Vandals Damage Public Property in Mark Twain National Forest

We really hope some folks will come through and turn in some of the bottom

Falling Spring Mill

feeding low-lifes who vandalize the outdoors!

From USFS:

Information is being sought on vandals that damage Mark Twain National Forest recreation sites in southwest Missouri.“Every beginning of the recreation season, we find a number of sites that have been vandalized,” said Mark Twain National Forest Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs District Ranger Jenny Farenbaugh.  “Signs are stolen, shot up, ran over; buildings are broken into and trash is dumped on national forest property. These are sites for everyone to enjoy.”According to Mark Twain National Forest Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs District Recreation Manager Darla Rein, a number of sites have

Mark Twain National Forest used as Garbage Dump

been vandalized throughout the district in Barry, Christian, Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Stone and Taney counties.If you should see vandalism occurring, please contact the Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District at (417) 683-4428 to report it.Rein said anyone caught vandalizing government property will be subject to fines and restitution of property, including costs of employee salaries to make repairs.“We would appreciate your support in helping us to protect your forest lands and facilities,” Farenbaugh said.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 is managed to restore Missouri’s natural communities and maintain a healthy, working forest.

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Mark Twain National Forest Closes Big Bay Campground

Mark Twain National Forest is permanently closing Big Bay Campground on Table Rock Lake, near Shell Knob, Missouri.

The Big Bay boat launch and picnic area will remain open.

The campground closing is part of Mark Twain National Forest’s long term recreation site management plan.

“The facilities are not accessible; are not compatible with modern camping equipment, and have been deteriorating for a number of years,” said Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs Ranger Jenny Farenbaugh.

Shell Knob Recreation Area, a nearby day use only area, has picnic tables. The area also has a pavilion that can be rented at recreation.gov; a tennis court, playground, vault toilet, and an overlook of Table Rock Lake. Shell Knob Lions Club maintains and operates this recreation area under a Granger-Thye special use permit.

US Army Corps of Engineers offers several developed camping opportunities on Table Rock Lake, such as Campbell Point, located nearby.

For more information, contact the Mark Twain National Forest, Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District at 417-683-4428. Office hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or visit Mark Twain National Forest’s website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf.

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. For more information about the Mark Twain National Forest, go to www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf or contact your local Mark Twain National Forest office.

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Mark Twain Forest Offering Free Camping January 14-16, 2012

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ROLLA, Mo.– Mark Twain National Forest will offer free camping in unreserved campsites both Saturday and Sunday nights, and free day use at unreserved sites Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, January 14-16, 2012.

The three days of free day use and two free nights of camping at year-round recreation areas the second weekend in January 2012 are being offered in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend. 

Motorized trail permits are still required for use of the Chadwick and Sutton Bluff trail systems, and normal fees still apply.

Free camping and day use is being offered at Cobb Ridge in the Chadwick Motorcycle and ATV Area in Christian County and Greer Crossing on the Eleven Point River in Oregon County.

 Campgrounds are closed but day use fees are being waived at Markham Springs  in Wayne County; North Fork along the North Fork of the White River in Ozark County, and Watercress on the Current River in Carter County. 

In addition, the following campgrounds or camping areas are among those open year-round without fees:

Berryman and Hazel Creek in Washington County; Bar-K  in Christian County; Dry Fork in Callaway County, and Big Piney Trail Camp in Texas County, all of which have facilities for equestrian camping;  Paddy Creek in Texas County, Pine Ridge in Callaway County  and McCormack Lake in Oregon County, where horses are not allowed. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day has become recognized as a national day of service.  Mark Twain National Forest is celebrating the many volunteers who have helped and encouraging individuals to start 2012 right by getting out and enjoying their national forests.

“We have hundreds of volunteers who help maintain the trails and other recreation facilities on Mark Twain National Forest,” said Mark Twain National Forest Acting Forest Supervisor Teresa Chase.

“Offering free camping and day use on the weekend of this National Day of Service is a way to show our appreciation of those individuals.  Also, at a time of year when many individuals have resolved to lead a healthier lifestyle, we want to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors and to connect to the land, which improves the health and quality of both personal and community life.  We hope to inspire individuals and community groups to take part in activities that promote healthy living and mental well being, instill excitement for the outdoors, or to just plain get out and enjoy being on a trail or in the forest.

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Forest Will Leave Noblett Lake Temporarily Dry Until Spring 2012

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AVA, Missouri – Mark Twain National Forest will leave Noblett Lake temporarily dry until spring 2012.

