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Missouri Prairie Foundation

–January 24: Application Cycle Deadline for 2025 MPF Prairie Garden Grants Program

 

Ozark Society

(see flyer, click here)

The Ozark Society is a non-profit organization established in Arkansas in 1962 to protect the Buffalo

River and its surrounding wilderness area from development, thus allowing it to remain a free-flowing

and scenic river. Today, the Ozark Society continues to advocate for conservation of natural resources,

preservation of scenic places, and environmental education.

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The Youth Grant Program (K through 12th grade) was initiated in 2020. The purpose of this program is to

support youth engagement and participation in conservation and environmental education projects.

Since inception, the program has awarded a total of $53,000 to 33 projects with 7,500 youth

participants from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

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Who are beneficiaries of Youth Grants? Grants from $500 - $3,000 are awarded to conservation and

environmental programs in schools or small non-profit organizations from any region in which there is an

active Ozark Society Chapter including central and northwest Arkansas, Springfield Missouri and north

Louisiana

What types of projects are awarded? Proposals should focus on some aspect of conservation or

environmental education, which aligns with principles of the Ozark Society. Examples of more specific

focus for a project are: water quality/stream restoration, preservation of wild spaces or natural

resources, native plant gardens and native tree projects, habitat restoration, sustainability projects,

enhancement of access to nature, and unique/innovative projects that address local environmental

problems.

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Ozarks Clean Fuels Coalition
Electric Vehicles for Municipalities Workshop, 

February 12, 8 am-1 pm,

Darr Agricultural Center Ballroom, 2401 S Kansas Expy, Springfield, MO

 

RSVP by email: ocfc@missouristate.edu

 

Is your municipality interested in using electric vehicles and implementing electric vehicle charging stations. but you still want more information on the benefits, challenges, and available resources? This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools to assist you in your efforts. Hear from experts on the latest technologies, best practices and regional resources to support your community.

 

MO PSC Paint Workgroup 

Rotunda Tabling:
Nadja will be at the State Capitol, tabling at the Rotunda on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 9am – 12pm! (Address: 201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101). Please let us know if you are able to join! Angie Gehlert (angie@mora.org) 
 

Updated Resources:
Below are the updated flier, FAQs, and fact sheet for MO Paint Stewardship. Both the flier and fact sheet are great for general audiences, while the FAQs document goes into more detail about paint stewardship.
Please share these resources with anyone who you think might be interested and would benefit from this information! 

BRINGING PAINT STEWARDSHIP TO MISSOURI - SB239

SB 239: PAINT STEWARDSHIP FAQS
PAINT COLLECTIONS 

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Annual Tree Health Update

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Springfield Nature Center, 9-11:30 am

See the flyer (Click here) for information regarding the upcoming Annual Tree Health Update, presented by MDC Forest Health Specialist, Robbie Doerhoff. Robbie will be giving a recap of the challenges our trees are currently facing, and insights into future forest health pests, pathogens, and climatic events that could impact our local tree canopy.
        2.0 ISA CEUs and 2.0 SAF CFEs have been requested for the presentation.
        Registration is required by calling 417-895-6880. There is no fee to enroll.

 

SW Missouri Local Government Briefings

 

2025 Earth Day Festival, Springfield, MO. Earth Day Festival tickets are now on sale! FLYER

Find more details at https://www.earthdayspringfieldmo.org/

#earthdayfestival #sierrahull #caseyandtheattaboys #ozarksbelladonna #sgfmo

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​​​​​​Missouri Butterflies, host plants and Caterpillars

Go here to see a great poster of common butterflies and their caterpillars!

 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

 

Watershed Center of the Ozarks

James River Basin Partnership

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Children and Nature Network

 

Springfield Community Resource Guide

 

EPA

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Dish to Dirt Program

Read to find out how to subscribe and see what events are coming up.  Learn about composting, free workshops and more! Click HERE.

The Ozarks Clean Air Alliance (OCAA)  Go HERE to find out more. and the Clean Air Action Plan

 

White River Sierra Club

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The Schoolcraft Ozarks Society

Dark Sky Missouri (Click here for more information)

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Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA)

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Missouri Recycles (MORA)  

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Check out what can be recycled at Staples. https://www.staples.com/stores/recycling

 

​​​​Ozark Soul

Ozark Riverways Foundation
Ozarks Greenways

Missouri Department of Conservation

MDC Notable News from 2024

Keep up with MDC news at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) had an assortment of notable news during 2024 including new leadership, new state records, awards, renovations, regulation changes, and more. See the news highlights below and follow the links for more information and images.

