Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) hosted a landowner tour on Susan Wallach’s farm near Bourbon, Mo. The Callahan/Wallach farm lies in the Little Bourbeuse watershed in Crawford County. Susan is one of 12 farmers who participated in a Best Management Practices program funded in part by National Fish Habitat Action Plan demonstration project dollars. The program was delivered by MDC fisheries and private lands staff. Additional funds were provided by MDC, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Farm Services Agency. Best Management Practices witnessed on the farm during the tour included: fencing cattle from the creek, providing alternative water supply, adding reinforced stream crossings and planting trees, shrubs and native warm season grasses.

The purpose of the tour was to introduce landowners in the Dry Fork sub-watershed to the practices and staff who could make it possible for them. The Little Bourbeuse landowner panel has been so successful; MDC will be duplicating the framework in this priority sub-watershed of the Meramec River system. Columbia NFWCO supported the Dry Fork watershed by providing funds to begin on-the-ground work

It was encouraging to see the Little Bourbeuse landowners and hear the positive things they had to say about the Best Management Practices on their farms. This group of landowners started their landowner panel & watershed focus several years ago with the assistance of a FWS challenge cost share grant. They’re positive experience with FWS is why the farmers voted in support of pursuing our demonstration project dollars. It was great to see how far they’ve come!