MEETING OF THE MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Conservation Department Headquarters

2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, Missouri

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 – 2:00 p.m. – Executive Session (Closed)

Thursday, December 15, 2011 – 8:00 a.m. – Regular Open Meeting

TENTATIVE AGENDA

(Background documents related to each agenda item are available for public viewing at Conservation Department Headquarters, Jefferson City, for eight calendar days prior to the meeting. Any person who would like to comment to the Commission about a specific agenda item must make a written request to the Director at least four calendar days prior to the meeting. Speakers will be limited to five minutes each and number of speakers may be limited.  Recording the open meeting is permissible, pursuant to any guidelines established by the Commission to minimize disruption to the meeting. Individuals wishing to record the open meeting by audiotape, videotape or other electronic means should notify the Director at least four calendar days prior to the meeting so accommodations for such recording can be made.)

Wednesday, December 14, 2:00 p.m.

Executive Session (Vote to go into closed session – reconvene open meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 15:

(1)        Call to order and approval of minutes of previous Executive Session(s). (610.021 RSMo.)

(2)        Consideration of supporting documentation for recommendation to suspend or revoke all hunting and fishing privileges of individuals who are juveniles or who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws. Action to be taken in open meeting. (Disclosure protected by law, 610.021(14), 454.440.9, 211.321, RSMo.)

(3)        Consideration of confidential or privileged communications between the Commission and its Internal Auditor regarding work product. (Communications between public governmental body and its auditor, 610.021(17) RSMo.)

(4)        Consideration of recommendation relating to the hiring/firing/disciplining/promoting of personnel. (Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting, 610.021(3) RSMo.)

(5)        Consideration of negotiated contracts. (Documents related to a negotiated contract, 610.021(12) RSMo.)

(6)        Update on potential real estate transactions/negotiations. (Leasing, purchase or sale of real estate, 610.021(2) RSMo.)

(7)        Consideration of legal actions and attorney-client privileged communications involving the Conservation Commission. (Legal actions, causes of action or litigation, 610.021(1) RSMo.)

Thursday, December 14, 8:00 a.m. – Regular Open Meeting:

Approval of minutes of previous meeting.

Staff Presentations:

8:05 a.m.         Missourians’ Interests and Actions for Conservation.

8:20 a.m.         Missouri Wetlands.

Report of the Regulations Committee, which includes recommendations for the 1) 2012 turkey hunting seasons and spring turkey hunting brochure, and 2) opening date for the 2012 Fall Firearms Deer Season.

·         Turkey Season Review.

·         Elk Restoration Update.

October and November Monthly Financial Summaries. 

Status of Major CI-IT Projects Funded in FY12 Budget; consideration of bids received for the construction of the Blind Pony Lake Conservation Area Renovation of Hatchery Production Ponds Phase IV Project located in Saline County, and authorization to enter into a contract with the low bidder.

Recommendation for approval of personnel reclassifications.

Quarterly Update of Conservation Employees’ Benefits Plan Trust Fund; recommendations to appoint a new staff representative to the Board of Trustees for the Conservation Employees’ Benefits Plan Trust Fund and modifications to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

Recommendation for approval to fund a perpetual conservation easement on approximately 415 acres in Lawrence County, with the Department being reimbursed for all costs from a federal grant.

Staff Presentation:

10:15 a.m.       Land Conservation and Stewardship Program.

Recommendation for approval of the 2010-2011 Annual Report for the Department of Conservation, and authorization for publication and distribution.

Legislative Report.

Recommendations for approval of nomination(s) for Master Conservationist and for induction into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame.

Recommendations for approval to suspend or revoke 1) one or more hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges of individuals for cause; 2) all hunting and fishing privileges of individuals who are not in compliance with applicable child support laws; 3) one or more hunting, fishing and trapping privileges of individuals in accordance with the terms of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact; and 4) hunting privileges of one individual who inflicted injury to another person while hunting.

Special Presentation:

11:15 a.m.       Dr. Harry and Mrs. Lina Berrier, Show-Me Barbecue, Columbia.

Recess for Lunch – Reconvene at 1:15 p.m.

