MISSOURI OZARKS
An Ozark Gem TNC’s newest property on the banks of Mill Creek
What makes a piece of property worth protecting? It could be any number of things. Often it comes down to the history a person or group has with an area. It could be a family farm passed down for generations, or a natural area where parents watched their children play and grow. At The Nature Conservancy, we invest in precious ecosystems, vulnerable natural communities, and properties that can be used to demonstrate ecologically beneficial management practices for partners and landowners. We look for lands that keep biodiversity on the landscape, protect water quality, or connect to other protected areas. Many places only provide one or two of these features. However, sometimes we get an opportunity to acquire a property that meets all our needs—and even exceeds them. That place is TNC’s newest property, Mill Creek. At 163 acres, Mill Creek isn’t the largest property around, but it has a lot packed within its boundaries. The area is
located north of Van Buren and shares a border with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. It is a collection of oak and pine woodlands, glades, springs, fens and riparian forests. Large rock outcrops, small bluffs and even a small shelter cave are found on the property. The site is home to over 200 species of native plants and surrounds both banks of its namesake, the perennial and crystal-clear Mill Creek. Earlier this year, TNC purchased the property from a friend in conservation, Renata Culpepper. Having been family friends with the previous owners and knowing the property well, Renata and her late husband Bryan had always dreamed of living on-site and protecting the property. After his passing, Renata was able to purchase the land in 2012. Both strongly valued conservation, and thus she invested in restoring the glades, woodlands and
fens that call the property home. She worked with friends from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the National Park Service, the L-A-D Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and The Nature Conservancy, utilizing incentive programs from MDC and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore the woodlands, glades and fens. Mill Creek offers an opportunity to showcase natural features of the Ozarks that are usually spread over much larger areas. Like other TNC properties, we believe this property can serve as a high-quality demonstration site and research facility to inform critical conservation strategies. With the ability to host researchers and partners on-site, we can engage in restoration and land-management research projects that will help improve our ecosystems.
THIS PAGE TOP Mill Creek © Chad Doolen/TNC THIS PAGE BOTTOM Fall at Mill Creek © Chad Doolen/TNC
8 MISSOURI : ACTION AND IMPACT
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker