ULNRC-05893, Enclosure 46 to ULNRC-05893 - Management Agreement for the Public Use of Lands

Enclosure 46 to ULNRC-05893 - Management Agreement for the Public Use of Lands

ML12271A490
Person / Time
Site:	Callaway
Issue date:	01/15/2009
From:	Hoskins J, Weisenborn D AmerenUE, Union Electric Co, State of MO
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
ULNRC-05893
Download: ML12271A490 (47)

Text

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MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC USE OF LANDS THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this IS.,t, day of J'"Qh,.At-Y , 20CU(Cf by and between UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a AmerenUE, hereinafter referred to as the~

OWNER, and THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, hereinafter referred to as the COMMISSION.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the OWNER is now presently owner of some 7,200 acres of land lying in Callaway County, Missouri, and known as the AmerenUE Callaway Plant and more particularly set out in a map, herein attached and marked Appendix A, and WHEREAS, OWNER is desirous that the COMMISSION continue to manage a part of the said tract as shown in Appendix A (approximately 6,300 acres) to promote and improve natural resources and that these resources be available for limited use by the public for outdoor recreation in accordance with the provisions set out in this agreement and appendices thereto, and WHEREAS, OWNER is desirous that the COMMISSION manage that part of tract designated as "Forest Management Restricted/Leased for Public Use" as shown in Appendix A for limited public use only, without COMMISSION investment of time or money for improvement of the forest resource, which if forest resource improvement is performed will be at the sole discretion and expense of the OWNER, and WHEREAS, OWNER is desirous that the public use a part of its tract in accordance with the provisions of this agreement and according to the rules and regulations promulgated by the COMMISSION, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained to be observed and performed by the OWNER and the COMMISSION, the OWNER does lease, demise, and Jet the property described for the purpose of managing the savanna, glade, woodland,

agricultural, fish, and wildlife resources of the described property and managing said property including forest land for use by the public, said areas to be specifically described and set out in Appendix A and additional appendices as they become necessary and proper, all of said appendices to be attached and made a part hereof as fully set out herein.

Be it therefore mutually agreed that:

(1) TERM: This agreement shall last for a term of eight (8) years, unless sooner terminated as set out below, and shall be congruent with the HREFORM CONSERVATION AREA PLAN" outlined herein (Appendix B) ending on December 31, 2016. This agreement may be renewed in writing as many additional times as both parties desire.

(2) TERMINATION: This agreement may be terminated by either party by serving upon the other party a written notice of such election to terminate, giving a full 12 months notice in advance, provided however, in the event State or Federal agencies having jurisdiction In the matter of sites for generation of power impose regulations on the OWNER regarding such sites and the activities thereof which conflict with the intents and purposes of this plan of land management or with the public uses contemplated by this agreement excluding other contracts in effect, OWNER shall have the right to terminate the agreement upon 30 days written notice of such election to terminate and, in such event, shall make an equitable adjustment of costs to the COMMISSION for activities under the area plan (Appendix B) to the date of termination.

(3) ASSIGNMENT: This agreement may not be assigned by either party without the consent of the other party.

(4) DESIGNATION OF AREA: This area will be known as the "Reform Conservation Area*

and will be designated as such by appropriate signs erected by the COMMISSION.

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(5) MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA: The COMMISSION will carry out a plan of management on all lands as specified within the attached Appendices. Lands colored red and pink on Appendix A are reserved by the OWNER for reasons of security, environmental monitoring, or lease to other parties. The COMMISSION will manage natural resources but restrict public use on lands identified by green hatching and labeled "Public Use Restricted/Leased for Management" in Appendix A. The COMMISSION may allow public use on all other lands identified on Appendix A. Lands designated in blue and labeled "Forest Management Restricted/Leased for Public Use" on Appendix A will not be subject to commercial timber management by the COMMISSION, but will be managed for public use consistent with other areas open for public use as described on Appendix B. Lands may be added to or withdrawn from any of these restrictions by the OWNER upon written notice by Owner to Commission. Management will be carried out In accordance with the "REFORM CONSERVATION AREA PLAN," Appendix B. Appendix Cis a brief list of intended uses and activities to be allowed under this lease. Each activity planned for public use shall be approved In writing by OWNER prior to implementation to assure the personal safety of the public and members of the plant staff and to ensure development or activities comply with OWNER'S U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission License conditions.

All questions that arise with an adjacent landowner concerning the boundary of the lands will be referred to the OWNER for resolution.

Management practice and public uses conducted by the COMMISSION on the land will adhere to the COMMISSION Mission Statement as follows: "To protect and manage the fish. forest and wildlife resources of the state: to serve the public and facilitate their participation in resource management activities: and to provide opportunity for all citizens to use. enjoy and learn about fish.

forest and wildlife resources." As per OWNER preference, the COMMISSION will not be responsible for commercial timber resource management through this lease. Expenditures by the COMMISSION for resource management and/or public use management will be made consistent with the COMMISSION'S Mission Statement. If land improvements are desired by the OWNER and are not consistent with the COMMISSION'S mission, OWNER will be responsible for said improvements. Decisions regarding land management activities and consistency with the 3

COMMISSION'S mission will be made by the Area Manager. Any and all "Carbon Credits" that may be generated by the management activities on Reform Conservation Area will become the property of the OWNER.

(6} COST OF MANAGEMENT: The COMMISSION will provide all materials, equipment, and labor needed to carry out the management and will submit to the OWNER a statement of accomplishments and a summary of costs during the year within sixty (60) days following the end of the COMMISSION'S fiscal year (June 30). OWNER shall have the right to review the management cost records upon receipt of said statement for reasonableness and relationship to the types of management programs to which the costs apply. All income from crops and pasture will be collected and retained by the COMMISSION. All commercial forest management will be conducted by the OWNER. At the end of each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30), the COMMISSION will provide the OWNER an itemized accounting of monies received and this amount shall constitute OWNER'S total expense and obligation to the COMMISSION for the management program. Any capital improvements such as new levees, construction of lakes, construction of a picnic area, etc., which may be requested by OWNER shall be reviewed and if determined the work is to be performed by the COMMISSION, an estimate of costs will be furnished to OWNER for approval. Upon approval the Commission will conduct all work and seek reimbursement. The COMMISSION will not include a surcharge for administrative overhead in their claim for reimbursement.

(7) PUBLIC USE: OWNER agrees that all use by the public of the "Reform Conservation Area" will be subject to the rules and regulations pertaining thereto as established by the COMMISSION, except that c.amping, activities which generate products for human consumption, and use of modern center fire firearms will not be permitted, and the OWNER reserves the right to remove any person from the lands who the OWNER believes to be interfering with the OWNER'S operations on the area or, in OWNER'S sole discretion, does not use said premises in a manner or for the purposes contemplated herein. OWNER specifically reserves the right to cause the property to be evacuated, should it in its sole judgment deem such action to be required. The OWNI;R will provide enforcement or enforcement assistance where necessary to maintain the integrity of the plant facilities, construction area and equipment, environmental monitoring plots, and cultural or 4

archaeological resource sites. The use of firearms contemplated in the wildlife management program and in public uses of the area shall be strictly controlled by the COMMISSION throughout the area and consistent with the OWNER'S Intent.

(8) ACCESS: The OWNER agrees to allow the COMMISSION, its agents and employees, full access to the property, save those secured areas identified in Appendix A, for the purposes of carrying out this agreement.

The COMMISSION agrees that it will not adversely impact the archaeological sites identified in Appendix A through any of its management activities.

(9) LIABILITY AND INSURANCE: COMMISSION agrees to hold OWNER safe from all liability arising from any use or activity on those areas under the control of the COMMISSION, Its agents or employees - all to the fullest extent allowable under the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri. However, the COMMISSION will assume no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any cause of action which may arise as the proximate result of the contents, operation, or nature of the nuclear power plant and facilities located on the area, or the proximate effects of said nuclear power plant on the public using the area.

