MDC seeks public input on William E. Crawford Conservation Area in Clark County

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Northeast
Published Date
04/01/2019
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REVERE, 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 management plan for MDC’s William E. Crawford Conservation Area is available for public review through April 30. To preview this draft management plan and share comments online, visit mdc.mo.gov/areaplans

William E. Crawford Conservation Area contains 88 acres of woods and open field, with just more than one-half mile of frontage along the Des Moines River. A two-track service road offers a hike into the property, but visitors willing to venture off the beaten path can discover blufftop overlooks and geological formations along drainages leading to the river. The area offers opportunities for bank fishing, as well as archery- and muzzleloader-only hunting for deer and turkey. The 70 acres of woods on the area consist primarily of oaks, hickories, and maples, which often offer a colorful display of fall foliage.

MDC manages this area to provide diverse habitat for fish and wildlife species, to protect soil and water quality, and provide recreational and educational opportunities for visitors and citizens of Missouri.

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.

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 statewide context, and on the professional expertise of MDC staff.