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CAPE GIRARDEAU, 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 Crowley’s Ridge Conservation Area (CA) and Hawn and Old Plantation Accesses are important to Missourians. These management plans are open for public review until March 31.
Crowleys Ridge Conservation Area is 1,878 acres of woodland, grassland, open land, forest, old field, savanna, open water, infrastructure, and wetlands in Stoddard County. There is one designated camping area and six fishing ponds available for public use.
Hawn Access is 81 acres of forest, open land, and open water in Bollinger County. Old Plantation Access is 70 acres of open land, forest, old field, and infrastructure in Cape Girardeau County. These areas are managed to provide stream access to Crooked Creek and Whitewater River while maintaining appropriate riparian corridors.
MDC invites comments from recreational users, neighboring landowners, conservation groups, elected officials, government agencies, and other interested persons or groups. To make a comment on this area plan, go online to www.mdc.mo.gov/areaplans.
MDC manages nearly 1,000 conservation areas covering almost one million public acres throughout the state for the purpose of restoring and conserving fish, forest and wildlife resources, and for providing appropriate public use, research and demonstration areas.
Conservation Area Management Plans document strategies for natural resource management and public use on specific conservation areas. Area plans also help communicate an area’s purpose and management direction to staff and interested citizens.
“It’s important that citizens have a chance to provide their input to their conservation areas,” said Matt Bowyer, MDC’s Southeast Region Wildlife Supervisor. “We provide a service by managing these areas and we strive to develop quality habitat to promote wildlife health as well as outdoor opportunities for Missourians.”
Conservation Area Management 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.
Area plans are currently posted on the MDC website and available at MDC offices for public comment for a limited time.
The enjoyments of activities on MDC conservation areas help enrich Missourians’ quality of life. For more information on area plan comment periods go online to www.mdc.mo.gov/areaplans.
