MDC seeks public input for the Northeast Region Stream Accesses Management Plan

HANNIBAL, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is in the multi-year process of updating Conservation Area Management Plans and is seeking public input on how conservation areas are important to Missourians. A draft plan for the Northeast Region Stream Accesses is available for public review from July 1 to July 31.

To preview the draft management plan and to share comments online, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/19563.

The Northeast Region Stream Accesses include 13 public stream accesses that are greater than 40 acres. These areas are managed to provide users safe and convenient access to streams for boat and bank anglers. Accesses included in this plan are the Black Hawk Access, Callahan Mound Access, Cedar Bluff Access, Dodd Access, Dunn Ford Access, McPike Access, Mound View Access, Soulard Access, Sunnyside School Access, Sunrise Access, Tolona Access, White Oak Bend Access, and Woodlawn Access.

Management efforts for these access areas seek to maintain stream bank integrity, encourage healthy populations of wildlife and aquatic species, provide recreational opportunities, and demonstrate healthy forests and floodplain management practices.

Statewide, MDC conservation areas cover almost one million public acres for the purpose of restoring and conserving forest, fish and wildlife resources, and for providing opportunities for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about these resources. Most Missourians are within a 30-minute drive of an MDC conservation area.

"Missourians care about conservation and use conservation areas for many different reasons," said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. "These areas help people discover nature through various activities, and help make Missouri a great place to hunt, fish, and enjoy other outdoor activities. We want to know how conservation areas are important to Missourians. Encouraging public comments on Conservation Area Management Plans is part of MDC's ongoing efforts of working for and with Missourians to sustain healthy forests, fish and wildlife."

Conservation Area Management Plans focus on natural resource management and public use on conservation areas. The plans do not address regulations on hunting, fishing and other area uses, which are set by the Conservation Commission and enforced under the Wildlife Code of Missouri. MDC will consider all ideas received and will work to balance the issues and interests identified with the responsibility of managing areas for the present and future benefits to forest, fish, wildlife, and people. Decisions on which ideas to incorporate into area plans and on how to best incorporate them will be based on the property's purpose, its physical and biological conditions and capabilities, the best roles of the property in its local, regional and state-wide context, and on the professional expertise of MDC staff.