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PUXICO, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces progress in the final phase of the Golden Anniversary Wetlands Initiative renovations at Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA). Renovations will help area managers control water levels on the area, decrease disturbance of waterfowl on the area, and improve public access. Visitors should note the new entrance road, which is 3.1 miles south of the Duck Creek area headquarters building.
“Contractors have finished the improvements to the entrance road on the South end of Pool 3 which connects to U.S. Highway 51,” said Nicole Walker, MDC’s area manager at Duck Creek CA. “Renovations are near completion with the new foot bridges from Duck Creek to Mingo NWR’s Pool 8 and the next step is a water control structure replacement on North side of Pool 2.”
Walker said the new water control structure will have low water crossings and will improve water level management capabilities in this pool. During construction, Walker said the main entrance road leading to pools 1 and 2 will closed for approximately three months, weather depending. Pools 1, 2, and 3 may be accessed through the improved area entrance off U.S. Highway 51 on the south side of Pool 3.
The 6,234-acre Duck Creek CA was purchased in 1950 to provide waterfowl hunting opportunities in southeast Missouri. The original man-made structures (levees, pipes, water control gates, etc.) installed over 60 years ago outlived their life expectancy. The Golden Anniversary Wetland Initiative that began ten years ago has already greatly improved the area with a considerable amount of planning and funding for wetland restorations at Duck Creek and four other of the oldest wetland areas across the state.
“We suggest area users check the MDC webpage or call the Duck Creek CA information hotline for area specific information and renovation updates, so they know what to expect on the area,” Walker said.
The Duck Creek CA information hotline is (573) 222-3337. Find more information about Duck Creek CA at https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places.
