Sedalia Receives Management Proposal From MDC Concerning Spring Fork Lake

Jake Willard, district supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) presented a proposal to City Council Monday night.

Willard proposed that the MDC enter into a cooperative agreement with the City to take over management of Spring Fork Lake at no cost to the City.

The agreement would last one year, with the option of renewing that agreement for four more years, Willard said. A reassessment would follow at the end of that five year period.

He explained that the MDC owns Paint Brush Prairie, one of the highest volume prairies in the state. It is located southwest of the Spring Fork property, which includes the 115-acre lake.

Sedalia used to get its drinking water from Spring Fork many years ago, but doesn’t any more. It is mainly used now for recreation.

There have been some attempts to sell the property surrounding the lake, owned by the City of Sedalia, but those deals eventually fell through.

Willard said that the MDC is currently in the process of acquiring more property adjacent to Spring Fork.

“Another reason is this property the City owns has great potential to be excellent wildlife habitat and provide excellent recreational opportunities as well,” Willard said.

He emphasized that management of forest, fish and wildlife “is what we do.”

The MDC can see the three properties merge and improve wildlife habitat activity for a wide range of species.

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A series of photos that Willard took shows a lot of undergrowth at Spring Fork. He suggested clearing a lot of that away so that more sunlight can reach the ground. Currently, the large number of hardwood saplings and cedar trees on the property limits the amount of food that would normally be available for wildlife to thrive.

Another photo showed how eastern red cedar dominates the west wide of the Spring Fork property. “It’s a native species in Missouri, but without management, it tends to take over,” Willard told the Council.

He then showed an example of properly managed woodlands near Stover at Big Buffalo Creek Conservation Area.

“It gives us a head start in getting where we want to be.” Willard noted. “What we’re trying to do is emulate the processes that were in place prior to European settlement. Native Americans burned a LOT,” Willard said. “Why do you think they did? Because it promotes wildlife, and that’s how they subsisted.

Following Willard’s presentation, Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Bloess asked if the MDC would manage the property for free.

Willard responded in the positive. “You know, none of the services we offer cost the landowner anything, because you’re already paying for it, right? An eighth of a cent sales tax. What our objective is, is to improve forest, fish and wildlife across the state. And if warranted, yes, you know, there’s a not a great deal of high quality timber out there, but in those areas where there are, it may be warranted to have a harvest. And MDC would assist the City just as they would a private landowner.” Willard said.

This was in response to Bloess, who suggested that some of the land at Spring Fork should generate revenue.

“We would go out and mark the timber for harvest, set up a bid and develop a contract with the City, and administer that contract for the City,” Willard said.

Council is expected to consider the MDC’s proposal at its next meeting, which will be on a Tuesday, one day after Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.