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Lost Valley Fish Hatchery

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Located east of Highway 65 on Lost Valley Road, northeast of Warsaw.

Highlights

The area is mostly old fields with some forest. Facilities/features: hatchery, nature center, numerous fishless ponds, and permanent stream (Sterret Creek).

About This Area

The Lost Valley Fish Hatchery is the largest state owned, warmwater hatchery in Missouri and one of the largest in the nation. It is located east of Highway 65 on Lost Valley Road, northeast of Warsaw.

The hatchery building houses a 2,000 square foot visitor center, where visitors can learn more about warmwater fish culture, fishing, and the Missouri Department of Conservation's role in aquatic resource management. Visitors may view the hatchery production room from two large windows inside the visitor center. The center is open year-round and admission is free. The facility also contains 78 rearing ponds totaling 68.3 acres, as well as a 10-acre ambient temperature pond.

Lost Valley Hatchery rears a variety of fish species including walleye, muskellunge, channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped and hybrid bass, bluegill and hybrid sunfish. Fish raised at the hatchery are used to stock public and private waters throughout Missouri. The facility is being used to research propagation methods for endangered fish, as well as for native freshwater mussels.

Construction began in 1997 as a project of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Seventy-five percent of the $19 million construction cost was funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Act, which places a federal excise tax on such items as boat motors, fishing tackle, and boat fuel. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributes these funds among the states according to the number of fishing permits sold and the amount of land and water. These funds are approved for projects that augment sport fish restoration. To that end, Lost Valley Hatchery is the largest project funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Act in the nation.

The Lost Valley Fish Hatchery and Visitor Center is situated on 971 acres in the Leigh flats area east of Truman Lake. Visitors walking through the hatchery grounds can experience a variety of natural settings from prairie areas to Missouri glades. A section of Sterett Creek runs through this valley. It supports native fish, as well as aquatic invertebrates like crayfish, mayflies and dragonflies.

The hatchery grounds support a diversity of plant life. There are plentiful cedar stands with mixed hardwoods in a forested section where plants like fragrant sumac, violets and star grass are plentiful. Two natural glades are home to native wildflowers, including purple coneflower, Indian paintbrush, fringed puccoon, prickly pear cactus, and feverfew.

Wildlife is frequently seen on the area. The glades are prime locations to see tarantulas, lizards, and scorpions. Uncut timber provides ideal habitat for white-tailed deer and turkey, and even bobcats. Bird species are plentiful, including eastern bluebirds and indigo buntings. Great blue herons, green herons, and belted kingfishers are also frequently seen. Winter bird visitors include bald eagles and gulls. Waterfowl use both the detention ponds on the hatchery grounds and a wetland area created from a borrow pit.

Ongoing development includes, picnic areas, interpretative trails, food plots and native wildflower gardens.

General Information

Region: Kansas City

Counties: Benton

For more information call: 660-438-4465

Status: Owned by MDC

Additional Information:

Firearms firing single projectiles prohibited.

Activities
Activity (Activity Explanations)	Comments (Population Definition)
Bird Watching	Get the Missouri Audubon Conservation Area Bird List.
Exhibits/Displays	The hatchery features exhibits and displays focusing on aquatic themes in Missouri.
Field Trials with Special Use Permit
Fishing - Other	Good population. Kids fishing pond is regularly stocked with channel catfish, sunfish, and other bonus species as available.
Hiking
Hunting-Deer	Good population. Archery Only east of access road
Hunting-Rabbit	Good population. Firearms firing single projectiles are prohibited
Hunting-Squirrel	Good population. Firearms firing single projectiles are prohibited
Hunting-Turkey	Good population.
Tours	Hatchery tours will be offered.

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Conservation Department Facilities
Facility Item	Name	Count	Comments
Fish Hatcheryaccessible	Lost Valley Fish Hatchery	1	The Fish Production Room is shown on scheduled tours and is ADA accessible.
Parking Lotaccessible		2
Privy/Restroomaccessible	Visitor Center Restrooms	1
Staffed Officeaccessible		1
Visitor Centeraccessible		1	All exhibits and facilities are ADA accessible.

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Features
Feature Item	Name	Count	Size	Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond		1	0.50 acres	Pond available for kids fishing during visitor center hours. Tackle and bait available on-site if needed.
Fishless Pond		2	1.00 acres	Small fishless ponds on the area.
Stream - Permanent	Sterrett Creek	1	2.00 miles