Missouri Conservationist July 2004

2004·1.7 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

MMIISSSSOOUURRII
July
2004
Volume 65,
Issue 7
CCOONNSSEERRVVAATTIIOONNIISSTT
Vantage Point
Behind the Scenes
H
ave you ever wondered who takes care of all the
facilities and infrastructure that are available to
you on conservation areas? Behind the scenes
of the wonderful conservation programs and facilities
you enjoy are many dedicated men and women playing a
vital support role. These men and women are members
of the staff of the Design & Development Section of the
Conservation Department’s Administrative Services
Division. They provide professional engineering, archi-
tectural, and construction-maintenance services to the
Department and the citizens of Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Conservation owns or
leases more than a thousand conservation areas located
throughout the State. These areas contain nearly 500
miles of wetland levees, 75 shooting ranges, 500 boat
launching ramps, 3,000 fishing lakes and ponds, 1,000
miles of roads, 2,500 parking lots, 3,000 buildings and
other infrastructure, all of which must be maintained.
Over the past few decades, the Department has
focused on improving the conservation areas acquired as
part of the “Design for Conservation” plan implemented White
with the passage of the 1/8th percent conservation sales Cliff
taxin 1976. The Department constructed nature centers,
fishing lakes, wetlands, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, electrical, and mechanical engineers, as well an archi-
trails, river and lake public use access areas and associ- tect and drafting technicians, produce construction
ated infrastructure so that that the public could make drawings of the design.
better use of these areas. Also, the Conservation Department’s contract spe-
In designing these public use facilities, the Department’s cialist and clerical staff have to prepare final contract
Design & Development staff worked closely with resource documents for bidding, and contract supervisors would
managers and biologists to acquire a good understanding ensure quality construction by the carpenters and heavy
of the biological functions of a project. They then designed equipment operators.
projects that remained in harmony with the environment The list of those involved behind the scenes in provid-
and enhanced the area’s natural resources. ing quality conservation facilities is nearly endless. I
Several Design & Development projects have won hon- haven’t even brought up the dedicated employees who
ors in national conservation engineering design competi- mow, pick up trash, grade roads and parking lots, clean
tion in recent years. These projects include the innovative boat-launching ramps, remedy acts of vandalism, repair
designs of the wetlands at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area infrastructure, clean and maintain public facilities, or
near Columbia and Four Rivers Conservation Area in those who work to enhance fish and wildlife habitat on
Vernon County and the unique design of the Lost Valley conservation areas.
Fish Hatchery at Warsaw, the largest sport fish restoration The next time you are enjoying Missouri’s beautiful
project in the country. conservation areas and facilities, give a thought to the
Lots of Conservation Department staff members con- many people behind the scenes who have contributed to
tribute their work and expertise to creating facilities on your enjoyment of the great outdoors.
conservation areas.
Most jobs for example, require land surveyors to
complete topographic mapping of the site before civil, Carter Campbell,Administrative Services Division Administrator
c2 Missouri Conservationist
Contents
July 2004
Volume 65,Issue 7
4 A ROADMAP TO MORE QUAIL
—By Elsa Gallagher
Good habitat is the key to more quail—
if you create it,they will come.
8 CARP LEMONADE
—By Duane Chapman
Exotic carp are taking over our rivers,
but the good news is that
4 8
they make excellent table fare.
14 MISSOURI’S SILENT THIEF
—By Chris Bove’
Sericea lezpedeza reneged on its
promises and has become a noxious weed.
18 REGENERATING OAKS IN
MISSOURI’S BOTTOMLAND FORESTS
—By Dan Dey and John Kabrick
Bottomland oaks are strong and
productive—once you get them started.
23 CATFISH IN MINIATURE
—By Mark Goodwin
14
Prickly,but pleasant,madtoms
reside in many Missouri streams.
DEPARTMENTS
Reflections 2
News & Almanac 28
COVER
Snowy egret and horned rush
Photograph by Jim Rathert
18 23 Printed on recycled paper with soy ink.
Contact Us: Web page:http://www.missouriconservation.org
Subscriptions:free to adult Missouri residents;
out of state $7 per year;out of country $10 per year.
Send correspondence to Circulation,P.O.Box 180,Jefferson City,MO 65102-0180.