Under the provisions and limitations of the Constitution of Missouri, the COMMISSION cannot assume the debts and liabilities of another entity, but self-insures for events in which it participates to the statutory limits of liability as declared in Section 537.600 et seq., RSMo. 2000, for negligent acts or omissions enumerated in those sections and for which the COMMISSION itself may be held responsible. Nothing in this provision should be construed as a waiver of any governmental immunities the COMMISSION may enjoy under federal or state law.

COMMISSION shall require that its contractors acquire and maintain liability coverage In an amount not less than One Million Dollars ($1 ,000,000.00) per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage which shall name OWNER, Its affiliates, directors and employees as additional insured on a primary and non contributory basis. COMMISSION'S contractors shall furnish OWNER with a certificate of insurance as evidence that the required coverages are in force, and that the insurance carrier will not cancel or change any such policy except after thirty (30) days written notice to OWNER.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties set their hands and seals to this agreement upon the date stated above.

OWNER:

UNIONELECffiiC~O~MPANY:W~A=

.By:

Dennis W. Weisen orn Vice President Date: Ve.c.e t'Y\ bt 'f" q , J,o ob COMMISSION:

THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE ATTEST: STATE OF MISSOURI CJ/-k:i~

-J;:~

By: .

Title:

Date: 1- IS-d=<X> 2 STATE OF MISSOURI APPROVED AS TO FORM ONLY

} ss CITY OF ST. LOUIS GENEHAL COUNSEL On this q 1-h day of.JJECEPJtkfi 2008, before me appeared Dennis W. Weisenborn to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did attest to being a Vice President of UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a AMERENUE, a corporation of the State of Missouri, and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors and said Vice President acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal in said City and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.

My Commission expires _~___::_J_L--+Y-...:?-:!1-'_~_{)__:_/.:. . /_ _ _ ,

Johanna 1. Undaley

• Notary Public Nolllry Sear, Stale Of MSIOUri

• Stlouis County Cornmlnlon 107482203 My Commlsalon Expires 712112011 6

STATE OF MISSOURI COUNTY OF COLE On this !Cj"~ day of ~r1,U-t..L4-~ , 200t before me appeared

=:JOhD !d-P<,l6..1<. <, to mepsonally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did attest to being the &tvta.ttrY of THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI and that this instrument was signed on behalf of THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI by authority of said Commission and that he acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said Commission.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal in said City and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.

My Commission expires {~t ( 2. d-O IJ..

Notary Public VICI<I D DELDRICH Notary Public - Notary seal State of Missouri Com"!ias:oned for Coie County My Com"!!S~Ion f:;:pirds: Aprll13 201 2 119 Comml?;: < !, ,; ~:, !.-~ f:~~.l3J __

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APPENDIX A r: ORM CONSERVA110N AREA Callaway County l

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Appendix B REFORM CONSERVATION AREA AREA PLAN 2006-2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS AREA PURPOSE STATEMENT ................................................................................... 1

l. Area History .............................................................................................................. 1

2. Land Usc History and Cultural Resources ............................................................. 3

3. Restricted Areas and Easements ............................................................................. 4

4. Lease Agreement and Management Funding......................................................... 4 AREA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ........................................................................... 5

1) Aquatics ..................................................................................................................... 5

2) Openlands .................................................................................................................. 9

3) Woodlands ............................................................................................................... 13

4) Forests ...................................................................................................................... 17 S) Missouri River Floodplain ..................................................................................... 20 PUBLIC USE ................................................................................................................... 22 REVIEW FREQUENCY ................................................................................................ 25 List of Figures Figure I: Infrastructure and Restricted Areas .......... ....................................*...... 2 Figure 2: Aquatic Resources ......................................................................... 7 Figure 3: Openland Resources ...................................................................... 10 Figure 4: Woodland, Glade, Savanna Resources ................................................ 15 Figure 5: Forest Resources .......................................................................... 18 Figure 6: MO River Floodplain Current Covertypes ........................................... 21 Figure 7: Proposed Activities ....................................................................... 23 Figure 8: Acquisition Priorities .................................................................... 26 Figure A 1: Ecological Land types .................................................................. 29 Figure A2: 2003 Cove11ypes ....................................................................... 30 Figure A3: Management Compartments ......................................................... 31 Appendix A: Natural Community Landtypes and their current condition ............................... 28 8: Management Agreement for the Public Use of Lands ..................................... 32 C: Types of Use and Activities Contemplated ................................................ 39

REFORM CONSERVATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN AREA PURPOSE STATEMENT The Refonn 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. Coordinating these recreational activities, with minimum conflict among users and the Area owner is an important aspect of Reform CA management.

A high area priority is sound, long-term management and use of the soil, water, plant and animal resources. The best way to ensure meeting this priority is through natural plant community management to benefit a wide variety of plant and wildlife species in the context of the natural community they should inhabit. Activities that reduce the quality of the natural systems on Reform CA will not be petmitted. Additionally, area management and administration will be conducted and documented to provide valuable resource information for future decisions.

All area management and public use activities are conducted under the Owner's (AmerenUE) and MDC guidelines and policies. Close cooperation between AmerenUE and MDC is a cornerstone of area management and use.

BACKGROUND 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 the CA (Figure 1). The CA lies in the Ozark Border subsection of the Ozark Highlands Ecoregion of Missouri. Reform CA contains a diversity of land types, including openland (today primarily cropland, pastureland, and other grasslands), forest and woodland, and a portion of the Missouri River floodplain.

1. Area History The land that comprises Reform CA has a unique history. The northern portion of Reform CA encompasses the bulk of 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 Refonn, which was primarily a matrix of prairie, woodland, and forest, was generally settled by the 1860's and, although not as extensively, has also undergone conversion from natural communities to agriculture and other development.

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Figure 1 Infrastructure and Restricted Areas Reform Conservation Area Ameren Shooting Range Consolidated Electric

, Mining Area

• Cemetery filli]) Restricted Srte l ;~:_;;;j Public Use Restricted AJ> AmerenUE Powerflne REA Powertlne

