Invasive zebra mussels now widespread at Truman Lake

MDC urges boaters to clean and dry all boats and bait gear

 Warsaw, Mo. – Zebra mussels, a harmful invasive species, are now present in all arms of Truman Lake, said Mike Bayless, fisheries management biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Evidence that mussels might be present in the lake was found in prior years. But inspections conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in recent weeks have determined that they are now fairly widespread in the lake, Bayless said. This makes it imperative for boaters and anglers at Truman Lake to take steps to avoid spreading zebra mussels to other waters.

Zebra mussels are fingernail-sized bivalve mollusks native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia. The mussels arrived in the United States in the ballast water of ships. They were first discovered in a lake near Detroit in the late 1980s. Since then, they have spread into the Mississippi and Missouri River basins. The mussels reproduce rapidly and can form dense colonies attached to boat hulls, docks, pipes and other submerged materials. Nationally, they have caused billions of dollars in damage. The mussels also filter nutrients from the water that benefit native fishes. No natural or man-made controls are effective in eliminating them from large bodies of water. But they can be prevented from entering new waters.

The microscopic young, called veligers, can survive in lake water left in boat live wells, bilge pumps or bait buckets. Adult mussels attached to hulls, engine drive units and anchor chains can survive several days out of the water. Zebra mussels usually enter new lakes or rivers when a boat or dock is moved from one body of water to another.

Boaters and anglers can help prevent zebra mussels and other exotic species from spreading into new waters by draining, cleaning and drying watercraft, Bayless said. Inspect all parts of boats and motors before moving them, scrape off and trash any suspected mussels however small. Remove all water weeds from boats and trailers. Drain all water from boats and motors while on dry land before leaving a water body. Dump leftover bait on dry land. Wash and dry boats before moving them if your craft was in infested waters for a long period of time.

Zebra mussels have been found in Missouri in Smithville Lake, Lake Taneycomo, Bull Shoals Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, the Missouri River and the Mississippi River. They also occur in Lake Lotawana in the Kansas City area, the lower Meramec River in the St. Louis area, and in rivers that drain into Missouri from other states. MDC encourages all water recreationists to help keep them from spreading to other waters, Bayless said.

For more information on zebra mussels in Missouri, visit http://on.mo.gov/2bBnqY7.

MDC to co-host Eagle Days at Duck Creek CA and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge

Bald eagles are large birds of prey and in winter they follow waterfowl flocks that often settle on southern wetlands in large numbers. Together, eagles, geese and ducks provide a dramatic winter show. Hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Eagle Days event includes wildlife viewing opportunities outdoors and indoor nature programs Saturday, Feb. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pat Holloway, an MDC education consultant, said families and visitors of all ages can expect a fun, adventurous event that will help conquer cabin fever.

”Join us for an outdoor nature experience and discover cool facts about bald eagles, which were chosen as our nation’s symbol in 1782,” Holloway said, adding that visitors are encouraged to dress appropriate for outdoor winter weather.

Staff from Dickerson Park Zoo will present educational programs featuring a live eagle throughout the day. The Mingo National Wildlife Visitor Center will display items related to eagles. Several outdoor spotting scope sites on Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA) will provide opportunities to view eagles, ducks and geese in the wild. Both Mingo and Duck Creek are expansive areas, so visitors are encouraged to pick up a brochure containing a map of the eagle viewing stations when they arrive.

All Eagle Days activities are free. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and Duck Creek CA are located along highway 51, north of Puxico. For more information about Eagle Days events, call Mingo National Wildlife Refuge at (573) 222-3589 or MDC at (573)290-5730. To learn more about eagles and places to view them in Missouri, visit the MDC website atmdc.mo.gov/events/eagledays.

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Learn to enjoy the outdoors at WOW Kansas City Sept. 20-21

The Wonders of Wildlife (WOW) National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School is packed with

opportunities for all ages to learn outdoor recreation skills. The deadline to register for WOW Kansas City, which will be held in Swope Park Sept. 20-21, is approaching on Sept. 6.

WOW Kansas City is designed to teach participants the skills they need to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation activities while practicing personal safety and outdoor responsibility. WOW will offer classes in a variety of outdoor skills including archery, fishing, canoeing, camping and more. Trained professionals provide hands-on instruction for adults and children who may not be familiar with these outdoors activities.

The event will begin with camping Friday night at Camp Lake of the Woods in Swope Park at 4 p.m. After tent setup and a hands-on outdoor cooking experience, evening activities will include an owl program, nature crafts and hikes. Tents will be available for those who do not have one and can be reserved through the registration process. Classes on Saturday will continue from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Classes are open to anyone age 5 and older. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The cost to attend is $15 per person or $30 per family. Financial assistance is also available. Advance registration is required and the deadline to register is Sept. 6.