Phone:[phone],ext.3856 or 3249
E-mail General Questions:[email protected]
E-mail Magazine Subscriptions:[email protected]
July 2004 1
Reflections
as a physician and a nature enthusiast.I
TRASH COLLECTOR used a marker to make a sign on the
have even put up a bat house in the
Reading “Stash That Trash!”in your guard rail that said,“The river is not a
past but am concerned about liability
May magazine reminded me of the trash can.Please pick up your junk.”
with its location because human rabies
time when my family and I were About a week later,I went by there
is attributed to bats more than any
camping on the Chariton River.In the and was heartbroken when I found
other animal.Granted,rabies is rare in
evening we heard lots of vehicles and someone had intentionally thrown a
the U.S.(32 human cases from 1990 to
voices coming from the bridge not far pile of trash right under the sign.
2000),but it is fatal once it develops.
away.The people there were evidently Some people just don’t get it.
The Center for Disease Control rec-
having a party Calvin Teeter,Salisbury
ommends exposure to a bat in a home
The next morning,my son,my
be evaluated by a physician for prophy-
daughter and I spent 20 minutes pick- BAT CARE
laxis (treatment to keep rabies from
ing up bottles and cans from under the Reading “Stocking Your Bat House the
developing).Bites by bats may be minor
bridge.I found a piece of cardboard and Hard Way”brings mixed reactions to me
or not recognized.Any scratch or bite
possibly from a bat needs treatment
unless the bat is proven to not have
rabies.Bats should not be handled by
untrained and unvaccinated people or
kept as pets.Bats should be excluded
from houses and adjacent structures to
prevent direct association with humans.
It may be of value to your readers to
be aware that bat houses should be
kept remote from human locations and
of the precautions that should be used
with respect to bats.
George Kerkemeyer,M.D.,Hannibal
SNAKES ALIVE!
Thank you for your excellent article on
water snakes (“Cottonmouth Confu-
sion”).We live on a lake and my wife
refuses to go into the water because
she saw a snake swimming near shore
last summer.Hopefully,the article will
lessen her fear,and we can enjoy the
lake once again.
Larry Vaughn,Ste.Genevieve
CANINE AFFECTION
I am not much of a hunter and have
never been duck hunting,but I would
like to say kudos to Mark Goodwin for a
wonderful story,and more kudos to Cliff
White for the wonderful photos,espe-
Regality! cially the one on page 23.This one
Donna Plybon of Lincoln,Missouri,sent in this photo of an eagle on its nest in a tall leaped right out at me and made me
sycamore tree on Cole Camp Creek.Her brother-in-law,Bryan Maine of Lake Forest, believe from the look in the dog’s eyes
California,took the photo while visiting her.He took the photo in April.According that he is waiting for his master to give
to Donna,the same eagle used the nest last year. him a big hug and hear the words,“I love
2 Missouri Conservationist
MISSOURI
CONSERVATIONIST
you,”and the command to Fetch or Back. going to provide big boosts in employ-
I have a stray that came to me 10 ment and economic growth to the “dis-
years ago,a 17-pound part terrier,and I advantaged”county that it was in.I GOVERNOR Bob Holden
know when she needs a hug,and she guess whoever put the plan together THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Stephen C.Bradford
knows just when to come and lay down didn’t realize that campers generally
Anita B.Gorman
by my side. bring everything they need with them, Cynthia Metcalfe
Lowell Mohler
Bud Allen,Fredericktown including groceries,gas,etc.
DIRECTOR John Hoskins
Maybe with some creative thinking a
DEPUTY DIRECTOR John W.Smith
DAM AFTERTHOUGHTS mile or so of shoreline could have been
DEPUTY DIRECTOR Stephen J.Wilson
The Clarence Cannon Dam is a good placed in something like a “trade-free ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR Denise Garnier
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR Robert Ziehmer
thing.Ditto for Mark Twain Lake,as you zone,”allowing at least hotel and resort INTERNAL AUDITOR Robbie B.Briscoe
GENERAL COUNSEL Craig Evans
say in your article.However,the dam interests to be on the water with large
and lake did miss some important marinas. DIVISIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Carter Campbell
objectives.One was that the lake was Jim Hagan,Ellisville FISHERIES Steve Eder
FORESTRY Bob Krepps
HUMANRESOURCES Debbie Goff
The letters printed here reflect readers’opinions about the Conservationist and its contents. OUTREACH & EDUCATION Lorna Domke
PRIVATE LAND SERVICES Lisa G.Allen
Space limitations prevent us from printing all letters,but we welcome signed comments PROTECTION Dennis Steward
RESOURCE SCIENCE Dale D.Humburg
from our readers.Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
WILDLIFE Dave Erickson
REGIONAL OFFICES
Ask the Ombudsman Cape Girardeau/Southeast—573/290-5730
Columbia/Central—573/884-6861
Kansas City—816/655-6250
Kirksville/Northeast—660/785-2420
Springfield/Southwest—417/895-6880
Q:Pines and spruce trees grow in northeast Missouri. St.Joseph/Northwest—816/271-3100
St.Louis—636/441-4554
Why won’t they reproduce here?
