditions have improved and continue to improve as rainfall moves sediment through the system. This accumulation of sediment is unsightly and may have ecological consequences. Biologists are currently evaluating effects to the aquatic community.

Large amounts of sediment were deposited within Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park boundaries, upstream of the shut-ins. The stream restoration plan under review for the East Fork of the Black River within the park attempts to stabilize much of this sediment and keep it from moving downstream through the shut-ins and into the Black River.

Large amounts of sediment were also deposited in the lower Taum Sauk reservoir. Ameren is currently developing a plan for removal of this sediment. The removal plan must be submitted to and approved by federal and state agencies prior to being initiated.

Doyle Childers Director, DNR

NEWS

PROGRAMS ADDED since the March/April issue are first aid, quilt making, orienteering – and the special program will be “Short-Cut to Cooking” by Henrietta of Boessen Catering.

She is the person who prepares the meals we have at the Fall Conference.

A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATE

Quail Unlimited To Celebrate 25 Years Of Quail Conservation

AND ISSUES Swiss Meat & Sausage Company Captures Title In Wild Game Sausage Competition

Swiss Meat & Sausage Company, Hermann, MO, not only captured the Missouri Grand Champion Wild Game title for their Buffalo Summer Sausage, but also took Reserve Grand Champion honors for their Elk Summer Sausage at the annual Missouri Association of Meat Processors annual meat competition and show held March 3-4 at the Holiday Inn Select, Columbia, MO. Cloud’s Meat Processing, Carthage, took Champion with their Venison Summer Sausage while another Buffalo Summer Sausage made

by Western’s Smokehouse of Greentop was awarded Reserve Champion.

Swiss Meat uses this same award winning recipe to manufacture thousands of pounds of Venison Summer Sausage annually from deer harvested by deer hunters. Even though the number of deer harvested this past season was down, Swiss Meat still processed a record amount of deer sausages, jerky and snack sticks.

Swiss Meat has participated for many years as an official wildlife check station and they actively participate in the Share the Harvest Program. They were fortunate enough this past season to be offered additional sponsorship for this program from the Central Missouri Chapter Safari Club International, Jefferson City, as well as a local chapter of the Hunting & Fishing Club from Owensville High School.

With this added sponsorship a hunter could drop off a deer to have processed and donated to Share the Harvest with absolutely no cost to him. This sponsorship raised the amount of deer meat donated to local food pantries from Swiss Meat to nearly 1400 pounds!

We say to Swiss Meat,“Keep up the good work.”Your sausages truly are award winning, and your contribution

Competition winners (left to right): Bill Sloan, Swiss Meat & Sausage Company, Hermann, Grand Champion Summer Sausage; Mike Sloan, Swiss Meat & Sausage Company, Hermann, Reserve Grand Champion Elk Summer Sausage; Mike Cloud, Cloud's Processing, Carthage, Champion Venison Summer Sausage and Kevin Western, Western's Smokehouse, Greentop, Reserve Champion Buffalo Summer Sausage.

to the Share the Harvest program is outstanding.

2006 Fall Conference The 2006 Conservation Federation Fall Conference will be held September 15–17 at Camp Clover Point, Lake Ozark State Park, Osage Beach, Missouri.

The theme will be Folk Crafts, Survival and Outdoor Skills. The program will include fire making, Dutch oven cooking, soap making, archery, trapping, jewelry making, a bird walk, container gardening and building bird houses.

We will have Coleman equipment repair and a shooting simulator all weekend.

There will also be entertainment: bingo, marshmallow roast, story telling, guitar playing, sing-along and square dance.

The happy hour and white elephant sale late Saturday afternoon is always a good time. When you are cleaning out your garage and basement this Spring save some good stuff to donate to the white elephant sale.

The food is always wonderful!

See you there.

Quail Unlimited will host its annual National Convention in Kansas City July 26-29 at the Westin Crown Center. The organization will be celebrating its silver anniversary as it commemorates 25 years of quail conservation and its successes as “America’s Leader in Quail Conservation.” Hundreds of chapter delegates from across the country will gather at the convention for a wide array of convention seminars, workshops and award presentations. Some of the topics to be covered are herbicide use, prescribed fire, youth education and conservation programs, hunting preserve management and game bird production, and bobwhite basics. Various chapters and individuals will be recognized and presented awards for their outstanding achievements during the convention. The theme for this year’s annual convention is “Flight To The Future.”

For those delegates interested, there will be a pre-convention habitat tour on July 26. The tour will feature the West Central Missouri chapter’s habitat projects, including CP-33 field borders, CRP mid-contract management, edge feathering, woody vegetation control, prescribed burning, native grass plantings and other demonstration plots. The local chapter has won first place for national habitat three years in a row. Included will be an overview of quail biology, habitat and management as well as a tour of Sharp Brothers Seed production facilities.

Concurrent with the annual convention, the Heartland Wildlife Expo will be hosted by Quail Unlimited at the Crown Center Exhibit Hall July 28-30. The Expo is open to the public for an admission price of $7.00; children under 18 and Quail Unlimited members qualify for free admission. Expo hours for Friday are from 12:00pm – 9:00pm; Saturday from 10:00am – 9:00pm; and Sunday from 10:00am – 5:00pm.

In the exhibit hall, visitors can register for a free ATV; tour Purina Sporting Dog

Village; attend free bird dog training seminars by Rick Smith; be dazzled by Bass Pro Shops “King of Bucks” collection; play in the Kid’s corner; and see the latest hunting and outdoor gear at over 200 exhibitor booths.

Landowners will also be able to obtain habitat advice and planning from a team of professional wildlife biologists. Aerial photographs will be available for Missouri and Kansas landowners; visitors from other states will need to bring their own photographs.

For more information visit www.qu.org, email CDean@qu.org or call Quail Unlimited at (803) 637-5731.

Dedicated Clean Stream volunteers like Brian Waldrop (right) and Bernie Arnold (left) of the Saint Louis area are two of the thousands of Missouri Stream Stewards who give freely of their time and resources to make a river restoration program like Operation Clean Stream work each year.

39th Annual Operation Clean Stream Set For Saturday, August 26 Operation Clean Stream, one of America’s longest and largest ongoing river restoration projects in the Meramec River Watershed is scheduled for Saturday, August 26, 2006. Each year thousands of volunteers turn out to rid the Meramec River and its tributaries of tons of unsightly litter, flood debris and historic relics that have found their way into the stream bed over the years.

In addition to giving the Meramec an annual cleansing, the project serves to send a message to the public each year on the fourth Saturday in August about the importance of keeping our rivers and streams clean.

To volunteer or find out more about how to become involved in the project call (636) 733-0088 or visit the clean stream website at www.openspacecouncilstl.org. Operation Clean Stream is Missouri Stream Team number five.

Timber Stand Workshop On Thursday, June 22, 2006, a Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Workshop will be held at the Runge Nature Center near the Missouri Department

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NEWS AND ISSUES of Conservation headquarters in Jefferson City.

The Workshop is designed to teach foresters, wildlife biologists, Tree Farmers, and other forest landowners how to intensively manage their woods to produce more high quality timber and improve wildlife habitat. This workshop will first show that an investment in TSI provides such great returns in most cases that a landowner cannot afford not to do such work.

