The missouri department of conservation is working closely with ozark land trust and other partners to assist them with acquisition of 80 acres of land that includes two key cave entrances eight…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $800,000 Project Grant under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.615) to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to assist with the acquisition of 80 acres of land in Missouri. This land includes two key cave entrances, eight sinkholes, and provides important watershed protection to the headwaters of the Moore Cave System, which is critical habitat for the endangered and county endemic Grotto Sculpin. The grant will enable MDC to work with partners like the Ozark Land Trust to permanently protect this biologically significant property from residential development, thereby securing the integrity of the cave system and associated aquatic habitats. The project aims to convert agricultural land into a mosaic of natural communities, provide public education opportunities related to cave and karst ecosystems, and ensure controlled access for monitoring the Grotto Sculpin and other sensitive wildlife species.

The missouri department of conservation is working closely with ozark land trust and other partners to assist them with acquisition of 80 acres of land that includes two key cave entrances eight sinkholes and provides important watershed protection to the headwaters of the moore cave system and aquatic habitat for the endangered and county endemic grotto sculpin. The biological importance of this cave system these cave entrances and this property has long been recognized by federal state and local partners.due to the immediate adjacency of this tract to the city limits of perryville and its projected path of for northward expansion and being located on the fringe of ST. Louis metropolitan area this property is significantly threatened by expanding residential development thereby increasing the need for immediate and permanent protection for its conservation values. Management decisions on the property under current ownership have been relatively conservation friendly but the landowner wishes to sell the property soon and could do so to another buyer if we are not able to help OLT secure acquisition. If the property is not purchased and protected for conservation use IT is likely to be subdivided and developed for homesites.because this property lies in a key location within MDC cave and karst conservation opportunity area adjacent to the city of perryville and a rapidly growing population center and in the headwaters for the moore cave system and its associated underground stream IT is important to maintain the integrity of the sinkholes and cave entrances on this property while converting agriculture ground on the property into a mosaic of natural communities that once dominated this landscape. In addition to habitat protection and wildlife diversity benefits given the adjacency of this tract to the city of perryville this project also offers valuable opportunity to connect citizens to nature and to provide educational opportunities related to cave and karst habitats and important wildlife diversity needs and efforts underway. Additionally the project will help secure and regulate access to the cave system ensuring biologist access for monitoring purposes and ensuring other access is respectful of the needs of grotto sculpin and other sensitive wildlife species. We anticipate TCF and OLT entering into a contract with the willing seller to purchase this property at the appraised value.