Refuge Conservation Plan Refuge Regulations Refuge Brochure Missouri Map of Refuge Units Refuge Headquarters Jackass Bend Unit Baltimore Bottom Unit Cranberry Bend Unit Lisbon Bottom Unit Jameson Island Unit Overton Bottoms Unit St. Aubert Island Unit Boone's Crossing Unit MO Jr. Duck Stamps 2009 Winners Friends of Big Muddy Home Contact Us Phone: 573-876-1826 V/TTY: 800-735-2966 Address: 4200 New Haven Road Columbia, MO 65201

Contacting the Refuge:

Refuge Manager: Tom Bell
e-mail: BigMuddy@fws.gov or MidwestNews@fws.gov

4200 New Haven Road
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: 573-876-1826
Fax: 573-876-1839
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)

Located in eight units along the Missouri River,headquarters is located in Columbia, Missouri

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Refuge Facts

• Established: 1994

• Acres: 11,153

• Authorized to expand to 60,000 acres in 25 to 30 units in the Missouri River flood plain from Kansas City to St. Louis

• Many landowners were interested in selling their Missouri River bottomland following the floods of 1993

• The Service was originally authorized to acquire these lands from willing sellers with funding from Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

• The Service continues to acquire land from willing sellers with Land and Water Conservation Funds

Financial Impact of Refuge

• Seven person staff

• 20,000 in-state and out of state visitors annually

• FY 2006 Budget: $941,000

Natural History

• The pre-settlement Missouri River was subject to large seasonal variations in flows which coursed through a 1,500-foot to one-milewide braided channel, providing diverse riverine and flood plain habitat

• Because of extensive human development of the flood plain, most of that diversity is gone

• The refuge is part of a major migration corridor for waterfowl and other migratory birds

• Habitat consists of bottomland forests, lakes, sloughs and cropland

• The lower Missouri River provides habitat for seven threatened and endangered species

Refuge Objectives

• Restore portions of the Missouri River flood plain

• Improve and restore wetland habitat

• Improve fishery and wildlife resources

• Provide public opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education

Management Tools

• Wetland rehabilitation

• Reforestation

• Water management

• Archaeological resource protection

• Outreach and environmental education

Public Use Opportunities

• Hunting and fishing

• Environmental education and interpretation

• Wildlife observation and photography

• Hiking

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