Project Summary
In 2018, the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks (WCO) completed a $10,000 extension to the Community Conservation Grant (CCG) awarded from the Missouri Department of Conservation in 2017. The financial resources provided by the CCG allowed us to complete a tremendous amount of work toward our Forest Stewardship Management Plan. We invested in “people power” by using our funds to pay a person—our Watershed Center Habitat Improvement Specialist (Ben Parnell). This allowed us to leverage a tremendous amount of volunteer labor which we are privileged to have access to and also improve the volunteer program. This grant, in tandem with the Missouri Bird Conservation and Habitat Initiative Grant, provided additional resources, leverage, and effectiveness. It is safe to say that in 2018 we made more progress toward our management goals in the last year as the last 10 years combined.