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November 2002
MDC
Columbia Bottom could reopen by next spring
By the time the Lewis & Clark bicentennial rolls around, history buffs and nature lovers from all over the nation will be saying, "Meet me in St. Louis."
ST. LOUIS -- The first phase of construction at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is nearing completion, and the Missouri Department of Conservation says the area could be reopened to visitors as soon as next spring.
The 4,300-acre area lies at the northeastern tip of St. Louis County, just minutes away from downtown St. Louis. That puts it within 25 miles of almost one-third of Missouri residents. Further enhancing the area's recreational potential is its position at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
The Conservation Department bought the land from the City of St. Louis in 1997. In planning the area's development, conservation officials considered the metropolitan area's need for flood control as well as recreation and fish and wildlife conservation. When complete, the project will offer opportunities for hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting. The area also will figure prominently in events during the three-year bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition, which passed the site in 1804 and again in 1806.
The Conservation Department closed Columbia Bottom CA to visitors last spring to start the first phase of the Columbia Bottom development project. Wet weather and flooding stymied construction throughout the spring and early summer, but area manager Tom Leifield said project has progressed rapidly since July 1.
According to Leifield, work is 60 to 80 percent complete on a 5-mile asphalt road from the entrance at the area's western boundary to a point overlooking the two rivers' confluence. He said a boardwalk and a stone viewing platform overlooking the confluence are 95 percent complete. The trail to the boardwalk still is under construction. A crushed limestone walking and biking trail more or less parallel to the road is about 80 percent finished.
Standing on that viewing platform, you will be able to feel the power of the rivers and get a sense of what Lewis & Clark experienced as they passed with the Corps of Discovery," said Leifield.
Also in Phase I, the Conservation Department is building a boat ramp and a fishing pier on the Missouri River along the area's northern edge.
"We are very happy with our contractor's performance under difficult circumstances," said Leifield. "If we can get through next spring without flooding, there is a good chance we will be able to re-open Columbia Bottom on a limited basis next spring while work on other projects continues."
One important aspect of the development is reopening parts of the area to natural flooding. At the area's southeastern edge, fronting the Mississippi River, the Conservation Department already has removed an existing agricultural levee and replaced it with one farther inland. This allows the river more room to spread out during high flows. Besides creating wetland habitat critical to waterfowl and a wide variety of other wildlife, setting back the levee will lessen the severity of future floods.
As work continues, the Conservation Department will install levees, pump stations and a network of structures to permit selective flooding of up to 800 acres of the area's interior with river water. These managed wetland pools will provide resting and feeding areas for ducks, geese and other migratory birds. They also will offer superb birdwatching opportunities in the spring.
During waterfowl hunting seasons, part of the wetlands will be a designated wildlife refuge, which will be closed to all visitors. The remainder will be open to hunting. The refuge and other wetland areas will be open for birdwatching and other wildlife study at other times of year.
Phase II construction will include a maintenance shop at the area's western edge. At the same time, the Conservation Department is developing a trail in cooperation with Americorps. The trail runs along the area's northern and eastern borders parallel to the Missouri River.
The third and final phase of construction at Columbia bottom still is being designed. It will include a visitor center and scenic overlook on high ground in the area's northwestern corner, a wildlife viewing platform adjacent to the managed wetland pools and a road around the managed wetlands, including the refuge.
Also in Phase III, the Conservation Department will build a kayak and canoe boat access near the area's southeastern corner, on the Mississippi River. The access will allow visitors with small craft to float from the upstream access and take out about six miles downstream, still on the conservation area. Trails will provide a land route back to the starting point.
"The existing barn was a neat old timber post construction and we wanted to save it if possible," said Leifield. "Our Design and Development staff looked at it and decided it was practical and could be modified into a visitor center. As a result, the center will incorporate a piece of the area's physical history."
Eventually, the area also will offer visitors eight "exploration stations." These will constitute a self-guided tour of the area with interpretive information about the diverse types of fish and wildlife habitat at Columbia Bottom CA.
"Saint Louisans should be extremely excited about this project," said Leifield. "It is going to be valuable on so many levels. The opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating and other nature-based recreation will be tremendous. On top of that, by preserving wetlands and helping reduce the severity of future floods, the development of Columbia Bottom will safeguard the region's economic and biological stability for generations to come. Few projects provide such a wide range of benefits at such modest cost."
In all, the Conservation Department estimates development costs at Columbia Bottom at approximately $10 million. A substantial part of that cost will be covered by federal matching funds. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Missouri River Mitigation Project is providing more than $4 million for managed wetland development and other habitat restoration work at Columbia Bottom CA. Other federal funds are supporting river access development.
