2020 harmony mission lake and peabody conservation …...in 1984, mdc bought the 1,080-acre area,...

DRAFT Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas

25-Year Area Management Plan FY 2020-2044

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https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=317584


2020 Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas Management Plan

OVERVIEW

Area Name Area Number

Year Acquired

Acreage County Administrative Responsibility

Maintenance Responsibility

Harmony Mission Lake Conservation Area (CA)

8206 1982 1,080 Bates Wildlife Wildlife

Peabody CA 6405 1964 299 Bates Wildlife Wildlife Statements of Purpose:

A. Strategic Direction Protect, restore, and manage fish, forest, and wildlife habitats, while providing public use opportunities for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

B. Desired Future Condition The desired future condition is a complex of reconstructed grasslands, old fields, and crop fields, emphasizing habitat for small game and non-game grassland species, as well as lake and strip pits to provide fishing opportunities for public use.

C. Federal Aid Statement N/A

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS

I. Special Considerations Area Name Priority Areas Natural Areas Harmony Mission Lake CA None None Peabody CA None None

II. Important Natural Features and Resources Area Name Species of Conservation

Concern High Quality Natural

Communities Caves Springs

Harmony Mission Lake CA

None None None None

Peabody CA None None None None III. Existing Infrastructure Area Name Parking

Areas Boat Ramps Privy Ponds/Lakes Other


5 1 concrete boat ramp

11 96-acre fishing lake

Floating fishing dock1, 2 primitive

camping areas Peabody CA 6 3 gravel boat

launches 0 6 fishable strip pits

(23 acres total) 2 primitive

camping areas 1Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible


IV. Area Restrictions or Limitations Area Name Deed

Restrictions Federal Interest

Ease-ments

Cultural Resources

Endangered Species

Boundary Issues


None Yes1 None None known

None observed

None

Peabody CA None Yes1 Yes2 None known

None observed

None

1Federal funds may be used in the management of this land. Fish and wildlife agencies may not allow recreational activities and related facilities that would interfere with the purpose for which the State is managing the land. Other uses may be acceptable and must be assessed in each specific situation. 2Missouri Department of Transportation possesses an easement to stockpile road materials.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

V. Terrestrial Resource Management Considerations

Management emphasis is placed on maintaining, restoring, and protecting (where possible) grassland habitats that support grassland birds and other upland species, as well as a healthy watershed. Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Habitat was originally established using an older quail model, which led to woody invasion.

2) Invasive species are present on the area. 3) Grasslands were originally reconstructed on cropland, mostly using cultivars of

native grasses. Stands are too dense and with low species diversity. 4) Strategic habitat management can minimize sedimentation in Harmony Mission

Lake.

Management Objective 1: Reduce woody encroachment as Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) priorities, staff time, and budget allows.

Strategy 1: Eliminate narrow strips between small crop fields to reduce predator corridors which are detrimental to ground nesting wildlife. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Reduce invasive woody species, such as autumn olive, in open grasslands using prescribed fire, mechanical removal, and herbicide application. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 2: Reduce invasive plant species as MDC priorities and staff time allows.


Strategy 1: Reduce fescue through chemical treatments and prescribed fire. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Chemically treat sericea lespedeza in grassland areas so that it is not detrimental to overall usable habitat for grassland birds. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 3: Manage grasslands to provide habitat for grassland species.

Strategy 1: Reduce litter and grass stand density with prescribed fire and other appropriate management strategies such as mechanical, grazing, or chemical treatment. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Expand larger grassland areas by planting native species, as budget allows. (Wildlife) Strategy 3: Inter-seed forbs as seed availability and/or budget allows. (Wildlife)

VI. Aquatic Resource Management Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities: 1) The presence of aquatic invasive species has been a management concern in the

past. Continued monitoring and management of invasive species will occur in Harmony Mission Lake.

2) Hybrid-striped bass are a popular alternative sportfish. Monitoring for good hybrid-striped bass is difficult with standard sampling gear. If reports of low numbers and size from anglers arise, more research and management will be required.

Objective 1: Increase fishing opportunities at the area. Strategy 1: Periodically (every three years) assess sportfish populations. Use supplemental stocking and regulation changes to manage sportfish populations, when appropriate. Fish species to be included in the lake are largemouth bass, bluegill, red-ear sunfish, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass. (Fisheries) Strategy 2: Encourage public use by ensuring boat ramp, privy, and fishing dock are in serviceable condition. (Wildlife and Fisheries)

Objective 2: Actively manage Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody CA strip pits with best management practices and natural community conservation to benefit a diversity of aquatic species.


Strategy 1: Protect water quality and fish habitat in the lake and strip pits by following MDC’s Watershed and Stream Management Guidelines for Lands and Waters Managed by Missouri Department of Conservation (Missouri Department of Conservation, 2009) and MDC’s Resource Policy Manual to ensure that all management activities adhere to best management practices. (Wildlife, Fisheries, Design and Development) Strategy 2: Evaluate all stream corridors for streambank stability and appropriate vegetation cover. (Wildlife) Strategy 3: Ensure a 100-foot wide riparian corridor along all streams with identifiable channels is protected from disturbance. (Wildlife)

Objective 3: Control invasive aquatic vegetation in priority fishing ponds or lakes on these areas.

