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Project Titles:
- Replace CR K-143 crossing over Niangua River (FFS #R3TD)
- Lower Bourbeuse Aquatic Conservation Area (LBACA) Landowner Partnership Phase I (FFS #R3UC)
State: Missouri
Project Description: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Missouri will receive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to support the replacement of a road crossing over the Niangua River within the Osage River Basin to benefit resident fish species, including the federally threatened Niangua darter. The funding will also support a second project in the Meramec Basin, which will involve landowners in activities to improve water quality protection and restoration of aquatic habitats.
Replacing the river crossing, currently containing undersized, box culverts, will result in the reconnection of approximately 26 miles of the Niangua River and facilitate intra-population movements and seasonal migrations of the threatened Niangua darter. The darter occurs in 11 counties within the Osage River Basin and in clear upland creeks and small to medium sized rivers with slight to moderate currents, requiring continuously flowing streams with silt-free gravel and rock bottoms. Population declines are primarily due to habitat loss from reservoir construction and stream channelization. Current threats include isolation of the eight remaining populations due to stream fragmentation from low water flow or discontinuity at road crossing culverts. Facilitating seasonal migration would allow access to higher quality or spawning habitats that may currently be isolated upstream of the road crossing.
“In a win-win situation for both the darter and the local community of Dallas County, Missouri, the new free span bridge should be submerged less frequently and for shorter durations during spring floods,” said Joanne Grady, fish biologist at Columbia FWCO. “The county will also see reduced maintenance costs with this design.”
The second project in Missouri will benefit populations of scaleshell and spectaclecase mussels (both federally listed) in the Meramec River Watershed, including the Lower Bourbeuse Aquatic Conservation Area. Non-point source pollution and stream sedimentation are considered serious threats to mussels in the Meramec River Watershed. Livestock that graze in riparian corridors and in streams create conditions that lead to excessive sedimentation, nutrient loading, poor riparian corridor and stream bank instability conditions in much of the Meramec basin. The Lower Bourbeuse Aquatic Conservation Area project will improve or maintain water quality by creating or increasing the acres of riparian corridor bordering streams, improving habitat for fish and mussels. Working with the landowners and our state and federal partners, we can have healthy aquatic habitats and the farmers can maintain healthy lands and cattle, while providing economic opportunities in these communities.
For additional information about the Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, visit the Columbia Ecological Serivces Office website.
News Releases:
Secretary Salazar Announces Grant Award for Landowner Partnership Project in Lower Bourbeuse
Photos:
 These pictures show the Williams Ford Crossing at County Road K-143 over the Niangua River |
 This crossing provides fish passage that benefits the threatened Niangua Darter |
Originally posted 08/07/2009
Updated 09/25/2009
Updated 09/29/2009
