The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is seeking feedback about its nearly 1,000 conservation areas around the state. Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City is among the areas under review.
MDC invites the public to provide comments about the Runge Nature Center to aid staff in developing a 10-year management plan for the nature center grounds. Interested persons or groups including recreational users, neighboring landowners, conservation groups, elected officials and government agencies can share ideas online July 1-31 at mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. People can also stop by Runge in July to pick up a comment card.
MDC staff will review comments as they develop a draft Runge Nature Center management plan for the center's grounds later this summer. The plan will be posted online this fall for an additional comment period and will be available for viewing at mdc.mo.gov/areaplans. After considering all public comments, the final plan will be drafted, approved and posted online.
Runge Nature Center, located on Missouri 179, occupies 112 acres and includes a 27,000 square-foot nature center building. Visitors can explore more than 3,000 square feet of exhibits that lead a person through an assortment of Missouri's natural habitats and learn about how MDC manages them for forest, fish and wildlife resources. There are also five different hiking trails that wind through savanna, prairie, marsh, wetland and woodland habitats.