Meramec Conservation Area

Meramec Conservation Area consists of 3,938 acres (15.94 km2) in southern Franklin County, Missouri. It is located southeast of the town of Sullivan and bordered to the south by Missouri Route 185 and to the west by the Meramec River and Meramec State Park. It is part of the Meramec Greenway, which is over 28,000 acres (110 km2) of public land along the Meramec River.[1]

Meramec Conservation Area
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Lone Hill Onyx Cave in Meramec Conservation Area
Map showing the location of Meramec Conservation Area
Map showing the location of Meramec Conservation Area
LocationFranklin County, Missouri, United States
Nearest citySullivan, MO
Coordinates38°13′50″N 91°04′15″W
Area3,938 acres (15.9 km2)
Governing bodyMissouri Department of Conservation
Official website

Most of the land that comprises the Meramec Conservation Area was acquired by the state between 1925 and 1930. A donation of 166 acres (0.67 km2) was made in 1980 by Dorothy Hill in memory of Arthur Heyne. Historic sites in the area include the first state nursery, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, Lone Hill fire lookout tower, as well as old mines. The area is hills that are mostly forested as well as a great blue heron rookery.[2]

The Woodland Trail is a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) disabled-accessible trail along the river bottom that passes by Lone Hill Onyx Cave, one of six caves in the conservation area. There is also a 0.1 miles (0.16 km) CCC trail, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) Reedville Loop hiking trail, and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) multi-use trail open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Hunting, trapping, and fishing are permitted with permits and in season in most of the conservation area except for the wildlife refuge. As of December 31, 2012 all caves on public lands in Missouri, including those in Meramec Conservation Area, are closed to the general public due to white nose syndrome.[3]

  • A pond in Meramec Conservation Area
    A pond in Meramec Conservation Area

References
  1. "Meramec Greenway". Meramec Greenway. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  2. "Meramec Conservation Area". Missouri Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  3. "White-Nose Syndrome in Missouri". Missouri Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
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