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MISSOURI S 



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 General description: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has inventoried q 



377,000 acres of wetlands within the state, including 55,000 acres of open water C 



(BSFW 1955). Wooded bottomlands, such as those found in the Mingo National 

 Wildlife Refuge and in the Ten Mile Pond Area along the Mississippi River, ac- 

 count for nearly half of this acreage. Twenty percent are in fresh meadows, ex- 

 tensive samples being found along the Grand and South Grand rivers. Shallow 

 and deep fresh marshes together account for less than \Q c /c. The shallow 

 marshes are scattered across the state in small units; the deep marshes are 

 chiefly in the river-bottom sloughs. Shrub swamps in the flood plains account 

 for about \5 c 7c of the wetlands. Special situations such as springs (Pickle Springs 

 and Boone's Lick) and sink holes (Lily Pond) support rare plants of botanical 

 interest. 



Status of the wetlands: Encroachments on the wooded bottomlands include 

 lumbering and drainage for agriculture. 



Sources of data: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a Wetlands 

 Inventory (BSFW 1955). Only two major wetland sites have been re- 

 ported — both by personnel of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Three 

 unusual botanical sites have been reported by university biologists. 



Recommendations: The Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and the Ten Mile Pond 

 Area should be examined to determine whether there are significant 

 undisturbed portions worthy of landmark status. Since the latter is still in private 

 ownership, landmark designation, if feasible, might have higher significance 

 from the point of view of wetlands preservation. Samples of swamp, forest, 

 shrub swamps, and deep marshes should be found in these areas. Further search 

 should be made to locate suitable fresh meadows and shallow marshes. Of the 

 special situations. Pickle Springs, now in private ownership, and Boone's Lick, a 

 unique saline habitat lying within a state park, might profit most from recogni- 

 tion as Natural Landmarks. Lily Pond is already being protected by The Nature 

 Conservancy and may also qualify as a landmark. 



Literature cited 



Bureau ok Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Region III. 1955. Wetlands 

 Inventory of Missouri. 