~Blacktop Road

~Gravel Road 1\1 Pipeline Arc~eologlcaJ Site D Ecological Plot I:JBoundary s

0 1 2 Miles

~~~liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 2

The "town" of Reform, f01merly located in the northeastern portion of the CA, was settled in 183 0. 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, a population of 150, and boasted of shipping "tobacco, grain, wool, and livestock." (History of Callaway County, 1884). Through the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, agriculture played an important role on the Coat's Prairie area.

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 for the construction of its Callaway Nuclear Power Plant.. In 1975, AmerenUE entered into a cooperative agreement with 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 and several forms of public recreation. This cooperative arrangement has continued to the present time.

2. Land Use History and Cultural Resources Due to its size and location on the landscape, Reform CA supp01ts a diverse set of historic landtypes. Prior to settlement, Reform CA was comprised of a mixture of tallgrass prairie, savanna, woodland, glade, forest, and wetland systems (Figure Al, Appendix A). Although all these systems occurred scattered throughout the area, prairie and savanna communities dominated the northern part of the area (in the upland "Coats' Prairie" region.) Woodlands, glades, and rich forests were most common in the southern pottions of the area and the "river breaks" occur along the north side of the Missouri River. Finally, wetland systems dominated the landscape in the Missouri River floodplain, located in the extreme southern part of Refonn CA. This diversity supports a considerable cross section of plant and wildlife species.

As the area now encompassed by Reform CA was settled, both plant and wildlife species were affected. Most, if not all, of the prairie communities were converted to agriculture, either by row cropping or heavy grazing and over-seeding with non-native forage grasses. Many small ponds and impoundments were created on the landscape for livestock water. Savanna communities were cleared for agriculture or, as a result of fire suppression, were allowed to develop into closed canopy woodland. Woodland and glade communities were grazed at one time and the majority of the forest was harvested for timber resources. Fire suppression throughout most of the early and mid 1900's degraded remaining prairie, savanna, glade, and woodland communities - all fire dependent communities.

Since the mid-1970's, Reform CA has been managed by MDC to enhance the fish, forest and wildJife habitat. Prescribed fire has been utilized to enhance some habitats.

Agriculture (both row crop and grazing) continues to play an important role in land management, particularly on the northern part of the area. Glades and woodlands still occur on the area; however due to fire suppression most glades are overgrown with cedars and woodlands generally have closed canopies with little or no herbaceous ground vegetation. The Missouri River floodplain on Reform, was at one time cropped extensively, and has either been maintained open with periodic cropping activities or has 3

been allowed to reforest into mostly "softwood" species (silver maple, box elder, willows, etc.). The floodplain is subject to periodic flooding by either upland runoff or the Missouri River temporarily re-claiming the floodplain as occurred in 1993 and 1995.

In 1992, AmerenUE developed a cultural resource management plan on Reform CA.

They identified several locations considered significant cultural resource areas (Figure 1). At the request of AmerenUE, activities that disturb the soil (cropping, disking, etc.)

are not allowed in these areas. There are also several cemeteries located on Reform (Figure 1) and activities that disturb these sites are not allowed.

3. Restricted Areas and Easements Kingdom Telephone Company and Consolidated Electric Cooperative own sites (Figure

1) on Reform CA where MDC and public use activity is prohibited. Unless prior permission is obtained from AmerenUE, no MDC or public use activities are allowed in the Owner Controlled Area, AmerenUE Ecological Plots, AmerenUE Shooting Range, Mining Area, and Meteorological Tower (Figure 1). In addition, public use is not allowed in a zone around the plant where MDC management activities are allowed.

When the Homeland Security System is at "Orange", or high, AmerenUE may request that the entire area be closed, temporarily, to all public use (Appendix B). The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) may also request AmerenUE institute additional restrictions, if conditions warrant.

MDC and public use activities must not interfere with the powerline {AmerenUE and/or REA) and pipeline easements that occur on the area (Figure 1). AmerenUE must approve activities that potentially interfere with these structures. Correspondingly, the Callaway Plant Fire Marshall must first specifically approve all prescribed fire activity on Refonn CA.

The Katy Trail, maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR),

bisects the extreme southern portion of the area. Activities that will negatively impact or

• obstruct the Katy Trail are not allowed.

4. Lease Agreement and Management Funding AmerenUE and MDC have a Lease Agreement (Appendix B) that is congruent with this Area Plan. Both the Lease and Plan are intended to be ten (10) year documents. In addition to establishing the cooperative agreement between AmerenUE and MDC, the Lease also addresses management funding. In past leases, all income from agricultural activities has been used to offset management costs to MDC; thus allowing establishment and management of thousands of acres of openlands, glades and savannas. AmerenUE has requested future use of income from the site be used to offset infrastructure repairs to fences, roadways in addition to clearing overgrown areas of woody vegetation to replant with more beneficial crops. MDC will continue to monitor and advise AmerenUE as to the health and opportunities for Forest Management projects on the site. However, MDC will not actively engage in any timber harvest activities on behalf of AmerenUE nor will any income from said timber harvest be directed to MDC.

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AREA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Ecoregions and Landscapes The Reform CA sits at the northern edge of the Ozark Highlands in the Outer Ozark Border subsection (See Nigh and Schroeder, 2003, Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions). The Outer Ozark Border includes of a belt of deeply dissected hills and blufflands bordering the Missouri River. Relief in the hills is 200-300 feet, but smooth, loess covered uplands grade into adjacent ecoregions.

A variety of ecological landscapes or Landtype Associations (LTAs) recognize differences in topography, geology, soils and potential natural vegetation in the Outer Ozark Border. Reform CA is subdivided by two LT As: the Central Missouri Savanna/Woodland Dissected Plain on its northern half and the Central Missouri Oak Woodland/Forest Hills on the southern half. The flat to gently rolling uplands on the northern half of Reform CA are blanketed in loess and were formerly prairie and oak savanna. The southern hilly portion of Reform CA has long, narrow loess covered ridges, which give way to moderately steep slopes in Mississippian and Devonian limestones.

This landscape was historically oak savanna and woodland high in the landscape, with white oak and mixed hardwood forests on lower slopes, bottoms, and coves. Limestone glade-woodland complexes were common, especially in the Devonian limestone. These landscapes offer a wide variety of potential natural communities and habitats.

Natural Community Landtypes Ecological Landtypes or ELTs are land units 10-1 00s of acres in size. ELTs are based on landfonns and parent materials and their correspon.ding soil and vegetation associations.

For purposes of setting ecologically based resource management objectives, ELTs were lumped into eight Natural Community Landtypes based on their ability to support potential natural vegetation and dependent wildlife species. These units are illustrated in Figure A 1, Appendix A, and are described and summarized in the appropriate section below. Appendix A also contains maps of cover types present in 2003 (Figure A2) and management compartments (Figure A3).

1) Aquatics Aquatic resources are comprised of penn anent and intermittent streams, fishless ponds, and managed impoundments. Changes in the stream resources include clearing of the riparian and flood plain areas for agricultural production and bridges and crossings being built, which has altered the natural flow of streams. All ofthe ponds on the Area are man made structures. They were constructed by past landowners to hold water for agricultural practices such as irrigation, watering livestock and to control soiJ erosion.

Reform CA has over 100 ponds scattered throughout the area (Figure 2). Of those ponds, only four are currently being managed for a fishery. The total acreage of those four ponds is 15.5. The other ponds on the area are within the restricted zone or are fishless ponds being managed for amphibians and wildlife watering holes. The four ponds being managed for a desirable fishery contain largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, and channel catfish.

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The primary stream resources of the Reform Conservation Area consist of four drainages: the Auxvasse Creek, Logan Creek, Mud Creek, and the Missouri River forming the southern .boundary. Logan Creek starts on the northeast corner as a first order stream, travels off the area, then returns across the area before it finally leaves the area as a fifth order stream. Mud creek is a fourth order stream on the area. The Auxvasse Creek has only first order, no-name drainages on the area. All other streams on the area are smaller and are classified as intermittent streams. No rare, endangered or exotic species of fish were found during the last fish survey of Logan Creek in Township 46N, Range 8W, Section 36. The stream corridor of the sampled reach is adequate in most areas but is less than 50 feet wide along County Road 468.

