Waterfowl limited for hunters at Duck Creek this season

According to Frank Nelson of the Open Rivers/Wetlands Field Station at the Missouri Dept. of Conservation, the cooler temperatures and recent rainfalls would heighten the anticipation of area duck hunters, along with the southern migration of green-headed ducks to the Bootheel.

"Unfortunately," says Nelson, "we will have to temper our expectations for waterfowl hunting at Missouri Department of Conservation's Duck Creek Conservation Area this year."

Nelson explains, "As many folks know, Duck Creek has been around since the 1950's and is need of some work. Aging infrastructure and sedimentation hamper the ability to move water on and off the area at the appropriate time, which is vital in managing wetlands appropriately."

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Nelson says, is replacing the 50-year-old, water control structure that is located along the Cato levee, north of Duck Creek. This structure supplies water from the Castor River, down Ditch 111 and into Pool 1 at Duck Creek.

"Over time the structure has become decrepit and is no longer operational," Nelson notes. "Needless to say, it was in desperate need of replacement. Work began last month, as two large coffer dams were placed to block the ditch on either side the water control structure. This fall the structure will be replaced. Unfortunately, the completion of this project may not be until March 2010."

This construction project will prevent Duck Creek from taking water from the Castor River during the wettest part of the year and putting it into Pool 1. Duck Creek's Pool 1 has dual purposes. It serves as a water reservoir to flood the timbered hunting units, Pools 2 and 3, as well as a being a well-renown fishing lake. These two purposes do not always complement each and this fall the trade-offs are quite apparent, Nelson says.

"Pool 1 water levels need to remain high enough to prevent a fish kill next summer, which will limit the amount that can be taken out to flood Pools 2 and 3 for waterfowl hunting. Typically, winter rains allow Pool 1 to recharge, but this may be limited due to the Cato water control structure replacement. This fall the management staff will do its best to meet both needs, realizing that the situation is not ideal."

In conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers project, the Missouri Dept. of Conservation is moving forward with their Golden Anniversary Wetland Renovation initiative. A ditch clean-out and replacement of certain water control structures on Duck Creek are slated to occur over the next year. Regrettably, according to Nelson, the involvement of multiple agencies, funding sources, and construction contracts do not allow the Corps to work around waterfowl season. This work may also temporarily reduce access in and around Pools 1, 2, and 3 and the disabled blinds, he says.

"The short-term inconvenience and restrictions are out-weighed by the long-term benefits, as this work will increase the efficiency of water delivery to, through and from the area in the future. Additionally, Duck Creek will not be completely closed to waterfowl hunting as some other MDC wetland areas have been due to previous renovation efforts. With the utilization of pumps we have already begun to flood Units A and B."

Missouri's Youth Hunt will take place this weekend, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. The regular season opener is on Nov. 7. Ten to 12 positions will be available to hunt at the beginning of the season.

Nelson notes that some restrictions may not be as tight as first predicted. "Depending upon the construction progress, local rains, and Pool 1 water levels, hunting restrictions in Pools 2 and 3 may be loosened over the course of the season. However, it is still too early to predict to what degree this might happen."

The renovation work at Duck Creek is long over due, Nelson says, and the Dept. of Conservation asks that hunters and visitors to Duck Creek be patient with the short-term inconveniences of construction while the MDC works to ensure that Duck Creek may continue to play a major role for migratory waterfowl and Missouri waterfowl hunters.

For more information go online at www.MissouriConservation.org/2446 and click on the Duck Creek CA Updates link.