After coordinating with Missouri Departments of Natural Resources and Conservation, Mark Twain National Forest has decided  to leave the dam gate open, leaving the lake bed dry except for the perennial stream portion, until spring 2012.

This will allow cold weather to kill undesirable vegetation within Noblett Lake.

Vandals August 17, 2011 accessed Noblett Lake’s dam and opened the gate, allowing Noblett Lake water to flow into surrounding streams. The 70-year Civilian Conservation Corps-built lake has been filling in with sediment and vegetation over the years.

“The water loss presented a unique opportunity to consider restoration of the lake as a fishery, or return the area to its natural condition,” said Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs District Ranger Jenny Farenbaugh.

Once undesirable vegetation has been eliminated, the dam gate will slowly be closed spring 2012 during a period when precipitation is expected in order to minimize stream drying and potential fish kills.

“The lake will refill over a period of weeks, depending on the amount of precipitation and spring discharge,” Farenbaugh said.

“Although we know residents want to know if and when Noblett Lake will be re-stocked, we are working with Missouri Department of Conservation to determine the feasibility of restocking.”

Farenbaugh said Mark Twain National Forest is also working with partners on the restoration project.

“Opportunities to partner with state, Federal and non-governmental organizations for a project of this magnitude abound and are being explored,” Farenbaugh said.

Law enforcement investigators continue their investigation into the vandalism that resulted in water loss at Noblett Lake, located south of Willow Springs, Missouri in Douglas County.

If someone has information about the August 17, 2011 Noblett Lake incident, please contact 417-683-4428 ext. 199.

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.

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Earlier Mark Twain National Forest Timber Salvage Sales Helped Firefighters with November 1, 2011 Wild Fire

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SALEM, Mo. – Earlier Mark Twain National Forest timber salvage sales since the May 2009 derecho wind event have helped to reduce Mark Twain National Forest forest fuels. The average forest acre normally has 2 tons of forest fuels per acre. After the May 2009 derecho, Mark Twain National Forest lands around Salem averaged 50-100 tons per acre.  Areas that had salvage sales within 300 feet of roadways to allow for public safety, property access and to create fire breaks (left) helped Mark Twain National Forest firefighters with the November 1, 2011 wild fire near Salem, Missouri. On right in photo, a forest area that was not cleared of storm debris. (USDA Forest Service photo by Bill Paxton)

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Rains Helps Crews Fighting Wild Fires in Mark Twain National Forest Around Salem, Missouri

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SALEM, Mo. – Rainfall November 3, 2011 is helping firefighters contain several suspected arson fires on Mark Twain National Forest lands near Salem, Missouri on Salem Ranger District. 

About ½ inch of rain November 3, 2011 fell in the vicinity of the fires, increasing leaf fall. National Weather Service forecasts show a drying trend over the weekend.

“Heavy fuels can contribute to increased intensity and extreme fire behavior, especially on days like we experienced earlier this week,” said Mark Twain National Forest Salem District Ranger Thom Haines. “We’re carefully monitoring conditions to make sure wild fires stay in their containment areas.”

The largest wild fire, the Minninghaw Fire, estimated at 5,000 acres in size, started November 1, 2011.  It is located in southern Dent County near the Shannon County line, approximately 7 miles west of Bunker, Missouri.  It is burning in heavy fuels created by the May 2009 Derecho wind event.

 As of 10:30 am Thursday, November 3, 2011, a fire line had been established around the entire fire perimeter.

Salem Ranger District had two other suspected arson wild fires on November 2, 2011; one wild fire was 5 acres, and a second wild fire approximately 310 acres in size.  Both have containment lines established around them. 

Two twenty-person hand crews, one from North Carolina and a second from Georgia, arrived November 3, 2011 and reported to Salem this morning.  These resources will provide Mark Twain National Forest additional help and afford rotation of firefighters who have been fighting the wildfires since mid-afternoon Tuesday, November 1, 2011. 

Currently, there are more than 50 firefighters, three bulldozers and four engines assigned to the wild fires. 

No homes are immediately threatened. 

Additional law enforcement personnel are assigned to patrol and investigate the wild fires.

 “We really need the help of the public.  If anyone has any information on who set these fires, please let us know,” Haines said.

To report information, contact Mark Twain National Forest Salem Ranger District Office at 573-729-6656 or the toll free arson hotline at 1-800-392-1111.

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