Chance to have Input on Missouri Conservation Department Areas

Central Region

Big Tavern Creek Accesses Management Plan – These areas provide compatible outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, animal viewing, and access to Big Tavern Creek. Accesses included in this plan are Boeckman Bridge Access, Brays Access, Madden Ford Access, and Wilson Camp Access.

Lower Osage River Accesses Management Plan – These areas provide recreational fishing and boating access to the Osage River. This plan includes Bagnell Dam Access, Bonnots Mill Access, Kings Bluff Access, Mari-Osa Access, Osage-Tavern Access, Pikes Camp Access, St. Thomas Ferry Access, and Tuscumbia Access.

Hite Prairie Conservation Area Management Plan – Hite Prairie Conservation Area is 103 acres of native prairie in Morgan County. This area is managed for a diverse suite of native prairie plants and animals using grassland management techniques.

Robert M. White II Conservation Area Management Plan – Robert M. White II Conservation Area is 1,163 acres of forest, open land, old field, grassland, lake/ponds, and stream in Audrain and Monroe Counties. This area is managed with an emphasis on woodland and grassland species and compatible recreational opportunities. There are three parking lots, two fishing lakes, and three campsites for public use.

Kansas City Region

Montrose Conservation Area Management Plan – Montrose Conservation Area is 2,750 acres of lakes/ponds, forests, woodlands, wetlands, old fields, open fields, grassland, and native prairie in Henry County. Montrose Lake, with its flow of warm water, offers good fishing especially for catfish. Over the years, it has also become a favorite of waterfowl, and spectacular concentrations of ducks and geese visit the area each winter. This area offers a boat ramp, primitive camping, 14 waterfowl blinds, and two wade and shoot opportunities for public use.

Settle’s Ford Conservation Area Management Plan – Settle’s Ford Conservation Area is 6,766 acres of old field, bottomland timbers, open fields, wetlands, upland timbers, grassland, shrub, and ponds in Bates and Cass Counties. This area contains over 800 acres of wetlands and features an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible waterfowl blind, six fishable ponds, and five permanent streams for public use.

Northwest Region

Ray County Community Lake Conservation Area Management Plan – Ray County Community Lake is 159 acres of grassland, forest, woodland, lakes/ponds, old field, and open land. This area features a concrete boat ramp, seven fishing piers (one ADA accessible pier), two ADA accessible privies, four parking lots, and three picnic tables for public use.

Ozark Region

Warm Fork Conservation Area Management Plan – Warm Fork Conservation Area is 185 acres of grassland and forest in Oregon County. This area is managed to protect the riparian corridor of the Warm Fork of the Spring River. Fishing and upland game hunting are two of the most popular activities at this conservation area. 

Southwest Region

Cross Timbers & Hermitage Accesses Management Plan – This plan includes both Cross Timbers Access (44 acres) and Hermitage Access (1.7 acres) located in Hickory County. These areas provide public access to the Pomme De Terre River and for conserving the areas’ natural resources.

Take a look at management plans and share your thoughts online at mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. Thank you for your interest in the management of your Conservation Areas!  Great blue herons line the banks of the Osage River near Lake of the Ozarks.