NATURAL AREAS CONFERENCE
Conference Trips
1.
Meramec River - Freshwater Mussels and Aquatic Life:
The Meramec River is one of the few remaining free-flowing,
large rivers in the Midwest. In the mid to late 1970's, conservationists
challenged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and stopped the
construction of a dam that would have created a reservoir in
the middle reaches of the river. This river is home to almost
2/3 of Missouri's 65 mussel species and contains the most diverse
mussel assemblage of any Missouri river. Dr. Chris Barnhart,
a mussel researcher, and others will lead a six to seven hour
canoe trip exploring the variety of aquatic life in the river
while enjoying the beauty of an Ozark fall day. We will stop
at several known mussel beds, giving participants the opportunity
to search for mussels, fish and crayfish by wading, and for
the adventurous, by snorkeling. Additionally, in the event of
extremely cold or inclement weather and no one wants to get
wet, we will have specimens collected prior to the trip available
for viewing. Participants should wear clothing and shoes that
can get wet and be prepared to wade or swim. Lunch and snacks
will be provided on the river.
Maximum Number of People: 20
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way:1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate float trip
Required Equipment: Clothes to get wet in, change of
clothes, water shoes, dry bag; mask and snorkel are optional,
some will be provided to share
2. St. Louis Riverfront Geology
Tour: This urban geology walking tour offers
participants an interesting historical/geological perspective
of the St. Louis riverfront. A brief overview of St. Louis geology
will be offered. No natural outcrops remain in the field trip
area, so participants will examine the stone and geologic materials
used to construct about 12 major buildings and structures. At
each stop, the stone and its source will be identified when
possible; mining, masonry, or construction techniques described;
suitability of the stone discussed; and historical perspective
offered. While the field trip area is small, the diversity of
geologic materials is great: more than 20 different kinds of
rock (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic) from 7 states and
one foreign country, as well as structural cast iron and two
kinds of brick. Buildings range in age from 1831 to the early
1900's. Participants will walk a total of about two miles.
Maximum Number of People: 30
Length: 1/2 day
Travel Time One-way: 30 minutes
DifficultyMinimal to moderate walk of 2 miles
Required Equipment: Comfortable shoes, rain gear
3.
Missouri Botanical Garden: The Missouri
Botanical Garden is not just one of the premier horticultural
institutions in the United States, it is also a major center
of botanical research. Participants will get a tour of the Garden's
Monsanto Research Center, where research staff curate one of
the largest herbaria in the world and conduct inventories and
conservation programs of both local and international scope.
Then, there will be an orientation of the main grounds, followed
by plenty of time to explore on your own. Participants need
to wear comfortable shoes for walking and be prepared for the
possibility of rain. Conference attendees who wish to make more
extensive use of the herbarium facilities should contact George
Yatskievych (314-577-9522; george.yatskievych@mobot.org)
in advance.
Maximum Number of People: 45
Length: Afternoon only
Travel Time One-way: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment:Comfortable shoes, rain gear
4.
Mississippi River Mussel Sampling Trip:
There are close to 300 mussel species found in North American.
Of these, over half are either extinct, watch listed, or listed
as endangered or threatened (federal and state). The Upper Mississippi
River System (main stem) has historically hosted 50 species
of mussels. At present, approximately 30 species remain extant
in the river. Because of the mussels' ecological importance
and their plight, resource managers are beginning to take an
active interest in these "often ignored" animals.
This field trip will serve as not only a lesson in mussel biology
and modern sampling techniques but also as a glimpse into the
history of human utilization of mussels and harvesting practices.
Participants will experience, among other things using a brail,
live mussel identification, "grubbing" (sampling shallow
areas using feet and hands), and the beauty of being on the
Mississippi River. Participants should bring clothing appropriate
for the weather conditions. Chest waders or hip boots are optional.