High quality timber produces excellent income; low quality trees and species produce very little.

Speakers will discuss economics, forest health, wildlife and silvaculture benefits of TSI. Then a group of professionals who have completed TSI on thousands of acres will discuss what chemicals to use, best time of year for application, and how to apply to guarantee success.

The Workshop is sponsored by the Missouri Chapter of the Walnut Council and Other Fine Hardwoods. The organization is the absolute best at teaching central states hardwood landowners how to manage their woods for quality timber production while enhancing wildlife values. Registration includes lunch and two large handouts of publications, guide sheets, etc. on TSI and growing quality hardwoods.

For more information, contact Dusty Walter (573) 884-7991 or walterd@missouri.edu. Registration for Walnut Council members is $30.00 and for non-members $60.00.

Registration includes all handouts, lunch, break snacks and beverage.

Walnut Council membership is $30.00. This workshop will be limited to 75 people.

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Kansas City Woodcarvers Annual Show The Kansas City Woodcarvers held their annual show at the John Knox Pavillion in Lees Summit. Pictured above with Board Member Arnold Meysenburg is the CFM award winner Randy George.

Department of Natural Resources Publishes Commissions Guide From off-road bicycle trails to lowlevel radioactive waste, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources deals with a wide variety of issues – in most cases with the advice and oversight of nearly 30 boards, commissions, councils and committees.

These groups, which guide the department in the development of environmental policy, are featured in a new Department of Natural Resources publication, Boards, Commissions, Councils and Committees Directory.

The 40-page publication describes the role of the 29 bodies that work with the department and includes photos and biographical information for members of the 15 most prominent groups.

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Welcome CFM New Members!

Fernando Albornoz, Austin, TX Leslie Anderhub, Saint Louis Don Angell, Springfield Ron Arney, Fulton Jennifer Battson, Jefferson City Dewayne Bauer, Jefferson City Greg Bick, Saint Louis Bill Brakemeyer, Festus Michael Brooks, Fenton Gary Brown, Saint Louis Ryan Bybee, Bowling Green Richard Clawson, New Bloomfield Rick Clay, Lentner Steven Claycomb, Linn Matt Crates, Seymour Bobby Deck, Springfield Joe Demand, Lake Saint Louis Louis Eifert, Jackson Gale Farmer, Florissant Larry Farris, Kansas City Richard Flint, Willard Norman Fogt, Valley Park Jeff Friedmann, Eureka Tyler Green, Webb City

Joe Hardy, Rocheport Dave Hargis, Columbia Steve Harrison, Saint Louis George Hartman, Prairie Home Vicki Heidy, Columbia Heinrich Heissinger, Saint Louis Stuart Hunter, Jefferson City R.G. Jones, Ewing Michael Lachtrup, Saint Louis Leslie Leppin, Meadville Mike McKelvey, Waynesville Ralph McNair, Fair Grove Holly Meier, Sullivan Tamara Meyer, Columbia Stuart Miller, Columbia Bruce Mills, Paris Gary Modglin, Crystal City Dax Morgan, Eureka Lance Neff, Marshall Jake Nickelson, Fulton Shirley Olney, Moberly Phil Orf, Clark John Pecher, Jefferson City Joe Pendergrass, Columbia Fred Peters, Lincoln Phillip Pitts, Jefferson City Ryan Reid, Columbia Mark Robb, Columbia Charles Robertson, Rolla Michael Roell, Harrisburg Fred Sandbothe, Westphalia Bob Schroeppel, Springfield Mike Shelby, Dittmer Dan Skornia, Washington Paul Smith, Columbia Larry Stitz, Saint Charles Steven & Sharon Stranz, Saint Peters Duane Swacker, Saint Louis Judith Tharp, Farley James Thoenen, Linn Richard VanBoening, Mexico William Wakefield, Saint Louis Robert Warren, Jefferson City Bruce Whitaker, Columbia Erik Wilkens, Greenwood Kyle Wilkens, Washington, DC Bill Wise, Columbia Darin Wood, Hollywood, CA William Wood, Holden

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our boards and commissions serve a vital role in helping us to fulfill our mission as the steward of Missouriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural resources,â&#x20AC;? said Doyle Childers, department director. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They bring valuable experience, and, as members of the public, accountability, to the process.â&#x20AC;?

An online version of the directory is available on the departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2180.pdf.

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll send the outdoor magazine of the Ozarks to your home FREE FOR THREE MONTHS. Then weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll send a bill ($17).

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Click on FREE TRIAL, Or call 1-800-874-8423 and ask for a free sample subscription.

AGENCY NEWS

Managing Deer Means Listening To Hunters issouri is diverse in terms of landscape, culture and wildlife. Just as there are many different types of communities in our state, there are also different types of deer hunting and varying levels of deer numbers statewide.

For the past two seasons, deer hunters in 29 northern and central Missouri counties hoping to harvest older bucks could only take an animal with at least four antler points on one side of its rack. The regulation attempts to shift harvest pressure from bucks to does to better manage the state’s herd and to improve the quality of future deer populations. Now, some hunters are interested in expanding the regulation to other parts of Missouri.

The pilot antler-point restriction program was designed to operate for three to five years for a meaningful evaluation of the impacts to deer numbers and hunters’ satisfaction. Biologists assessing the pro-

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gram are equally concerned about opinions of hunters and landowners as they are about harvest data from recent seasons. In 2004, doe harvest in the pilot counties increased by 31% and hunter satisfaction in these areas remained generally good.

Because of increasing interest in antler restrictions, a series of public meetings was held to measure public desire for expanding the program in a group of Missouri’s southeastern counties (Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry, Ste. Genevieve, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne) and west-central counties (Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, St. Clair and Vernon). Additionally, county results from a 2004 mail survey to landowners, archers and firearms hunters were

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reviewed.

Due to concerns over smaller deer densities in southern parts of the state, it appears public opposition to a 4point restriction grows as one moves south and southeast. The restriction was viewed by many as a reduction in the opportunity to harvest a deer.

This perception is furthered by estimates that in southeastern Missouri a 4-point restriction would protect 91% of 1 year old bucks and 29% of bucks over 2 years old.

In west-central Missouri, deer densities are higher and respondents have greater opportunities to harvest deer. The 4-point restriction is estimated to protect west-central 1-year-old bucks at a rate of 69% and protect 9% of those bucks 2 years old. Yet, residents in west-central expressed higher

levels of concern over expansion into their counties than hunters in the 29 pilot program counties.

Based upon public response and the need for a more thorough evaluation of implications of a 4-point restriction, the Conservation Commission voted to continue the existing pilot study in northern and central Missouri through the 2006 season. Data about deer harvests and hunters’ attitudes will then be reviewed for 2007 deer seasons to determine if antler restrictions can produce higher quality deer populations elsewhere.

The Department remains committed to protecting the quality of Missouri’s valuable deer resource by balancing sound science and citizen input. If you want to view more in-depth information about these regulations, please visit our website at www.missouriconservation.org John Hoskins Director, MDC

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2005 President's Award Winner Earl Cannon and then President-Elect Don Johnson (right) and Summer Thomas from Bass Pro Shops (left).

