The Big Springs RC&D area consists of five southeast Missouri counties (Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne). It contains 3,429 square miles, or 2,194,503 acres. Principal towns include Poplar Bluff, Piedmont, Doniphan, Ellington, Lesterville, Ellsinore and Van Buren.
The area's resources are vast and varied from food and fiber production, forestry, minerals, fisheries, recreation, wildlife and its people. The mix of resources adds to the complexity of the overall environment.
The land use pattern of this area is affects by its Mississippi River alluvial area, forests, hilly terrain and the rivers and streams which bound and traverse the area. Rough, rocky, wooded hills and narrow valleys are characteristic of the five counties except for fertile delta farmland in the southeast part of Butler and Ripley counties.
Major crops produced in the southeast include corn, wheat, soybeans, rice and a limited amount of specialty crops. There is sufficient groundwater available, and the topography is suitable for irrigation.
The majority of the area is made up of the Ozark Foothills, long noted for their raw wilderness character and outstanding scenic resources. Numerous lakes, impressive timber stands, spectacular rushing streams, rugged topography, pure bubbling springs, and abundant fish and game make the area highly appealing to its residents, and contribute to its growing attraction for tourists, outdoorsmen and vacationers.
The major rivers that run through the area are the Black, the Current and the St. Francis. These three rivers and two reservoirs, Lake Wappapello and Clearwater Lake, are the basis of many recreation areas that are scattered throughout the area.
Several federal and state government agencies own and manage lands within the RC&D area including the US Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Together these lands make up approximately 632,673 acres or about 29 percent of the area.
Total population of the area is about 80,265 people according to the 2000 Census. Approximately 50 percent of those are in Butler County.
Latest Revision: Friday June 06, 2008 09:05:18 AM