DRAFT Little Sac Woods

Conservation Area

25-Year Area Management Plan FY 2020-2044

To submit a comment on this document, click on the following link:

https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=314819

June 2019 DRAFT Little Sac Woods Conservation Area Management Plan Page 2

OVERVIEW

• Official Area Name: Little Sac Woods Conservation Area, # 7940 • Year of Initial Acquisition: 1979 • Acreage: 772 acres • County: Greene • Region: Southwest • Division with Administrative Responsibility: Forestry • Division with Maintenance Responsibility: Forestry • Statements of Purpose:

A. Strategic Direction Manage for woodland and glade natural communities with emphasis on upland game and compatible recreational opportunities in the Springfield metro area.

B. Desired Future Condition The desired future condition of Little Sac Woods Conservation Area (CA) is a healthy complex of glade and woodland natural communities.

C. Federal Aid Statement N/A

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS

I. Special Considerations A. Priority Areas: Little Sac River Priority Watershed, and Little Sac River Stream

Reach Conservation Opportunity Area B. Natural Areas: None

II. Important Natural Features and Resources

A. Species of Conservation Concern: Species of conservation concern are known from this area. Area managers should consult the Natural Heritage Database annually and review all management activities with the natural history biologist.

B. High Quality Natural Communities: None C. Caves: None D. Springs: None E. Other: This area is located in the Ozark Highlands Section, Springfield Plain

Subsection, and the Little Sac River Oak Savanna/Woodland Low Hills Landtype Association (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002).

III. Existing Infrastructure • Two parking lots

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• Spring Trail (0.7-mile hiking trail) • Boundary Line Trail (1.7-mile hiking trail) • Glade Trail (0.7-mile hiking trail) • Thong Tree Trail (0.7-mile hiking trail) • Oak-Hickory Trail (2.2-mile hiking trail) • Savannah Trail (1.3-mile hiking trail) • Wildlife watering ponds (five ponds, total of <0.5 acres)

IV. Area Restrictions or Limitations

A. Deed Restrictions or Ownership Considerations: None B. Federal Interest: Federal 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.

C. Easements: The Koch natural gas pipeline runs through this conservation area. D. Cultural Resources Findings: Yes, records kept with Missouri Department of

Conservation (MDC) environmental compliance coordinators. Managers should follow best management practices for cultural resources found in the MDC Resource Policy Manual.

E. Endangered Species: None observed. F. Boundary Issues: None

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

V. Terrestrial Resource Management Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities: 1) Manage the woodland and glade natural communities on the area. 2) Maintain old field habitat. 3) Monitor and address invasive species.

Management Objective 1: Enhance and promote health of woodlands.

Strategy 1: Evaluate and implement, when feasible, the expansion of woodland restoration based on forest inventory. (Forestry) Strategy 2: Evaluate and implement further thinning or altered burning schedule on restoration sites, as needed. (Forestry) Strategy 3: Retain and protect existing den trees. (Forestry)

Management Objective 2: Enhance glade communities.

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Strategy 1: Use prescribed fire to maintain and enhance open glade communities. (Forestry) Strategy 2: Remove invasive woody species such as Eastern red cedar from glade communities. (Forestry)

Management Objective 3: Enhance and maintain old field habitat.

Strategy 1: Use prescribed fire to maintain and enhance old field habitat. (Forestry) Strategy 2: Remove invasive and woody species to maintain open habitat structure. (Forestry)

Management Objective 4: Reduce invasive species on the area to improve wildlife habitat.

Strategy 1: Annually assess invasive species occurrences and manage using chemical, mechanical, or physical methods. (Forestry)

VI. Aquatic Resource Management Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Maintain the five small, shallow ponds for wildlife watering holes and amphibian habitat.

2) Monitor the two intermittent streams and 0.1-miles frontage along the Little Sac River. Access to the river is limited due to steep terrain.

Management Objective 1: Maintain and/or enhance functionality and quality of streams and ponds on the area.

Strategy 1: Continue to implement stream and watershed best management practices, as outlined in MDC’s Watershed and Stream Management Guidelines for Lands and Waters Managed by Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC, 2009). (Forestry, Fisheries) Strategy 2: Assess channel and streambank instability, as needed. (Fisheries)

VII. Public Use Management Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Maintain a variety of public use opportunities, including hunting, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

2) Maintain 7.3 miles of hiking trails. 3) Enforce area use regulations.

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Management Objective 1: Provide public hunting, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Strategy 1: Conduct annual management activities that provide habitat for a diversity of species. (Forestry) Strategy 2: Patrol the area and enforce the Wildlife Code of Missouri. (Protection) Strategy 3: Ensure that information regarding the area is up-to-date, accurate, consistent, and available to the public through general contact, MDC website, and posted signs. (Forestry)

Management Objective 2: Maintain the area’s 7.3 miles of hiking trails.

Strategy 1: Provide routine maintenance on existing hiking trails. (Forestry) Strategy 2: Monitor and close unauthorized trails as necessary. (Forestry)

Management Objective 3: Maintain a safe and inviting area for public use.

Strategy 1: Continue a diverse law enforcement presence through utilizing various types of law enforcement patrols and cooperative assistance from other law enforcement agencies. (Protection) Strategy 2: Address resource and non-resource related violations on the area. (Protection)

VIII. Administrative Considerations

Challenges and Opportunities:

1) Maintain area infrastructure. 2) Maintain area boundary lines. 3) Build relationships with neighboring landowners and maintain area boundary. 4) Consider acquisition of land, when available.

Management Objective 1: Maintain area infrastructure.

Strategy 1: Maintain area infrastructure in accordance with MDC guidelines. (Forestry)

Management Objective 2: Maintain clearly identified boundary lines.

Strategy 1: Maintain clearly identified boundary lines on an annual basis. (Forestry)

Management Objective 3: Facilitate a good working relationship with neighboring landowners.

Strategy 1: Work with neighbors to minimize any boundary, trespass, or any other issues affecting Little Sac Woods CA or private property. (Forestry, Protection)

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Strategy 2: Promote habitat management on neighboring landowner properties. (Private Land Services)

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

All strategies for this management plan are considered ongoing.

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APPENDICES

Area Background: Little Sac Woods CA is 9 miles from Springfield in Greene County and was purchased in 1979 to provide the greater Springfield area greater access to hunting, hiking, and other recreational activities. This conservation area totals 772 acres with a network of trails spanning over 7 miles of savanna, glade, and woodland habitats. MDC continues to manage this area for woodland, glade, and early successional habitat for a variety of small game and upland wildlife species. Current Land and Water Types:

Land/Water Type Acres % of Area Miles Forest and Woodland 640 83 Old Fields 60 8 Dolomite Glades 50 6 Savanna 22 3 Impounded Water <1 <1 Total 772 100 Permanent Stream Frontage – Little Sac River 0.1 Intermittent Stream Frontage 1.6

References: Missouri Department of Conservation. (2009). Watershed and stream management guidelines for

lands and waters managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO: Missouri Department of Conservation.

Nigh, T. A., & Schroeder, W. A. (2002). Atlas of Missouri ecoregions. Jefferson City, MO:

Missouri Department of Conservation. Maps: Figure 1: Area Map Figure 2: Easement Map Figure 3: Topographic Map Figure 4: Land Cover Map

2020 Little Sac Woods Conservation Area Management Plan Page 8

Figure 1: Area Map

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Figure 2: Easement Map

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Figure 3: Topographic Map

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Figure 4: Land Cover Map

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To submit a comment on this document, click on the following link:

https://mdc.mo.gov/node/10013?ap=314819