MDC to hold cable restraint certification class

NEOSHO, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold a cable restraint trapping certification class at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery

meeting room, which is located at 520 E. Park St. in Neosho.

When used correctly, cable restraint devices can hold animals alive and allow trappers to release non-target animals unharmed. The devices can be used to take furbearers during Missouri’s furbearer trapping season (see the Wildlife Code of Missouri for details on season dates and regulations) by trappers who have successfully completed a cable restraint training course, validated by a certified instructor.

This free course will cover the basics of safely and legally utilizing cable restraints to capture furbearers. Regulations, proper set location and cable restraint construction will be discussed.

Interested individuals are asked to pre-register by contacting Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Management Biologist Frank Loncarich at 417-451-4158 or Frank.Loncarich@mdc.mo.gov.  

Neosho National Fish Hatchery Wins DOI Environmental Achievement Award

Assistant Secretary Rhea Suh has announced that the Midwest Region's Neosho National Fish Hatchery in Missouri is a recipient of the 2013 Department of Interior Environmental Achievement Award. A model of sustainability, the Visitor Center was nominated in the “Building the Future” award category.

Awards recognize departmental employees and partners who have attained exceptional achievements under Executive Order 13514 “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance” and for cleaning up contaminated land.  The Award categories are:  Sustainability Hero; Green Innovation; Lean, Clean and Green; Good Neighbor; Green Dream Team; Building the Future; and Environmental Remediation. 

An interdisciplinary panel of reviewers from the Department’s bureaus and offices evaluated nominations to recommend Award recipients and honorable mentions.  The panel is chaired by the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.

Neosho National Fish Hatchery was established in 1888 and is the oldest operating federal fish hatchery. The hatchery encompasses approximately 18 acres in the heart of the town of Neosho, Missouri, due to availability of excellent-quality spring water. It raises endangered pallid sturgeon for recovery efforts in the lower Missouri River and rainbow trout for stocking in Lake Taneycomo. It supports conservation of the endangered Ozark cavefish and restoration of native mussels. Now more than 20 years after the hatchery’s centennial, this new high-performance 9,839 square-foot Visitor Center, which is the first Service building to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating officially from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), opened in December 2010. Energy efficiency strategies used throughout the building include a cool roof, day lighting, low-e glazed windows, energy-efficient lighting and a 31.13 ton geothermal heat pump. The Visitor Center is architecturally designed to mimic the original headquarters from 1888, which featured similar onion dome and witches hat roof styles.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Suspends Operations in Missouri Due to Federal Government Lapse in Appropriations

Due to a lapse in appropriations that has caused a federal government shutdown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facilities and lands are now closed to the public and public use activities have been suspended nationwide. This includes all National Wildlife Refuges, Waterfowl Production Areas, National Fish Hatcheries, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Offices and Ecological Services Offices.

In Missouri the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed nine national wildlife refuges, one ecological services office, one national fish hatchery and one fish and wildlife coordination office totaling more than 61,000 acres of land.

Squaw Creek, Swan Lake, Great River, Clarence Cannon, Big Muddy, Middle Mississippi, Pilot Knob, Mingo and Ozark Cavefish national wildlife refuges and Neosho National Fish Hatchery are all now closed to public access and any events scheduled at these facilities have been cancelled.  In addition, the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Coordination Office, Ecological Services Office and Private Lands Office are also closed.

Wildlife-related recreational activities on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands, such as hunting, fishing, environmental education or other public events scheduled at any of these facilities are cancelled.

We are asking the public to delay their plans to visit any of these locations until U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and facilities are re-opened.

In the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which covers the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, more than 800 employees have been placed in unpaid furlough status and 55 national wildlife refuges, 12 wetland management districts, six national fish hatcheries and more than 1.2 million acres of federal public lands are closed.

Conservation Action: March 2013

The Conservation Commission met March 11 at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, 520 E. Park St., in Neosho.