Objective 1: Manage a healthy fishery in the 7.0, 3.5, 3.0, and 2.0 acre ponds.

Strategies:

• Conduct regular fish inventories by electrofishing to determine fisheries status and management strategies.

• Continue to do a maintenance stocking of channel catfish in the 7.0, 3.5, and the 3.0 acre ponds every year.

• Monitor aquatic vegetation growth to determine if vegetation control is needed.

Aquatic vegetation should be maintained so coverage doesn't exceed 20% of the pond's basin or surface area. The correct chemical or biological methods will be administered to control any vegetation that exceeds the 20% coverage factor.

• Install and maintain hard cover by adding brush piles made from hardwood and cedar trees.

• Develop a depth profile and aquatic vegetation map.

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Figure 2 Aquatic Resources Reform CQO$ervation

. ,. ~. ., Extant Wetland Fish Managed Pond Flshless Pond Proposed Lake Stream Boundary 7

Objective 2: Inventory all stream resources to detennine the health of the stream and the fish population.

Strategies:

• Complete inspection of all area streams and report watershed and stream erosion problems, along with management recommendations to the administering division.

• Sample Logan and Mud creeks by seining or electro fishing every 5~ 7 years, to monitor the fish communities.

Objective 3: Maintain and enhance the forested riparian corridor along all area streams.

Strategies:

• Follow Forest Land Management Guidelines (1986) or BMPs pertaining to riparian corridor management. Establish and/or maintain at least a 100 foot wide wooded corridor (50 feet on each stream bank) along all area streams.

• Conduct an inspection of the riparian corridor every 5~ 7 years with the area manager.

• Restore tree cover in highly erodible areas within the watershed and along streams by natural regeneration and/or planting trees.

Objective 4: Provide and maintain suitable aquatic habitat for amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife.

Strategies:

• Maintain all other ponds that we manage as fishless for amphibians, reptiles and other wildlife. These ponds will be chemically renovated on an as needed basis to remove fish.

• Construct and install turtle basking and other herp friendly structures in the fishless ponds to enhance reptile and amphibian habitat.

Objective 5: Maintain the extant wetlands on the area.

Strategies:

• Periodically bum or treat the extant wetland areas to prohibit undesirable vegetation growth.

Objective 6: For the first five years of this Management Plan, maintain "consideration for construction" of an identified potential new lake site on Reform (Figure 2) as an alternative to construction of a lake in an adjoining county under the current Lake Development Plan.

Strategies:

• Pursue discussions regarding the potential for a 70 acre fishing lake (no swimming allowed) on the site that was proposed in an earlier plan. The lake facilities should be built to meet all regulations pertaining to the Americans With Disabilities Act and should include appropriate controls and restrictions with regard to usage. If constructed, the lake will be stocked with fathead minnows, largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.

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2) Opcnlands Upland Prairie Landtypes dominate the loess covered uplands of the dissected plains on the northern half of Reform CA. Known locally as Coat's Prairie, this area was

. plowed and developed as described in the history of the area. Today, these units are a mixture of fescue dominated cropland, pasture, and native warm season grass plantings.

Wet Prairie-Savanna Landtypes occupy the gentle slopes and shallow draws of the dissected plains. They were historically composed of wet prairie, sedge meadows and pin oak-swamp white oak savannas. Today they are a mixture of cropland, pasture and grassland, with occasional dense, overgrown savanna.

A major cover type found on the former prairie ELT is grassland (Figure 3). Both grazed (approximately 930 acres) and ungrazed (approximately 980 acres) grasslands occur on Reform CA. Under the Department's efforts, the grazed pasture land evolved from a continuous grazing system to big paddock rotations through fescue dominated cool season grass and planted native wann season grass (with a heavy fescue component) pastures. In 2000 a more intensive grazing management/monitoring project was undertaken on the pastures at Refonn. Management goals of the grazing project are to reduce the amount of fescue in the overall grassland, improve plant diversity, increase native grass dominance and improve wildlife habitat. The monitoring project is evaluating grazing impacts, in conjunction with other management treatments, on vegetation structure and composition, breeding bird populations, and is building a valuable database to assist in future management/monitoring efforts. Ungrazed grassland habitat occurs as both open grassland (little present woody vegetation) and old field habitat (comprised of scattered woody vegetation, "weedy" forbs, etc.). Both of these habitats are managed using a variety of tools, including disking, herbicides, and/or burning.

Today there are approximately 1,000 acres of row crop on the prairie ELT (Fi.gure 3) which typically includes a crop rotation of com, beans, wheat and one idle/legume year, although some annual grain, sunflowers, and green browse plots are also planted. This is predominately accomplished through contracts with pennitee farmers .

Woody areas, including old fields, are found on the fonner prairie (Figure 3). Reform is unique in that many of the cropland and grassland fields are small, bordered by shrubs, old-field, fencerows and patches of mature trees. These "odd~ areas" have helped Refonn retain its tum of the century appearance of the small family farm. There are approximately 300 acres of this type of woody cover. Unfortunately these odd woody areas are where tenacious exotics plant species have a strong negative influence. The three more dominant exotic species are autumn olive, sericea lespedeza and fescue.

The wet prairie-savanna community is an important resource that occurs on Refonn CA.

The wet prairie-savanna includes areas that are generally the headwaters of drainages and 9

Figure 3 Openland Resources Reform Conservation Area

• Grazed Grassland

- Ungrazed Grassland

. . Fence rows/Woody Cover

- Crop Borders/Strips Cropflelds D Boundary s

0 1 2 Miles 10

have hydric soils, or soiJs with hydric inclusions. These have long lost their natural attributes of vegetation and hydrology, and have been integrated into other cover types through the years. They offer a unique opportunity to the manager to restore upland wetlands and provide for associated flora and fauna.

Many wildlife species utilize the habitats provided by the upland prairie and wet prairie-savanna landtypes. Grasslands provide valuable habitat to many wildlife species, such as cotton-tailed rabbits, bobwhite quail, and many species of songbirds. Cropland provides important high energy food to wildlife species during stressful winter months. It also provides valuable brood rearing habitat to many species of birds, including wild turkey and bobwhite quail. The fencerows and other woody cover habitats provide great cover for bobwhite quail, fox squirrels, and many species of edge-loving birds. Finally, the wet prairie-savanna communities have the potential to provide habitat to many unique plant (e.g., sedges) and wildlife species (e.g. amphibians.)

Objective 1: Improve productivity of all Open lands.

Strategies:

• Increase management of Openlands with Agriculture tenants to improve existing fields, making each field more productive to both the tenant and wildlife.

• Annually evaluate each Openland area or Field to ensure leasing activities are occurring as allowed under fann leases between MDC and each Tenant.

• At the request of AmerenUE, maximize opportunities to improve the Openlands under lease by o rebuilding fences, where appropriate.

o Removing woody vegetation from pastures o Removing woody strips planted in crop fields that provide no benefit to Quail or other small game animals.

• Use herbicides and prescribed fire and cultivation to reclaim overgrown Openlands or fields.

Objective 2: Manage to enhance plant diversity and provide habitat for upland game and bird populations.

Strategies:

• Continue grazing to manage portions of the grassland habitat, as appropriate.

• Use prescribed fire extensively to modify vegetation in the grassland system and closely coordinate its use with AmerenUE.

• Use herbicides, disking, and other management tools in conjunction with burning and grazing to increase vegetation diversity and improve upland wildlife habitat.

• Investigate restoration of native prairie, as near to pre-settlement conditions as possible, and pursue where feasible. Management of restored prairie may include burning, haying and grazing.

• Monitor and manage woody encroachment through fire and other treatments to maintain its presence in desired locations and eliminate or reduce its occurrence in non-desired locations.

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• Apply treatments at different times of the year to encourage maximum vegetation diversity.

Objective 3: Manage cropland to achieve land disturbance and provide wildlife food and cover.

Strategies:

• Utilize pennitee farmers to establish crops in a 4 year rotation, within tolerable soil loss goals. Establish cash rent leases with Farmers to allow full participation in FSA Government Programs.

• Study and modify as necessary crop rotations established with tenants to achieve the most beneficial rotation for the site.