- Patti Redel & Jim Low -
MDC
Columbia Bottom could reopen by next spring
By the time the Lewis & Clark bicentennial rolls around, history buffs and nature lovers from all over the nation will be saying, "Meet me in St. Louis."
ST. LOUIS -- The first phase of construction at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is nearing completion, and the Missouri Department of Conservation says the area could be reopened to visitors as soon as next spring.
The 4,300-acre area lies at the northeastern tip of St. Louis County, just minutes away from downtown St. Louis. That puts it within 25 miles of almost one-third of Missouri residents. Further enhancing the area's recreational potential is its position at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
The Conservation Department bought the land from the City of St. Louis in 1997. In planning the area's development, conservation officials considered the metropolitan area's need for flood control as well as recreation and fish and wildlife conservation. When complete, the project will offer opportunities for hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting. The area also will figure prominently in events during the three-year bicentennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition, which passed the site in 1804 and again in 1806.
The Conservation Department closed Columbia Bottom CA to visitors last spring to start the first phase of the Columbia Bottom development project. Wet weather and flooding stymied construction throughout the spring and early summer, but area manager Tom Leifield said project has progressed rapidly since July 1.
According to Leifield, work is 60 to 80 percent complete on a 5-mile asphalt road from the entrance at the area's western boundary to a point overlooking the two rivers' confluence. He said a boardwalk and a stone viewing platform overlooking the confluence are 95 percent complete. The trail to the boardwalk still is under construction. A crushed limestone walking and biking trail more or less parallel to the road is about 80 percent finished.
Standing on that viewing platform, you will be able to feel the power of the rivers and get a sense of what Lewis & Clark experienced as they passed with the Corps of Discovery," said Leifield.
Also in Phase I, the Conservation Department is building a boat ramp and a fishing pier on the Missouri River along the area's northern edge.
"We are very happy with our contractor's performance under difficult circumstances," said Leifield. "If we can get through next spring without flooding, there is a good chance we will be able to re-open Columbia Bottom on a limited basis next spring while work on other projects continues."
One important aspect of the development is reopening parts of the area to natural flooding. At the area's southeastern edge, fronting the Mississippi River, the Conservation Department already has removed an existing agricultural levee and replaced it with one farther inland. This allows the river more room to spread out during high flows. Besides creating wetland habitat critical to waterfowl and a wide variety of other wildlife, setting back the levee will lessen the severity of future floods.
As work continues, the Conservation Department will install levees, pump stations and a network of structures to permit selective flooding of up to 800 acres of the area's interior with river water. These managed wetland pools will provide resting and feeding areas for ducks, geese and other migratory birds. They also will offer superb birdwatching opportunities in the spring.
During waterfowl hunting seasons, part of the wetlands will be a designated wildlife refuge, which will be closed to all visitors. The remainder will be open to hunting. The refuge and other wetland areas will be open for birdwatching and other wildlife study at other times of year.
Phase II construction will include a maintenance shop at the area's western edge. At the same time, the Conservation Department is developing a trail in cooperation with Americorps. The trail runs along the area's northern and eastern borders parallel to the Missouri River.
The third and final phase of construction at Columbia bottom still is being designed. It will include a visitor center and scenic overlook on high ground in the area's northwestern corner, a wildlife viewing platform adjacent to the managed wetland pools and a road around the managed wetlands, including the refuge.
Also in Phase III, the Conservation Department will build a kayak and canoe boat access near the area's southeastern corner, on the Mississippi River. The access will allow visitors with small craft to float from the upstream access and take out about six miles downstream, still on the conservation area. Trails will provide a land route back to the starting point.
"The existing barn was a neat old timber post construction and we wanted to save it if possible," said Leifield. "Our Design and Development staff looked at it and decided it was practical and could be modified into a visitor center. As a result, the center will incorporate a piece of the area's physical history."
Eventually, the area also will offer visitors eight "exploration stations." These will constitute a self-guided tour of the area with interpretive information about the diverse types of fish and wildlife habitat at Columbia Bottom CA.
"Saint Louisans should be extremely excited about this project," said Leifield. "It is going to be valuable on so many levels. The opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating and other nature-based recreation will be tremendous. On top of that, by preserving wetlands and helping reduce the severity of future floods, the development of Columbia Bottom will safeguard the region's economic and biological stability for generations to come. Few projects provide such a wide range of benefits at such modest cost."
In all, the Conservation Department estimates development costs at Columbia Bottom at approximately $10 million. A substantial part of that cost will be covered by federal matching funds. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Missouri River Mitigation Project is providing more than $4 million for managed wetland development and other habitat restoration work at Columbia Bottom CA. Other federal funds are supporting river access development.
- Patti Redel & Jim Low -
