August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers Conservation Area

Notice

The Four Rivers office building and draw room is now complete. Staff are now able to sell permits and the office phone system is operational. Additionally, the information hotline, (417) 395-4495 is now available. The "hotline" provides Conservation Agent contact information, area conditions and waterfowl count info., morning draw statistics, and hunter success.

Driving Directions

The Four Rivers area headquarters lies 15 miles north of Nevada and 5 miles south of Rich Hill. A sign on US 71 and Rte TT marks the main entrance; take TT 1 mile east, then south 2 miles on gravel road 1600.

Highlights

Lies within the Marmaton/Wah' Kon Tah Conservation Opportunity Area and has also been designated by Audobon Missouri as an Important Bird Area (IBA). To find out more about the IBA program, visit http://mo.audubon.org. There is also a boardwalk in Unit 3 adjacent to the DU Presidents' Marsh that provides opportunity to view emergent wetland habitat and wildlife. The Horton Bottoms Natural Area is located in the southern portion of Unit 1. Field access roads provide opportunity for hiking and bird watching, but are restricted to foot traffic only. There are numerous facilities and features throughout the area including 2 boat ramps (1 lake and 1 stream), primitive camping, 4 streams (Little Osage, Marmaton, Marais Des Cygnes, and Muddy Creek) Four Rivers Reservoir (142 acres), 4 fishable ponds, and an Osage Indian village site.

About This Area

The 13,929 acre area is largely wetlands with several large tracts of bottomland forest. It has over 21 miles of stream frontage and a large natural area.

The initial purchase of nearly 4,500 acres for the area occurred in 1982. A large-scale construction project completed in 1996 restored over 2,000 acres of this area (Units 1 and 2) to productive, manageable wetlands. Developments include a pump station, a water storage reservoir, and a system of levees and water control structures that allow control of water levels in 14 separate marshes.

In 1998, an additional 7,036 acres (Unit 3 and 4) were added to the area through a cooperative partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, the North American Wetland Conservation Council, and the Busch family. In 1999, the area was renamed the August A. Busch, Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers to honor the former Conservation Department Commissioner and a man who cherished wetlands and waterfowl. This new addition was developed into three pools in Unit 3 and six pools in Unit 4 to include 3,200 total acres of wetlands in 2000 and 2001.

The area is primarily managed for wetland species using a variety of moist-soil management techniques, along with some agricultural crops. The managed waterfowl hunting program, along with 'open hunting' units provides waterfowl hunting opportunity to several thousand hunters annually. NON-TOXIC SHOT is required for all hunting with a shotgun. Possession of lead shot is prohibited.

General Information

Kansas City

Bates,Vernon

417-395-2341

Owned by MDC

Activities
Activity
(Activity Explanations)		 Comments
(Population Definition)
Bird Watching  Over 180 species have been seen on the area. All four wetland units provide excellent shorebird and waterfowl viewing opportunity at certain times of the year. There is also a heron rookery in Unit 1 (south of the Little Osage River) in the Horton Bottom Natural Area. Waterfowl, Eagle, Pelican, and Shorebirds viewing on area roads (some roads closed during waterfowl season). Click here for a list of area birds.  
Camping - Individual Campsites  Camping is limited to the designated area located in the southwest portion of Unit 2. There is a privy at this location, but no other facilities. 
Fishing - Bass Good population.  
Fishing - Catfish Good population. River fishing on the Marmaton, Little Osage, and Osage. 
Fishing - Crappie Good population.  
Fishing - Other Good population.  
Fishing - Sunfish Fair population.  
Hiking  There is a boardwalk and viewing blind in Unit 3 that provides good birding opportunity in a small wetland. 
Hunting-Deer Good population. See Area Regulations.  
Hunting-Dove Good population. Sunflower and wheat fields are managed for doves. Non-toxic shot is required. 
Hunting-Quail Fair population. See Area Regulations.  
Hunting-Rabbit Fair population. See Area Regulations.  
Hunting-Squirrel Good population. See Area Regulations.  
Hunting-Turkey Good population. See Area Regulations.  
Hunting-Waterfowl Good population. Daily drawing at HQ for managed hunt in Units 1 and 2 during the regular duck season. All other waterfowl hunters must self-register. 
Other  3 auto overlooks along road 

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item Name Count Comments
Boat Ramp - Lake - Other Four Rivers Reservoir 1  Gravel boat ramp to 142 acre water supply reservoir. Closed as refuge from October 15 through February 15 annually. May not be accessible due to low water levels. 
Boat Ramp - Stream - ConcreteaccessibleMarmaton River ramp 1  Access to Marmaton and Little Osage Rivers. River is navigable only during times of normal or higher than normal flows due to log jams and riffles. Closed from Oct. 15 to Feb. 15. 
Camping Area - Individual Campsites Unit 2 designated camp area 1  Mowed and graveled area, on-site privies, no fire rings, no tables, primitive only. 
Hunting Blind - WaterfowlaccessiblePool 9A (disabled user blind) 1  Disabled hunters should call the area HQ to reserve the blind in advance, (417) 395-2341.  
Parking Lotaccessible 25  Gravel parking lots. Five have concrete pads for disabled users. 
Privy/Restroomaccessible 4  Privies found in Unit 1, Unit 2, including Unit 2 Camping Area. 
Staffed OfficeaccessibleFour Rivers headquarters 1  Field office is open M-F, 8-5 and everyday during waterfowl season, except for Christmas day. A staff member is not always present at the office. 

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Features
Feature Item Name Count Size Comments
Designated Natural Area Horton Bottoms Natural Area 1 1339.00 acres The HBNA contains some of the best examples of remnant wet prairie, shrub swamp, and wet-mesic bottomland woodland and forest in Missouri. For more information, visit the Horton Bottoms Natural Area Website.  
Fishing Lake or Pond Pit 3 1 0.80 acres COAL STRIP PIT 
Fishing Lake or Pond Pit 2 1 2.70 acres COAL STRIP PIT 
Fishing Lake or Pond Unit 3 lake 1 20.00 acres The Unit 3 lake is currently dry due to dam failure. Dam reconstruction is in the planning stages as of 2009.  
Fishing Lake or Pond Four Rivers Reservoir 1 142.00 acres Reservoir is used as water storage to flood wetland pools in the fall. Water is recharged back into the reservoir the following spring.  The reservoir is closed to serve as a Waterfowl Refuge from Oct. 15 - Feb. 15 annually.   
Fishing Lake or Pond Pit 1 1 3.60 acres This is a coal mined strip-pit. 
Fishless Pond  2 1.00 acres  
Stream - Intermittent Muddy Creek 1 2.00 miles  
Stream - Permanent Osage River 1 1.80 miles  
Stream - Permanent Marmaton 1 12.30 miles  
Stream - Permanent Little Osage River 1 4.10 miles  
Stream - Permanent Bates County Drainage Ditch 1 0.25 miles  

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Land Cover Types
Land Type Acres Comments
Forest and Woodland 3998.00  
Crop Land 1200.00  
Wetland 5900.00 Developed wetlands in 24 pools-5340 Acres 
Grassland (non-prairie) 1100.00 Planted WSG & CSG 
Lakes/Ponds 205.00  
Native Prairie 675.00  
Old Field 850.00  
Other 1.50 Parking lots, roads, infrastructure. 
Total Area Acres:13929.33 

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Designated Trails
Trail Name Trail Type Length
Robbie Briscoe Memorial Boardwalk Hiking (Non-Interpretive) 0.20 

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Shooting Range General Information

This area has no shooting ranges.

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