Maximum Number of People: 13
Length: Afternoon only
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/4 hours
Difficulty: MInimal to moderate
Required Equipment: Clothes and shoes to get wet; change
of clothes, chest waders and hip boots optional
5. Onondaga Cave State Park:
Onondaga Cave State Park, managed by the Missouri Department
of Natural Resources, is most noted for Onondaga Cave, a National
Natural Landmark. This field trip, however, will be visiting
two of the other outstanding natural features of this 1,300-acre
park, Cathedral Cave and Vilander Bluff Natural Area. Cave temperature
is about 57F (13C). We will be outside during both the hike
to Cathedral Cave and at Vilander Bluff. Vilander Bluff does
not have a developed hiking trail. Dress appropriately for hiking
two to three miles and for the weather.
Maximum Number of People: 30
Length:Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 3/4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Required Equipment: Flashlight, hiking boots, rain gear,
long pants
6. Tour of Shaw Arboretum's Natural
Community Restoration and Reconstruction Projects:
Shaw Arboretum, a nature reserve of the Missouri Botanical Garden,
is located in Gray Summit, Missouri, about 40 miles from downtown
St. Louis. The 2,400-acre Shaw Arboretum is a National Environmental
Education Landmark and offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails
through Ozark border landscape, environmental education classes
for children and adults, and numerous natural community restoration
and construction projects. This field trip will focus on Shaw
Arboretum's 20-year-old tallgrass prairie and three-year-old
wetland construction projects, and dolomite glade and woodland
restoration projects. In addition, participants can enjoy Shaw
Arboretum's museum on the history of land use in the Meramec
River Valley, Whitmire Wildflower Garden, and Osage Garden.
Maximum Number of People: 40
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Required Equipment: Hiking apparel, rain gear, day pack
7. Confluence Canoe Trip:
This full day canoe trip begins on the Missouri River 17 miles
above its confluence with the Mississippi River and ends at
the junction of these two great and historic waterways at Columbia
Bottom Conservation Area. Your guides will be two itinerant
river rats masquerading as MDC Natural History Regional Biologists.
Just downriver from our put-in, we'll stop and explore Pelican
Island Natural Area, which features a large sand and gravel
bar in addition to other Big River communities still recovering
from the Great Flood of 1993. We'll have lunch on Cora Island,
where Captain Clark and the Corps of Discovery spent their first
night on the Missouri River on their way to rendezvous with
Captain Lewis at St. Charles. We'll wrap up the trip by riding
the waters of the muddy Missouri into the mighty Mississippi,
beaching the canoes on the sands of Columbia Bottom. Participants
will have the opportunity to help carry canoes up the river
bank and back to the trailer, approximately 200 yards. Canoes,
paddles, life vests, foam cushions, and a chase boat will be
provided. Weather is variable and may be cooler on the river,
so participants should dress accordingly - watch the Weather
Channel before leaving the motel! A hat and sunscreen are recommended.
Personal gear such as sunglasses, binoculars, camera, wallet,
and other valuables should be kept in a dry bag, waterproof
waist pack, etc. Dry bags will not be provided. This is not
a field trip for beginners; participants need to know how to
handle a canoe and how to swim. A brief discussion of Big
River "do's and don't's" will be provided at the put-in
site. In the event of severe weather or high water, the trip
will be canceled.
The Missouri DNR is currently operating Cathedral Cave as a
show cave with a lantern tour. It was previously open to the
public under private ownership in both the 1930's and the 1970's.
At present, only about 1500 people per year visit Cathedral
Cave, so the wildlife is more in evidence than in a more heavily
traveled cave. The morning will feature a tour of Cathedral
Cave (on a trail - no technical spelunking) and we will discuss
the management of a cave as a natural system. This discussion
will include: the Cathedral Cave Missouri (CCM) Seismic Station
which is in the cave; attempts to restore the cave environment
by manipulating the cave's entrances (one natural, two artificial);
a cave restoration project where volunteer cavers are removing
old concrete, wiring, and other litter, and attempting to repair
broken speleothems.
Lunch will be at the Park's Visitor Center where the readout
end of the CCM Station can be viewed along with other park and
cave-related exhibits.
After lunch, we will travel to the Vilander Bluff Natural Area,
a satellite unit of the Onondaga Cave State Park, which lies
seven miles downstream from the main unit. The Meramec River
passes through the 206-acre Vilander Bluff NA, which also contains
one of the most prominent and impressive vertical cliff exposures
in the Upper Ozarks Section and undoubtedly the highest along
the Meramec River. The course of the river is an excellent example
of an incised meander, and the bluff is home to virgin eastern
red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) stands that are more
than 300 years old. These cedars host a disjunct population
of Flavoparmeila rutidota, a lichen which is known from
only two other sites in Missouri. The area is also the type
locality for another lichen, Punctelia missourienses.
The area contains a variety of natural communities including
cliffs, talus, forests, savannas, and caves. It contains a Blue
Heron rookery and is home to a number of species of concern
for all or part of the year.
Maximum Number of People: 30
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Required Equipment: Clothin for canoeing, hat, sunglasses,
sunscreen, dry bag
8. Victoria
Glades: Victoria glades are components of a large
glade system located just southwest of St. Louis. The harsh
glade environment created by the shallow soils overlying dolomite
bedrock supports a unique flora and fauna. Large populations
of the sporadically distributed Fremont's leather flower occur
in the area. Other interesting plants include blue wild indigo,
American aloe, downy gentian, silky aster, and blazing-star.
A well-represented glade fauna includes collared lizards, tarantulas,
plains scorpions, and black widows. On-going management includes
cedar felling and prescribed burns. Participants can expect
to spend five to six hours exploring the glades and should wear
long pants, sturdy boots, and bring water and insect repellant.
Lunch will be provided on site. Hiking will be moderately difficult.
Maximum Number of People: 24
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty:Moderate
Required Equipment: Water bottle, long pants, sturdy
boots, rain gear, day pack, insect repellent
9. Southwestern Illinois Sinkhole Plain: The
Sinkhole Plain covers about 1,228 square miles in southwestern
Illinois, including most of Monroe County, and parts of St.
Clair, Randolph, and Madison Counties. The landscape is riddled
with underground cracks, crevices, and caves. The surface is
pocked with sinkholes numbering an average of 230 per square
mile; over 10,000 in all. This field trip will tour the sinkhole
plain and view some of the threats to groundwater contamination
that are present in the area. A stop will be made at Falling
Spring, a large karst spring in St. Clair County. Camp Vandeventer
will be visited. This is a Natural Area Inventory Site with
springs, caves, and a large karst window. The final stop of
the day will be a trip to Illinois Caverns. The cave tour will
be led by the Illinois Caverns Site Interpreter and other Illinois
DNR staff. The cave passage is muddy and slippery. Participants
will need to bring clothing and footwear suitable for walking
in water and slick conditions. They will also need 3 dependable
sources of light and a hard hat.
Maximum Number of People: 24
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Minimal to moderate
Required Equipment: Hard hat, headlamp, clothes to get
muddy in, change of clothes, boots with good soles, two other
sources of light, day pack
10. Pere Marquette State Park:
Journey along the Alton Palisades and the Mississippi River
as we view diverse habitats that make up the Big Rivers Resource
Rich Area of southwest central Illinois. Following an introduction
of the site, we will hit the trails at Pere Marquette State
Park. The trail will ascend up the hill along the limestone
bluff and mature oak-hickory forest to spectacular views of
the Illinois River valley. Look for migrating raptors and waterfowl
as we survey the loess hill prairies on top of the bluff. We
will discuss natural and man-made forces that influence vegetation
on the site and efforts that natural area managers are implementing
to stabilize and reduce the loss of hill prairie. This site
is rich in geologic and archaeological studies, so those aspects
will be explored. We will hike for 2 hours in steep terrain
but will stop frequently. Wear comfortable but sturdy shoes
and dress in layers as temperatures could be from the 40's to
80F. Bring binoculars and any field gear you wish to carry.
Maximum Number of People: 24
Length: 3/4 day, mostly hiking
Travel Time One-way: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Required Equipment: Sturdy hiking boots, rain gear,
day pack
11. Fults Hill Prairie and Kidd
Lake Marsh: Fults Hill Prairie Nature Preserve,
located in Monroe County, Illinois, encompasses one of the largest
complexes of high quality loess hill prairie remaining in Illinois.
The site is home to a variety of plants and animals rare or
absent elsewhere in Illinois. Located atop the steep southwest-facing
Mississippi River bluffs, Fults Hill Prairie is a physically-challenging
destination, but the sights are worth the effort. We will examine
the vegetation of prairie, forest, and glade communities and
discuss management issues and strategies. We will have lunch
on the prairie where we have a spectacular view of the Mississippi
Valley and can watch for hawks and vultures traveling along
the bluff line. After the prairie hike, we will explore the
edges of Kidd Lake Marsh at the base of the Fults bluffs. This
wetland provides a refuge for waterfowl and a good opportunity
to see some interesting birds. All participants should be prepared
for a somewhat strenuous hike by bringing sturdy shoes, water,
and a pack for personal belongings.
Maximum Number of People: 15
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Required Equipment: Hiking boots, day pack, water bottle
12. Fisher and Mushroom Caves:
Cave ecologists Bill Elliott and David Ashley will lead a tour
of Fisher Cave, which has a good trail, pointing out several
species of bats, salamanders, invertebrates, speleothems, and
other natural features. There may be an opportunity for a bit
of off-trail caving. After lunch, we will explore Mushroom Cave,
which requires wading in a shallow stream. We will see bats,
pickerel frogs, salamanders, isopods, and amphipods. Both caves
are protected with special gates, which will prompt discussion
of management methods for the protection of cave resources.
Examples of cave studies in Missouri will be presented.
Maximum Number of People: 20
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult caving
Required Equipment: HIking boots you don't mind getting
muddy and wet, long pants or coveralls, change of clothes, 4
alkaline AA batteries, 2 sources of light, water bottle, day
pack
13. Katy Trail Interpretive Bike
Ride: Participants will explore the Missouri
River Valley and Ozark Border woodlands including the Weldon
Spring Hollow Natural Area. Participants will enjoy a 10.5 mile
bike ride from Augusta (rich in German-American culture) to
the Weldon Spring Conservation Area via Katy Trail State Park,
the longest rail-trail conversion currently open in the U.S.
Transportation will depart the hotel at 9am and will travel
approximately 40 minutes (via US Hwy 40 west and MO Hwy 94 west)
to Augusta. Bike rental arrangements are made with the Touring
Cyclist. Participants will travel the nearly level Katy Trail
to Weldon Spring, arriving around noon for box lunches. A short
walk into the Weldon Spring Hollow Natural Area will allow everyone
to stretch his or her legs from the ride, before returning via
bike at 2pm. Transportation departs Augusta around 3:50pm and
returns to the hotel at 4:30pm.
Maximum Number of People: 25
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 hour
Difficulty: Moderate
Required Equipment: Clothing appropriate for biking,
rain gear, day pack
14. Glades Galore:
Danville and Graham Cave Glades, located a few miles north and
south of I-70 in Montgomery County, offer excellent examples
of managed and protected glade habitats. Mike Leahy, Regional
Biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation will lead
you on a 2-mile loop through Danville CA to show you several
natural communities. Foremost are limestone glades that support
plant communities of little bluestem, side oats gramma, pale
purple coneflower, aromatic aster, and the state- listed prairie
dandelion. In addition, you will see limestone and sandstone
woodlands, small sandstone overhangs with Forbe's saxifrage,
and headwater creeks with heart-leaved plantain. Participants
will spend two hours roaming these habitats observing the flora
and fauna then continue on to Graham Cave State Park for lunch
and a tour. Wallace Keck, District Interpreter for the Department
of Natural Resources, will provide interpretation on site at
Graham Cave State Park. Graham Cave is the site of prehistoric
human occupation over 10,000 years ago and is a National Historic
Landmark. The park also features excellent sandstone and dolomite
glades. The group will participate in a fall species inventory,
as well as a search for Mountain Spleenwort, and a variety of
Ladies Tresses previously identified from the area and now possibly
extirpated. The tour includes 1.5 miles of hiking to special
areas. Participants should bring a day pack to carry their box
lunch and field study tools (binoculars, field guides, notebooks,
etc.).
