The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has decided to temporarily restrict public access to the campground at Bismarck Conservation Area — a 1,188-acre tract of land in St. Francois, Iron, and Washington counties — due to continued misuse of the area by visitors.
A gate will limit the campground portion of the area until further notice.
The area surrounds 210-acre DiSalvo Lake, which was constructed in 1944 by the Hanna Mining Co. to serve as a water reservoir for nearby lead-mining operations.
MDC purchased the property from Hanna in 1981.