Service Banners

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Save the Date!

CFM Fall Conference September 15–17, 2006 Camp Cloverpoint Osage Beach M I S S O U R I

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Esteemed CFM Conserva Citizen Conservationists Recog

JIM LOW

JIM LOW

A

Steve’s weekly columns and features put an interesting and informative spark in the Springfield News-Leader’s Outdoors Section. His feature stories, which often are the section’s center-piece, cover a variety of outdoor topics. Whether he’s tagging along with a professional angler at a national fishing tournament or traipsing through the woods with a member of the local Audubon chapter in search of migratory songbirds, Steve always leaves readers far better informed than when they started the article.

Conservation Communicator of the Year Steve Brigman Good outdoors writers should both excite and educate their readers about the natural resources around us. Their firsthand descriptions of their experiences in the outdoors should be compelling enough to make the reader want to throw down his/her newspaper, rush outdoors and become a participant rather than merely being a literary voyeur. Woven amongst the writer’s anecdotes should be information from resource experts showing that research and science-based habitat management is part of the reason the hunting is so good, the fishing is so enjoyable or the wildlife viewing is wonderful. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the readers should feel like they are part of the event from when the canoe is first shoved away from the stream bank or the dogs are released to search for birds, until the last cast is made into the trout stream or the final duck decoy gets pulled in.

If that’s what you’re looking for in a good outdoors writer, look no further than the writing of Steve Brigman.

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• Coached Envirothon teams for the past three years.

Over the past four years, the vision for Little Creek has expanded under Jack’s guidance. Alternative energy sources, clean water, healthy watersheds, and community collaboration are all new directions that Little Creek is actively exploring. Jack and the staff at Little Creek have helped educate and create participants in the stewardship of our planet.

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group of Missouri citizen conservationists were awarded prestigious CFM statuettes for their volunteer and professional efforts to improve and protect our natural resources at the Annual Convention of the Conservation Federation of Missouri on February 24 at Lodge of Four Seasons.

Chosen from a select group of nominees, the 2005 award winners represent the best of the best. A large crowd of CFM members, awardees family members and friends celebrated the elite group’s accomplishments at a reception, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops. Representing Bass Pro Shops was Summer Thomas who presented the 2005 awards.

The Conservation Federation of Missouri is proud to present the winners of the Missouri Conservationists of the Year Awards for the year 2005.

Conservation Educator of the Year John “Jack” Bowles Jack is currently serving as the teacherin-charge of the Little Creek Nature Area, a 96-acre outdoor science education facility owned and operated by the FergusonFlorissant School District. His extensive classroom and administrative experience has allowed him to effectively direct the instructional programs, day-to-day operations, and facilities management at the Little Creek Nature Area. In addition to these supervisory roles, Jack also teaches the Field Biology and AP Environmental Science courses for the three district high schools and he coaches the Envirothon team competing in state and regional competitions.

Jack’s personal commitment to the environment, land restoration and conservation, stream and wildlife conservation, and sustainability are reflected in his curriculum, coaching, and extracurricular efforts in the district and surrounding community. Some examples include: • Continued the prairie burn on Little Creek’s two-acre prairie area with students.

• Initiated successful grant requests from MDC for hazard tree removal and honeysuckle removal.

• Started a cooperative project with North County Technical School students can practice skills they have learned at ‘Tech’ on Little Creek projects.

Conservation Organization of the Year Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club The Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club (OWWC) has successfully completed 50 years as an outdoor recreation and conservation organization. The club name concentrates on the Ozarks, wilderness and waterways.

The purpose of this club is to develop, through membership, an interest in and an appreciation of the Ozark Region as related to the use of its natural and wild waterways for outdoors recreation and activities such as canoeing, camping, and float fishing; and to cooperate with other organizations which are working towards the conservation and preservation of wilderness areas and streams. The belief is to protect our natural heritage. The wilderness, in that it brings to many people some of the most perfect experiences of their live.

Our founders thought the clear water streams of Missouri and Arkansas, the springs that fed them, the hills that nurtured them were one of the most distinctive features of the Ozark country and were worthy of preservation. Thus began 50 years of conservation activism.

An early event in the history of the club was to take then Associate Justice William O. Douglas of the United States Supreme Court on a float trip on the Buffalo River in Arkansas so he could see for himself what effect would there be from putting a dam on the Buffalo River.

OWWC fought against proposed dams on the Gasconade, Current, Jacks Fork,

Eleven Point, Sac, Pomme de Terre and Meramec Rivers.

OWWC members have written letters, made phone calls, sent emails and made personal contact with our elected government officials and other decision makers.

Thousands of signatures have been collected on initiative petitions to set up the oneeighth of one percent sales tax for conservation and to renew the one-tenth of one percent sales tax for parks and soils conservation. Witnesses have attended every legislative hearing on bills affecting rivers and countless meetings with the Corps of Engineers and other conservation organizations. Members have testified at many hearings from local to national level in Jefferson City, Kansas City, Denver, New Orleans, Phoenix and Washington D.C. The issues included erosion, dams, Missouri River and Colorado River management plans, the Clean Water Act, rivers and watersheds.

Many members have been active and taken leadership positions in other conservation organizations and the Conservation Federation of Missouri. Members have served on nearly every committee in the Federation, served as chair or vice-chair of most committees and led in the establishment of the Natural History and Wildlands committee.

OWWC was an early participant in the Stream Team program, joining in 1989 (Team #41). The team adopted a section of the Blue River in Kansas City and communicated with government officials, news media and private individuals in opposing the dumping of waste into the River.

Members have testified in court actions, conducted quarterly water testing and watershed monitoring, participated in cleanups and assisted other teams in projects along the Blue River.

OWWC was one of the first, if not the first group, to have a cleanup on an Ozark river. The first cleanup was in 1960 and has been an annual event for 45 years. The event is held on Labor Day weekend in order to remove the summers accumulation of trash and to leave the River relatively clean for the winter.

OWWC is special in allowing our young people to be involved in all decision making and voting. Many training events, educational activities, and participation in holiday parades have been conducted to raise awareness and encourage participation in river issues.

vation Awards Presented

Hunter Education Instructor of the Year William “Jake” Jacoby Jake has been a volunteer instructor in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s hunter education program since February of 1992. He is revered as the patriarch of a group of very special instructors who are affectionately known as “The Over The Hill Gang”. Everything about Jake, from a gentle and soothing voice emanating from this Grandfatherly figure to a fluid delivery of the material, which includes an impressive display of all types of firearms, makes being a student in his class a rewarding experience. At the age of 79 Jake shows no signs of easing off into the sunset.

In 2005 Jake invested 273 hours in the classroom, drove 1,742 miles and taught 772 students in 21 hunter education classes. He also volunteered his time working in hunter education booths, WalMart Firearms Safety Day demonstrations, National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebrations and Youth Hunter Education Challenge events at the regional level. He traveled to Jefferson City to provide written testimony in Senate Committee Hearings opposing the legislative efforts to sunset the Design for Conservation Sales Tax. Jake also donated $460 worth of archery targets and equipment to the local YHEC teams.

