MDC, Ozark Land Trust secure 80 acres to protect endangered grotto sculpin habitat

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

PERRYVILLE, Mo., (KBSI) — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and Ozark Land Trust (OLT) have acquired an 80-acre property on the edge of Perryville that conservationists say is critical to the survival of the federally endangered grotto sculpin.

The tract contains eight sinkholes and a key entrance to the biologically rich Moore Cave system. MDC officials said the land will be restored to natural habitat to protect the cave’s water quality and the species that depend on it.

The grotto sculpin occurs only in Perry County and requires clean, undisturbed cave and karst environments. The newly protected parcel lies within the recharge zone that feeds the Moore Cave system, making it an important addition to long-term conservation efforts.

“This acquisition will enable the restoration of 80 acres of habitat of great benefit to the grotto sculpin, help protect the Moore Cave system and the diverse wildlife it supports, and provide valuable opportunities to connect people to nature,” MDC Fisheries Biologist Levi Frazier said. “We are thankful for OLT’s willingness to take on ownership and stewardship of this important property.”

OLT will oversee restoration of the former farmland to support both surface and underground species.

The purchase was made possible through a coalition of conservation partners. MDC secured a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition Grant covering up to 73% of the cost and contributed a $200,000 Land Conservation Partnership Grant for the required match. The Conservation Fund negotiated with the landowner and facilitated the sale, while USFWS provided most of the project funding.

“This project stands as a model of collaborative conservation success, protecting rare species and vital natural resources for future generations,” Frazier said.

The Moore Cave system will continue to be managed for education and research in cooperation with the Missouri Cave and Karst Conservancy and the Cave Research Foundation.

More information about the Moore Cave system, including trip permits, is available at www.mocavesandkarst.org. Details about Ozark Land Trust can be found at Missouri & Arkansas Land Trust | Ozark Land Trust, and MDC conservation programs at Missouri Department of Conservation.