riverhillstraveler.com Blog » Mark Twain Forest

Mark Twain Forest selects Alternative 2 against invasive species

Administrator — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:26:14 +0000

On April 28, Forest Supervisor David Wittekiend signed a Decision Notice, selecting Alternative 2 to be used in the Non-Native Invasive Plant Control Project to be implemented on all national forest lands in the state. Details of the plan can be had by contacting Forest headquarters in Rolla, and appeals must be made within 45 days of the official publication in the Rolla Daily News. Individuals or organizations that submitted comments during the scoping period may appeal.In short, the Forest had to come up with a plan to deal with invasive plant species. They began this process three years ago, for a plan to be followed over a ten year period. Many methods are used to get rid of pest plants from hand-pulling to herbicides, fire, biological and cultural methods. The trick is to get rid of non-native species which threaten to crowd out native ones without upsetting the native plant community. Twenty-seven percent of all “wild” Missouri plants are non-natives, and some are much more noxious than others. Sample NNIP target plants are kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, cheat grass, crown vetch, multiflora rose, lespedeza and other plants which take advantage of disturbed ground such as roadways, construction sites, quarries, or other land denuded and not actively restored.
An overview of the process and rationale can be had by going to www.fs.fed.us/r9/ and looking for the scoping document for NNIP on the Mark Twain, but in order to comment on the Alternative, you must contact Forest Headquarters at 401 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401, 573-364-4621 for the specific final document.

Whitewater results arrive

Administrator — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:31:13 +0000

Our March issue featured the Millstream Gardens-Silver Mines 42nd annual Whitewater Races both on the cover and inside.

Mark Wehking, a member of the Missouri Whitewater Association, was kind enough to send us the results. As it turns out, it’s a 5 page Excel spreadsheet, with enough numbers and divisions to make an accountant happy. I don’t claim to understand all the ins and outs of the various classes, but I thought we could at least list the winners here.

Saturday Slalom. Men: Brian Heikenen, Peter Witucki, Chuck McHenry (2 classes), Chris Pelzer, Milo Bookout, Pete Larson, Joe Satori.

Saturday Slalom. Women: Natalie Courson (2 classes), Piper Wall, Jojo Newbold, Joey Yeaple.

Saturday Boatercross: Men: Jerry Schafroth; Women: Piper Wall.

Saturday Downriver: Vince Swoboda, Diane McHenry, Chuck McHenry, Kurt Pelzer, Bill Miles Scott, Swafford. (this does not seem to be segregated by gender.)

Sunday Slalom. Men: Chuck McHenry, Jerry Schaforth, Brian Heikenen, Brian Heikenen/Pete Wituck.

Mixed: David Hirsch/Joey Yeaple.

Women: Joey Yeaple, Piper Wall, Michelle Grimm.

Fastest course times were between 203.06 seconds and 327.21 seconds. The downriver race was completed in 23 minutes, three seconds.

Forty people took part in the races. If you think this sport is for you, more information is available at www.mowhitewater.org.

USFS closes most caves/mines on MTNF and Eastern Region forests

Administrator — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:32:00 +0000

Jo Schaper

The United States Forest Service Regions 8 and 9 (all National Forests east of the Mississippi River, plus Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas) issued an order on April 24 limiting human visitation on those units to try to slow the spread of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) a bat-borne infection which is killing off cave bats in the U.S. northeast and mid-Atlantic states. This order affects about 600 of Missouri’s 6300 known caves. (Photo of infected bat courtesy USF&W NE Region.)
WNS is not known to be harmful to humans, nor has it been found in bats any closer than West Virginia.

WNS is an infection characterized by white, Geomyces species fungus around the muzzle and on the wings of the small, insect-eating bats like those found in Missouri. WNS first showed up in New York caves in 2006. Since then it has spread to 9 states and killed an estimated 500,000 bats, including critically endangered Indiana bats, according to Bill Elliott, Missouri Dept. of Conservation cave biologist.

Bat researchers don’t know if the fungus is the direct cause of the bat deaths, or if it is a secondary infection. Bats with WNS do not stay in hibernation long enough, but rouse early, seeking food before insect populations have recovered in the spring, and then starve.

The Forest Service cave closures will be in effect for one year to give bat researchers time to assess the situation as WNS spreads towards Missouri. Although primary transfer of the condition seems to be bat-to-bat, there is a small amount of circumstantial evidence that transfer on people’s clothes or gear might be a factor, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advisory issued March 27.

The closure order, posted online on April 29, says violators face fines up to $5,000 per individual or $10,000 per organization, and/or six months jail time. The order leaves loopholes for caves which are posted open, (no caves are so posted in Missouri right now) for people with Forest Service permits, and for government workers involved in firefighting or search and rescue.

At a stakeholder meeting in Rolla on April 23, Forest Supervisor David Whittekiend discussed the USFS action with other Missouri agency natural resource managers, non-governmental cave organizations, and organized cavers. Region 9, where the Mark Twain is located, includes Eastern states where WNS is already known.

Recreational cave access on the Ozark Riverways, Department of Conservation lands, and Missouri state parks may also be undergoing modification, but no changes have been made as of April 29.

Organized cavers are well aware of WNS developments, but they account for less than 5% of cave visitors nationwide, according to the National Speleological Society.

Since WNS is not known to be currently in Missouri, people who have not visited a wild or show cave in one of the affected states (NY, VT, NH, CT, PA, NJ, MA, VA or WV) are likely not carriers of the WNS fungal spores. People who have been in these places are advised not to enter any Missouri cave until they have washed their clothes and gear in soap and water hotter than 100 degrees, or to use gear which has never left the state.

Decontaminating gear with a 10% bleach solution is recommended by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Lysol or other antifungal treatments may also be helpful. Repeated bleachings can affect nylon strength, according to a least one caving rope manufacturer.

More information can be found at www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html or by going to the “Everything Bats” forum at http://.forums.caves.org. The closure order can be found at http://fs.fed.us/r9/.

Traveler Country wins big in USFS contracts

Administrator — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:33:22 +0000

While Traveler has chosen to remain upbeat, and not to dwell on the tough economic times, it’s always good to hear positive news, benefitting both the outdoors and local contractors like that which came today.
Mark Twain National Forest has awarded $2,300,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contracts to improve forest roads and recreation sites.
Eight Missouri construction companies were awarded bids March 23, 2009 totaling $1,535,000 to provide gravel to Forest Service roads damaged by extreme weather over the last few years.
Other Missouri companies awarded contracts for aggregate include KD Crushing, Mineral Point; Evans Farms Excavating, Clubb; Base Rock Minerals, Bonne Terre; Delaware Stone, Winona and Gable Stone Company, Willow Springs.
In addition, four Missouri companies will get $169,000 to blade damaged forest roads. The four include James Lawler, Ava; Henson Enterprises, Willow Springs; Chris Harmon Auto, Potosi and Murdick Excavating, Van Buren.
Another $493,903 will provide installation of 25 low-maintenance toilet buildings at Forest Service campgrounds in 11 counties.
New picnic tables, lamp posts and fire rings totaling $165,000 will also be installed in high use campgrounds, while another $25,000 will provide new signs. The remainder will be used for supplies to install recreation site furniture and signs.
“We’re looking forward to working with these contractors to maintain and improve our forest roads and recreation facilities,” said Mark Twain Forest Supervisor David Whittekiend. –USFS news release.