Conservation Department Looking To Partner With County On Stream Crossings

The Missouri Department of Conservation is seeking to partner with Crawford County on stream crossings over the Huzzah Watershed.

Rob Pulliam, a fisheries management biologist, spoke to county commissioners on March 2.

Pulliam said the Nature Conservancy reached out to him to assist on a project that would remove stream barriers for fish.

TNC was awarded a $10,000 grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Services through the fish passage program.

The money can be used to hire an engineering firm that assesses and obtains cost estimes to replace the top 10 fish barriers.

TNC is targeting the Huzzah Watershed due to snuffbox and black sandshell mussels that are found in the Meramec River.

Pulliam said the Huzzah and Courtois watersheds are among the very best watersheds compared to other Meramec sub-watersheds.

There are approximately 24 bridges/stream crossings on the Huzzah that are fish barriers.

Pulliam was looking to create a collaborative list of bridges or crossings that have safety and flooding issues.

However, District 1 Foreman Danny Brown said some of the bridges or crossings have already been repaired or queued up to be replaced.

Crossings at Willhite and Sellers over the Huzzah will be replaced within the next five years.

“We have worked out a deal with the US Forestry Service to fix those crossings,” said Brown, adding that the county’s only contribution will be in-kind labor.

County Clerk John Martin asked what Pulliam’s proposal would cost.

Pulliam said they would look to acquire grants through several different channels.

“I can’t promise you it will come from Pot A, B or C,” Pulliam said. “We’ll look at everything available.”

Martin said the county has already budgeted for its projects and the only contribution it can make is in-kind labor.