In February 2001 MDC presented a commemorative shotgun to Jake in recognition of teaching 100 hunter education classes. Throughout his career as a volunteer instructor he has contributed 2,250 hours of classroom time, driven over 12,000 miles and taught nearly 10,000 students in 198 hunter education classes.

In the past five years he has donated $4,270 worth of guns, ammo, black powder, clay birds, arrows and targets to insure that these young shooters have an opportunity to participate in this valuable program.

Jake Jacoby is a dedicated volunteer instructor who never hesitates to con-

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tribute his time, energy or resources in perpetuating our hunting heritage by promoting a safe and ethical participation in hunting and in the shooting sports.

Professional Conservationist of the Year Jennifer Battson Jennifer Battson is a Private Land Conservationist (PLC) with the Missouri Department of Conservation working with landowners, the public and other conservation partners to implement and facilitate conservation programs in Osage and Cole Counties. Jennifer has been a PLC since the Private Lands Services Division was created in 2000. Prior to that, Jennifer worked for the agency as a Resource Forester Assistant and as an IT Technician. Jennifer received her ten-year service award from MDC in March of 2006. Jennifer holds a B.S. Degree in Forestry from the University of Missouri and is a Certified Forester.

In 2005, Jennifer made 89 on-site visits with landowners which lead to follow-up that resulted in forty-one written plans encompassing 4,321 acres addressing numerous resources including forest, glade, prairie/savanna, wetland/stream/impoundment as well as cropland/grassland/old field. Many programs are available to landowners that provide funding to help them implement conservation practices and achieve their goals, although finding the right program options and administering it for a given landowner can be complicated. Over the year, Jennifer successfully coordinated and delivered these programs for numerous landowners.

Working closely with conservation partners is standard operating procedure for Jennifer. In addition to a long list of agency partners, there is a substantial list of NGO partners such as DU, QU and NWTF. After work hours, Jennifer uses her own time to further support the activities of these groups - her extensive efforts with

NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors and Jakes programs are a prime example. And when it comes to outreach and education, Jennifer is a firm believer that conservation has to happen in a person’s head before it can happen on the ground. Jennifer seldom passes an opportunity to encourage future conservationists and works regularly with 4H, FFA and SWCD youth activities.

While Jennifer has done much to create stewards in the public realm, she has also done much to further the development of young professionals in the conservation field. For the last half of 2005, Jennifer took a new PLC and PLC Assistant under her wing and provided the majority of their initial training - from the technical to the societal aspects.

Since GIS is one of Jennifer’s many areas of real expertise, she serves as the division’s regional representative on the statewide GIS task force and serves as the trainer and “guru” for all PLS staff in the region. In the spring of 2005, Jennifer was one of only two MDC employees selected to attend specialized training in Denver, CO that addressed critical needs for the entire agency.

One of Jennifer’s most valuable contributions in 2005 was her assistance to the Private Land Services Division with her GIS and spreadsheet skills in conducting workload analysis studies. In early 2005, a statewide analysis of PLC workloads was integral in the division obtaining internally reassigned positions that created ten new PLC positions in the state, greatly expanding the agency’s potential private landowner assistance efforts. Late in 2005 Jennifer was called upon again for her analysis skills to help determine the location of refilled Community Conservationist positions in the state.

While technically only assigned to a two-county work area, Jennifer is having an impact all across Missouri!

Water Conservationist of the Year Watershed Committee of the Ozarks The Watershed Committee has been working on the Watershed Center at Valley Water Mill for over the past five years. It is a very unusual educational demonstration project in water quality. It will be a landmark in water quality education for not only the Ozarks but the nation as a whole.

Clean water is a distinguishing feature of the Ozarks. Many agencies and organi-

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ecognized At Annual Convention

zations are working to keep it that way, including the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. To help further this goal, a few years ago the Committee embarked on the development of the Watershed Center at Valley Water Mill. This 100-acre, publicly owned site contains a large spring, 17-acre lake, wetlands, sinkholes, caves and stream frontage. Here, project partners will construct a watershed education facility that will be a model for sustainable development.

Through the use of various grants, the Watershed Committee has opened two miles of trail at the site, excavated 15,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lake, performed archaeological, environmental, and ecological evaluations and developed a solid business plan and education plan for the Watershed Center. Wetland restoration work is completed, as is design work on four outdoor classrooms, at the spring, wetland, lake and stream.

The philosophy of the Center will be that every drop of water that falls is precious, a resource that must not be wasted.

To reinforce this principle, there will be a large number of Best Management Practice (BMP) demonstrations on better site design, stormwater runoff and water conservation, which along with indoor classroom facilities, will serve to educate and train professionals such as architects, builders, engineers, developers and teachers on water quality and sustainable design principles.

Wildlife Conservationist of the Year Nick Prough Nick Prough is a Private Land Conservationist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He currently has over 100 landowners enrolled into the CP-33 Habitat Buffers Program which is the most of any county in the state. These landowners comprise over 1,500 acres of Native Warm Season Grass field borders for quail and other wildlife.

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Nick continues to lead the state with Quail Habitat Initiative Projects each year and has over 35 landowner QHI projects ongoing which brings his total to over 155 projects with landowners in a several county area. These projects have been able to fit in crucial habitat where other programs could not help the landowner and help bring back quail numbers in the local area to much better numbers than previous years prior to the lack of habitat work.

Nick is a leader in the community for local conservation of all types of wildlife from quail, turkeys, ducks, etc. He is very active in organizations such as Quail Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited and serves on many committees in different roles.

Nick is an outstanding professional who is creative, attentive and very astute. He knows what he is doing and goes far beyond expectation. He never sits back and ignores the request of landowners.

Nick is always there to assist in developing operational plans, CRP burnings, assisting with planning food plots and in obtaining seed for said plots.

Nick is the type of professional that should be elevated to higher levels within the Department of Conservation.

Youth Conservationist of the Year Dane Balsman Dane is currently a senior at Missouri State University (formerly SMSU) in Springfield, Missouri. He is majoring in Agriculture-Wildlife Conservation Management and will be graduating in May 2006. Dane plans on starting his masters degree this summer in fisheries biology.

Dane was a Conservation Honors Program recipient from the Missouri Department of Conservation. He was a fisheries assistant with MDC in which his activities included: 1 0

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• Assisted regional fisheries biologists with fish population surveys through electrofishing, trawling, seining, and hoop netting • Constructed species list of fish inhabiting Black River • Compiled information and equipment to assist Outreach and Education with catfish clinic on Mississippi River • Repaired fishing equipment for fishing clinics • Repaired shop equipment and maintenance • Assisted in aquatic vegetation planting and maintenance in nursery and lake impoundments • Treated nuisance aquatic vegetation and herbicide • Collected field data on plant locations, species, and health for reestablishment • Trapped muskrats with conibear traps to control populations to allow desired vegetation establishment Dane was a volunteer animal care assistant with the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield where he fed freshwater and saltwater fish, observed and recorded animal behavior, maintained and cleaned aquariums and exhibits, answered questions and communicated with museum guests. He also worked as a Gypsy Moth trapper for MDC in which he surveyed five counties in Southeast Missouri for gypsy moths.

