Missouri River, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
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This is an EarthCache. There are ten seasonal wetland pools located within the conservation area, and the eight interpretive sites along the trail serve as teaching tools to let visitors know how rivers effect the land that it flows through.
Due to road and the Interpretive Wave (Visitor Center)closures, I have had to upscale the D/T rating.
Answers are still attainable.
This coordinates will take you into the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. To reach that area go north approximately 2.5 miles from I-270 Riverview Drive exit. Riverview Drive becomes Columbia Bottom Road at it’s junction with Larimore Road.
There is a paved road through the conservation area, and it is wheelchair accessible.
The Missouri River:
The Missouri is the world’s 15th longest river and, in name, officially begins at the confluence of the Jefferson and Madison rivers. The headwaters actually begin in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Montana. It is the longest headwater stream, and thus the Missouri’s hydrologic source. The Gallatin River joins the river about 0.6 miles downstream as it flows northeast.
In length, the Missouri drains about one-sixth of the North American continent, 9,350 square miles, before it flows into the mighty Mississippi north of St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri River basin includes river bottoms and flood plains, making it an ideal habitat for conservation efforts. There have been numerous attempts at preserving the natural habitats of the Missouri River Valley, for the Missouri basin lies across a major migration route, the Central Flyway, and in the river’s lower reaches, the Mississippi Flyway.
The Missouri is one of the most changed rivers in the United States. Its many man-made dams and reservoirs have created many lakes and stopped the free-flowing nature of the river, stopping flooding in many areas. In July 1993, the Missouri River crossed flood plains, such as the St. Charles bottomland and the waters cut new channels. Historically, the river has changed its course slightly many times in just the 200 years that the Americans have been living nearby. In some places, the river has relocated more than 2,000 feet of soil. This is one reason that the Missouri is called the “Big Muddy” and the “Muddy Mo.”
From: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,
and socialstudiesfor kids.com
The Columbia Bottom Conservation Area:
“The Conservation Department purchased this 4,318-acre area in 1997 to create an urban conservation area. The area includes a view of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, more than 65 miles of river frontage, about 800 acres of bottomland forest and a 110-acre island.”
“A flood protection levee protects most of this bottom from minor floods. The great flood of 1993 overtopped this levee and flooded most of the area, depositing sand and debris. The area will continue to be prone to occasional flooding.”
“The Conservation Department is managing Columbia Bottom to create a mosaic of bottomland habitats that includes shallow wetlands, bottomland hardwoods, prairie and cropland. These habitats attract a wide variety of resident and migratory wildlife for the enjoyment of all of our state’s residents and visitors.”
- Missouri Department of Conservation, 2007
There are ten seasonal wetland pools located within the conservation area, and the eight interpretive sites along the trail serve as teaching tools to educate the visitors. Visitors will learn how rivers effect the land that it flows thru. The flood of 1993 reconnected the Missouri with much of its floodplain habitats. Since then, coordinated efforts have been undertaken to link areas of floodplain with the Missouri River providing fish and wildlife habitat and water storage during floods.
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and want to learn something about the geology/earth
science of this planet that we live on.
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the Lessons you Learn.
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Many thanks to Mr. Tom Leifield, Wildlife Management Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation, for granting permission to establish this site as an EarthCache.
Address: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
801 Strodtman Road
St. Louis, MO 63138
Telephone Number: (314)877-6019, Ext 24
The Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is closed to public use from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise daily except for authorized hunting and fishing activities and launching and landing boats. The Visitor Center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; it is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Wednesday through Friday, and from 8 am to 4 pm on weekends.
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The coordinates listed below will take you to some of the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Interpretive Sites. Please stop and read all of the information.
1) 38 49.000 N and 090 10.480 W ---
What is the value of this riparian corridor?
2) 38 49.471 N and 090 09.753 W ---
Here the Missouri nears the end of its journey and will join the Mississippi in almost three miles. What is the listed length of the Missouri’s journey at this point?
3) 38 48.382 N and 090 07.868 W ---
This coordinates takes you to a parking lot. A short walk on the boardwalk (which is also wheelchair accessible) will lead you to an observation deck. What is a river's best friend?
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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