Announcement of actions taken in executive session, if any.

Other matters of interest.

Confirmation that the next regular meeting will be held January 26-27, 2012.

1:30 p.m.         Presentation of Awards:

                                    Clerical Employee of the Year Award.

                                    Workforce Diversity Award.

                                    Employee Service Awards. 

Related articles

• Meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Action October 2011 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Public invited to comment at Cadastral Mapping Standards Stakeholder meeting on December 8 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Action August 2011 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Schools invited to fight litter through “No MOre Trash!” contest

MDC and MoDOT sponsor “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter Free” trash-can contest.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Missouri elementary, middle and home school students K-8 are invited to help in the fight against litter in the Show-Me State -- and to have creative and educational fun -- by participating in the 2012 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter Free” trash-can-decorating contest. The annual contest is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) as part of the state’s “No MOre Trash!” campaign to raise awareness about Missouri's litter problem and to discourage littering.

Courtesy MDC

The contest encourages school classes and groups to join in the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trash can with the “No MOre Trash!” logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative media. Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules and effective use of theme and logo.

“In addition to teaching kids about how litter hurts them, their families, community and the environment, first-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools,” said MDC No MOre Trash! Coordinator Joe Jerek. “All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of $600 awarded to the sponsoring school, and a trophy.”

Jerek added that there is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must simply email a completed entry form and up to three photos of the completed trash can (with and without participating students) to nomoretrash@mdc.mo.gov. Email submissions are required. Deadline for entries is March 5.

“Littering isn’t just ugly, it hurts wildlife and the environment, it costs Missourians millions of tax dollars each year and it’s illegal,” Jerek said.  He added that MDC spends almost $1 million a year to clean litter from conservation areas and other department locations and MoDOT spends more than $5 million each year cleaning litter from Missouri’s roadsides.

Contest rules, entry forms, the “No MOre Trash!” logo, past contest winners, facts on litter and educational information are available at www.nomoretrash.org. For more information emailnomoretrash@mdc.mo.gov.

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• MDC bans porous-soled waders to help protect trout waters from invasive algae (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• MDC to seek elusive answers about ruffed grouse (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Hunters check 14,000 deer during antlerless season

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Two portions of Missouri’s firearms deer season remain.

JEFFERSON CITY–Hunters checked 14,439 deer during Missouri’s antlerless deer season Nov. 23 through Dec. 4.

This year’s antlerless harvest is 789 fewer than last year. Top harvest counties for the 12-day antlerless season were Benton with 394 deer checked, Pike with 390 and Macon with 378.

So far this year, firearms deer hunters have killed 221,490 deer. That is up 4,209 from the same time last year.

Two portions of Missouri’s firearms deer season remain. The muzzleloader portion runs from Dec. 17 through 27, and the late youth portion is Jan. 7 and 8.

Besides increasing hunting opportunities, the antlerless season gives landowners a way of regulating local deer numbers by allowing hunters to remove female deer from the population.

Missouri’s estimated population of 1.4 million whitetails enables hunters to shoot more than 250,000 deer each year. That yields approximately 10 million pounds of venison. Hunters consume most of this meat. However, hunters donate more than 250,000 pounds of venison annually to local food banks and other charities through the Share the Harvest program.

Wild venison has less fat than organic, free range beef, which sells for anywhere from $7 a pound for ground meat, to $30 for steaks. That puts the food value of Missouri’s white-tailed deer resource in the neighborhood of $200 million per year. Missouri’s deer resource also supports 11,000-plus jobs and generates more than $1 billion in business activity annually.

Economic value aside, deer hunting is a cherished tradition that draws thousands of Missouri natives back home to share healthful outdoor recreation with family and friends.

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• Young deer hunters have a good weekend (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Preliminary count shows hunters harvested 226,260 deer during the nine-day season (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Missouri State Parks welcomes dog owners to stay the night

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., NOV. 30, 2011 -- If you want to take your "best friend" along on your best vacation, Missouri State Parks will provide both you and your dog a place to stay the night.