 

FAREWELL AND WELCOMES

MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley announced her retirement in January (effective July 1) after a 30-year career in public service that began as a policy coordinator at MDC and ended as the first female director of the agency when she took the position in November 2016. Read more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-director-sara-parker-pauley-announces-retirement-after-decades-long-career-public.

MDC welcomed Jason Sumners as the new director of MDC in June. Sumners served as the MDC deputy director of Resource Management before being named director by the Conservation Commission. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/conservation-commission-names-jason-sumners-director-missouri-department-conservation

Also in June, MDC welcomed Laura Conlee as its new Deputy Director of Resource Management and Andrew Bond as new Deputy Director of Business and Operations. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-names-laura-conlee-andrew-bond-deputy-directors.

MDC welcomed 89 new staff members in 2024. MDC is still hiring and has positions open around the state. Find more about MDC job openings at jobs.mdc.mo.gov/.

MDC welcomed a new 160-acre conservation area in Dade County after the Conservation Commission approved the acquisition in February. The new area will be named the Dr. Harry and Lina Berrier Memorial Tract to Sons Creek Conservation Area. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/recent-land-acquisition-adds-valuable-acres-mdc-grassland-focus-area-dade-county.

MDC and just about everyone in Missouri “welcomed” millions and millions of red-eyed buzzing bugs this spring after mass emergences of millions of periodical cicadas. Staff around the state hosted a variety of programs and events focusing on these unique insects. Learn more from the MDC Wild Webcast at youtube.com/watch?v=NU8w18EvI4c.

 

CONGRATULATIONS

MDC's George O. White State Forest Nursery celebrated 90 years of operations in Aprilwith a public open house, tours, and educational programs and activities. Nursery staff grow about 2.25 million seedlings at the 100-acre nursery each year. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdcs-george-o-white-state-forest-nursery-celebrates-90-years-april-6

MDC helped celebrate 35 years of Missouri Stream Teams in July. The Missouri Stream Team Program is a volunteer-led effort to conserve Missouri streams. Sponsored by MDC, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the program focuses on education, stewardship, and advocacy for Missouri stream resources. Learn more at https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/celebrate-35-years-missouri-stream-teams-july-27-meramec-state-park.

MDC helped celebrate Smokey Bear's 80th birthday in 2024 through special activities at nature centers and at the Missouri State Fair and regional fairs around the state. Learn more at .fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/smokey-bear-legend-legends-80-years-and-counting.

The Missouri Conservation Commission and MDC awarded their Master Conservationist award posthumously to former MDC staff person John Wylie in July. Wylie is the 68th person to receive the award. Read more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-honors-john-wylie-missouri-master-conservationist

MDC staff celebrated Peanut the Turtle’s 40th birthday with a public celebration in August at Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/celebrate-peanut-turtles-40th-birthday-public-celebration-august-24-powder-valley-nature.

Congratulations and thank you from MDC and the Missouri Community Forestry Council to Stan Stevens, the City of Branson, Rockhurst University, and St. Louis Municipal Opera Theater (The Muny) for being outstanding stewards of our community trees and receiving the 2024 Missouri Arbor Awards of Excellence. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/missourians-recognized-making-trees-work-their-communities-0.

The Missouri Conservation Commission and MDC honored retired MDC employee George Seek of Meadville with their Master Conservationist Award in October. Seek worked for MDC for more than 30 years, retiring as chief of the Private Lands Division. Read more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-honors-george-seek-master-conservationist-award.

Congratulations to MDC Conservation Agent Susan Swem on being named the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Missouri Wildlife Officer of the Year for 2024. More at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/long-time-mdc-conservation-agent-wins-state-nwtf-award.

 

FISHING FEATS

Congratulations to Jeffrey Needles of Lake Lotawana for catching the first state-record of 2024 in January – a 12-ounce yellow perch from Lake Lotawana. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/jackson-county-angler-swipes-first-state-record-fish-2024.

Congratulations to Chad Williams of Olathe, Kansas for snagging a 164-pound, 13-ounce paddlefish at the Lake of the Ozarks in March. The fish not only broke the previous state record of 140 pounds, but also the previous world record of 164 pounds. Read more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/angler-snags-world-record-paddlefish-during-snagging-season-opening-weekend.