The event is sponsored by the Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Kansas City Parks and Recreation; Bass Pro Shops; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missouri Department of Conservation; Wonders of Wildlife; the National Park Service and Missouri State University.

For more information or to request a registration packet, contact Missouri State Parks toll free at 800-334-6946 or visit mostateparks.com/wow. For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Mark Twain National Forest partners with Kinsail Corporation to offer On-Line Sale of Passes and Permits

Image via Wikipedia The Mark Twain National Forest has partnered with Kinsail Corporation for on-line purchasing of permits and passes available for forest visitors.

On-line sale of ATV/motorcyle and mountain bike permits for riding at Chadwick and Sutton Bluff ATV and Motorcycle area are now available at http://www.marktwainpermits.com/.   The $7.00 daily permits can be purchased and printed on your home computer for use on the day you ride.   You may buy multiple daily permits at the on-line site.  The $45 annual permits for Chadwick and Sutton Bluff can be printed on your home computer for immediate use, and the all-weather permit sticker will be mailed to you.   The ATV/motorcycle and mountain bike permits are still for sale at local vendors and Mark Twain National Forest offices at Salem, Rolla and Ava.

Day use daily and annual recreation passes to access Mark Twain National Forest Recreation areas are also available on-line.  The $2.00 day use recreation  pass or the $20 annual day use recreation  pass is required at several recreation sites across the Mark Twain National Forest such as Lane Spring in Phelps County and Hammond Camp on North Fork River.  The daily and annual recreation pass may be printed from your home computer and used immediately.  The more durable annual recreation pass will be mailed to you.   You may still purchase the day use daily pass at each recreation site that requires them, and the annual pass may be purchased at every Mark Twain National Forest office.

Mark Twain National Forest is the largest public land manager in Missouri with 1.5 million acres in 29 counties in southern and central Missouri. Mark Twain National Forest’s mission is to continue to restore Missouri’s great outdoors and maintain a healthy, working forest.

White River Valley Trail recognized with national award

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JUNE 7, 2011 – A new hiking and mountain biking trail in southwest Missouri is receiving national attention with an award from the Coalition for Recreational Trails.  

            The White River Valley Trail in Table Rock State Park near Branson has been recognized with the 2011 Coalition for Recreational Trails award in the Multi-Use Management and Corridor Sharing Category. The Coalition for Recreational Trails is a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations. Each year, the coalition presents achievement awards to projects that make outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program funds.

            The White River Valley Trail, a 10.25 miles natural surface trail outside of Branson, is the first designated mountain biking trail system in the area.  The trail is a joint land-use project between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with part of the trail within Table Rock State Park and the rest on USACE land. The trail was partially funded with Recreational Trails Program grants in FY 2007 and FY 2010.

            “Our primary goal for this trail is to provide a new recreational opportunity for people who enjoying hiking and mountain biking, which is a growing sport in this area,” said Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks director. “The support we received for this trail is amazing and building this trail would not have been possible without assistance from our partners and the community. That’s what makes this award even more special.”

In addition to the Corps of Engineers, the trail received support from the Branson and Hollister chambers of commerce and visitor bureaus, local city governments, Volunteers for Outdoor Missouri, students from Hollister school and College of the Ozarks, Boy Scouts working on Eagle Scout projects, and other volunteers.   

The land around Table Rock dam is under increasing demands for development and this trail will help preserve some of the scenic attractions in the area. The trail will take users through various natural community types, near old homestead ruins and relics of the Table Rock Dam construction during the 1950s. Table Rock State Park plans to host adventure events and mountain biking races on the trail. The trail is expected to be a major draw for visitors, which will help boost the economy of the surrounding area.

             Table Rock State Park is located at 5272 State Hwy. 165 southwest of Branson. For more information on the trail, call the park at 417-334-4704 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information on Missouri state parks, visit mostateparks.com. 

Event May 14 at Towosahgy State Historic Site is cancelled

JEFFERSON CITY, MAY 4, 2011 – The Mississippian Cultural Day at Towosahgy State Historic Site near East Prairie scheduled for May 14 has been cancelled because of flooding in the area.

For current information on events in Missouri state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com.

Primitive fish a precious catch to save the species

A pallid sturgeon born in the muddy flows of the Missouri or Mississippi rivers and surviving more than a decade to reach reproductive maturity is among the rarest fishes in North America, an endangered species facing extinction.

