|
Refuge Headquarters 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 573-876-1826 |
Maps | Regulations | History
The Overton Bottoms North Unit is the most accessible unit of the refuge. This refuge unit consists of large areas of open fields with a mixture of native and exotic grasses and forbs. In addition there are large areas of dense young forests consisting primarily of cottonwood, silver maple, willow, and box elder. A narrow strip of mature cottonwood trees exists along the river.
Successful Hunter and Willow regeneration on the Overton Bottoms Unit
A gravel road traverses this unit from which the visitor can observe the above-mentioned areas and new tree plantations. These planted trees are species that historically existed in limited numbers and locations of the Missouri River floodplain. Channelization of the Missouri River and subsequent conversion of the resulting stabilized floodplain to agriculture resulted in the removal of once extensive forests. These forests were historically primarily cottonwoods, but also included a few small groves of hardwoods.
|
|
The refuge is experimenting by planting pecan, swamp white oak, pin oak, bur oak, and shellbark hickory in an attempt to determine how well they survive and reproduce in a small portion of the floodplain. These trees may become a small but important component of the floodplain forest.
Students from Hickman High School (Columbia, MO) helped our reforestation efforts by planting 100 pin oak seedlings. Local scout troops helped place ground covers and browse barriers around the seedlings. Look for the sign designating those trees. Also stop at the information kiosk located about 1 mile down the refuge road on the right.
Another feature of the Overton Bottoms North Unit is the presence of "scour holes" or "blow holes." These bodies of water were created during the raging floods of 1993 and 1995 when the river scoured out depressions in the floodplain, some over 50 feet deep. These scour holes contain a variety of fish species including largemouth bass, crappie, carp, gar, and catfish. These scour holes are not stocked with fish except when the river floods and restocks them naturally. Reproduction does occur in these scour holes but during times of drought fish numbers decline due to lower nutrient levels, and fishing pressure with lower water levels. Look for the best fishing opportunities a year or two after a flood when small fish introduced by the river have the opportunity to grow to desirable size in the clear waters of the scour holes.
Five scour holes are located in the Overton Bottoms North unit. (See public use map) The largest scour is adjacent to Interstate 70. Follow the gravel refuge road past the two left turns until it ends at a parking lot adjacent to this scour. To reach the other scours, take the first left once on the refuge road. This road dead ends at a parking area. The Diana scour is located up and over the adjacent levee. The Cottonwood scour can be reached by walking north on this levee approximately 1/4 mile. Where the levee bends to the northeast, look for a small trail leading north off the levee. To reach Willow and Lone Tree scours walk around the Diana scour onto an admistrative road and walk one mile west to Willow Scour. Lone Tree scour is another half mile further on this road as it heads north east away from the railroad tracks.
The Overton Bottoms North Unit is just north of the Missouri Department of Conservation's Overton Bottoms Conservation Area. 
For more information about the area, please follow this link.
|
|
Visitors are encouraged to stop at Taylor's Landing, a boat ramp on the Missouri River managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Even if you don't have a boat the landing area provides outstanding views of the scenic Manitou Bluffs directly across the river. The fall colors can be spectacular along these bluffs. Fishing can be good along the bank too! Follow the signs along the refuge road directing you to the ramp. Mature cottonwoods provide shade as well as a glimpse of the past and perhaps future forest.
Getting to the Overton Bottoms North Unit
Take exit 111 off Interstate 70 east of Boonville and west of Columbia, Missouri. Go north just 100 yards to Hwy 98. Turn right on 98 and drive 2 miles to the unit boundary. There are 4 miles of gravel roads in the unit.
View of Manitou Bluffs from Taylor's Landing