Commissioners present were:

·         Don C. Bedell, Sikeston, Chair

·         James T. Blair, IV, St. Louis, Vice Chair

·         Don R. Johnson, Festus, Member

The Commission:

·         Received presentations from:

• Chief Financial Officer Margie Mueller regarding February monthly financial summary.
• Design and Development Division Chief Jacob Careaga regarding major construction projects completed and the status of major CT projects funded in the FY13 budget.
• Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer regarding black bear management plan and research project.
• Resource Science Division Chief Mike Kruse regarding deer management review and planning update.
• Fisheries Division Chief Chris Vitello and Policy Coordinator Stuart Miller regarding flow regimes for Missouri stream systems.

·         Approved recommendation to purchase approximately 77.5 acres in Shannon County as an addition to Rocky Creek Conservation Area.

·         Approved authorization to advertise and sell an estimated 897,441 board feet of timber from 621 acres of Compartment 22 on Sunklands Conservation Area in Shannon County.

·         Approved the report of the Regulations Committee, including the recommendation for changes to the Wildlife Code including but not limited to daily, possession, and length limits for blue catfish on Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake, and amendments regarding commercial harvest of shovelnose sturgeon to align Missouri’s regulations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s similarity of appearance ruling.

·         Suspended hunting, fishing, and/or trapping privileges of 21 Missouri residents and two (2) out-of-state residents for Wildlife Code violations, and affirmed actions taken by Missouri courts suspending privileges of one (1) Missouri resident. Those whose privileges were suspended are:

• Joseph B. Barton, Clarence, Hunting, 1/10/2016

o   Glenn B. Beck, Seligman, Hunting and Fishing, 1 year

o   Joshua S. Bisher, Florissant, Hunting, 1 year

o   James L. Groves, Greenville, Hunting, 2 years

o   Donald L. Hammons, Pleasant Hill, Hunting, 1 year

o   David B. Hand, Eldon, Hunting, Add 6 months

o   Joseph W. Hensley, Lebanon, Hunting, 1 year

o   Thomas J. Korn, Bismark, Hunting and Fishing, 1 year

o   Rathe P. Mann, Halfway, Hunting, 4 years

• Daniel R. Morgan, Kahoka, Hunting and Fishing, 1 year
• Taylor J. Morris, Eldon, Hunting, 6 months
• Darren E. Murphy, Billings, All Sport, 2 years
• Travis W. Reynolds, Doniphan, Hunting, 1 year
• James R. Ross, Warrensburg, Hunting, 1 year
• Michael J. Sims, West Plains, Hunting, 1 year
• Hall E. Solomon, Fort Pierce, FL, Hunting, 1 year
• Debonnie L. Spires, Moberly, Hunting, 1 year
• David A. Sudduth, Houston, 3 years and complete hunter education
• Michael R. Steele, Fairview, Hunting, 1 year
• Jason B. Thornton, Duenweg, Hunting, 2 years
• Daniel  Tran, Jefferson City, Fishing, 1 year
• Michael H. Ulberg, St. Charles, Hunting, 2 years
• William R. Westbrook, Prairieville, LA, Hunting, 2 years
• Edward A. Yoder, St. Louis, Hunting, 1 year

·         Approved the suspension or revocation of all hunting and fishing privileges of 220 people who are not in compliance with applicable child-support laws. Privileges suspended for noncompliance are reinstated once the Division of Child Support Enforcement notifies MDC that suspendees have come into compliance with the required laws.

·         Suspended privileges of 141 people under the provisions of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

·         Approved next regular meeting for April 25-26 at MDC Headquarters in Jefferson City.

Related articles

• Tentative agenda for March Conservation Commission meeting (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• MDC and federal agents snag major paddlefish poaching operation (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Conservation Action February 2013 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• 2013 hunting, trapping, fishing regulation booklets available from MDC (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Paddlefish Spawning Season Offers Big Angling Opportunities (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Missouri NWTF names MDC Agent Killian as Wildlife Officer of the Year (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Restoring southwest Missouri’s natural resources focus of meetings, restoration plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., JAN.24, 2012 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have developed a regional restoration plan to restore southwest Missouri’s natural resources injured by hazardous substances. The agencies will hold a series of upcoming public meetings and are seeking comments on the restoration plan.