George Chance of Festus broke a state record after catching a massive 97-pound bighead carp from the Mississippi River in March. The previous pole-and-line state record was an 80-pound fish caught from the Lake of the Ozarks in 2004. More at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/missouri-angler-catches-world-record-sized-bighead-carp

Congratulations to Frank Reynolds of Linn on becoming a state-record holder under alternative methods for grass carp after he shot a 74-pound, 2-ounce carp from a private pond in August. More at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/osage-county-man-named-state-record-holder-under-alternative-methods-grass-carp

Ryan Young of Buffalo became a new state-record holder when he reeled in a 55-pound, 9-ounce black buffalo in October. More at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/new-state-record-black-buffalo-caught-stockton-lake.

 

POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS

MDC again invited people to celebrate the value of Missouri trees and forests during Arbor Days in April with the Arbor Day Foundation by planting native trees and practicing proper tree care. More at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/celebrate-native-trees-mdc-through-arbor-days-april.

MDC partnered with the Missouri Invasive Plant Council, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, and Forrest Keeling Nursery to host a “buyback” program in April for invasive callery pear trees. Missourians with callery pear trees on their properties were encouraged to cut them down and get free, native trees in return. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-partners-moip-2024-callery-pear-buyback-events

In August, the City of Ozark teamed with MDC and other groups to open the new Garrison Springs Community Forest. The nearly 10-acre tract, located within the city near the heart of Ozark’s downtown, includes an ADA-approved trail, an unpaved trail that leads to a scenic lookout, and an onsite structure that will be opened as an educational center in the future. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/new-urban-forest-cooperative-effort-between-city-ozark-mdc-other-partners.

MDC joined Columbia Public Schools in August for the grand opening of the Boone County Nature School. The collaborative effort between MDC and Columbia Public Schools provides a new 8,230-square-foot building with four nature-themed classrooms, lab space, nature and student-related lobby exhibits, and offices. The building and associated grounds serve students from all six Boone County school districts through unique “place-based” education as well as the public through special conservation-related programming. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-columbia-public-schools-invite-public-grand-opening-boone-county-nature-school-aug-23.

MDC and conservation partners finished the third year of reintroducing brown-headed nuthatches in the Missouri Ozarks. Partnerships were key in making this conservation effort possible and involved nearly a dozen state, federal, and non-government organizations that came together to capture, translocate, and release the birds. Read more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-partners-finish-third-round-brown-headed-nuthatch-reintroduction.

MDC worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to remove more than 43,000 pounds of invasive carp from portions of the Lamine River. More at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-successfully-removes-over-43000-pounds-invasive-carp-lamine-river.

 

RENOVATIONS

MDC completed and opened its pump-station project at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area in Vernon County in July. It was the first of three phases in a long-planned wetland and lake renovation. The project will improve the area’s wetlands for a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds, and it will improve Schell Lake for fishing. These changes will enhance opportunities for waterfowl hunters, birders, wildlife watchers, and anglers. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/schell-osage-ca/schell-osage-updates.

MDC began extensive renovations to its headquarters in Jefferson City last summer. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-begins-construction-preparations-commission-headquarters-jefferson-city.

MDC completed and opened a new pump station and drainage system at Fountain Grove Conservation Area in Livingston County in October. The project was the second phase at Fountain Grove and part of MDC’s Golden Anniversary Wetland Renovation program. Renovations include three new electric pumps and a new drainage structure on the west side of the area. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-commemorates-new-pump-station-fountain-grove-conservation-area-ribbon-cutting-oct-24.

The Conservation Commission approved renovation work of Schell Lake in Schell City in October. The project is part of phase-two renovations of the MDC Schell-Osage Conservation Area Golden Anniversary Wetland Renovation project. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-starting-renovation-projects-schell-lake-eagle-bluffs.

The Commission also approved construction of the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area Pump Station Flood Repairs project in Boone County in October. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-starting-renovation-projects-schell-lake-eagle-bluffs.

MDC's new Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center in Branson opened to the public in December and features a 7,500-gallon indoor aquarium, new exhibits, a larger lobby than the previous facility, larger restrooms, and more office space. Learn more at   mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdcs-shepherd-hills-conservation-education-center-opens-public-dec-19.

To learn more about the Missouri Master Naturalist Program and how to get involved, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/missouri-master-naturalist/missouri-master-naturalist-overview/faq-about-missouri-master-naturalist