Maximum Number of People: 24
Length: Ful day
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: moderate
Required Equipment: HIking boots, rain gear, water bottel,
day pack
15. Urban Natural Areas in North
City St. Louis: The North City neighborhoods
of St. Louis contain the largest amount of open space and natural
areas in the city. These neighborhoods also are the heart of
the city's black community and the focus of ongoing debates
about what is needed to form a sustainable community. Spend
a pleasant fall day visiting five sites that show a range of
opportunities for natural area management in inner city neighborhoods
and learn about grass roots efforts to involve local residents
in management projects on these unique sites. Our trip will
start at the Pruitt-Igoe housing project site, a large ruderal
site that has developed into a significant wildlife habitat.
We will visit one of the largest open spaces in the city formed
by O'Fallon Park, Bellefontaine Cemetery, and Calvary Cemetery,
a 400-ha area that includes a remnant prairie and extensive
patches of remnant forest. Following lunch we will hike on Riverfront
Trail. This trail provides access to floodplain forests along
the Missouri River, abandoned industrial areas, and railroad
right-of-ways that have become important habitat for grassland
birds, and sites that have been the focus of restoration efforts
by local residents and businesses. Throughout the trip, we will
learn how these five sites have been central to grassroots efforts
to provide day-to-day contact with nature, develop sustainable
communities, and to encourage locally- based economic development.
Maximum Number of People: 23
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 hour
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment: Comfortable shoes, day pack
16. Riverlands Project and Marais
Temps Clair Conservation Area:
Relax and enjoy a guided auto tour led by Missouri Department
of Conservation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff. Participants
will view wetland wildlife and learn about wetland habitat management
in Missouri. Marais Temps Clair CA was once part of an expansive
marsh ranging from St. Charles, MO, to Alton, IL. In French,
Marais Temps Clair means "fair weather marsh." The
Marais Temps Clair marsh is an old oxbow of the Missouri River
and was formed prior to the arrival of European settlers. It
is located in a river floodplain, and serves as a resting and
feeding place for waterfowl. Participants will then be led on
a tour of the Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area (EDA),
a 1,200-acre prairie-marsh restoration area located adjacent
to the Melvin Price Locks and Dam near Alton, IL. The Rivers
Project, established in 1988 by the USACE, recognizes and manages
the multi-purpose use of 110,000 acres of public lands and water.
The EDA exemplifies a balanced management approach between sustaining
the river as a nationally significant transportation corridor
and recognizing the environmental attributes of the area. The
project utilizes the river's continuing influence to create
a bottomland-wet prairie and marsh akin to that, which existed
prior to settlement of the area. While visiting the Rivers Project,
one of the Natural Resource Specialists will guide you, stopping
at areas with significant features. Participants will have the
opportunity to discuss the development of restoration projects
in an informal setting throughout the tour, with a formal question
and answer session at the Riverlands Environmental Learning
Facility following. While no special equipment will be needed,
participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for being
outdoors in the weather, and to wear comfortable shoes. For
the outdoor enthusiast, bring a pair of binoculars or spotting
scope, as Riverlands EDA is locally and nationally recognized
for wildlife viewing opportunities.
Maximum Number of People: 23
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 3/4 hour
Difficulty: MInimal
Required Equipment: comfortable shoes, rain gear
17. Weldon Spring Conservation Area:
Weldon Spring Conservation Area is located west
of St. Louis near the town of Weldon Spring, Missouri. It is
part of a 16,918 acre contiguous tract of public land. The area
is rich in natural features: in addition to the Missouri River
with its rugged limestone cliffs, the area contains a unique
385-acre natural area that will be the primary focus of this
trip. The NA has dry limestone cliffs and bluff escarpments
that extend one mile along the Missouri River. Participants
will have the opportunity to explore the area and observe some
of its diverse plant community..
Maximum Number of People: 23
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 hour
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment: Walking shoes, rain gear, day pack
18. Managing the Meramec's Mosaic:
Since its establishment in 1926, the 7,000 acres of Meramec
State Park have been a haven for Ozark biodiversity. We will
begin our exploration of its diverse habitats by canoeing into
the park on its most spectacular resource, the Meramec River.