He assembled, placed and collected traps in designated areas and plotted trap locations on a map.

Dane is a member of the American Fisheries Society, National Wild Turkey Federation and is currently the Vice President of the Student Chapter of the Missouri State Wildlife Society.

Dane has been active in the CFM Conservation Leadership Corps for five years.

He enjoys hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Youth Conservationist of the Year Patrick “Neal” Hutton Neal is a senior at Missouri State University, majoring in Biology with a Wildlife emphasis along with an Agronomy minor.

He is an avid deer and turkey hunter and enjoys fishing.

The summer after Neal’s junior year in high school he was asked to participate in the Conservation Honors Program at the University of Missouri. For the next year Neal contacted the Missouri Department of Conservation to request that they establish a mentorship or volunteer program that he could participate in during his senior year of high school. He spent every other afternoon volunteering with the NRCS office in Hickory County. He also served under Kevin Hedgpeth with MDC

recording the changes of a 40-acre private ownership plot that underwent prescribed burns and selective tree harvest. This project involved extensive photo-station records throughout the seasonal changes of a glade. For his work, Neal earned the Earth Team Certificate for Volunteer Program with the United States Department of Agriculture Conservation services in 2002.

Neal was a charter member of CFM Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) and has attended annual conferences since the CLC was initiated. He has contributed to committees which drafted resolutions pertaining to the natural ebb and flow of the Missouri River and proposing that more conservation education be added to the State curriculum. Neal has met with lobbyists in Jefferson City and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, Parks and Natural Resources.

Recently, Neal helped support the establishment of an active Wildlife Society chapter on campus. Their members have organized trips to the nearby Bois d’Arc and Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center with volunteers to help maintain the area. They participate in fishing trips and trash pick ups and meet regularly to discuss the possible ways that their group can promote conservation in the region.

Neal also volunteered at the CFM membership drive booth at both the Bass Pro Shops Fishing and Fall Classics.

Neal is interested in pursuing a career in wildlife protection, education or even wildlife illustration or photography after he graduates in December of 2006.

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CFM CONSERVATION AWARDS, cont’d from previous page

Conservationist of the Year Ron Coleman Ron is a life member of CFM and has served as a member of our board of directors for 25 years. During his CFM service, Ron has been chairman of the Parks Committee, the Trails Committee, the Rivers and Streams Committee, the Natural History Committee and the Environment Committee. He has also served as CFM Secretary.

His outstanding individual performance and team leadership have brought many successes to CFM and to outdoor

Missouri. He was among the very earliest in Missouri Stream Teams. For 28 years he has lead the restoration of the Meramec River by coordinating the annual Operation Clean Stream project. Through this one project alone, Ron has inspired thousands of volunteers to get involved and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their efforts.

Ron has long worked diligently and patiently to conserve thousands of acres of parks and open space in the St. Louis region…and in southwest Missouri. He helped acquire many rights of way personally and has helped develop hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. Among his greatest successes may well be the second longest rails-to-trails conversion in Missouri, the Frisco Highline which runs from Springfield to Bolivar. By the way this “rails to quails” project also saved thousands of acres of wildlife habitat along the corridor.

More recently, Ron has turned his attention and efforts to orchestrating unique and successful world class events to promote the image of conservation. The establishment of the Annual Clean Water Celebration in St. Louis, with the bestowing of the annual William C. Schock Clean Water Conservancy Award has become a “can’t miss” event each year at the St. Louis Science Center. Nearly 600 high school students participated in the educational programming the first year.

This past fall, Ron lead CFM efforts to establish the first Missouri Wildlife Art Festival in historic downtown St. Charles.

Hundreds of folks came and enjoyed the fun weekend. Thousands of dollars were raised to help fulfill our conservation mission.

Ron currently serves in his third term as President of the Missouri Parks Association. He is leading the way for all Missourians in the effort to renew the State Parks and Soils Sales Tax. His excellent service and imaginative contributions are at the very center of the campaign.

A veteran of the US Marine Corps, Ron earned a BS from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) and an MS from the University of Missouri. He is a very serious and well traveled angler. He and his lovely wife, Rhonda, reside in Wildwood. Their two sons both volunteer for Operation Clean Stream and other conservation programs.

Whether removing trash from a Missouri stream or contributing to a board room discussion, Ron Coleman is in his element. Always willing to serve, he brings a spirit of cooperation to the conservation community which we recognize and honor with our highest award.

AGENCY NEWS

mbudsmen from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, along with Chief Ombudsmen Scott Totten and Department Director Doyle Childers, recently visited several towns in Missouri to garner public feedback on the department and its efforts.

Since establishment of the ombudsmen program in fall 2005, ombudsmen have already made almost 830 contacts.

An ombudsman is located at each regional office and in Rolla at the department’s Division of Geology and Land Survey offices. The ombudsmen

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operate independently from the regional offices and inform the regional directors and the department director of issues, concerns and problems and assist in issue development and resolution.

Judy K. Bowman recently was hired to serve in the Kansas City Regional Office, and can be reached at (816) 5651296.

Don Summers serves in the Northeast Regional Office, and can be reached at (573) 291-3055.

Jim Froelker serves in the Rolla satellite office, and can be reached at (573) 619-1410.

Dave Woolery and Carrie Smith work from the Springfield office; Woolery can be reached at (573) 619-1408, and Smith at (573) 619-1409.

Mike Alesandrini represents the St. Louis region, and can be reached at (314) 560-4703.

Jackson Bostic recently replaced Bill Foster and serves in the Southeast Regional Office. Bostic can be reached at (573) 619-1407. Foster will oversee an in-depth review of the state revolving fund as the department designs and implements improvements to its drinking water and wastewater loan programs.

Ombudsmen also may be reached by calling the department toll-free at 1-800-361-4827. Correspondence for the ombudsmen may be directed to the Department of Natural Resources, P.O Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 651020176.

BELINDA HUGHES

MDC Ombudsmen Update

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources now has ombudsmen assisting communities, businesses and citizens throughout the state.

Front row, left to right: Jackson Bostic, Judy Bowman, and Mike Alesandrini. Back row, left to right: Dave Woolery, Jim Froelker, Scott Totten, and Doyle Childers. Not pictured are Carrie Smith and Don Summers.

Conserve Life: SLOW DOWN More than

1,100 people die on Missouri highways each year. Don’t become a statistic.

Conserve life by slowing down and by always making sure your seatbelt is buckled.

BUCKLE UP

Reduce Reuse Recycle

November 4 and 5, 2006 CONSERVING OUR LAND AND WATER RESOURCES THROUGH THE ARTS The Foundry Arts Centre • In Historic Saint Charles, Missouri

For details call 1.800.575.2322 Benefactors and sponsors are: Open Space Council, The Conservation Federation of Missouri, Missouri Wildlife Artist Association and Greenway Network

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Missouri River Group Provides Support For StreamTeam Program AmeriCorps Member Larry Ruff and Michelle Neubauer of Stream Team 1571 performing a Water Quality Monitoring on Kiefer Creek near St. Louis.

n 2005, Stream Teams in the St. Louis area benefited from a partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri River Communities Network (MRCN) when a twelve-month pilot project utilizing AmeriCorps members was created to provide assistance to fledgling Stream Teams. Three fulltime AmeriCorps Members provided critical assistance to local Stream Teams by supplying the following essential services: 1) Helped recruit and train new Stream Team volunteers; 2) Called new Team contacts to welcome them to the Program; 3) Assisted Stream Teams to organize projects; and 4) Helped develop cooperative projects amongst Teams and with other agencies. The AmeriCorps Members also provided services to the local sponsors: Great Rivers Greenway District, Open Space Council, and Greenway Network.

