DOC FIELD STATION EXPANDS: CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT BUILDS EQUIPMENT STRUCTURE

The Missouri Department of Conservation will soon have a new equipment building at 20 N. Sprigg.

"We're putting up a 4,500-square-foot structure for the DOC field station, which is already leasing space in the existing building there," said Loy Welker. "The DOC utilizes boats used in river research and needs additional space for storage."

Loy and Mary Kay Welker purchased the property, which formerly housed a Buick auto dealership. In January 1989, the building was remodeled for offices.

"We had expansion in mind when we purchased the site," said Welker, president of Cape Insurance Agency, which is also in the building. "We will still have room for additional expansion on the property."

The DOC field station has a staff of nine, ranging from biologists to an aquatic botanist.

The station monitors species of fish, water quality and vegetation in a portion of the Mississippi, with a goal of making recommendations to improve recreation.

The official name of the river project is Upper Mississippi River System Environmental Management Program.

People working on the new project, designed to balance increased commercial navigation with other economic, environmental and recreational resources, refer to their activities simply as "Research on the River."