Representatives from the department and Fish & Wildlife Service will explain the Draft Springfield Plateau Regional Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment at public meetings in Springfield, Joplin and Neosho. During the meetings, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and formally comment on the restoration plan, available online atdnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/sfund/nrda.htm.

The Springfield Plateau ecoregion includes major portions of Cedar, Dade, Jasper, Newton, Lawrence and Greene counties; portions of Polk, Webster, Christian and Barry counties; and minor portions of St. Clair, Hickory, Barton, McDonald, Stone and Douglas counties.

The public meetings will be held:

·                     Jan. 25 in Joplin at MSU’s Billingsley Student Center, 3950 E. Newman Rd.

·                     Jan. 26 in Neosho at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, 520 Park Street.

·                     Jan. 30 in Springfield at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.

            The meetings will start at 6 and end at 8:30 p.m.

Written comments on the restoration plan must be postmarked no later than Feb. 24. Comments and questions or requests for copies of the plan can be directed to:

Frances Klahr                                                                  John Weber,

Natural Resources Damages Coordinator                       Restoration Coordinator

Missouri Department of Natural Resources                    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

P.O. Box 176                                                                   101 Park DeVille Dr., Suite A

Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176                                                 Columbia, MO 65203

573-522-1347                                                                  573-234-2132 (x177)

Frances.klahr@dnr.mo.gov                                             John_S_Weber@fws.gov      

Copies of the restoration plan are be available for on-site review at the Joplin Public Library, 300 S. Main Street, Joplin; Neosho Public Library, 201 W. Spring Street, Neosho; Springfield Public Library, 4653 S. Campbell Ave, Springfield; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 101 Park DeVille Dr. Suite A, Columbia; and Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 1730 E. Elm St., Jefferson City. 

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are charged, primarily through federal Superfund law, with assessing injuries to and restoring natural resources that have been injured by environmental hazards such as oil discharges and hazardous substances releases. This process is referred to as Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration. Citizens have the right to use and enjoy natural resources and states have the duty and responsibility to protect these resources.

Related articles

• Agencies Seek Comments on Draft Plan to Restore Natural Resources in Southwestern Missouri (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Public invited to comment at Cadastral Mapping Standards Stakeholder meeting on January 12 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Fisheries' recreation and conservation activities are huge economic drivers for nation (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• MDC celebrating 75 years of conservation in Missouri (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Wildlife restoration, unusual animal sightings top 2011 conservation news (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Neosho National Fish Hatchery Celebrates Visitor Center Grand Opening: Ribbon Cutting and Open House on December 9

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Neosho National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in southwest Missouri will host the grand opening of its state-of-the-art visitor center on Thursday, December 9, 2010.  The visitor center is expected to accommodate more than 100,000 visitors per year, enhance environmental education and interpretation opportunities, and generate economic benefits for Newton County and surrounding areas.  

“We are so proud to see this project come to fruition,” said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The architectural style of the facility commemorates the beginnings of the National Fish Hatchery Program. As the oldest operational Federal fish hatchery in the country, Neosho can be proud to be both a living legacy of conservation and its community.” 

Public and media are invited to attend the ceremony and tour the facility alongside Federal and state legislators and Fish and Wildlife Service officials. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. CT and conclude with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m.  Formal tours will begin at 10:45 a.m. and the facility will be open from noon to 5:00 p.m for informal tours.  The hatchery is located at 520 E. Park Street, Neosho, Missouri. For additional information, contact hatchery manager David Hendrix at 417-451-0554.

The 9,500 sq. ft. facility is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program and includes photovoltaic solar panels, energy efficient building systems, geothermal wells, and was built using environmentally friendly, natural materials including fiber cement siding, wood framing, metal roof, stained concrete and marmoleum flooring. The visitor center is expected to generate local economic benefits in the form of enhanced tourism revenues and associated employment opportunities in southwestern Missouri. 

Neosho NFH was established in 1888 and is the oldest operating federal fish hatchery. The hatchery raises endangered pallid sturgeon for recovery efforts in the lower Missouri River and rainbow trout for stocking in Lake Taneycomo. The hatchery also supports conservation of the endangered Ozark cavefish and restoration of native mussels.  

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. 

-FWS-