Three outstanding AmeriCorps members were recruited from the ranks of Stream Team members in November 2004. All three were experienced Stream Team members, trained volunteer water quality monitors, and retired teachers with Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degrees. Their strong commitment to the Stream Team Program, which had been demonstrated in their years of volunteering, helped make this project successful.

The AmeriCorps Members completed the following accomplishments with direct volunteer participation in these

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activities exceeding 13,000 personhours.

One hundred two New Stream Teams were contacted to welcome them to the Program and offer assistance Assistance was provided to 2,651 Stream Team members.

Ninety-four inactive volunteer water quality monitors were contacted to offer assistance.

Onsite mentoring was provided to 263 volunteer monitors on 30 occasions.

Presentations including Stream Team and sponsor information were made at 83 events, including 166 presentations to over 9,000 people.

Fourteen greenway events were organized including public meetings and cleanups involving over 1,000 volunteers and 1,200 hours.

Twenty-seven stream cleanups were organized including over 412 volunteers who contributed 2,114 hours of labor.

Assistants helped teach 3 Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Workshops.

Assistants monitored water quality at 57 locations for special projects. he utilization of multiple partners in this project greatly increased efficiency and benefits to Stream Teams and their communities. AmeriCorps funds were obtained from the Missouri Community Service Commission (in the Missouri Department of Economic Development) through a grant submitted by Missouri River Communities Network (MRCN),

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a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance stewardship of the Missouri River. MDC and the other partners helped support the AmeriCorps members by funding MRCNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administrative costs and providing supervision, office facilities, clerical support, web based reporting, and travel expenses.

In addition to the accomplishments listed above, the success of this project has inspired three exciting new projects.

MRCN was successful in obtaining an EPA grant for the Clean Stream Education Initiative which will train, equip, and assist 40 St. Louis and mid-Missouri high school and junior high teachers in implementing Stream Team activities in their curriculum. Two of the St. Louis Stream Team Assistants helped design this project and will provide critical components in its implementation. This Stream Team Training Workshop still has openings for the June 2006 workshop. The training is free and includes lodging, food, travel expenses, $600 worth of scientific equipment, and four hours of college credit. Any teachers interested in participating in this training should contact Steve Johnson at MRCN (573) 256-2602 or email: moriver@coin.org.

The third Stream Team Assistant has been contracted to continue providing Stream Team assistance services in the St. Louis area this year, made possible through a private donation.

MRCN and MDC have submitted an

AmeriCorps Project proposal that (if successful) will fund 12 AmeriCorps Stream Team Assistants to provide Stream Team Assistance services identical to those in the St. Louis Project. This project would begin in August, 2006, and serve the St. Louis, mid-Missouri, Kansas City, and Springfield areas. We are currently recruiting local sponsors in the four areas, and raising additional funds to cover administration and other expenses. verall, the Missouri Stream Team Program has had a wonderful year. In 2005, more than 58,000 volunteers from 3,000 Stream Teams provided 134,500 hours of volunteer time (with a value of more than $2.5 million). Started in 1989 as a cooperative venture between the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Conservation Federation of Missouri and citizens in the State of Missouri, the Stream Team Program is designed to encourage citizen volunteers to educate themselves about their local watershed and then voluntarily undertake stream improvement activities.

If you would like to learn more about the Stream Team AmeriCorps Project contact Steve Johnson with Missouri River Communities Network at (573) 256-2602 or email: moriver@coin.org.

To learn more about the Missouri Stream Team Program call them at (800) 781-1989 or visit their website at www.mostreamteam.org.

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Conservation Federation Of Missouri Annual Convention Produces Conservation Resolutions he delegates of this year’s Conservation Federation of Missouri Annual Convention have voted to adopt fifteen resolutions on current conservation issues.

The convention challenged over two hundred Federation members, meeting in natural resource committee sessions, to debate current conservation issues and develop positions statements, when appropriate.

Action letters have been sent to the agency heads, legislative leaders (state and national), non-profit directors, and others requesting their responses.

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#1: Berkley Park, Kansas City, MO Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, encourages the Port Authority of Kansas City to focus its redesign of Berkley Park and its surroundings toward the environmentally responsible use of and appreciation for the Missouri River that has nurtured the city from its earliest beginnings. #2: MDC Ad Hoc Team Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, applauds the Missouri Department of Conservation for forming an Ad Hoc Team to review hunt selection procedures; Be it further resolved, that the CFM (Deer, Wild Turkey & Ruffed Grouse) committee endorse the implementation of option number two of the MDC report reviewing Hunt Selection procedures. Option two is known in the report as the Weighted Random Selection. #4: Special Funds Bill SB 917 Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, advise the Missouri Legislature of their opposition to SB 917. #5: Taum Sauk Coalition Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, join the

#15: Trapping Fees Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, proposes that the Missouri Department of Conservation look towards suspending the requirements for individuals 65 years of age and older to purchase a trapping license.

Taum Sauk Coalition to help insure for a long term conservation resolution.

#7: Sale of National Forest Tracts Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, requests the United States Government refrain from selling tracts of the Mark Twain National Forests to private landowners. #8: Student Conservation Organization Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, encourages the Missouri Cooperative Extension Service to sponsor two conservation organization pilot programs in both urban and rural areas in order to educate high school students in conserving the state’s natural resources through first-hand activities.

We recommend that the Missouri Cooperative Extension Service collaborate with State (e.g. Missouri Department of Conservation), federal (e.g.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service), and non-government organizations (e.g. Boy Scouts) to develop and deliver such a program to Missouri’s high school systems. #9: Municipal Wetlands Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, requests the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Environmental Protection Agency to further educate, as well as provide support to municipalities for wastewater wetland projects; Be it further resolved, the CFM requests additional support for municipal wetlands from private nonprofit organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl. #11: Privately Owned Forest Land Management Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, encourages increased funding for

forest management, including funding through the USDA Forest Land Enhancement Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Missouri Department of Conservation CostShare Program, and any other applicable funding alternatives for forest management.

#12: Black Bears of Missouri Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, requests and supports the Missouri Department of Conservation in conducting a scientific population estimate, with identification of major travel corridors, reproductive evaluations, habitat and resource selection, denning location, behavior, and dispersal and distribution patterns of the black bear in the Ozarks of Missouri; Be it further resolved, the Conservation Federation of Missouri requests and supports the Missouri Department of Conservation in conducting a largescale assessment and study of the black bear in Missouri. #14: Atlatl Hunting Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, supports efforts by Missouri atlatlists to urge the Missouri Department of Conservation to consider legalizing the atlatl and dart for hunting small game, including rabbits and squirrels in Missouri and undertake further study and research necessary to determine the feasibility of future use in harvesting big game.