West Plains/Ozark—417/256-7161
CONSERVATIONIST STAFF
A:Although these non-native trees may grow well in Mis- EDITOR Tom Cwynar
MANAGING EDITOR Bryan Hendricks
souri,most require special conditions for seeds to germi-
ART EDITOR Ara Clark
nate and survive.For example,blue spruce needs a bare mineral ARTIST Dave Besenger
ARTIST Mark Raithel
soil to sprout.Your area—in fact,most of Missouri—doesn’t have PHOTOGRAPHER Jim Rathert
mineral soil.Many of the pine and spruce trees are likely hybrids that don’t produce PHOTOGRAPHER Cliff White
STAFF WRITER JimLow
viable seeds.Even if they were viable,well manicured lawns beneath these ornamen- STAFF WRITER Joan Mckee
CIRCULATION Laura Scheuler
tals prevent the seeds from reaching bare soil.Other conifers require fire to start their
reproductive process.
The Missouri Conservationist(ISSN 0026-6515) is the official monthly
To produce trees from seeds,you’ll probably have your best success with native publication of the Missouri Department of Conservation,2901 West Tru-
manBoulevard,Jefferson City,MO (Mailing address:P.O.Box 180,
species.For additional information have a look at the US Department of Agricul- Jefferson City,MO 65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents;
out of state $7 per year;out of country $10 per year.Notification of
ture’s Handbook 654,The Silvics of North America.You may be able to find it at your address change must include both old and new address (send mailing
label with the subscriber number on it) with 60-day notice.Preferred
local library,or on the web at <www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/ periodical postagepaid at Jefferson City,Mo.,and at additional entry
offices.Postmaster:Send correspondence to Circulation,P.O.Box 180,
table_of_contents.htm>. Jefferson City,MO 65102-0180.Phone:[phone].Copyright © 2003
by the ConservationCommission of the State of Missouri.
Grow Native is a program that promotes native wildflowers and plants,including
native trees.For details on this program,go to <www.grownative.org/> or contact
your local Conservation Department office.
The Conservation Department also provides seedling trees from the George O.
White nursery for a nominal fee from mid-November through the end of April.For
details please see www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/nursery/ or contact your local Depart-
ment office during that time frame.
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the
Missouri Department of Conservation is available to all individuals with-
Ombudsman Ken Drenon will respond to your questions,suggestions or complaints out regard to their race,color,national origin,sex,age or disability.Com-
plaints of discrimination should be sent to the Department of Conser-
concerning Conservation Department programs.Write him at P.O.Box 180,Jefferson vation,P.O.Box 180,Jefferson City,MO 65102,OR U.S.Fish & Wildlife Ser-
vice,18th and “C”Streets NW,Washington D.C.20240,
City,MO 65102-0180,call him at 573/522-4115,ext.3848,or e-mail him at
Missouri Relay Center —1-800-735-2966 (TDD).
<[email protected]>. Printed in USA
July 2004 3
4 Missouri Conservationist
A
Roadmap
to
More Quail
by Elsa Gallagher,photos byJim Rathert
M
issourians naturally associate quail with open lands and brushy draws,
fencerows and crop field edges. However, these types of habitat are
disappearing from the Missouri landscape. With them, we stand to
lose a rich tradition that includes days afield,exciting flushes,hard-hunting dogs
and delicious meals of quail.