Which is why a researcher  who nonchalantly handles dozens of big fish daily got excited when he saw the flat snout and staggered barbels on a pale, three-foot-long fish thrashing in the Missouri River.

“Ooh, big pallid,” shouted Thomas Huffmon, a resource science assistant for the Missouri Department of Conservation seeking hatchery brood fish to save a species.

Boat operator Darby Niswonger quickly shifted the motor to idle and prepared to help land the prehistoric fish.

“I’ll get the net,” said Niswonger, a resource staff scientist for MDC’s Missouri River Field Station.

A few minutes later, both researchers carefully lowered the pallid sturgeon into a large plastic tub filled with river water.

“Because it’s so big, it’s probably pretty old,” Niswonger said. “There’s a good chance it’s a wild fish.”

Wild in this case means a pallid sturgeon hatched from eggs laid on a sand or gravel bed, one that floated helplessly with the currents as larval fish and then as a small fry found some slack water to grow and avoid predators such as catfish. Pallid reproduction became rare after the 1950s when completion of dams on the upper Missouri River and construction of a navigation channel from Sioux City, Iowa, to St. Louis, made the river less turbid and eliminated natural habitat.

Pallids evolved 150 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the river shores and they remained a common fish into the 1900s.

Today though, they’re scarce, and a multi-state, multi-agency Missouri River Recovery Program funded and led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aims to help pallid sturgeons and other fish and wildlife species affected by river modifications.

As part of that program, MDC fisheries crews this month are catching wild pallids from the river as brood fish for spawning at the Blind Pony Hatchery near Sweet Springs, Mo. If they’re lucky, they’ll catch at least one or maybe a few each day. Those fish carry genetic diversity that’s needed if hatchery-raised pallids are to help the species survive in their native rivers.

Pallid sturgeons are elongated fish with cartilage rather than bones, including a flat, pointed snout and tough plates resembling scales on their backs and sides. They feed along the river bottom and use a tube-like mouth to suck up fish, insects and vegetation. The similar but smaller shovelnose sturgeons, which rarely top five pounds, remain numerous. But the larger pallid sturgeons are endangered nationwide.

Pallids can live 50 years or more and weigh more than 60 pounds. But biologists in recent decades have found only older fish and few young. Now they worry that with low numbers of pallids remaining, the chances of males and females finding one another during the spring spawning season are remote, Niswonger said. Plus, pallid males and females don’t reach reproductive maturity until 7 to 13 years, and both only reproduce every couple of years.

So stocking hatchery-raised fish is one hope for helping pallids rebound.

MDC fisheries crews use trotlines baited with nightcrawlers to catch potential brood fish. Niswonger and Huffmon on Tuesday ran and then reset lines in the river near Missouri City, downstream of Kansas City. They caught several shovelnose sturgeon, catfish and drum. All were weighed and measured to be part of an overall fisheries data base for the river.

But they only caught the one pallid sturgeon and it received special attention.

The biologists weighed and measured the fish at 6.6 pounds and 38 inches. Then they measured and counted the rays in the fins. They measured the distance between barbels, the whisker-like appendages near the mouth.

Niswonger ran an electronic scanner over the pallid to see it if had an implanted microchip, which would indicate that it is a hatchery-reared fish. She found none.  So a microchip was inserted into the fish, which enables its reference number to be read with a scanner if the fish is caught again in coming years.  That enables researchers to track a fish’s growth and movement in the river. Fish taken to the hatchery are later returned to the river.

But the biologist also clipped a portion of fin for DNA testing at a laboratory. Even if the fish is a male or female ready to spawn, it will not be utilized until a DNA test ensures that it is different from the hatchery-reared pallids released since into the river. More than a million young pallids have been released into the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, with three stockings in the 1990s and annual stockings since 2001.

“We’re stocking a lot of brothers and sisters,” Niswonger said. “They get a head start without having to make it as fry in the wild.”

The crew also recorded the location where the river-born pallid was caught using satellite technology, and they lowered instruments into the water to measure temperature and flow velocity.

Just raising pallids in a hatchery and releasing them won’t make the population sustainable. Biologists want to know what underwater habitats the fish prefer during spawning. Research crews from MDC and other agencies also study the fish in other seasons, such as following some with radio telemetry, so habitat can be modified along the river to help them.

The fate of pallids is tied to solving mysteries beneath a churning river’s surface.

“We still don’t know for sure what the bottleneck is,” Niswonger said, “what’s keeping them from growing and maturing and spawning on their own.”

-Bill Graham-