Flood Damage Repairs Continue but Hunting is Open at Bob Brown Conservation Area

Bob Brown Conservation Area wooden walkway Damage was incurred by levees, wetland pools, roads, and improvements such as the wooden walkway to the waterfowl blind accessible to all visitors. MDC is making good progress on repairs now that a main river levee is repaired. MDC Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is making progress repairing flood damage at the Bob Brown Conservation Area in Holt County. Record water levels in 2019 flooded the area twice in the Missouri River bottoms north of St. Joseph. The flooding lasted from March into December.

The conservation area is open to hunting this autumn, but only on a walk-in basis. Visitors must park in a camping area near the entrance gate to walk in. The area’s interior roads remain damaged. Wetland pools are dry due to water pump issues and a dry late summer and autumn. Waterfowl use is unlikely. Pumping water from the Missouri River maintains water levels in normal years, and pumps are not yet functional.

Unusually dry weather has helped efforts to move dirt and make repairs at the area. MDC crews are currently rebuilding interior levees. When those repairs are completed, crews will begin repairing the area’s interior roads that wind through the wetland pools. Crews will eventually rebuild the waterfowl hunting draw room within the shop.