CENTRAL REGION RANK #___
Wildlife Diversity Project Proposal
Please limit to one page (front and back)
Title: Missouri River Hills Forest Habitat Project_________________
Location (County): Warren, Montgomery and Callaway Counties
Project Centroid (UTM Coordinate):
Project Leader: Jamie Barton/Angela
Belden
Partner Match: $
5,000
Total Amount Requested: $ 12,000 (EXP = $12,000, EQP=$0, HL=$0)
Explain the need and objective of the project: Private lands in the River Hills geography
located in southern Warren, Montgomery and Callaway Counties contains a mix of forest,
woodland and glade natural communities. However, many of these communities currently exist
in a degraded quality due to the lack of management, or poor forest management where
management has occurred. Much of the forest in the area is comprised of mature oak/hickory
with sugar maple in the understory. If sugar maple is not removed oak regeneration is
suppressed and over time the oak forests will become dominated by sugar maple. Maple
dominated forests do not provide significant acorn mast crops that many wildlife species depend
upon. Woodland communities have also become degraded in the River Hills geography by the
suppression of fire. Fire suppression has allowed overstory tree density to become greater at the
expense of understory plant diversity. The loss of understory grasses and forbs has led to the
decline of wildlife diversity. Thinning and burning these woodland sites will open the forest
canopy and allow sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor, encouraging greater plant diversity.
The Missouri River Hills geography is home to more than 18 species of amphibians,
including three species of conservation concern: Ringed salamanders, Wood frogs and Four-toed
salamanders. The area also provides important habitat for a large number of songbirds, including
both forest interior and early successional species. Unusual plants include false mermaid, false
yellow mallow, prairie dandelion and the endangered running buffalo clover. The Lost Creek
watershed is considered a priority watershed due to its high quality stream and the fish, mussels
and crayfish that live there.
Most of the area is in private ownership. In 2002, partners such as MDC, Ruffed Grouse
Society, Audubon Missouri and the National Wild Turkey Federation formed a coalition with the
purpose of improving the health and quality of forest and woodland communities in this area.
The coalition started the River Hills Forest Habitat Project (RHFHP) with the intent to fund
private landowner’s forest management activities in the form of thinning, group openings and
edge feathering. To date, the project has funded over 100 landowners, managing over 6,700
acres with over $300,000.00. Partners have increased since 2002 to include the Missouri
Conservation Heritage Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri University and the
US Forest Service.
List priority geographies (COA(s)) and targeted species and/or natural communities this
project will affect: The River Hills Priority Geography is the largest contiguous block of
forested land north of the Missouri River in Missouri. This project will help enhance the quality
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of these forest, woodland, and glade communities on private lands in the River Hills Priority
Geography.
Describe the expected product, result, or outcome: Without private land forest management
there is only so much that state land managers can implement to effect wildlife populations.
Private land habitat projects will support intensive management efforts already underway on
public land. Public lands serve as core "source" areas for dispersal of sensitive wildlife species
which will be able to expand into newly created private land habitat. $12,000 can be expected to
cover 100-200 acres of forest thinning.
Explain the approach/methodology that will be utilized to complete the project: This
proposal requests $12,000.00 to be disbursed to private landowners as an incentive to conduct
sustainable forest management activities. This amount will be matched with $5,000.00 from the
Missouri Grouse Chapter of QUWF. Activities include thinning, group opening and edge
feathering. Upon contact, MDC biologists will visit landowners to discuss management
opportunities and habitat restoration. When appropriate, management plans will be prepared and
landowners will be enrolled into the RHFHP cost share program. Landowners have the option to
do the work themselves or hire a contractor; however, they must follow an approved plan
developed by a MDC forester, Private Land Conservationist or wildlife biologist. Projects must
be completed by a pre-determined deadline and completed projects must be approved by planner
before payment is made. Landowners will agree to maintain the practice for 15 years.
Landowners will be reimbursed 90% of the project cost or the maximum rate of $70/ac
for light TSI, $90/ac for medium TSI, $110/ac for heavy TSI, $130/ac for extra heavy TSI and
$250/ac for group openings or edge feathering. All funds from the WDF will be disbursed in
FY15.
Budget Table:
Category
Amount
Requested
Personnel Service (Labor)
Contract or
Agreement
Non-MDC/Partner Match
Value
Entity
Equipment
Expenses
$12,000
$5,000
Total
$12,000
$5,000
** In no circumstance can MDC staff or other MDC sources of funds be used for match to the WDF**
Provide justification for any labor and/or equipment in this proposal:
Indicate your willingness to accept less funding and describe the effect on the overall
project if certain portions were reduced. A decrease in funding will result in less private land
acres being managed with sustainable forest management activities. However, a reduction in
funding will still allow some additional acres to be managed.
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