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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 successfully completed two projects with $242,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Those funds led to 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 also led to the completion of a project in the Meramec Basin, toward partnership efforts with landowners in activities to improve water quality protection and restoration of aquatic habitats.
Replacing the river crossing, previously containing undersized box culverts, reconnected approximately 26 miles of the Niangua River and facilitates 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. The threats before the successful completion of this project in December 2010 included isolation of the eight remaining populations due to stream fragmentation from low water flow or discontinuity at road crossing culverts. Facilitating seasonal migration allows access to higher quality or spawning habitats that were 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 benefits populations of scaleshell and spectaclecase mussels (both federally listed) in the Meramec River Watershed, including the Lower Bourbeuse Aquatic Conservation Area. The project was completed in the Fall 2010.
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 improves and/or maintains water quality by increasing the acres of riparian corridor bordering streams, improving habitat for fish and mussels. Working with the landowners and our state and federal partners, the project results are healthy aquatic habitats and farmers can maintain healthy lands and cattle, while providing economic opportunities in their communities.
For additional information about the Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, visit the Columbia Ecological Serivces Office website.
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 |
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News Releases:
Secretary Salazar Announces Grant Award for Landowner Partnership Project in Lower Bourbeuse
Originally posted 08/07/2009
Updated 09/25/2009
Updated 09/29/2009
Page Completed 11/09/2011