#17: Sand & Gravel Mining Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, is opposed to HR Bill 1761 or any legislation that relaxes or removes current Missouri Department of Natural Resources restrictions on instream sand and gravel mining in Missouri. #18: Prairie Chickens/Prairie Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, supports the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Grasslands Coalition in efforts to protect and restore prairie chickens, grassland wildlife, and Missouri’s prairie heritage. #19: Alternate Hunter Education Methods Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, encourages the Missouri Department of Conservation to explore the possibility of alternative Hunter Education delivery methods which will compliment the excellent program currently in place, while maintaining our present level of educational reliability.

#20: National Heritage Status for the Confluence Area Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Conservation Federation of Missouri assembled at the Lodge of Four Seasons, this 26th day of February, 2006, express their support for National Heritage Designation for the confluence area, as long as such designation does not conflict with MDC or DNR goals and objectives.

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National Wildlife Federation Meets In New Orleans CFM Sends Representatives To 70th Annual Meeting of NWF he Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) sent board members Abe Phillips and Ron Coleman down south to New Orleans to represent CFM at the 70th Annual Meeting of the National Wildlife Federation. The theme of the March meeting was “The Heat is on for Wildlife Restoration.”

After viewing the devastation to the New Orleans area by hurricane Katrina, both Coleman and Phillips agree that the heat is on for all Americans to advocate for an elevated level of protection and restoration on the gulf coast. “The natural resources base in this region of our nation is just too great to ignore” said Phillips.

Lisa Madry, NWF’s affiliate representative to the Conservation Federation of Missouri agrees and says “that one of the best things that we can do to protect the people and places along the coast is to work to restore our wetlands and natural systems. I am glad that NWF remained committed to holding the meeting here which was actually scheduled before the storms hit this summer. It has served to educate many on the conservation aspects of the restoration work needed here in the future”.

CFM representative Ron Coleman said that the conference was a real “eye opener” for him. “The destruction to the City of New Orleans was simply

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NWF conference participants spent one day of the NWF Annual meeting working on 3 restoration projects cleaning up flood debris, planting hundreds of trees, hanging bird houses and restoring wetlands. NWF volunteers are pictured in the 1,300-acre New Orleans City Park which was severely impacted by Katrina.

amazing” Coleman said. He also noted that he was particularly impressed with the high quality of presentations on state wildlife planning, global warming and the restoration of America’s great waters.

“I have been to many meetings, but this was one of the first that I have

been to where we literally walked out of the educational sessions on to the street and put restoration practices right to work. I am glad that NWF invited conservationist here to stress sound conservation alternatives as part of the restoration cure,” said Coleman.

RON COLEMAN

RON COLEMAN

CFM representative Ron Coleman (left) and NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger (right) visit with former vice-president Al Gore (center) following his keynote address on global warming to NWF delegates.

From left, Abe Phillips, Jan Phillips, Rhonda Coleman and Ron Coleman represented Missouri at the 70th Annual Meeting of the National Wildlife Federation in New Orleans in March.

Abe Phillips serves as the CFM representative and Ron Coleman as the CFM alternate.

Ron Coleman CFM Board Member

Changing Of The Guard Our new CFM leadership are sworn in at the 2006 Annual Convention.

Pictured from left to right are President Don Johnson, 1st Vice President Glenn Chambers, 2nd Vice President Mike Schallon, Secretary Duane Addleman, and Treasurer Randy Washburn.

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REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Earth Day Reminds Us To Continue Closing The Loop hildren, teachers and state officials all gathered at the state capitol on Friday, April 21, 2006 to celebrate Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 as a celebration of our natural resources providing an opportunity to make a pledge to protect them. Earth Day is also a great way to continue to promote the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

We should think of every day as Earth Day in order to work towards a sustainable, healthy environment.

Every day we should think about what impact the waste we produce will have on the environment, and how we can lessen that impact.

For example, a large part of “closing the loop” is not only recycling as much as we can, but also making sure that we purchase products made from recycled materials. Make sure that the product has the “three chasing arrows” recycledcontent logo on it.

With increased efficiency and expanding demand, recycling is becoming more cost-effective all the time, and many communities are jumping on the

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bandwagon. According to the latest figures, Missourians are diverting almost half of the waste they generate from landfills. It was only 12 percent in 1990.

There is still room for improvement.

The largest component of municipal solid waste is paper, around 37 percent.

Paper is also one of the easiest and most profitable materials to recycle. If we make an effort to recycle just a little more paper, we could reduce the waste going to landfills dramatically.

The next biggest component of municipal solid waste is organic material, making up around 31 percent. Most of this material such as vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells can be added to yard waste and made into soil-enhancing compost.

Imagine the two biggest components of the waste Missouri citizens produce being eliminated through implementation of recycling and reusing.

Perhaps the most important component of sustainability is actually not part of the “loop:” Waste reduction. If we do not produce waste, it does not have to be managed, either in the form

of recycling or landfilling. We’ve all heard the suggestions before: shop with reusable shopping bags, don’t buy things with too much packaging, buy durable goods that do not need to be constantly replaced. The arguments are

familiar, but the benefits are great.

So in the coming years, try to make each day your own Earth Day, and together we can close the loop and protect Missouri’s environment for generations to come.

CONSERVATION FEDERATION OF MISSOURI AFFILIATES Anglers of Missouri Archery Big Bucks of Missouri Big Game Hunters Bridlespur Hunt Club Capital City Fly Fishers Central Missouri Chapter Safari Club Coldwater Outing & Game Preserve Eastern MO Chapter Pheasants Forever Festus/Crystal City Conservation Club Forest Releaf of Missouri Franklin County Wildlife Club Friends of Rockbridge Memorial State Park Greenway Network Heaven’s Anglers Jefferson County Coonhunters Kansas City Chapter Safari Club Kansas City Woodcarvers Lambert Field Rod & Gun Club

Mark Twain Area Quail Unlimited Mid Missouri Trout Unlimited Midwest Diving Council Mississippi County Conservation Society Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters Mississippi Valley Gun Club Missouri Association of Meat Processors Missouri Bass Federation Missouri Bow Hunters Missouri Conservation Agents Association Missouri Consulting Foresters Association Missouri Ducks Unlimited State Council Missouri Forest Products Association Missouri Parks & Recreation Association Missouri Parks Association Missouri Prairie Foundation Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Missouri Sport Shooting Association

Missouri State Campers Association Missouri State Council Quail Unlimited Missouri Taxidermist Association Missouri Trappers Association Missouri Trout Fisherman’s Association Missouri Waterfowl Association Missouri Whitetails Unlimited Missouri Wild Turkey Federation Missourians Outdoors MO Chapter American Fisheries Society MO Chapter Soil & Water Conservation MO Hunter Education Instructor’s Association MO State University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society Monett Sportsman League Northeast Missouri Coonhunters Northside Conservation Federation Open Space Council