• Establish food plots of standard grains and some specialty crops such as sunflowers using permitees as the primary mechanism. Department staff will establish food plots and green browse in those areas not suitable for a permitee, or when necessary to achieve desired results.

Objective 3: Manage old field as a portion of the open land to provide escape, nesting and brood rearing cover. Old field may include small woodlots, fencerows and some odd areas.

Strategies:

• Identify old field habitat on Reform CA as a cover type in the ArcView data set and maintain it as a viable cover type of the upland prairie that is well represented through scattered locations on the landscape.

• Utilize management techniques including prescribed fire, mechanical treatments and herbicide application to keep these areas open and free of large woody vegetation. These management tools will be applied at intervals to maintain old field habitats which contain a diversity of grasses, annual and perennial forbs, and scattered woody vegetation. MDC shall notify Callaway Plant Fire Marshall prior to implementing any prescribed.fires due to safety/security concerns.

Objective 4: Manage woody cover to keep it in the most productive condition for several early successional wildlife species, such as cotton-tailed rabbit, bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer and many species of songbirds.

Strategies:

• Subject woody cover to prescribed fire when an adjacent cover type is burned to set back sprouts and kill lower limbs of larger trees.

• Maintain fencerows and wildlife cover plantings in predominantly shrub/sprout conditions requiring periodic disturbance.

• Manage areas close to the plant with minimum woody cover in areas cleared by MDC in 2004-2006.

• Evaluate establishing woodlots for potential re-creation of the savanna cover type.

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• Identify and protect small cedar groves found in strategic locations from prescribed fire. Eastern red cedar provides crucial wildlife cover functions and its value is dramatically reduced when subjected to fire.

Objective 5: Manage existing wetlands and, where feasible and allowed by AmerenUE, restore wetlands that have been drastically altered or eliminated from the uplands at Reform CA.

Strategies:

• Identify potential wetland areas in the prairie community land type and restore them, where feasible, as a functioning wetland/riparian area.

• Use drop structures, where feasible, to reduce the percent slope of some of these drainages (in the upper reaches) and allow for more residence time of water.

MDC shall obtain approval from AmerenUE prior to the development of a wetlands area.

• Manage the riparian corridor along some of these reaches to recreate the type of woody or herbaceous vegetation that might be found under a prairie landscape subject to periodic fire.

Objective 6: Manage exotic species to minimize any negative effects that they may have on native vegetation and wildlife species.

Strategies:

• Replace woody habitat plantings of autumn olive with native fire tolerant species, such as plum and dogwood.

• Target sericea lespedeza for annual treatment to reduce its presence.

• Discriminate against fescue in the grazing program, and where found in other cover types reduce its presence through a planned, multiple treatment scenario.

• Direct management to reduce the occurrence other exotic species, such as crown vetch, smooth brome, and others.

3) Woodlands Mixed Oak Woodland Landtypes occupy ridges and exposed backslopes in loess and limestone substrates, providing a transition from the open grassland and savanna units of the dissected plains to the more heavily timbered valleys. Historically, open woodlands dominated by widely spaced post and black oak occupied the loess ridges nearer the prairies, and graded into semi-open woodlands with an increasing component of white oak over limestone and deeper in the valleys. Today these units are mainly forested in dense second growth mixed oak forest with little diversity in the ground flora.

Limestone Glade-Woodland Landtypes dominate the exposed, shallow limestone slopes on Reform CA. They commonly occur as long, narrow, midslope bands of open herbaceous vegetation on south and west facing slopes in the hills. Historically, more open grasslands with scattered chinquapin and post oak, today these areas are densely overgrown with eastem red cedar and other woody invaders.

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Historically, much of Refonn CA was comprised of a complex of savanna, open woodland, glades, and forests. These communities mostly likely occurred on approximately 2,500 acres on what is now Reform CA. Savanna, open woodland, and glades are unique communities that provide habitat for many plant and wildlife species, including some unique plant and animal species. Savanna sites typically occurred on wellwdrained sites on upper slopes adjacent to prairie ridges and were often transitional zones between prairie (grasslands) and woodlands. Savannas are comprised of lush herbaceous ground flora and have scattered overstory trees, most commonly oak and hickory. Most savanna sites on Reform CA have been cleared for agriculture or allowed to develop into more closed canopy woodlands. However, Reform CA has several areas where the potential for savanna reconstruction exists (Figure 4). Although they have often developed more closed canopies and less ground flora, many woodland communities still exist on Reform CA and will be managed on Reform CA. Finally, although d~graded by heavy cedar and maple encroachment, Reform CA has several sites that currently contain glade habitats with strong potential for successful restoration (Figure 4).

Historically, savannas, woodlands, and glades were maintained primarily by fire. Fire reduced overstory stocking, removed woody midstory vegetation (such as cedars), and promoted the development of herbaceous understories. In the absence of fire, these communities tend to develop closed overstory canopies and reduced understory herbaceous vegetation.

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D Savanna Q Glade CJ Boundary 15

Savanna, woodland, and glades provide quality habitat for several wildlife species. They provide forage and cover for the white-tailed deer. Large trees in woodlands and savannas provide good den sites for squirrels, owls, and even good summer roosting sites for many bat species. Wild Turkey and bobwhite quail use these habitats, especially savannas, for nesting and brood rearing. Woodlands and savannas provide habitat for many species of birds, including red-eyed vireos, summer tanagers, indigo buntings, northern cardinals, and other woodlands species. Edge and grassland species, such as common yellowthroats, yellow-breasted chats, and field sparrows, also utilize savanna habitats. Glades provide important habitat for some unique species, such as scorpions and several species of lizards and snakes. Additionally, because some ruffed grouse occur on Reform CA, there is a unique opportunity to provide habitat for this species.

Ruffed grouse utilize habitats provided by woodland, glades, and savannas. Good interspersion of these communities is important in providing escape, nesting, and brood rearing habitat for ruffed grouse. Fire and timber management are key tools in providing interspersion and quality escape, breeding, nesting, and brood rearing habitat for ruffed grouse.

Objective 1: Manage savanna communities to maintain and enhance populations of their constituent plant and wildlife species.

Strategies:

• Use prescribed fire in savanna sites to promote ground flora development and reduce overstory canopies. Promote oaks, particularly post, black, and white, and hickories in the overstory vegetation.

• Supplement the ground flora with plantings of native grasses and forbs in savanna sites, if needed.

• Manage exotic vegetation (fescue, sericea lespedeza, honey suckle, etc.) using a combination of prescribed fire and/or herbicides to the extent possible and in ways to minimize negative impacts on natural communities.

Objective 2: Manage woodland communities to develop, maintain and enhance both vegetation and wildlife diversity.

Strategies:

• Manage woodland and glade habitat in forest stands in Compartments 1 and 2 that have a site class index of zero (0).

• Inventory Compartments 3 and 4 for stands that have a site class index of zero (0) and manage those stands for woodland and glade habitat.

• Reduce basal area in woodlands, through mechanical and/or herbicide treatments.

Target post oak, black oak, white oak, and hickories as residual tree species in the woodland stands.

• Use prescribed fire to create and maintain a matrix of openland, savanna, woodland, and glade communities in the "savanna/woodland/glade complex" identified in the SE comer of Reform CA (Figure 4). Use prescribed fire throughout this block to promote natural community development and 16

maintenance. Use prescribed fires in ways that will minimize the negative impacts to north and east facing slopes.

• Manage exotic vegetation (fescue, sericea lespedeza, honey suckle, etc.) using a combination of prescribed fire and/or herbicides to the extent possible and in ways to minimize negative impacts on natural communities.

Objective 3: Manage glade communities to maintain and enhance healthy plant and wildlife populations.

Strategies:

• Remove woody species encroachment on glade sites. Maintain scattered chinquapin oak and cedar trees on glade site, but do not allow them to inhibit herbaceous vegetation growth. Conduct removal of woody species by mechanical means and some herbicides.

• Use prescribed fire, when feasible, in woodland/glade complexes. Do not allow prescribed fires, however, to enter surrounding forest stands.

• Manage exotic vegetation (fescue, sericea lespedeza, honey suckle, etc.) using a combination of prescribed fire and/or herbicides to the extent possible and in ways to minimize negative impacts on natural communities.

