Blue Catfish Tagging in Mark Twain Lake
Little is known about blue catfish populations and angler exploitation in Mark Twain Lake.
Project Start Date
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
Amphibian Occupancy in Flood-Created and Existing Wetlands of the Lower Missouri River Alluvial Valley (PDF, 403 KB)
Published on Dec 02, 2021 -Surveying Fish and Amphibians in Missouri Wetlands: Gear Findings (PDF, 892 KB)
Published on Jan 01, 2019Surveying Fish and Amphibians in Missouri Wetlands: Active vs Passive Methods (PDF, 1 MB)
Published on Jan 01, 2019
Woody Vegetation
This project evaluates the impacts of forest management on the composition and structure of woody trees, saplings, sprouts, and seedlings.
Project Start Date
Woody Vegetation Publications (PDF, 154 KB)
Published on Apr 18, 2022 -
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.
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 -Missouri’s 2010 Street Tree Inventory (PDF, 490 KB)
Published on Dec 31, 2011 -Community Forestry Officials: Results from a MDC survey (PDF, 387 KB)
Published on Jun 01, 2012 -Trees Work: A Baseline Survey of 3 Communities (PDF, 465 KB)
Published on Jan 01, 2013 -Missourian’s and their Community Trees: Results from an MDC Survey (PDF, 456 KB)
Published on Jan 01, 2013 -
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, 2018Eagle Watch Program Registration Form (PDF, 363 KB)
Published on Mar 02, 2018 -Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Data Sheet (PDF, 913 KB)
Published on Mar 02, 2018 -Federal Laws that Protect Bald Eagles (PDF, 671 KB)
Published on Mar 02, 2018Binocular and Spotting Scope Basics (PDF, 717 KB)
Published on Mar 02, 2018Bald Eagle Nesting Ecology and Phenology (PDF, 365 KB)
Published on Mar 02, 2018Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Etiquette (PDF, 148 KB)
Published on Mar 02, 2018
Elk and Tourism
Economic and Visitor Results from On-Site Visitor Surveys at the Missouri Department of Conservation's Elk Tour Loops
Project Start Date
Project Completed On
Did You See the Elk? Visitor Survey Results from MDC's Elk Tour Loop (PDF, 585 KB)
Published on Feb 01, 2017 -Did You See the Elk? (PDF, 449 KB)
Presented on Feb 02, 2017 -
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 -Reducing Neonicotinoids in Aquatic Resources: Vegetative Buffer Strips impede imidaclorprid movement in Missouri agroecosystems (PDF, 412 KB)
Published on Jul 16, 2019 -Science Direct
(Need|s Subscription) Published on Mar 18, 2019 -Ecological Society of America Journals
(Need|s Subscription) Published on Mar 30, 2018 -American Chemical Society Publications
(Need|s Subscription) Published on Aug 14, 2019 -
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 -(Economic) Life without Missouri’s Forests (PDF, 250 KB)
Published on Jan 01, 2019 -
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: