Marsh, learning center close to reality at Cape County Park Nor

How does the thought of walking through the banks of a picturesque marsh strike you? How about the thought of flushing a wood duck which was carefully secluded among the rushes and wild irises?

How about doing all of that within the city limits of Cape Girardeau?

The appeal of that notion is more of a reality thanks to Ducks Unlimited and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

These two organizations are building on past cooperative successes to reshape what is little more than a forgotten puddle in the Cape County Park North. When done, the pond will be a marsh sporting a wide array of water-loving plants and animals.

The wetland habitat restoration project will not only provide a conservation experience for visitors and school students who visit the park but also catch storm water run-off from adjacent grassy areas and paved parking lots. Visitors will have the chance to learn about the importance of wetlands to waterfowl, plants, amphibians, insects and all kinds of wildlife.

There's a saying in Africa: "In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and understand only what we are taught." If this is true, then the future of wetlands and waterfowl habitat has a bright outlook in Southeast Missouri.

The marsh will greet visitors to MDC's Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus, the newest of MDC's statewide network of seven nature centers. Visitor surveys show such centers appeal strongly to hunters, anglers, bird watchers, nature photographers, hikers, youngsters and oldsters. Young parents in particular -- seeking safe and educational places to take youngsters during the day and after school -- are big nature center users.

The campus features a learning resource room for visitors to check out field guides, nets and other teaching aids. There's a library, computer terminals for conservation studies, an auditorium for live programs and videos, and meeting rooms for conservation and civic groups. Exhibits will interpret swamps, the Southeast Missouri watershed and Mississippi River cultural heritage, including hunting, fishing and forest traditions of Southeast Missouri.

Work began last year on the building and road access for the new Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus. Work on the marsh could begin as early as the fall. In a few short years, that thought of flushing a duck will become a reality in the Cape Girardeau County Park.

None of this would be possible without the cooperation of the community and conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited. DU's contribution signifies its commitment to the conservation of wetlands, and the waterfowl that use them, as well as to youth education in wetland ecology.

For information on becoming a Ducks Unlimited major donor and being a part of the wetland restoration work with this project, contact Kevin Willsey, 335-6647.

A.J. Hendershott is the Missouri Department of Conservation's Regional Outreach and Education supervisor. He can be contacted for information on this project at 290-5730 or aj.hendershott@mdc.mo.us.