            

Beginning in January 2012, Missouri State Parks will make lodging units available to people who want to travel and vacation with their dogs. With the new Cabins for Canines program, specific lodging units will be available for use by dog owners. The program includes units such as outpost cabins, camper cabins, yurts, single-unit cabins, fourplexes and duplexes.       

           

 "Missouri State Parks wants everyone to know they are welcome to visit our outstanding state park system. Our new Cabins for Canines program is reaching out to those who love state parks but also love to bring their pets with them," said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

            

Previously pets were not allowed in any state park building, including lodging units. With the new program, 30 percent of lodging units will be made available for owners with dogs, following certain guidelines. "A portion of our lodging units will be available to dog owners and a portion will remain canine-free, giving us a balance to accommodate everyone who wants to come to a state park," Bryan said.

           

 Implementation of Cabins for Canines program will begin Jan. 1, 2012, for state-operated facilities including outpost cabins, camper cabins and yurts. Implementation of the program in lodging facilities operated by private concessionaires will be phased in during 2012 based on availability and fully implemented in 2013. For more information on parks offering lodging facilities for dog owners, visitmostateparks.com.

            

The number of dogs allowed per cabin is limited to two, regardless of size. For visitors bringing canines as overnight guests, there will be a minimum fee of $15 per dog, per night collected at check-in time. The per-dog, per-night fee may vary depending on the type of unit chosen. An additional fee may be assessed when extra cleaning is required. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs inside and outside the unit.

            

Dogs should be attended at all times while inside the unit and at all locations in the park. When guests must leave the dog unattended, they must be placed in a crate or kennel. A crate or kennel will be provided for each unit free of charge as a courtesy to guests.

           

 With the new program, dogs are allowed only in the designated lodging units and may not be taken in any other park building. This program applies to canines that are not considered service animals assisting guests with disabilities.

            

For more information about Missouri state parks and facilities available in the Cabins for Canines program, call Missouri State Parks toll-free number at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419(Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or visit mostateparks.com.

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Eleven trail projects will receive federal funding

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Eleven trail projects in Missouri will receive approximately $1.3 million funding through the federal Recreational Trails Program. 

             The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded grant program for trail-related land acquisition, development or restoration. In Missouri, Recreational Trails Program funds are administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.

             “Missourians are blessed with abundant parks and recreation areas.  It is important to support these natural resources and preserve them for years to come,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “These trails provide opportunities for families and children to enjoy time together, as well as connecting them with their community.” 

             The grant recipients were chosen from 31 applications and were selected based on recommendations from the Missouri Trails Advisory Board, which represents diverse trail interest groups. The grants were awarded based on the results of a competitive scoring process and the application’s suitability under funding provisions included in Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). At least a 20 percent match is required by the applicant. A funding requirement targets 30 percent of the funding for motorized trails, 30 percent for non-motorized trails and 40 percent for diversified trail use.

            “These trails provide Missourians access to explore the many natural resources our state offers, as well as providing important fitness opportunities. We are proud to support this program, local communities and healthy lifestyles,” said Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks director, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.  

            Following is a list of Recreational Trails Program grant recipients, along with a list of non-motorized and motorized RTP trail projects and their grant amounts.

2011 RTP Non-Motorized Trail Projects:

·         Missouri State Parks, Statewide - develop, renovate and maintain trails and various trail amenities in Missouri State Parks facilities - $348,821.

·         Grace Hill Settlement House, St. Louis County - renovate Riverfront Trail - $67,241.

·         City of Columbia Parks and Recreation, Boone County - educational accessible sign system - $20,000.

·         City of Warrensburg Parks and Recreation, Johnson County - construct a primitive trail at Lions Lake - $100,000.

·         Ozark Trail Association, Shannon County - construct backcountry hiking trail in Roger Pryor Backcountry - $73,575.

·         City of Kansas City Public Works Department, Jackson County - construct Riverfront Heritage Trail Beardsley Road Connector - $100,000.

·         City of Belton, Cass County - Cleveland Avenue Regional Lake Development trail construction - $95,149.

·         City of Greenville, Wayne County - construct a trail connecting the city to Wappapello Lake - $71,913.

·         State of Missouri/Office of Administration, Cole County - construct trail to connect to the Missouri State Penitentiary Trail - $100,000.