Strategy 1: Minimize presence of invasive aquatic plants, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, in all area impoundments, using judicious application of aquatic herbicides. (Wildlife and Fisheries) Strategy 2: Conduct annual inspections of all area impoundments to observe any aquatic invasive species that may appear and control or eradicate using best control methods. (Wildlife, Fisheries)

VII. Public Use Management Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities: 1) Both areas experience high public use at times. Maintaining existing parking lots

and roads is a priority to provide access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. 2) Both areas experience periodic vandalism, including damage to infrastructure and

trash dumping, particularly at the privy. 3) Dove hunting is a popular activity on the area. Reduced dove hunting

opportunities on surrounding areas may increase pressure and demand at these areas for more acres of managed dove fields.

Management Objective 1: Maintain areas to provide hunting, fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Strategy 1: Maintain adequate signage, parking lots, and service roads throughout the areas to invite public use. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Maintain boat launches, foot-paths, privy, and the fishing dock to encourage fishing activities. (Wildlife)

Management Objective 2: Continue to monitor for vandalism and evaluate infrastructure.


Strategy 1: Monitor and report vandalism. (Wildlife, Fisheries, Protection, Design and Development) Strategy 2: Track occurrences of vandalism and trash dumping at privy. Explore options to minimize both. (Wildlife, Fisheries, Protection, Design and Development)

Management Objective 3: Provide fields managed for dove hunting at or near current levels.

Strategy 1: Continue to plant sunflower fields to provide dove habitat and hunting opportunities, utilizing staff and/or a permittee farmer as time and MDC priorities allow. (Wildlife)

VIII. Administrative Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Work to build positive relationships with neighboring landowners by providing timely and effective service.

2) Consider land acquisitions, when available.

Management Objective 1: Foster positive relationships with neighboring landowners.

Strategy 1: Maintain clearly marked area boundaries and repost as needed. (Wildlife) Strategy 2: Work with neighbors to prevent boundary and trespass issues. (Wildlife, Protection)

Lands Proposed for Acquisition:

When available, adjacent land may be considered for acquisition from willing sellers. Tracts that improve area access, provide public use opportunities, contain unique natural communities and/or species of conservation concern, or meet other MDC priorities, as identified in the annual MDC land acquisition priorities, may be considered.


MANAGEMENT TIMETABLE

Strategies are considered ongoing unless listed in the following table:

Fiscal Year

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2039

2040

2041

2042

2043

2044

Terrestrial Resource Management Considerations Objective 1 Strategy 1 X X X X Objective 3 Strategy 2 X X X X X X Strategy 3 X X X X X X X Strategy 4 X X X X X Aquatic Resource Management Considerations Objective 1 Strategy 1 X X X X X X X X Objective 2 Strategy 2 X X X X X X X X X


APPENDICES

References: Missouri Department of Conservation. (2009). Watershed and stream management guidelines for lands and waters managed by Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Department of Conservation. Appendices: Appendix 1. Vicinity Map Appendix 2. Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas Background Appendix 3. Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas Map Appendix 4. Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas Cover Map Appendix 5. Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas Easement Map


Appendix 1. Vicinity Map


Appendix 2. Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Conservation Areas Background In 1963, Peabody Coal Company donated the 299-acre tract, now known as Peabody Conservation Area (CA), to MDC. The Peabody CA property was largely strip-mined for coal and is now made up of small crop fields, water-filled pits, and spoil-mounds that have become low-quality forest. Work on the area began in 1964 when MDC staff, Future Farmers of America, and Vocational Agriculture school groups from Rich Hill, Butler, and Adrian planted cover strips, spread lime, and seeded food plots. They also started windbreaks to stop soil erosion. In 1984, MDC bought the 1,080-acre area, now known as Harmony Mission Lake Conservation Area, from four landowners. The land, originally homesteaded by the Cresup family, was considered a wildlife refuge because the owners did not allow hunting. The area was named after the first Indian mission (Harmony Mission) in Missouri. The church-funded mission was established in 1821 and was located about 12 miles east of the present conservation area along the Marais des Cygnes River, and next to the "Great Village" of the Osage Indians. This landscape was untilled prairie until the early 1960s when it was sold, and portions were cleared and farmed until 1984. Upon acquisition, contour strips were installed through a cooperative project between the Natural Resource Conservation Service and MDC. Legal Description: Township 38N, Range 32W, Section 4, 9, 10, 14, 15 Area Location: Harmony Mission Lake CA is located approximately 1 mile west of Rich Hill on A and another 4 miles south and west on Highway PP. Current Land and Water Types:

Land/Water Type Acres % of Area Grassland 387 28 Forest and Woodland 310 22 Open Land 280 20 Old Field 250 18 Lakes/Ponds 118 9 Infrastructure 32 2 Wetlands 2 <1 Total 1,379 100


Appendix 3. Harmony Mission Lake and Peabody Area Map


Appendix 4. Harmony Mission Lake CA and Peabody CA Cover Map


Appendix 5. Harmony Mission Lake CA and Peabody CA Easement Map


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2020 harmony mission lake and peabody conservation …...in 1984, mdc bought the 1,080-acre area,...

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