Although the Meramec is considered suitable for beginning canoeists,
the weather will probably be unsuitable for getting wet. Consequently,
this trip is recommended for experienced canoeists.
During our float, we will examine and discuss some of the river's
125 fish species, 44 mussel species, 9 turtle species, and various
other aquatic faunas. Participants will have the opportunity
to learn how to use casting nets to sample fish in a portion
of the river that we will be nominating as part of a new 400
acre natural area.
We will also be hiking to the top of Butterfly Bluff and exploring
a half-mile of the glades and savannas also being nominated.
Here, we will look at mammals, scorpions, reptiles, vegetation,
and the management practices used to enhance and maintain the
area's rich biodiversity. The finale will be a stop at the site
where the Meramec Dam was under construction, and we'll discuss
the environmental movement that shut down the dam and kept the
river unshackled. The temperature in October on the river may
vary between 40 and 80 F, so participants should bring appropriate
clothing, as well as sturdy shoes for the hike up to the bluff.
Cameras, binoculars, wallets, and other personal items should
be carried in a dry bag; dry bags will not be provided.
Maximum Number of People: 30
Length: Full days
Travel Time One-way:1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Required Equipment: Clothes and shoes to hike in and/or
get wet, rain gear, dry bag, change of clothes
19. Forrest Keeling Nursery and
NRCS Plant Materials Center Tour: At Forrest
Keeling Nursery, you will see a multi-step tree production program
built around a system of air root pruning to solve problems
associated with a wide variety of very desirable but traditionally
difficult to grow oaks. This system (RPM) has accelerated the
growth of oaks to grow as fast as native trees such as ash or
locust, plus acorn prodution has been observed on many 3-year
old planted trees. At the NRCS pPlant Material Center, you will
get to see first-hand conservation plant research for Missouri,
Iowa and Illinois. Many varieties of woody plants and warm season
grasses have been developed at this site. Learn how this can
help restore natural areas to historical conditions.
Maximum Number of People: 40
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way:1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment: Comfortable shoes, rain gear
20.
Lincoln Hills Natural Area/Cuivre River State Park:
The Lincoln Hills Natural Area, within Cuivre River State
Park, is a large and diverse example of the Lincoln Hills landscape
within the St. Louis metropolitan region. This field trip will
look at some of the research, restoration management, and threats
dealt with in attempting to protect a large natural area in
a fragmented landscape near a large urban area. Research includes
birds, deer, and invertebrates. Management issues include exotic
species control, prescribed burns, and deer. Participants should
wear clothes and footware appropriate for light to moderate
hiking.
Maximum Number of People: 45
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Minimal to moderate
Required Equipment: Sturdy hiking shoes or boots, rain
gear
21.
Big River Fish Sampling: Fisheries sampling
gears will be demonstrated on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers
near Grafton, IL. Participants will be on board boats for electrofishing
and netting demonstrations. This trip will highlight the diversity
of the fish communities in this unique natural area. Participants
will meet at Beasley's Fish Market after the trip for a lunch
of fresh river fish.
Maximum Number of People: 15
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 1 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment: Clothes and shoes appropriate for
boating, rain gear
22. Wine Country Tour: We
will depart from the hotel in St. Louis and take an informal,
relaxing trip to explore the wine country of Augusta, Missouri.
A visit to Augusta offers a scenic enjoyment that is just as
plentiful as the wines you'll be tasting. The Augusta wine area
has the distinction of being the first designated wine district
in America. The vineyards, nestled in the rolling hills along
the banks of the Missouri River, have been recognized for their
superior quality of grapes since the 1800's. You will be provided
a continental breakfast in route to the wineries. Then, you
will be able to visit three wineries, enjoy a delightful lunch
at one of the wineries, and be back in St. Louis in time for
dinner.
Maximum Number of People: 20
Length: 3/4 day
Travel Time One-way: 3/4 hour
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment: Comfortable shoes, taste buds, valid
drivers license
23. Geology and Natural Communities
in the St. Francois Mountains:
The St. Francois Mountains region is unique geologically
and in terms of natural communities. The region is a geologic
terrain made up of exposed knobs of 1.4 billion year old igneous
rocks surrounded by later dolomite and sandstone. This geologic
terrain supports the unique St. Francois Knobs and Basins Ecoregion
of the Ozark Highlands. Sites on this field trip will explore
the interrelationships of underlying geology and natural communities.