2011 RTP Motorized Trail Projects:

·         Midwest Trail Riders Association, Iron County - purchase equipment to maintain existing motorized trails - $14,500.

·         Missouri State Parks, Statewide - develop new trails, renovate and maintain existing motorized trails - $400,000.

Related articles

• Missouri Trails Advisory Board will meet July 16 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
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• Katy Trail State Park extends equestrian section with event Oct. 8 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
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Hunters report taking five antlered does

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It’s a mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up world for some white-tailed deer.

JEFFERSON CITY – The Kinks didn’t have white-tailed deer in mind when they wrote the lyrics to rock song “Lola,” but five antlered female deer reported to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) lend new meaning to the phrase, “It’s a mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up world.”

MDC Resource Scientist Emily Flinn specializes in deer biology. She says she has received five reports this year from hunters who shot antlered deer that appear, at least externally, to be female.

Flinn said this phenomenon is not as rare as you might think. As many as one in every 65 or as few as one in 4,437 female white-tailed deer may grow antlers, depending on the region within North America. It’s all a question of hormones.

“Female deer can grow antlers if they have higher-than-normal testosterone levels,” said Flinn. “In most cases, does’ testosterone levels are too low for full antler development. They usually are small and poorly formed, and they aren’t completely hardened. They typically are still in velvet when hunting season arrives.”

That wasn’t the case with two of the deer reported this year. A 9-pointer taken in Platte County and a 10-pointer shot in Wright County both were symmetrical, fully hardened and polished. The Wildlife Code of Missouri distinguishes between antlered and antlerless deer, rather than bucks and does. Therefore, hunters who shoot deer with at least one antler measuring 3 inches or longer must check them as antlered deer, regardless of the animal’s sex.

All this leaves the most intriguing questions about antlered does unanswered, however. According to Flinn, these deer fall into three categories. The first is female deer with unusually high testosterone levels. These are the ones likely to grow under-developed antlers. They usually are fertile and able to bear fawns.

The second category is deer that are fully functional males but also possess some female anatomical features. In some, male genitalia are hidden beneath the skin or within the body, giving the appearance of female deer. However, their testosterone levels are high enough to produce fully developed antlers.

The third category is true hermaphrodites, animals with both male and female reproductive organs.

Flinn said it is difficult to say how common these abnormalities are in Missouri’s deer population.

“We only know about the ones that hunters shoot, and probably not even all of those,” she said. “It seems likely that some are field-dressed without the hunters noticing the anatomical oddities. If you shoot an antlered deer, you’re pretty much going to assume it’s a buck. If it’s early or late in the day, you might field dress it without noticing the presence or absence of some anatomical oddities.”

Missouri’s fall deer population is estimated at 1.4 million. If at least five of the 186,000 or so deer killed during the November hunt were sexually ambiguous, that would mean that 40 or more “Lola” deer probably are roaming Missouri’s fields and forests.

If you encounter one, you can report it to any MDC office.

Caribou are the only members of the deer family for which antlered females are normal.

Related articles

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• MDC needs hunter help with CWD sampling of harvested deer (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• -30- Kansas Firearm Deer Season Opens Nov. 30 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Public invited to comment at Cadastral Mapping Standards Stakeholder meeting on December 8

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ROLLA, Mo., NOV. 28, 2011 – Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey staff will conduct a Cadastral Mapping Standards Stakeholder meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8.

The public meeting will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Ha Ha Tonka conference room, 1730 E. Elm St., in Jefferson City.

At this meeting, the department will accept comments from interested stakeholders regarding promulgation of a rule in development for Cadastral Mapping Standards.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish standards for the cadastral layer of Geographic Information System mapping. The cadastral layer is the foundation for property ownership, rights-of-way, easements and other restrictions or burdens placed on parcels of land.

For more information, contact the department at 573-368-2300 or write to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey, Land Survey Program, PO Box 250, Rolla, MO 65402. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling the department at 573-368-2300 or call toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419(Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).

For more information or a complete meeting agenda visit the department’s websitednr.mo.gov/geology/landsurvey/lsp-rules-in-dev.htm.

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