4) Forests White Oak Forest Landtypes occupy deep loess and limestone soils on protected slopes - primarily north and east facing slopes. They are forested with white oak dominated forests with scattered red oak, and a dense understory of dogwood and sugar maple.

Mixed Hardwood Forest Landtypes occupy protected limestone slopes, footslopes and terraces. These provide the best opportunity for forests with a multi-canopy structure and a variety of tree species including red oak, white ash, walnut, sugar maple, basswood and other hardwood species.

Riverfront Forest Landtypes dominate the low floodplains and upland waterways on Refotm CA. Sycamore, cottonwood, willow, elm, hackberry and green ash have always dominated these low, flood prone units. Today they are a mix of second growth forest and cleared pasture or cropland.

The forests in the northern portion of Refonn CA are located on the relatively steep slopes around fields and finger into the open lands via field drainages and fence rows.

The northeast pot1ion is the exception in that in contains a higher portion of forest in the steeper drainages around the mining area (Figure 5). In the southern sector, topography changes to steep slopes with natTOW ridges and small bottomland fields. Except for the most southern extent of Refonn CA, most of this area is timbered. There, in the southeast comer, the topography flattens out again.

Delineation Reform CA is divided into four compattments for the purpose of forest management (Figure 5). Compartment 3 lies in the northern 1/3 of the area and is comprised mostly of small, scattered tracts. Compartments 1 and 2 are located in the middle of the area with both field drainage timber and large, steep contiguous tracts. Compartment 4 17

Figure 5 Forest Resources Reform Conservation ..... ..-....,.~

s 0 1 2 Miles 18

occurs in the southern portion of the area. It is comprised of large tracts of timber on steep topography that eventually open to the flatter open fields described above.

Management Schedule The following table delineates the forest compartments and their inventory date.

Corresponding management activities will be conducted after the inventory is complete.

Year Previously Inventoried Planned Inventory Compartment Acreage Year 1983 2004 Reform 2 700 1992 2005 Reform 4 700 1995 2009 Refonn 1 500 Sometime previous to 1995; last 2012 Reform 3 640 management, 2000 Management Focus Timber management on Reform CA will focus on the following priorities:

• Forest Health - Timber management will increase the vigor of forest stands making them less susceptible to insects and diseases; for example, oak decline and red oak borer which are affecting Missouri's forests on a landscape level.

• Diversity of size and age classes - strive to maintain a range of tree species, age and size classes among and, in the case of uneven-aged management, within stands. This diversity of age and size classes will provide critical habitat for many species of wildlife, both early and late successional forest habitat;

• Wildlife habitat for a broad diversity of native wildlife species - enhance and provide habitat for many species of wildlife, such as wild turkey, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, neo-tropical migrant birds, bats, and many reptiles and amphibians. Both early successional (young forests) and late successional (mature forests) forested habitats will be managed;

• Watershed protection and erosion control - protect soil and water quality in steams, rivers, and lakes;

• Commercially valuable timber - produce timber that provides valuable forest resources and products to the citizens of Missouri and private landowners; and

• Aesthetics - provide quality forest resources that invite public use and recreation.

Objective 1: Maintain and enhance well developed .forest according to the above listed priorities.

Strategies:

• Inventory forest compartments (see schedule above) on a 15-20 year rotation.

• Design forest management based on inventory utilizing both even and uneven-aged practices, as well as TSI to manage composition and structure, improve timber quality and increase the range of age classes.

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5) Missouri River Floodplain The Missouri River Floodplain was historically comprised of a wide slow moving river with braided channels, backwaters and many islands. Now the channel has been deepened and narrowed by wing dikes and revetments for navigational purposes. Other changes that have taken place are the floodplains have been cleared for fanning and levees have been constructed to contain flood waters. The levees have reduced the amount of wetlands that once occurred along the Missouri River Floodplain.

A small portion of the Missouri River floodplain (288 acres) occurs on the extreme southern portion of Refonn CA (Figure 6). Logan Creek, a small tributary, meanders through this portion of the area. Cu1Tently some riparian forests (around 144 acres),

comprised primarily of softwoods such as cottonwoods, box elders, maples and elm, occupy the floodplain. Some oaks and ash also occur in these woodlands. There are also approximately 144 acres of openland in the floodplain. Most of the openland is oldfield habitat (120 acres). However, some areas are periodically cropped (24 acres). Most of the floodplain was in agricultural production within the past 10-15 years.

The floodplain has the potential to provide habitat to many wildlife species. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, prothonotary warblers, raccoons, squirrels, and many other wildlife species use riparian forests that commonly occur in river floodplains.

Additionally, the associated wetlands that often occur provide important habitat for many species of waterfowl, shorebirds, and reptiles and amphibians.

Objective 1: Manage the Missouri River floodplain to enhance riparian forest communities and associated wetland communities.

Strategies:

• Plant on a portion of the existing openland trees such as oaks, hickories, pecans, and walnuts to provide more desirable hard mast regeneration in the developing riparian forest.

• Limit soft mast development using mechanical means, herbicides, and companion cover crops, to promote increased regeneration (both natural and planted) of hard mast communities. (The soft mast species will still be present in the riparian forest due simply to their tenacity on such sites.)

• Use passive wetland management by creating small depressions and plugging small ditches with a dozer in the existing openlands to augment old channels and scour holes that have been altered due to past agricultural activities. Allow wetland communities to develop under natural hydro-regimes. MDC shall obtain approval from AmerenUE prior to the development of a wetlands area.

• Maintain about I 00 acres of openland under the powerlines and in the pipeline easement through a combination of mowing, disking, and cropping for wildlife.

• Restrict cropping activities within l 00 feet of any stream channel or wetland community.

• Control exotic species, such as Johnson grass and autumn olive, with the use of herbicides and mechanical techniques.

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Figure 6 MO River Floodplain Current Covertypes Reform Conservation Area 2 Miles 21

• Develop "stream friendly" creek crossings to facilitate management access.

PUBLIC USE Reform CA has several public use opportunities. All public use must be within the guidelines and restrictions of AmerenUE's security concerns. Additionally, all public use must be consistent with the long-tenn conservation of the Area's multiple natural resources.

Current public use activities include hunting, fishing, nature study, bird watching, frogging, picnicking, and other outdoor activities. Because of the past restrictive regulations, Reform CA has developed a sizable deer herd that attracts many hunters from all around Missouri. Turkey and small game hunting are also popular on the Area.

Fishing in the Area's ponds is a popular activity during the warmer months of the year.

The KATY trail transverses the southern extreme of the Area and provides hiking and biking opportunities to area users (Figure 7). Other recreational opportunities such as gathering wild edibles, informal hiking, and dog-training are also available on the public-use portion of the Area. Camping is not currently allowed on the Area, due to AmerenUE's security concerns.

Finally, issues such as temporary closure due to an increase to "Orange" in the National Security color preparedness spectrum shall continue to be addressed. Currently MDC personnel assist in developing and implementing contingency plans, such as temporarily posting the Area closed and providing increased patrol to assist local law enforcement agencies. Close cooperation between AmerenUE* and MDC will continue in managing the public use on Reform CA.

Objective 1: Manage deer populations to provide quality hunting opportunities and minimize negative impacts to AmerenUE plant operations.

Strategies:

• Continue to use statewide archery methods and seasons as a tool to manage Reform CA's deer population.

• Develop and conduct managed deer hunts with AmerenUE to provide better deer population control and address safety concerns of plant personnel. Options include, but are not limited to, a managed deer hunt that is limited to primitive weapons (no modem firearms or center fire weapons allowed). Said managed deer hunts will be subject to AmerenUE's final approval prior to being implemented by the MDC.

Objective 2: Provide hunting and trapping opportunities for turkey, small game, waterfowl, and furbearers.

Strategies:

• Provide hunting opportunities in accordance with statewide regulations, unless conditions or population levels warrant otherwise.

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Figure 7 Proposed Activities Reform Conservation Are

• Proposed Privy Proposed Lake Trails

~ KATY Trail

'/'\/ Proposed Hiking/Bike Trail C Boundary 0 1 2 Mites

