MDC, East Prairie partner to manage K.S. Simpkins Park pond

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation has entered a Community Assistance Program agreement with the city of East Prairie to stock and manage the pond at K.S. Simpkins Park.

Mike Reed, MDC fisheries management biologist, said MDC will conduct fish and habitat management at the pond, which will include fish stocking and placing brush piles for fish habitat. Conservation agents will also enforce Wildlife Code of Missouri regulations at the pond.

"We're very pleased to see local families have a place to fish with help from the Conservation Department," said Gary Davis, president of the East Prairie Park Board.

Reed said MDC conducted a preliminary fisheries summary of the pond in 2016 to assess stocking needs.

"We found a healthy fish population consisting of largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie," Reed said. "We'll stock channel catfish and possibly red ear sunfish later this year."

CAP was initiated in 1980 to provide close-to-home fishing opportunities in communities throughout the state. Through this program, MDC enters into agreements with cities, counties, state and federal agencies, businesses, foundations, schools and colleges to provide fisheries management at existing lakes and ponds, and to cooperatively develop and maintain facilities for anglers and boaters at lake and stream areas.

Through these cooperative agreements, MDC provides fisheries management, including appropriate stocking, habitat improvement, and special regulations, on lakes and ponds and provides enforcement of wildlife and area use regulations. The partners, in return, assist with facilities development, allow free public use of the area under agreement for fishing, boating or other related recreational activities, and provide routine maintenance and law enforcement. The cooperative agreements are tailored to meet the specific needs and circumstances associated with the available sites and individual partners.

"These programs benefit local communities by providing cost-effective ways of providing citizens with improved fishing opportunities," Reed said.

The Department currently has cooperative agreements with 120 partners for the cooperative management of 171 public lakes (9,558 acres of water), 42 stream access areas, four lake access areas and 10 aquatic resource education ponds.

K.S. Simpkins Park is located at 510 W. Virginia Street in East Prairie. More information about fishing opportunities in Missouri can be found at mdc.mo.gov/fishing. For more information about CAP agreements, contact MDC's Southeast Regional Office at (573)290-5730.