“Historically, this region of west-central Missouri contained extensive wetlands associated with the upper Osage River drainage basin,” said DU Lands Specialist George Seek. “This restoration project has reestablished a portion of the lost wetlands and will benefit waterfowl by providing reliable food resources.”

 

Participating Partners in the Truman Lake Wetland Restoration Project (photo taken 5/24/06 by Gene Gardner, Missouri Department of Conservation)

From left to right:  front row   Deputy Lt. Colonel Kelly Butler (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Chris Woodson (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), Richard Spring (Kansas City Power & Light Co.), Jerry Wade (Audubon Society of Missouri), Wayne Lovelace (Forrest Keeling Nursery); second row   Bob Marchi (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), John Hoskins (Director, Missouri Department of Conservation), Lowell Mohler (Chairman, Missouri Conservation Commission), George Seek (Ducks Unlimited, Inc.), K. C. Newby (Agri Drain Corp.), Bob Suddarth (Forrest Keeling Nursery), James Kiely (Aquila); back four   Senator Delbert Scott, Jim Gulliford (EPA Regional Administrator), Kelly Kiefer (Sharp Brothers Seed Company), and Norm Stucky (Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation).

The project lands provide resting and foraging areas in the spring and fall for migratory waterfowl including northern pintail, gadwall, green-winged teal and mallards. Resident wood ducks nest and raise broods in the Truman Lake area and will use the restored wetlands to support their needs.

DU and its partners conducted restoration on nine sites within the flood basin of the Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir. Wetlands on several sites were restored using a technique that created gradual contours on the land by scouring shallow areas and forming raised mounds throughout the marsh. Partners planted mast producing trees on some of the mounds and allowed natural wetland plants to grow on the slopes and scours throughout the wetland.

“This contoured marsh, when flooded, will create a variety of water depths,” said DU Director of Conservation Programs for Missouri Dr. Scott Manley. “Varying water depths will encourage growth of a diversity of natural wetland plants, which in turn will produce a diversity of food and shelter resources for wildlife.”

Partners included North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Agri Drain Corporation, Audubon Society of Missouri, DBY Specialties, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Kansas City Power and Light Company, Missouri Waterfowl Association, Sharp Brothers Seed Company, Women’s Conservation Club, Grand Slam Waterfowl and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

All wetland sites are on land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the MDC will manage the properties. Some areas will be open to the public for recreation including wildlife viewing and hunting.

In Washington, D.C., DU Governmental Affairs staff works with Congress to support annual funding for NAWCA and continue the program’s waterfowl conservation success. The Truman Lake project is within and will benefit the congressional district of Representative Ike Skelton who has been supportive of increased funding for NAWCA. Missouri senators, Christopher "Kit" Bond and Jim Talent, have also been supportive of NAWCA funding.

Since 1990, NAWCA has provided $12 million in funding for 16 conservation projects on nearly 75,000 acres in Missouri. Many partners, including state agencies, private landowners, corporations and other non-government organizations have worked together to conserve wildlife habitat through NAWCA grants.

A ceremony to recognize the partners and celebrate completion of the project will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 10 a.m. at the Dehn Wetland Restoration Site. Contact Jennifer Kross for information (601-956-1936).

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands ­- nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

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