~~~~iliiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil 23

• Provide trapping opportunities, where feasible, to occur on the Area through MDC's Special Use Permit process.

Objective 3: Provide fishing opportunities on Reform CA.

Strategies:

• Utilize area specific fishing regulations.

• Allow frogging activities in area waters, excluding the use of single projectile firearms.

• Investigate the feasibility of developing an additional 70 acre fishing lake (no swimming allowed) on the northern end of the area. If the 70 acre lake is deemed feasible, it should include appropriate controls and restrictions with regard to usage and should include an ADA compliant privy at the parking lot.

Older privies that have been riddled with vandalism problems should be eliminated.

Objective 4: Promote additional non-consumptive area uses and information exchange.

Strategies:

• After gammg approval from AmerenUE, investigate the feasibility for a Hiking/Biking Trail that makes use of the abandoned rail bed. Tie in to the Katy Trail shall be pursued with an interpretative sign to be placed at the trail head (Figure 7).

• Encourage other recreational opportunities such as gathering wild edibles, infonnal hiking, and dog-training.

• Investigate the feasibility of providing a designated camping area in the southern portion of Reform CA, near the KA TY trail.

• Investigate event to host adjacent landowners for information exchange Objective 5: Continue cooperation with AmerenUE in Area security and appearance concerns.

Strategies:

• Continue posting protocol and increased patrols in temporary closure of area.

• Explore possibility of locating a local group to adopt the area for litter removal, or gain subjects sentenced to community service for such activity.

• Review parking lot maintenance schedule to ensure proper image is pot1rayed.

• Maintain roadsides with mowing (as needed depending on weather conditions) by MDC or Tenants.

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REVIEW FREQUENCY This Plan will be reviewed by the MDC and AmerenUE on an annual basis with any revisions incorporated. A new Area Plan shall be developed by the MDC every ten (10) years to coincide with the companion Area Lease for as long as the Lease remains in effect."

PLAN OF WORK On or before March 1 of each year, meet with AmerenUE personal to discuss the proposed plan of work for the Reform Area. At this meeting both parties can communicate concerns and address opportunities for the site that will be built into current and future plan's of work.

CLOSING AmerenUE understands the core mission of MDC is to promote the development of public recreation sites and develop wildlife habit at Reform. MDC understands the concerns expressed by AmerenUE in 2006 regarding the need to maintain overall property value, monitor the existing farm tenants and to maximize the site as a conservation area. Cooperatively, both of these goals can be accomplished improving the site for all how use and own the property.

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Appendix A

- - - --- - ---- - - ~ - ------ ~ .----- ---- --- -- -- - -

Natural Community Acres 2003 Cover Current Conditions Desired Future Conditions Land types Types(%)

1 Upland Prairie 2433 40%Crop A mixture non-native grassland, cropland and old fields, and native A mixture non-native grassland, cropland and old fields, and 24%Pasture warm season grass plantings. native warm season grass and forb plantings. Grazing and fire 18% Grassland is used to manage these communities. Scattered woody 11% Restricted vegetation will also occur.

2 We! Prairie-Savanna 554 28%Crop Mainly cropland, pasture and grassland; scattered patches of dense Cropland, pasture and grassland; some scattered patches of Complex 26% Pasture timber with a variety of invasive woody species and remnant savanna comprised largely of ash, hickory, and oak. Wet, seep 18% Grassland savanna trees. Occasional wet, seep areas. areas are protected from over-disturbance.

18%Forest 3 Mixed Oak Woodland 2257 60%Forest Mainly forested with some clearing for pasture and grassland. Open canopied woodlands with herbaceous ground flora.

17% Grassland Several forested cover types, from post oak-black oak, through Overstory comprised primarily of oak and hickories. Sparse 10%Pasture mixed oak to white oak dominated. Dense canopy, frequent maple or understory with little hornbeam and maple.

5%Cropland hornbeam understory, poor oak regeneration and low ground flora 4% Savanna cover and diversity.

4 Limestone Glade- 275 98% Forest Mostly densely overgrown with red cedar; remnant glade flora and Open sites with few scattered cedar and diverse herbaceous

~ Woodland Complex 5 White Oak Forest 899 90% Forest scattered woodland trees*. good restoration potential.

Mainly mature second growth forest, often with sugar maple or srround flora. Scattered chinauanin oaks also.

Mainly mature second growth forest, with little sugar maple and 3% Grassland hornbeam understory and low oak regeneration. hornbeam understory. A range of age classes from young (0-5 3%Pasture vears) to mature (100-140 vears). Good oak ~~:eneration.

6 Mixed Hardwood 211 86% Forest Mainly mature second growth forest with a mix of desirable tree Mainly mature second growth forest with a mix of desirable tree Forest 9% Grassland species. species.

2%Foodolot '*

7 Riverfront Forest 60 50% Forest Mainly long, linear stream corridors with appropriate tree species. Mainly long, linear stream corridors with appropriate tree 43% Grassland Substantial areas on larger floodplains are cleared. soecies.

8 Missouri River 288 8%Crop Main]y abandoned cropland and pasture with narrow, linear bands of Some openland (mostly grassland and oldfield) with narrow, Floodplain 42% Grassland timber. linear bands of timber.

50% Forest 9 Ponds and Lakes 39 7 ponds greater than an acre, 4 with managed fisheries; numerous 7 ponds greater than an acre, 4 with managed fisheries; small ponds scattered throughout numerous small ponds scattered throughout. One large 70 acre

., public use lake.

10 Mines and Quarries 6 One small area northwest of the reactor was strip-mined years ago. One small area northwest of the reactor was strip-mined years ago.

Figure A1 Ecological Land Types Reform Conservation Area Prairie Wet Prairie/Savanna Savanna Woodland/Glade Woodland Forest

-Water D Boundary s

27 0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 Miles

Figure A2 2003 Covertypes Reform Conservation Area Restricted Crop Border Crop Strip Cropfield Food Plot Grassland 1 2 Miles Savanna Woodland/Glade Woodland Forest Water D Boundary s

28

Figure A3 Management Compartments Reform Conservation Area s

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Appendix B MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC USE OF LANDS THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ___day of _ _ _ _ _ _, 2008, by and between UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a AmerenUE, hereinafter referred to as the OWNER, and THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, hereinafter referred to as the COMMISSION.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the OWNER is now presently owner of some 7,200 acres of land lying in Callaway County, Missouri, and known as the AmerenUE Callaway Plant and more particularly set out in a map, herein attached and marked Appendix A, and WHEREAS, OWNER is desirous that the COMMISSION continue to manage a part of the said tract as shown In Appendix A (approximately 6,300 acres) to promote and improve natural resources and that these resources be available for limited use by the public for outdoor recreation in accordance with the provisions set out in this agreement and appendices thereto, and WHEREAS, OWNER is desirous that the COMMISSION manage that part of tract designated as "Forest Management Restricted/Leased for Public Use" as shown in Appendix A for limited public use only, without COMMISSION investment of time or money for improvement of the forest resource, which if forest resource improvement is performed will be at the sole discretion and expense of the OWNER, and WHEREAS, OWNER is desirous that the public use a part of its tract in accordance with the provisions of this agreement and according to the rules and regulations promulgated by the COMMISSION, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained to be observed and performed by the OWNER and the COMMISSION, the OWNER does lease, demise, and let the property described for the purpose of managing the savanna, glade, woodland, 30

agricultural, fish, and wildlife resources of the described property and managing said property including forest land for use by the public, said areas to be specifically described and set out in Appendix A and additional appendices as they become necessary and proper, all of said appendices to be attached and made a part hereof as fully set out herein.

Be it therefore mutually agreed that:

(1) TERM: This agreement shall last for a term of eight (8) years, unless sooner terminated as set out below, and shall be congruent with the "REFORM CONSERVATION AREA PLAN" outlined herein (Appendix B) ending on December 31, 2016. This agreement may be renewed in writing as many additional times as both parties desire.

(2) TERMINATION: This agreement may be terminated by either party by serving upon the other party a written notice of such elect~on to terminate, giving a full 12 months notice in advance, provided however, in the event State or Federal agencies having jurisdiction in the matter of sites for generation of power impose regulations on the OWNER regarding such sites and the activities thereof which conflict with the intents and purposes of this plan of land management or with the public uses contemplated by this agreement excluding other contracts in effect, OWNER shall have the right to terminate the agreement upon 30 days written notice of such election to terminate and, in such event, shall make an equitable adjustment of costs to the COMMISSION for activities under the area plan (Appendix B) to the date of termination.

(3) ASSIGNMENT: This agreement may not be assigned by either party without the consent of the other party.

(4) DESIGNATION OF AREA: This area will be known as the "Reform Conservation Area" and will be designated as such by appropriate signs erected by the COMMISSION .

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(5) MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA: The COMMISSION will carry out a plan of management on all lands as specified within the attached Appendices. Lands colored red and pink on Appendix A are reserved by the OWNER for reasons of security, environmental monitoring, or lease to other parties. The COMMISSION will manage natural resources but restrict public use on lands identified by green hatching and labeled "Public Use Restricted/Leased for Management*

in Appendix A. The COMMISSION may allow public use on all other lands identified on Appendix A. Lands designated in blue and labeled "Forest Management Restricted/Leased for Public Use" on Appendix A will not be subject to commercial timber management by the COMMISSION, but will be managed for public use consistent with other areas open for public use as described on Appendix B. Lands may be added to or withdrawn from any of these restrictions by the OWNER upon written notice by Owner to Commission. Management will be carried out in accordance with the "REFORM CONSERVATION AREA PLAN," Appendix B. Appendix Cis a brief list of intended uses and activities to be allowed under this lease. Each activity planned for public use shall be approved in writing by OWNER prior to implementation to assure the personal safety of the public and members of the plant staff and to ensure development or activities comply with OWNER'S U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission License conditions.

All questions that arise with an adjacent landowner concerning the boundary of the lands will be referred to the OWNER for resolution.

Management practice and public uses conducted by the COMMISSION on the land will adhere to the COMMISSION Mission Statement as follows: "To protect and manage the fish. forest and wildlife resources of the state: to serve the public and facilitate their participation in resource management activities: and to provide opportunity for all citizens to use. enjoy and learn about fish.

forest and wildlife resources." As per OWNER preference, the COMMISSION will not be responsible for commercial timber resource management through this lease. Expenditures by the COMMISSION for resource management and/or public use management will be made consistent with the COMMISSION'S Mission Statement. If land improvements are desired by the OWNER and are not consistent with the COMMISSION'S mission, OWNER will be responsible for said improvements. Decisions regarding land management activities and consistency with the 32

COMMISSION'S mission will be made by the Area Manager. Any and all "Carbon Credits" that may be generated by the management activities on Reform Conservation Area will become the property of the OWNER.

(6) COST OF MANAGEMENT: The COMMISSION will provide all materials, equipment, and labor needed to carry out the management and will submit to the OWNER a statement of accomplishments and a summary of costs during the year within sixty (60) days following the end of the COMMISSION'S fiscal year (June 30). OWNER shall have the right to review the management cost records upon receipt of said statement for reasonableness and relationship to the types of management programs to which the costs apply. All income from crops and pasture will be collected and retained by the COMMISSION . All commercial forest management will be conducted by the OWNER. At the end of each fiscal year (July 1 -June 30), the COMMISSION will provide the OWNER an itemized accounting of monies received and this amount shall constitute OWNER'S total expense and obligation to the COMMISSION for the management program. Any capital improvements such as new levees, construction of Jakes, construction of a picnic area, etc., which may be requested by OWNER shall be reviewed and if determined the work is to be performed by the COMMISSION, an estimate of costs will be furnished to OWNER for approval. Upon approval the Commission will conduct all work and seek reimbursement. The COMMISSION will not include a surcharge for administrative overhead in their claim for reimbursement.

(7) PUBLIC USE: OWNER agrees that all use by the public of the "Reform Conservation Area* will be subject to the rules and regulations pertaining thereto as established by the COMMISSION, except that camping, activities which generate products for human consumption, and use of modern center fire firearms will not be permitted, and the OWNER reserves the right to remove any person from the lands who the OWNER believes to be interfering with the OWNER'S operations on the area or, in OWNER'S sole discretion, does not use said premises In a manner or for the purposes contemplated herein. OWNER specifically reserves the right to cause the property to be evacuated, should it in its sole judgment deem such action to be required. The OWNER will provide enforcement or enforcement assistance where necessary to maintain the integrity of the plant facilities, construction area and equipment, enviro.nmental monitoring plots, and cultural or 33

archaeological resource sites. The use of firearms contemplated in the wildlife management program and in public uses of the area shall be strictly controlled by the COMMISSION throughout the area and consistent with the OWNER'S intent.

(8) ACCESS: The OWNER agrees to allow the COMMISSION, its agents and employees, full access to the property, save those secured areas identified in Appendix A, for the purposes of carrying out this agreement.

The COMMISSION agrees that it will not adversely impact the archaeological sites identified in Appendix A through any of its management activities.

(9) LIABILITY AND INSURANCE: COMMISSION agrees to hold OWNER safe from all liability arising from any use or activity on those areas under the control of the COMMISSION, its agents or employees - all to the fullest extent allowable under the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri. However, the COMMISSION will assume no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any cause of action which may arise as the proximate result of the contents, operation, or nature of the nuclear power plant and facilities located on the area, or the proximate effects of said nuclear power plant on the public using the area.

Under the provisions and limitations of the Constitution of Missouri, the COMMISSION cannot assume the debts and liabilities of another entity, but self-insures for events in which it participates to the statutory limits of liability as declared in Section 537.600 et seq., RSMo. 2000, for negligent acts or omissions enumerated in those sections and for which the COMMISSION itself may be held responsible. Nothing in this provision should be construed as a waiver of any governmental immunities the COMMISSION may enjoy under federal or state law.

COMMISSION shall require that its contractors acquire and maintain liability coverage in an amount not less than One Million Dollars ($1 ,000,000.00) per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage which shall name OWNER, its affiliates, directors and employees as additional insured on a primary and non contributory basis. COMMISSION'S contractors shall furnish OWNER with a certificate of insurance as evidence that the required coverages are in force, and that the insurance carrier will not cancel or change any such policy except after thirty (30) days written notice to OWNER.

34

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties set their hands and seals to this agreement upon the date stated above.

OWNER:

UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a AmerenUE ATTEST: By:--------------

Dennis W. Weisenborn Vice President Assistant Secretary Date:--------------

COMMISSION:

THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE ATTEST: STATE OF MISSOURI By: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Title:

Date:

STATE OF MISSOURI

} ss CITY OF ST. LOUIS On this day of , 2008, before .me appeared Dennis W. Weisenborn to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did attest to being a Vice President of UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY d/b/a AMERENUE, a corporation of the State of Missouri, and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and sealed on behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors and said Vice President acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal in said City and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.

My Commission e x p i r e s - - - - - - - - - - - -

Notary Public 35

STATE OF MISSOURI COUNTY OF COLE On this day of , 2008, before me appeared

---

,.,~-----.,--.,....---,-------- to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did attest to being the of THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI and that this instrument was signed on behalf of THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI by authority of said Commission and that he acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said Commission.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal in said City and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.

My Commission e x p i r e s - - - - - - - - - - - -

• Notary Public JIUpr g:\redocs\lease\jil-lease

• mdc {final).doc 10/08/2008 36

APPENDIXC Types of Use and Activities Contemplated For Development and Management of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Forest Resources for Public Use fu~ the Period ofThis Agreement

l. Erect and maintain boundary and infurmation signs as appropriate.

2. Maintain dispersed parking lots as needed.

3. Manage fish populations in existing ponds.

4. Administer sharecropping agreements to enhance wildlife habitat and soil conservation and produce income.

S. Administer grazing agreements and enha,nce both pastures and wildlife habitat qualin' by fertilization, reseeding, and fence relocation.

6. Construct and seed waterways for soil conservation.

7. Plant wildlife food plots where needed.

8. Control burn and/or disc fields to improve wildlife habitat.

9. Construct and maintain wildlife water holes as needed.

10. Establish cover strips for soil conservation and wildlife habitat II. Develop with owner a public relations and infurmation program about the public usc and other owner and Department of Conservation activities at the site.

12. Manage Hiking Trail, including entty and exit. parking and landscaping maintenance, signs, information boards and trail markings.

13. Missouri Department ofCoDSerVation and AmerenUE will worlc together to determine feasibility of constructing small wetlands.

14. Missouri Department of Conservation will investigate the possibility of building a large fishing lake that will be managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

15. Missouri Department of Conservation will develop and administer, in cooperation with AmcrenUE, a managed deer hunt to reduce deer herd problems.

16. Missouri Department of Conservation and AmcrenUE will work together to develop and implement security action and contingency plans.