Protection of the geology and ecosystems of these sites will
be a feature of the trip.
Hughes Mountain Natural Area features igneous glades and upland
oak-hickory-cedar forest. Nicknamed the "Devil's Honeycomb",
the rhyolite bedrock exhibits polygonal jointing unique in Missouri.
Little bluestem, prickly pear cactus, rushfoil, pine weed and
rough buttonweed are common glade plants. The site is managed
by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Elephant Rock State Park (a geologic natural area) will be our
scenic site for lunch. Elephant Rocks is a granite tor (or knob-like
exposure) formed by active geological weathering processes.
The Graniteville granite, exposed at the surface, weathered
along vertical and horizontal joint planes. Weathering formed
the "elephants", or residual boulders of granite,
as well as natural depressions. The site is home to oak- hickory
forest and shrubby barrens.
Millstream Gardens is another natural area controlled by the
underlying geology. The igneous shut-ins are part of the St.
Francis River Natural Area. The spectacular stretch of shut-ins
are a significant geological feature. The St. Francis River
supports a great variety of life, including the rare eastern
slim minnow and several species of crayfish.
Maximum Number of People: 23
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 2 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Required Equipment: Sturdy hiking shoes, rain gear,
day pack
24. Ancient Geology and Glacial
Relicts of the LaMotte Sandstone Region: The LaMotte Sandstone region contains the oldest
sedimentary rock in Missouri. Hickory Canyons Natural Area,
Hawn State Park, and Pickle Springs NA are three places to view
the unique geologic features and glacial relict plants characteristic
of this area. Field trip participants will spend time at each
of these sites to help give them a landscape perspective on
the unique features of this region. A geologist will accompany
the field trip to explain the sandstone formation and point
out other geologic features of note such as the igenous rock
outcrops along Pickle Creek. Plants associated with more northern
climates, presumable brought during the Ice Age, can be viewed
here. Participants will eat lunch at Hawn State Park. They should
wear sturdy walking shoes and may want to bring a loupe or binoculars.
Maximum Number of People: 30
Length: Full day
Travel Time One-way: 2 hours
Difficulty: Minimal to moderate
Required Equipment: Sturdy walking shoes/boots, rain
gear, day pack
25. Historical
St. Louis: What was the St. Louis area like before
European settlement? How did this landscape influence patterns
of settlement and industrial development? Join us as we visit
some local sites that offer glimpses into the past character
of the landscape and its role in shaping local history. Learn
how the fabric of our landscape has shaped our heritage and
how people have always played a role in shaping the post-ice
age landscape. This program will be a bus tour with several
stops for walking trips.
Maximum Number of People: 30
Length: 3/4 day
Travel Time One-way: bus tour
Difficulty: Minimal
Required Equipment: Walking shoes
26. LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond
Research Natural Area:
This full-day trip will be a natural history sampler
at one of the outstanding NAs in the Midwest. This 2585-acre
RNA on the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois is known
for its plant and animal diversity, dramatic limestone bluffs,
dry-to-xeric oak-hickory-pine woodlands and swamps. At each
of several stops, researchers will join the group to share their
findings about forest changes following prescribed burns, insect
life histories, nesting habits of wood ducks and snake diversity.
This area is also well-known for the migration of snakes between
their summer habitats in the bottomlands and their winter hibernacula
in the limestone hills and sightings on the "snake road"
are possible. Lunch stop is atop the massive limestone bluffs
overlooking the Mississippi River flood plain and its complexes
of marshes, shrub swamps and deepwater sloughs. An optional,
rugged hike will ascend the bluff from the bottomlands along
a trail.
Maximum Number of People: 12
Travel Time One-way: 3 hours (early departure; return
after 6 pm)
Difficulty: Some walking in the woods, on roads; optional
hike strenuous on uneven terrain.
Required Equipment: Hiking boots and clothing ,day pack,
water bottle
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