Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Encyclopedia
The Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is a 4256 acres (17.2 km²) conservation area
located on the south side of the Missouri River
at its confluence with the Mississippi River
. The conservation area, which is located in eastern St. Louis County, Missouri
, north of the city of St. Louis
, is operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
. One key asset is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) of river frontage for boating
, fishing
, and birdwatching
.
character of the site made it sub-optimal for development. At a later point the site was re-platted as St. Vrain, Missouri, but both developments were fated to become ghost town
s by 1870, and it is not known how many inhabitants either community had.
Following the failure of the ghost towns, the Columbia Bottom reverted to being wet-footed but fertile farmland. The current conservation area was formed in 1997 as a result of the land condemnations that followed the Great Flood of 1993
. Patches of the area continued to be managed by the private sector as agricultural land as of 2011.
The nearest limited access highway exit is Exit 34 on Interstate 270
, at the northern tip of the city of St. Louis. From this exit it is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) north on Columbia Bottom Road to the entrance to the conservation area.
Admission to the conservation area was free as of 2011. A parking lot and graveled overlook, completed in 2002, provided access to the river confluence, and a visitor center, completed in 2004, stood close to the entrance.
The conservation area is located across the Missouri River from the Jones-Confluence Point State Park
.
, the area has proved to be a popular place for wetland birdwatching. For example, the Audubon Society of Missouri operates field trips to the area, with special attention to significant populations of the snowy egret
.
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
located on the south side of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
at its confluence with the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The conservation area, which is located in eastern St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
, north of the city of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, is operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Commission were created by Article IV Sections 40-42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state in 1936 as Amendment 4 to the constitution...
. One key asset is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) of river frontage for boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
.
History and description
The mouth of the Missouri River was at first thought to be a good site for commercial development, and the would-be town of Columbia, Missouri was platted on the south bank of the confluence. However, the wetlandWetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
character of the site made it sub-optimal for development. At a later point the site was re-platted as St. Vrain, Missouri, but both developments were fated to become ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
s by 1870, and it is not known how many inhabitants either community had.
Following the failure of the ghost towns, the Columbia Bottom reverted to being wet-footed but fertile farmland. The current conservation area was formed in 1997 as a result of the land condemnations that followed the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
. Patches of the area continued to be managed by the private sector as agricultural land as of 2011.
The nearest limited access highway exit is Exit 34 on Interstate 270
Interstate 270 (Illinois-Missouri)
Interstate 270 makes up a large portion of the outer belt freeway in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area. The counterclockwise terminus of I-270 is at the junction with Interstate 55 in Mehlville, Missouri; the clockwise terminus of the freeway is at the junction with I-55 and I-70 north of...
, at the northern tip of the city of St. Louis. From this exit it is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) north on Columbia Bottom Road to the entrance to the conservation area.
Admission to the conservation area was free as of 2011. A parking lot and graveled overlook, completed in 2002, provided access to the river confluence, and a visitor center, completed in 2004, stood close to the entrance.
The conservation area is located across the Missouri River from the Jones-Confluence Point State Park
Jones-Confluence Point State Park
Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park is a Missouri state park located on the north side of the Missouri River at its confluence with the Mississippi River, approximately 8 miles north of the St. Louis Arch. The park was opened May 9, 2004, and includes 1,118 acres of shoreline...
.
Wildlife
While the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area was originally planned as a place for sportspeople to carry out the taking of game animals such as the whitetail deer and Canada gooseCanada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, the area has proved to be a popular place for wetland birdwatching. For example, the Audubon Society of Missouri operates field trips to the area, with special attention to significant populations of the snowy egret
Snowy Egret
The Snowy Egret is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World Little Egret, which has established a foothold in the Bahamas....
.