TEN MILE POND BOLSTERS MISSOURI'S WETLANDS

EAST PRAIRIE -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) takes advantage of any opportunity to bring native wetlands back to Missouri. Recently, it made a move that could restore wetlands in an area that has lost 98 percent of its historic wetland habitat.

Phase One of a plan to improve and restore wetland habitat has already been completed at the 3,892-acre Ten Mile Pond Wildlife Management Area in southeast Missouri.

"By the time we bought this area it had been converted to rowcropping and was protected from seasonal flooding by leves said Dave Wissehr, MDC wildlife management biologist, "but it once was a haven for wintering waterfowl. The land remains extremely wet, however, and should rapidly respond to our management activities."

Phase one of the project was completed in December 1991. It included construction of nearly two miles of water distribution pipe, four miles of levees, five combination service gate/stop water control structures and one water distribution canal. In addition, MDC built a new drainage structure and renovated a second one. The work created five separate pools that will provide 585 wetland acres.

Money for this part of the project came from three sources -- MDC ($642,000), Ducks Unlimited ($100,000) and the North American Wetland Conservation Act ($338,750).

"This partnership will substantially enhance wetland availability and quality in an area recognized as a critical waterfowl wintering habitat," said Wihr. "As the wetland habitat improves, a diverse group of wetland wildlife species will inhabit the area."

Developments scheduled for later in 1992 should yield 585 more acres of wetlands, bringing the total to about 1,200. Four hundred acres are targeted for moist soil management, and about 150 acres will be managed as emergent marsh. The remainder will be rowcropped to produce high-quality winter feed grains.

"The public can hunt, fish, study nature and bird watch at Ten Mile Pond," said Wissehr. "Visitors should expect to see a variety of waterfowl, wading and shore birds. They also should see birds of prey, including bald eagles, marsh hawks and Mississippi kites. People can hike along levee roads outside of the refuge, and we plan to build an observation platform later."

Ten Mile Pond Wildlife Area is located in Mississippi County, five miles southeast of East Prairie on Highway 102. Additional information is available by contacting the local Missouri Department of Conservation office.