Temporary Recreation Area Closings at Lake Shelbyville for Youth Deer Hunt

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District will hold a Youth Deer Hunt at Lake Shelbyville on October 8 & 9, 2011.  The hunt will be conducted in portions of recreation areas previously closed for the season.  As a safety precaution Lone Point Campground, excluding the boat ramp and all of Wilborn Creek, Opossum Creek and Whitley Creek Recreation Areas will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from 2:00 p.m. October 7, 2011 to 7:00 p.m. October 9, 2011.

 These closings include boat ramps located within Opossum Creek, Wilborn Creek and Whitley Creek Recreation Areas.  Ramps remaining open during this period include those in Dam West, Lone Point, Lithia Springs and Bo Wood Recreation Areas, Wolf Creek and Eagle Creek State Parks and all secondary ramps. 

 For more information contact the Lake Shelbyville Environmental Stewardship Department at (217) 774-3951 ext 4.

1st Year Anniversary of Mark Twain Lake’s Boudreaux Visitor Center Opening

Ribbon Cutting at M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year. On Oct. 2nd, 2010 the new M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center and Northeast Missouri Vietnam Memorial overlooking the Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake opened for the public.  Over 31,000 people have passed through the new visitor center’s doors in the past year.  Whether on a school field trip, part of a group using the community room or visitors looking for information, the center provides a multitude of opportunities.

The building itself is equivalent to a silver designation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) making it a showcase for the region.  Some of the LEED features include ground source heat, energy efficient lighting, low flow water works, and energy-efficient windows and building materials. 

Enjoying the exhibits at Mark Twain Lake's new visitor center.

Exhibits inside the visitor center explore the benefits of the Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake, such as flood risk management, hydropower electricity, water supply, recreation, environmental stewardship and navigation.  Hands-on displays help the visitor to understand the natural, cultural, historical and environmental aspects of the area as well as basic water and boating safety tips.  

Spectacular views of the lake and dam are provided by a large viewing deck that surrounds the north side of the building.  The deck is also a nice compliment to the community room that is available to be reserved for a variety of functions.

The Visitor Center Complex also includes an ADA accessible trail approximately ¼ mile in length.  The Eagle Trail meanders through an oak hickory forest past spectacular views of the lake.  If you walk around the Visitor Center and Memorial along the trail you can exercise in some of the most scenic spots on the lake.

M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center

If you haven’t explored the new M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center yet or would like to take another look, be one of the first 100 visitors to stop by this Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 between 9am-5pm and receive a commemorative tote bag to take home and show your support wherever you go.

The M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center is located on Rt. J, just south of the Clarence Cannon Dam.  If you need additional information or have questions, please contact the visitor center at 573-565-2112 or email us at marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil.    

Introduction to Geocaching to be held at Mark Twain Lake

Geocaching at Mark Twain Lake.

Like technology?  Enjoy the outdoors?  Come learn about the hottest new recreation trend called geoaching.  Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device to navigate through a game of “treasure hunting” of sorts to find “geocaches” or “caches” in specific locations.  It’s easy to learn and once people do, they often hike around for miles through various terrains looking for caches.   

On October 1^st, at the M.W.Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center on Mark Twain Lake, Rangers and volunteers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District will be on hand to introduce interested individuals to this exciting new sport.  Between the hours of 10am and 3pm, staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide hands on assistance to visitors to guide them through this exciting new activity.  You can bring your own portable GPS unit if you like or units will be available to loan out for the day of the event.  Although this is an introduction to geocaching and most of the caches will be in the general location of the Visitor Center grounds, seasoned geocachers are welcome to come by, visit and share their experiences and help with newcomers.

The M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center is located on Rt. J, just south of the Clarence Cannon Dam.  If you need additional information or have questions, please contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097 or email us at marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil.   

St. Louis District supports National Public Lands Day, Sept. 24

Hundreds of volunteers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District lakes and recreational sites prepare to participate in the 18th annual National Public Lands Day, Sept. 24. National Public Lands Day is the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in the country. Nationwide, thousands of volunteers from coast to coast will come together to improve and restore lands and facilities Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and enjoyment.

Volunteers at St. Louis District sites will take part in trail maintenance, boardwalk construction, flowerbed maintenance, weeds removal and river, shoreline and roadways clean-up. Participating in National Public Lands Day is an opportunity to answer President Barrack Obama’s call to service in supporting America’s Great Outdoors initiative.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the nation’s leading federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation. The St. Louis District is home to seven lake and river projects in Missouri and Illinois.

Activities around the St. Louis District will take place on September 24 at the following locations:

Rend Lake 

11981 Rend City Road 

Benton, Illinois 62812
Clean up the roadways and shoreline. Lunch is provided.
Contact: Dawn Kovarik

(618) 724-2493 

dawn.m.kovarik@usace.army.mil

Wappapello Lake 

10992 Highway T 

Wappapello, Missouri 63966
Litter removal along designated roadways and shoreline.
Contact: Andrew Jefferson

(573) 222-8562  

Andrew.Jefferson@usace.army.mil

Lake Shelbyville

RR 4 Box 128B 

Shelbyville, Illinois 62565
Flowerbeds maintenance and removal of weeds and debris.
Contact: Annie Hickman

(217) 774-3951 x2

LakeShelbyville@usace.army.mil

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary Rivers Project Office 

301 Riverlands Way 

West Alton, Missouri 63386
Trail maintenance, boardwalk, construction and river clean-up.
Contact: Charles Deutsch

(636) 899-0082 

charlie.deutsch@usace.army.mil

Mark Twain Lake

20642 Highway J
Monroe City, MO 63456 

Weeds and leaves removal and bush planting.

Contact: Benjamin Sapp

573-735-4097 

marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil

National Public Lands Day at Mark Twain Lake September 24th

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers- St. Louis District
Mark Twain Lake Visitor Center

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Mark Twain Lake would like to invite the public to come celebrate the 18^th Annual National Public Lands Day on September 24^th with a variety of events planned throughout the day.  Come join others in the Nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort focused on preserving America’s Lands.  Start the day off in the morning by helping spruce up the M.W. Boudreaux Visitor Center between 9am – noon.  It doesn’t matter if it’s weeding, leaf removal or bush planting, every bit helps.  Plants and bushes will be provided courtesy of Hy-Vee on Broadway in Quincy, IL.  After all your hard work, reward yourself by building a bird house to take home with the help of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.  Then make sure to check out the rock and fossil showcase going on inside the visitor center.  Between 9am and 6pm, take a look at a mammoth’s hip and cast molds of raptor claws and T-Rex teeth!  

If you are in need of a little more physical activity, work on getting your group together to come compete in the First Annual “Trash Masters” competition that will start at the John F. Spalding Recreation Area at 1pm.  Teams of families, civic organizations, school clubs and church groups are encouraged to compete to see who can collect the most trash to prove that their group is at the “top of the heap.”  The winners will receive a plaque with a group picture for their group to display as well as their group’s name in the M.W. Boudreaux Visitor Center.  Most importantly, the winning group will also get a pizza party provided by Casey’s General Stores.

After all the day’s activities, head back to the visitor center by 6 p.m. to hear a talk on local geology.  Ranger Jose Garcia will discuss how the Salt River has shaped the area now known as Mark Twain Lake and left us with amazing vistas for everyone to enjoy.

The M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center is located on Rt. J, just south of the Clarence Cannon Dam.  If you need additional information about any of the day’s activities listed above, please contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097 or email us at marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil.