Newsletter of the Parks Association Post Office Box 30036, Columbia, MO 65205

Volume 31, No. 3 November 2013 Susan Flader, Editor Riverways Plan Open for Comments The long-awaited General Manage- ment Plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was finally re- leased November 8 for a 60-day public comment period that ends January 8, 2014. This is the oppor- tunity for which MPA and other conservation and civic organiza- tions have long been waiting, and a high level of citizen participation will be imperative if we are to se- cure a well-managed Riverways for the future. Fortunately, the 512-page plan con- tains a very reasonable range of al- ternatives and reveals that the Na- tional Park Service (NPS) is com- mitted to dealing with the problems that have festered along the River- ways for years, something that was October morning on the Current River. previously in doubt. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers, and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Much of that never happened be- 134 miles of which form the core of From the start it was agreed that cause the park, which had always the long, narrow Riverways park, three crown jewels of the state park been troubled and often neglected were America's first federally pro- system—Round Spring, Alley by higher authorities, fell on espe- tected rivers. The Ozark National Spring, and Big Spring state cially difficult times in the 1990s Scenic Riverways was Congression- parks—would be transferred to the and beyond. The new plan has been ally authorized in 1964, and served National Park Service to become in the offing at least since the turn as a prototype for the National Wild focal points of the new national of the century, but it was not until park. The state retained only 2006 that NPS held "scoping" meet- Extra: Camp Zoe Acquired Montauk, at the headwaters ings, then went silent again. of the Current River, as a MPA has long been interested in the state park. As Heritage was going to press, the Mis- Riverways because of its state park souri Department of Natural Resources an- The Riverways was dedi- roots. When the park division in nounced that it has acquired the beautiful cated in 1973, after most of 2007 acquired (from the Conserva- 330-acre Camp Zoe property on Sinking the necessary land and ease- tion Department) a 780-acre tract Creek east of Highway 19, adjacent to both ments were acquired, but it fronting on the river north of Round Current River State Park and the Roger was not until 1984 that a Spring, MPA held its 2008 annual Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. Although management plan was ap- meeting at Montauk to visit the new plans are still preliminary, part of the prop- proved. It was a good plan, Current River State Park and focus erty will likely be used for a campground but it left most of the details attention on Riverways problems— and other visitor services and to provide a to be worked out in future proliferation of a maze of un- focal point for trails in the region. plans and then implemented. marked, deeply rutted roads and (See "Riverways" on Page 4) Page 2 The Missouri Parks Association President’s Message by Steve Nagel: A Park for All Seasons

There are many tempting state parks from which outstanding hosts all weekend. A comprehensive, to choose our location for MPA’s annual gathering, engaging and informative part of our gathering is the but we traditionally convene where issues and pro- annual State of the Parks report by park director Bill jects are emerging. Once again this was the case Bryan. Newsletter space precludes all the detail and when we met at the newly rebuilt dining lodge at issues he covered, but an emphasis was on the fund- Camp Pin Oak in Lake of the Ozarks State Park Octo- ing situation and marketing strategies to attract youth ber 11-13. and families outdoors to enjoy all that our state parks have to offer. That was followed by a panel to discuss As luck (and planning) would have it, our visit the “wild ride” during the past session of the general coincided with the official dedication of the lodge by assembly and prospects for next year. Former House Governor Nixon at noon on Friday. The governor member and MPA board member Mike Sutherland, was very much at ease talking about Missouri’s state board member Steve Mahfood, and legislative con- parks and made it clear that the completion of the sultant Ginger Steinmetz provided valuable insights lodge was a priority. Attending the ceremony was a on a chaotic but generally successful session. Steve large crowd of park en- thusiasts, media, fami- lies with fond memories of Camp Pin Oak, part- ners and young people who worked on the building, DNR officials, park staff, MPA mem- bers and other guests. Following refresh- ments in the magnifi- cent new building, park staff led the MPA group on an insiders tour of the park with a focus on group camps, camp ground infrastructure, sewer line construction, a recon of the yurts and outpost cabins, and a visit to the airport—the only one in the park system. This is the larg- est park in the system Builders of Pin Oak Lodge with Governor Nixon, Bill Bryan and Sara Pauley. with over 17,600 acres and 180 buildings, so we saw only the north part, re- turning in time for a wonderful dinner courtesy of had just returned from visiting our Missouri delega- Dave Lako and park staff volunteers to inaugurate the tion in Washington D.C. and added personal anec- new dining hall. I was fortunate to have two over- dotes of the government during shut-down. nights in one of the outpost cabins; if you heard a Thanks again to state park staff, our group visited banjo playing around midnight, I’ll confess the log Grand Glaize Beach en route to Ha Ha Tonka, five cabin experience was made for Ozark mountain miles south of Camdenton. From the stone ruins of music. Robert McClure Synder’s “castle” perched high on a MPA members were welcomed Saturday morning bluff, we had a stunning view of the Niangua arm of by park superintendent Bill Arnold who began his the Lake. We then walked along the beautiful cove to career in state parks in 1984. Bill and his staff were the spring, where water rises from 70 feet below. (See "President" on Page 4)

Page 3 The Missouri Parks Association By Deb Schnack (MPA Vice President) with Jane Lale: Park Pioneer Jane Lale After 35 years of service to the sitions in the sphere of park opera- toric CCC-era lodge, beloved by state park system Jane Lale retired tions, eventually serving as program generations of Girl Scouts, had been October 1. Jane and I worked to- director. In 2004 she became direc- struck by lightning and burned to gether on many projects as we pro- tor of the Planning and Develop- the ground on September 3, 2010. gressed through the ranks and pio- ment program. As it happened, Jane herself had neered the way for other women in camped at Pin Oak as a Girl Scout, During nearly a decade in that the field of parks management, and I along with Georganne Wheeler, position, she oversaw all planning am proud to have had her now the wife of Governor as a co-worker and a Jay Nixon. Gov. Nixon friend. Her expertise and personally visited the site, years of institutional with embers still smoking, knowledge will be hard to and vowed it would be re- replace. built. With state park fund- ing at a low ebb, this Jane began her career would prove to be a con- with Missouri state parks siderable challenge. in 1977, working as a sea- sonal and then full-time Jane immediately engaged employee in the admini- planning and development stration of several latter- staff as well as the State day federal youth employ- Historic Preservation Of- ment programs such as the fice (because the entire Youth Conservation Camp Pin Oak is a Na- Corps (YCC) and the tional Register Historic Young Adult Conserva- Jane Lale (center) and other leaders of Lake of the District) in considering all tion Corps (YACC) at Ozarks State Park stand before one of the massive fire- the options for the new places in the new Pin Oak Lodge; l-r, State Park Director Babler and Lake Ozark. building. A decision was Bill Bryan, Superintendent Bill Arnold, Jane Lale, Deputy At Camp Hawthorn in Director Denny Bopp, MPA directors Deb Schnack and reached quickly to rebuild Lake of the Ozarks State Nonnie McClammer. an adaptive replication of Park Jane learned quickly the old lodge (for which the how to organize a new program to and construction for the park sys- original plans still existed in the feed, house (they built their own tem. There were projects both ma- state park archives), on-site, but winterized facilities), and educate jor and minor, notably including the with a larger kitchen wing and patio, young people while also procuring re-creation of Johnsons Shut-ins and adding modern heating and air equipment and supplies for their State Park after the devastating conditioning, ADA accessibility, conservation projects. This experi- breach of the Taum Sauk reservoir and other improvements. ence with young workers and on- in 2005. During her tenure with Within the year and with the the-job training would serve her P&D came the acquisition of new governor’s support, state park offi- well many years later in her final facilities -- Battle of Island Mound, cials forged an innovative partner- and possibly most challenging and Current River, and Don Robinson. ship for funding and workforce with exciting state park project. The Katy Trail was extended to Ma- the Department of Economic Devel- chens and the Rock Island Line to- When funding for the YACC opment (DED) and State Fair Com- ward Kansas City. There were ma- ended in the early 1980s, she be- munity College (SFCC), which of- jor infrastructure improvements and came assistant site administrator at fered training in the building trades minor maintenance and repair pro- First , then and had a satellite campus in Osage jects too numerous to mention. administrator of Confederate Me- Beach near the park. Seeing an un- morial State Historic Site. Later she But, it was her last major chal- paralleled opportunity for their stu- served as assistant superintendent at lenge that brought her full circle dents, State Fair officials secured a Meramec and as superintendent at back to her roots in the state park $1.5 million Community Develop- Pershing State Park before moving system—the reconstruction of the ment Block Grant through DED in to the central office in 1990. In Jef- Camp Pin Oak dining lodge at Lake November 2011 to provide for aca- ferson City, she held a variety of po- of the Ozarks State Park. This his- demic and hands-on training for the (See "Lale" on Page 4)

Page 4 The Missouri Parks Association

("Lale" from Page 3) seventeen students who would work vided a source of large-sized tim- This unique project provided a on the project, as well as funding for bers needed to replicate the original priceless—and perhaps life- four fulltime project instructors and construction. The dining room floor altering—experience for the stu- managers, plus building equipment was fashioned from hundred-year- dents. They acquired social skills and materials. old pine boards located in Maine. and a work ethic, learned responsi- Wood salvaged from the Babler bility and team work, and developed The project was an entirely new blowdown was used for the dining an understanding and appreciation undertaking for all partners in- tables and chairs, built to the origi- of Missouri State Parks. The project volved, but for Jane it was a natural nal CCC specifications, and the carried on the legacy of the CCC era extension of her early experience iconic chandeliers with their pin oak by providing young adults with with YCC and YACC. Jane and her motif were fabricated by an experi- meaningful work, lifetime skills, staff provided architectural and enced metalsmith in Springfield. and pride of accomplishment, assur- landscape design and expertise in Outdoors, the fire ring was rebuilt ing that the camp and its stunning CCC-era construction. Together with local limestone and the rustic new lodge will be enjoyed by Mis- park and college staff found stone- timber benches were made from sal- sourians for years to come. masons to assess which of the origi- vaged trees blown down in the park. nal limestone foundation, fireplace For Jane, the extraordinary chal- Toward the end, members of the and chimney blocks were sound lenge at Camp Pin Oak was not only park system construction crew were enough to be re-used and supple- a return to her roots in Missouri assigned to help finish the job, mented them with new stone found state parks but a fitting capstone to which turned out to be a big plus locally. Massive oaks toppled by a her career. both for them and for the students tornado at pro- who worked beside them.

("President" from Page 2) St. James Winery and the Missouri State Park Foundation have partnered to create a series of wines that celebrate and help to support our amazing state parks. During our Saturday evening reception we had the pleasure of sampling the first two of these collector’s edition wines, the Montauk White and the Johnson Shut-Ins Red. They are currently available on line at: www.MOStateParksWine.com and at: StJamesWin- ery.com. Different parks will be showcased in future bottlings. At dinner we were joined by John Cunning and the “Shoe String Band,” all state park employees who played good ole time Ozark mountain folks songs. Later the campfire ring beckoned us all outdoors where DNR Director Sara Parker Pauley briefed us on DNR initiatives with all of us gathered around the campfire. She then created some magic by asking each person to share how they became involved with parks. At the members meeting after breakfast Sunday morning three former directors were returned to the board—Susan Flader, John Karel, and Terry Whaley—while Ron Kucera and Greg Iffrig were cycled to an advisory role. All four officers were asked to continue: Steve Nagle – President, Deb Schnack – Vice Presi- dent, Julie Townsend – Secretary, and Melissa Hope – Treasurer. The group heard reports on the four UPOPs (Urban Population Outreach Program) and discussed a winter meeting with coordinators to compare notes and look for ways to leverage the programs. New and continuing state park issues discussed at the board meeting included the Corps of Engineers New Madrid Floodway Project; Jameson Island Habitat Restoration; Taum Sauk re-licensing and future directions for the preservation of Church Mountain; and the Draft Management Plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (review period November 8 through January 8)—we encourage everyone to submit a comment. We adjourned at noon, all feeling that our time together was memorable. MPA has a cohesive and dedi- cated team of volunteers. For one and for all we extend our deep gratitude to everyone who helped make the event a success. We especially want to express our sincere appreciation to the dedicated and hard working state park staff and those on the MPA board who planned and arranged logistics for the gathering. Thanks for all you do for our Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites!

Page 5 The Missouri Parks Association ("Riverways" from Page 1) river access points; rampant ATV pated in a two-day stakeholder guide will encourage support of the use along riverbanks, on gravel workshop organized by NPS in substantial NPS effort to produce a bars, and in the rivers; mushroom- 2010, at which most of the partici- balanced range of alternatives that ing of equestrian use on a maze of pants were from the local area, address very real management is- new trails, almost all of them on were pleased to see emerging areas sues. It will also encourage floodplains and criss-crossing the of agreement, including the need thoughtful comments that are re- rivers, with resulting pollution, for better enforcement of existing spectful of others and will bring a sedimentation, and erosion; and regulations and the concept of river good balance of resource protec- many examples of flagrant viola- and land management zones to bet- tion and recreation for future gen- tion of scenic easement provisions ter distribute and minimize over- erations. We encourage all who (see Heritage, August 2008). crowding and conflict among us- care about the Riverways to submit ers. comments by the January 8 MPA directors John Karel and deadline. Greg Iffrig prepared a slide show Although the new plan has already on "Why We Must Save the Cur- been met with strong anti-federal rent River, Again," and the meet- outcries and calls for “no action,” ing led to revival of an earlier most have been by politicians ex- Ed Stegner Friends of Ozark Riverways (FOR) pressing sentiments not unusual in coalition to document the problems the region. FOR leaders believe Ed Stegner, longtime executive and encourage public involvement. that there are many in the area who director of the Conservation Fed- The slide show is now a video that would like to see better manage- eration of Missouri and a staunch can be viewed on the FOR website, ment and enforcement and more advocate for or linked from the MPA website encouragement of a family- parks, passed (under Issues & Action/Current friendly atmosphere. They under- away at his River, which also has other back- stand that visitors to the Riverways home in Pilot ground material). give a tremendous economic boost Grove on Oc- to the otherwise struggling region; tober 25, 2013 When NPS finally issued its pre- the plan reports a 2011 study that at age 88. liminary alternatives for public shows 88.5 percent of visitor Born and comment in Spring 2009, there spending is by non-local people. raised on his was a tremendous chorus, largely Though some may be reluctant to family's farm from the immediate vicinity of the speak out in a charged atmosphere, in Cooper County, he served in the rivers, calling for "no action"— we hope they will submit com- Army Air Corps in World War II, meaning no further regulation— ments. then earned a B.S. in agriculture but it was matched by an equally from the University of Missouri strong upwelling for better man- Friends of Ozark Riverways is pre- and taught vocational agriculture agement, resource protection and paring a citizens guide to the man- before taking over at the Conserva- restoration. It was reportedly the agement plan that will be distrib- tion Federation, a position he held largest outpouring of public com- uted electronically and posted on more than forty years until his re- ment on any NPS issue in recent the FOR, MPA, and other websites tirement in 1994. years except for the Yellowstone along with a short NPS summary winter use controversy. and maps of the alternatives. The At the start Ed was Missouri's The National Park Service has arranged three public only full-time lobbyist for conser- We can ex- vation and the environment. He pect—and in- meetings to explain the plan and answer questions: December 10 at 6pm in Van Buren at the Youth and was instrumental in establishing deed encour- the state's first clean water law, for- age—a similar Community Center; December 11 at 10am in Salem at the City Hall Auditorium; and also December 11 at est stewardship, strip mine regula- level of engage- tion, and funding for local parks ment this time 6pm in St. Louis at the Powder Valley Conservation Center (Kirkwood). You are encouraged to attend. and recreation. He also helped to around, but we secure wilderness areas in the Mis- hope it will not Comments may be submitted until January 8 online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov.comment Form.cfm? souri. He coordinated both the ini- be so dichoto- tiative petition and the election mous. FOR documentID=56208 or by mail to: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 404 Watercress Drive, P.O. Box campaign for Missouri's paceset- leaders and oth- ting 1/8 th percent sales tax in 1976, ers who partici- 490, Van Buren, MO. (See "Stegner" on Page 6)

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("Stegner" from Page 5) which enabled the Department of eral assembly and in the public He is survived by two children, Conservation to acquire signifi- campaign. And when the tax had to four grandchildren, and a great cantly more conservation land and be renewed by initiative petition a grandchild. A memorial celebra- develop education centers and few years later in 1988, Ed was in tion will be held at a later date. other programs for the general pub- the front lines of signature gather- lic, and then tirelessly defended ers. When Governor Ashcroft es- Memorial donations may be both the department and the tax tablished a state park advisory made to the Shriner's Hospital for against attempts to weaken them. board in the late '80s, Ed was one Children, Attn. Development Of- of his first appointees; he contin- fice, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd, Saint When funding for state parks ued to serve on the board as a sage Louis, MO 63131; Conservation was cut to less than half in the and strong voice for parks for fif- Foundation of Missouri for the Ed early 1980s and MPA was formed teen years, long past his retirement Stegner Natural Resources Schol- to advocate for more stable fund- from CFM. arships, C/O Smith Moore, 223 ing, including a parks and soils Main, Boonville, MO 65276: sales tax modeled on the conserva- Ed received major awards for or Conservation Federation of Mis- tion tax, Ed was there again with conservation service from public souri, 728 W. Main Street, Jeffer- his considerable political skills and agencies and professional and citi- son City, MO 65101. his tireless effort both in the gen- zen organizations.