Big Rivers Catfish Assessment

Studies of blue catfish and flathead catfish in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers (big rivers) were prompted by concerns from some anglers about overharvest and inadequate harvest regulations. During 2015 to 2019 blue catfish and flathead catfish fisheries on big rivers were evaluated to estimate exploitation and population demographics. Our studies confirmed that current management approaches support healthy and sustainable populations, and regulation changes do not appear to be necessary to prevent overfishing.

Big Rivers Catfish Assessment - Project Summary (PDF, 784 KB)

Published on Sep 03, 2019 - by Joe McMullen, Kyle Winders

Big Rivers Flathead Catfish Final Report (PDF, 3 MB)

Published on Jun 01, 2020 - by Joe McMullen, Kyle Winders

BRCA Blue Catfish Final Report (PDF, 4 MB)

Published on Sep 03, 2019 - by Joe McMullen, Kyle Winders

SN V16 N1 Assessment of Big Rivers Blue and Flathead Catfish Fisheries (PDF, 904 KB)

Published on Apr 19, 2023 - by Joe McMullen, Kyle Winders

SN V16 N2 Big Rivers Catfish Angler Preference (PDF, 728 KB)

Published on Apr 19, 2023 - by Joe McMullen, Kyle Winders

Community Trees

MDC’s Community Forestry Program advises, coordinates, and facilitates the efforts that affect Missouri’s community-owned trees. We use surveys, inventories and models to assess the status of Missouri's' urban forests.

Missouri's 2010 Street Tree Economics (PDF, 420 KB)

Published on Dec 31, 2011 - by Nick Kuhn

Missouri’s 2010 Street Tree Inventory (PDF, 490 KB)

Published on Dec 31, 2011 - by Nick Kuhn

Community Forestry Officials: Results from a MDC survey (PDF, 387 KB)

Published on Jun 01, 2012 - by Nick Kuhn

Trees Work: A Baseline Survey of 3 Communities (PDF, 465 KB)

Published on Jan 01, 2013 - by Martha McCrary

Missourian’s and their Community Trees: Results from an MDC Survey (PDF, 456 KB)

Published on Jan 01, 2013 - by Nick Kuhn

Eagle Watch Program

The Missouri Eagle Watch Program allows volunteers to contribute to the conservation of bald eagles in the state by reporting eagle and eagle nest sightings and collecting other information.
Project Start Date

Eagle Nest Reporting Form (PDF, 374 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018

Eagle Watch Program Registration Form (PDF, 363 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018 - by Janet Haslerig

Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Data Sheet (PDF, 913 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018 - by Janet Haslerig

Federal Laws that Protect Bald Eagles (PDF, 671 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018

Binocular and Spotting Scope Basics (PDF, 717 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018

Bald Eagle Nesting Ecology and Phenology (PDF, 365 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018

Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Etiquette (PDF, 148 KB)

Published on Mar 02, 2018

Evaluation of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Use on MDC Lands

Neonicotinoids are a class of chemical insecticide widely used as pre-planting seed treatments on major agricultural crops such as corn, soybeans, canola, and cereals (e.g., wheat) to control insect agricultural pests. Recently concerns have been raised about the potential immediate and long-term effects of these chemicals on bees and aquatic invertebrates. In addition to toxicity concerns regarding non-target species, these chemicals are relatively water soluble and persistent in soil, raising concern about contamination of surface waters in the vicinity of their use.

Wiley Online Library

(Need|s Subscription) Published on Apr 12, 2018 - by Laura Satkowski, Dr. Keith Goyne, Stephen Anderson, Robert Lerch, Elisabeth (Lisa) Webb, Daniel Snow

Reducing Neonicotinoids in Aquatic Resources: Vegetative Buffer Strips impede imidaclorprid movement in Missouri agroecosystems (PDF, 412 KB)

Published on Jul 16, 2019 - by Laura Satkowski, Dr. Keith Goyne, Elisabeth (Lisa) Webb

Science Direct

(Need|s Subscription) Published on Mar 18, 2019 - by Anson Main, Elisabeth (Lisa) Webb, Dr. Keith Goyne, Doreen Mengel

Ecological Society of America Journals

(Need|s Subscription) Published on Mar 30, 2018 - by Doreen Mengel

American Chemical Society Publications

(Need|s Subscription) Published on Aug 14, 2019 - by Anson Main

Fish and Amphibian Wetland Sampling

Although many avian species can be observed using wetlands from a distance, the taxa below the water's surface can be much harder to document. This includes the wide array of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic invertebrates. Knowing how best to monitoring these species assemblages to inform management decisions is limited. In the past, research typically has only focused on one taxonomic group like fish or just amphibians. These projects have looked at one taxonomic group or another in different parts of Missouri.

Project Start Date

Forest Economics in Missouri

What is the economic impact of Missouri’s forest products? To answer this, MDC undertakes periodic assessments of the economic impact of the forest products industry on the state as a whole by working with data collected by the Federal government

2022 MDC Timber Product Output Report (PDF, 819 KB)

Published on Sep 14, 2023 - by Thomas Treiman

Science Note - Forestry Economic Impact - up to 2023 data.pdf (PDF, 247 KB)

Published on Sep 30, 2024 - by Thomas Treiman

Forest Inventory and Analysis

The Missouri Department of Conservation cooperates with the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to provide the information needed to assess Missouri and America's forests. The "Nation's continuous forest census", FIA projects how forests are likely to appear 10 to 50 years from now. This enables us to evaluate whether current forest management practices are sustainable in the long run and to assess whether current policies will allow the next generation to enjoy America's forests as we do today. 

FIA reports on status and trends in: