Reform Conservation Area

Driving Directions

Reform Conservation Area is nine miles east of Fulton on Route O. Area may be closed by Ameren Union Electric during an Imminent or Elevated Threat Alert issued by the Division of Homeland Security.

Highlights

This area contains forest, cropland, grassland and old fields. Area is leased from Ameren-UE and surrounds the Callaway Nuclear Facility. Facilities/features: Four fishable ponds (15.5 acres), intermittent streams and a permanent stream (Logan Creek).

About This Area

The Reform Conservation Area (CA) was purchased by AmerenUE for the purpose of producing electricity from the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant. The majority of the area is leased to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to provide quality recreational opportunities, including hiking, nature study, hunting, and fishing to citizens of Missouri.

The Reform Conservation Area (CA) is a 6,759-acre public use area located in Southeastern Callaway County. A 512 acre, centrally located parcel where AmerenUE's Callaway Nuclear Power Plant occurs is withheld from public use and is surrounded by an obvious fence.

Reform CA contains a diversity of land types, including openlands (today primarily cropland, pastureland, and other grasslands), forest and woodlands, and a very small portion of the Missouri River floodplain.

The land that comprises Reform CA has a unique history. The northern portion of Reform CA encompasses the bulk of the historic Coats' Prairie. Coats' Prairie, named after Reverend William Coats, was one of the earlier settlements in Callaway County. William Coats settled on the Prairie in 1817 and by 1830 most of the Prairie was occupied by several families with small homesteads (40 - 160 acres). Consequently, most of Coats' Prairie has a long history of conversion from native prairie to agriculture and development. The southern portion of Reform, which was primarily a matrix of prairie, woodland, and forest, was generally settled by the 1860's. Although not as extensively, it has also undergone conversion from natural communities to agriculture and other development.

The "town" of Reform, which was located in the northeastern portion of the CA, was settled in 1830. Although Reform was never officially platted as a town, by 1884, the area had mail service, three churches, a saw and flour mill, a general store, blacksmith, wagonmaker, and a population of 150.

In the early 1970's, AmerenUE purchased much of the Coats' Prairie region to begin developing a nuclear power plant. By 1975, AmerenUE had completed the purchase of present-day Reform CA and had built its Callaway Nuclear Power Plant. In 1975, AmerenUE entered into a cooperative agreement with the MDC to manage the majority of the property as a public use area. The initial plan called for development and implementation of fish, forest, and wildlife management plans, as well as several forms of public recreation. This cooperative arrangement has continued to the present time.

The Reform Conservation Area is a popular destination for deer hunting (archery methods only) and turkey hunting. The area is also known as a good place to collect blackberries in the summer months.

General Information

Central

Callaway

573-254-3330

Owned by MDC,Leased

Firearms firing single projectiles prohibited; No Camping; When the National Security Level reaches orange or higher, call the Central Regional Office (573-884-6861) to see if the area is open or closed to public use.

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bird Watching  Get the Missouri Audubon Conservation Area Bird List.  
Fishing - Bass Fair population. Slot Limit 12-15 inches 
Fishing - Catfish Good population.  
Fishing - Sunfish Fair population.  
Hiking  No designated trails, but hiking available on area access trails and an old railroad bed. 
Hunting-Deer Good population. Archery Only 
Hunting-Dove Good population. good first week of season, fair after that. 
Hunting-Quail Fair population.  
Hunting-Rabbit Good population. Firearms firing single projectiles prohibited.  
Hunting-Squirrel Good population. Firearms firing single projectiles prohibited.  
Hunting-Turkey Good population.  
Hunting-Waterfowl Fair population.  
Trapping with Special Use Permit  Special Use Permit Required 

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Parking Lot  15   

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond  4 16.00 acres  
Fishless Pond  20 8.00 acres  
Stream - Intermittent  1 2.00 miles  
Stream - Permanent Logan Creek 1 1.00 miles  

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Glade 10.00  
Savanna 50.00  
Lakes/Ponds 15.50  
Forest and Woodland 1900.00 Managed Oak and Hickory forest 
Old Field 1000.00  
Grassland (non-prairie) 2700.00  
Crop Land 1369.00 Corn, beans, wheat, meadow (2 yr rotation) 
Total Area Acres:6600.00 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
No Designated Trails

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Shooting Range General Information

This area has no shooting ranges.

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