Quail habitat in Missouri has decreased dra- N they play an important role in restoring quail
matically in past decades as cedars and honey populations in Missouri. Landowners willing to
locusts relentlessly invaded valuable open land. devote 5 to 10 percent of their property to quail
In addition, a diversified landscape is slowly management will often see an immediate
being replaced by urban developments, larger crop- response of higher quail numbers.
fields and pastures dominated by fescue and
brome. These choke out the forbs, legumes and Quail Allies
bare ground necessary for quail survival. One influential group looking out for quail is the
Landscapes often change so slowly it’s hard to Southeast Quail Study Group (SEQSG). This
notice differences. It’s likely, however, that partnership, formed in 1995, includes more than
fencerows that held quail in your grandfather’s 100 wildlife professionals from state and federal
day have grown from shrubby, connected islands agencies, universities and private organizations.
with ample bare ground between 50- to 60-year- To address the conservation and manage-
old pole-and-sawlog timber with a dense under- ment needs of northern bobwhite, the SEQSG
story of fescue or brome. Over time, large parts developed the Northern Bobwhite Conserva-
of the landscape have become quail deserts. tion Initiative. The NBCI is a landscape-scale
Habitat that supports quail also sustains a vari- habitat restoration plan, the first plan to
ety of other birds. Many of these, including the Bell's vireo, address habitat needs of bobwhite throughout most of
dickcissel, grasshopper sparrow, Henslow's sparrow, logger- their historic range.
head shrike, Bewick’s wren, field sparrow and brown The goal of the NBCI is to increase quail density on
thrasher, also have experienced drastic population declines. improvable acres to that which existed in the 1980s. The
Fortunately, farmers and landowners are learning that plan is modeled on the successful North American
July 2004 5
Waterfowl Management Plan, the Partners in Flight pro- Finally, the strategy targets rangeland improvement
gram, and the North American Bird Conservation Initia- through vegetation management and grazing regimes
tive. It's also designed to dovetail cooperatively with that favor the retention and improvement of native plant
other existing bird management plans. communities.
The NBCI has identified three general strategies that will To meet the goals of the Northern Bobwhite Conser-
help increase quail and associated songbird populations. vation Initiative, Missouri will have to produce habitat to
The first involves increasing the amount and improv- support an additional 206,432 coveys of quail. That task
ing the quality of agricultural lands for nesting, brood- appears daunting, but it is possible. Quail do not require
rearing and roosting by bobwhites and other grassland huge expanses of habitat, and local populations respond
wildlife species. This is best accomplished by conserva- quickly to beneficial land management.
tion plantings of native warm season grasses, shrubs To reverse the downward trend in bobwhite abundance
and forbs. and bobwhite-related recreation in Missouri, the Conserva-
They’re also aiming toward better management of tion Department has developed a plan called “Strategic
pinelands and mixed pine-hardwood areas. This would Guidance for Northern Bobwhite Recovery.” The plan
involve thinning, controlled burning, site preparation addresses quail needs on conservation areas and on private
and, where possible, increasing the acreage devoted to land. It can be found at <www.missouriconservation.org>.
longleaf pine. The plan’s goal is for a fall bobwhite density of one
Habitat that supports quail also sustains a variety of other birds.
Quail habitat also benefits (clockwise from upper left) Bewick’s wrens,dickcissels,Bell’s vireos and loggerhead shrikes.
6 Missouri Conservationist
Providing a habitat mosaic that includes open woodlands with edge cover will result in more quail.
bird per two acres on select conservation areas. To Department controls management on less than 3 per-
achieve this, the Department is increasing early-succes- cent of the Missouri landscape, the fate of the northern
sional vegetation management on these areas. bobwhite in the state will be decided on private land.
In addition, the Quail and Grassland Bird Leadership To help landowners develop quality quail habitat, the
Council has been formed with the goal of increasing Department offers one-on-one consulting services and
early successional habitat in support of quail and other access to several programs, including the Quail Habitat
grassland species. Initiative, a partnership with Quail Unlimited, and
Improving habitat is the key to restoring quail and increased habitat management on CRP land with CRP-
other grassland species. In most cases, bobwhite quail BOB cost-share, as well as a basic cost-share program for
habitat can be created or enhanced with some combina- landowners without CRP.
tion of discing, burning, brushpile building, edge feather- The Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative has
ing, spraying and shrub planting. helped the Department include quail management into
The Conservation Department is committed to our planning and made it easier to integrate all-bird con-
improving habitat on conservation areas and assisting servation into these efforts. Hopefully, the result will be a
private landowners to improve their land for bobwhite greater abundance of open land bird species, and, of
quail and other grassland species. However, because the course, more bobwhite quail. ▲
July 2004 7
8 Missouri Conservationist