Owensville HS Hunting & Fishing Club Ozark Fly Fishers Ozark Mountain Paddlers Ozark Wilderness Waterways Perry County Sportsman Club Pomme De Terre Chapter Muskies River Relief, Inc. Saint James Civic Club Show-Me Clean Streams Show-Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen South Side Division Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers Tipton Farmers & Sportsman Club United Bow Hunters of Missouri Wecomo Sportsman Club Wild Elk Institute of Missouri Windsor Lake Rod & Gun Club

MO Stream Team Watershed Celebration July 22, 2006 Meramec State Park Sullivan, MO Call Burt Stewart for more info (314) 225-8415

POWoods Box 133 4509 Road Gray Summit, MO 63072 63039 Robertsville, e-mail: hmeier@onemain.com Visit our website: www.missouribowhunters.org SOUTH COUNTY ARCHERS IS PROUD TO SUPPORT CFM & MBH

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CALENDAR MISSOURI FESTIVALS AND AFFILIATE EVENTS

AFFILIATE EVENTS

MISSOURI NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

CAPITAL CITY FLY FISHERS MAY 6: Smallmouth Fishing MAY 9: Club Meeting, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City (7:00pm) MAY 11: Missouri Stream Team 760 Outing, Saline Valley – Big Saline Creek MAY 20: Club President’s Meeting, Mountain Home, Arkansas JUN 10: Bennett Spring State Park Conclave JUN 13: Club Meeting, County Park Lake, Jaycee Fairgrounds (5:00pm) JUN 24-25: Quarterly Outing

FUND-RAISING BANQUETS MAY 11: Upper Meramec Longspurs, Wildwood Resort, Steelville; Judy Bell (573) 743-6200 MAY 19: Saline County Strutters, Saline County Fairgrounds, Marshall; Brent Vandeloecht (660) 886-7447 MAY 20: Boonslick Trail Gobblers, Jonesburg Community Center, Jonesburg; Dan Robb (636) 488-5441 JUN 2: Tabo Creek Thunderin’ Toms, American Legion Hall, Higginsville; Mark Lamphier (660) 584-6397 JUN 8: Kingdom of Callaway, Saint Peters Catholic Church, Fulton; Ben Doerge (573) 581-2828 JUN 9: Dent County Thundering Toms, Salem City Hall, Salem; Cheryl Smith (573) 729-7083 JUN 10: Branson Tri-Lakes, Branson Lions Club, Branson; Randy Webb (417) 334-0803 JUN 10: Springtown Wattlenecks, Knights of Columbus Hall, Kearney; Troy O’Dell (816) 628-4254 JUN 10: Yellow Creek Gobblers, Walsworth Community Center, Marceline; Ken Polley (660) 258-5340 JUN 17: Lake Show-Me Longbeards, VFW Post 4958, Memphis; Dorsey Swearingen (660) 892-4596 JUN 24: Bollinger County Double Beards, First Baptist Church, Marble Hill; Randy Pogue (573) 238-3234

CENTRAL MISSOURI CHAPTER SAFARI CLUB JUN 3: Sensory Safari Trailer, Jake’s Event – NWTF, Chillicothe HEAVENS ANGLERS MAY 5: Mark Twain Lake Tournament MAY 20: Mark Twain Club Sponsored “Help a Child” Tournament JUN 3: “J” Lake Tournament MISSOURI BASS FEDERATION MAY 1: Deadline for Newspaper, Summer Edition JUN 11-16: Federation Central Divisional Tournament, Oklahoma MISSOURI DUCKS UNLIMITED MAY 12: 2nd Annual Big Piney Golf Tournament, Piney Valley Golf Course, Fort Leonard Wood; Dave Kessler (573) 5284761 JUN 23: Cape County Suzie’s; Connie Willsey (573) 587-6224

If there are any errors in your name and address, if you’ve moved from this address, or if you plan to move, please notify us at Missouri Wildlife, 728 W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65101 or call (800) 575-2322.

JAKES EVENTS MAY 18: Rhine Valley Chapter; Gary Scheidegger (573) 486-3179 JUN 22: Twin Lake Long Spurs; Ron Scurlock (417) 328-4693 WHEELIN’ SPORTSMEN EVENTS JUN 17: “A Day at the Range”, Andy Dalton Shooting Range JUN 23: Cast and Blast, James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area, Lees Summit; Todd Gemeinhardt (816) 655-6250 WHEELIN’ SPORTSMEN BENEFITS JUN 17: Show-Me Chapter, Ash Grove; Kevin Hess (417) 863-9551 WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS EVENTS MAY 5: Outdoor Wildlife Ladies, YWCA of the Ozarks, Potosi; Vickey Bonney (573) 562-7205 MAY 6: Harrison County, Miracle Hill 4H Camp, Bethany; Theresa Updegraff (660) 425-7655 MAY 13: Atchison County Shooting Sports all Women’s, Rock Port JUN 3: Platte City Longspurs, Parma Woods Shooting Range, Parkville; Patty Scharinger (913) 651-0271 JUN 10: Grindstone Boss Hens, Pony Express Conservation Area, Osborn; Cherri Hahn (816) 449-5613 MISSOURI PARKS ASSOCIATION MAY 13: Saint James Water Trail Clean-up, Springfield JUN 3: 7th Annual Ozark Greenways Adventure Race, Niangua River Oasis, Lebanon MISSOURI PARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION MAY 4: Legislative and Critical Issue Committee, MPRA Office, Jefferson City (10:00am-12:00pm) (573) 636-3828 JUN 1: Legislative and Critical Issue Committee, MPRA Office, Jefferson City (10:00am-12:00pm) (573) 636-3828

JUN 22: Board of Directors Meeting, MPRA Office, Jefferson City (10:00am-1:00pm) (573) 636-3828 MISSOURI SMALLMOUTH ALLIANCE MAY 17: Regular Membership Meeting; Norman Leppo (314) 647-1616 MAY 20-21: Ozark Rodeo; Norman Leppo (314) 647-1616 JUN 21: Regular Membership Meeting; Norman Leppo (314) 647-1616 OZARK FLY FISHERS MAY 13: 5th Annual Women’s Outing, Windrush Farms Trout Stream JUN 22: Casting Meeting & BBQ, Tilles Park OZARK MOUNTAIN PADDLERS MAY 11: Monthly Meeting, Springfield Nature Center (7:00pm-9:00pm) MAY 13: James River Water Trail River Clean-up; Jason Frantz (417) 753-4434 JUN 8: Monthly Meeting, Springfield Nature Center (7:00pm-9:00pm) POMME DE TERRE CHAPTER MUSKIES MAY 6: Muskie Mayhem, State Park Marina (7:00am-4:00pm) MAY 6: Lake Meeting (7:00pm) MAY 20: PDT Trolling Party, State Park Marina (7:00am-5:00pm) JUN 10: Prime Time Fishing Tournament JUN 17: Muskie Seminar, State Park Marina JUN 24: Pomme de Tour, State Park Marina

RIVER RELIEF MAY 6: Mouth of the Osage Clean-up, Bonnott’s Mill (9:00am-3:00pm)

CFM EVENTS SEP 15-17: CFM Fall Conference, Camp Clover Point, Lake Ozark (800) 575-2322 MAR 16-18, 2007: CFM Annual Convention, Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark (800) 575-2322

Visit our website: www.confedmo.org