Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Encyclopedia
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is a national park
in the Ozarks
of southern Missouri
in the U.S..
The park was created by an Act of Congress
in 1964 to protect the Current
and Jacks Fork rivers, and it was formally dedicated in 1971. The park's 80000 acres (324 km²) are used for many forms of recreation and are home to abundant animal and plant species. Canoeing is the most popular activity, with some 1.3 million visitors coming to the area each year. Other activities include horseback riding, hunting, hiking, fishing, camping and sightseeing.
The park service touts the Current River as one of the midwest
's best float streams, in part due to the contributions of some of the nation's largest springs. The headwaters of the Current River begin at the confluence of Pigeon Creek and Montauk Springs in Montauk State Park
. Other notable springs along its course include Welch Spring, Cave Spring, Pulltite Spring, Round Spring, Fire Hydrant Spring, Ebb and Flow Spring, Blue Spring, Big Spring, and Gravel Spring. The park contains the United States' largest concentration of first magnitude springs, (which are defined as having average flow of more than 100 ft³/s (3 m³/s)) in dolomite rock. The only comparable spring collections are the limestone springs of North Florida near Gainesville and the igneous-based springs of Idaho's Snake River^.
The park includes many cave
s, including Round Spring Caverns, which offers ranger-led tours in the summer. Other notable caves include the Devils Well sink and Jam-Up Cave.
Historic sites include Alley Spring and Alley Mill, Welch Hospital and many CCC
structures at Big Spring.
Facilities include campgrounds along the two rivers at Alley Spring, Round Spring, Pulltite and Big Spring. There are also a number of less developed primitive campsites, and there are group sites at Akers
and Pulltite. Park rangers present campfire programs and nature hikes at the bigger campgrounds during the summer. There are also traditional craft demonstrations and free bluegrass concerts.
The park is located mostly in Shannon County
with parts extending into Carter
, Dent
, and Texas
counties. Communities surrounding the Ozark National Scenic Riverways include Eminence
, Licking
, Salem
, Van Buren
, Ellington
, Bunker
, and Mountain View, Missouri
. Administrative offices are located in Van Buren.
(NPS) and the Forest Service
. Local residents opposed NPS plans that included eminent domain acquisition of private property. Both agencies presented rival bills in Congress, and in 1964 the NPS plan was selected by Congress. In the long run the NPS has successfully accommodated and supervised OSNR recreation for two million visitors a year. By contrast, the Forest Service's nearby recreational activities have handled no more than 16,000 visitors yearly.
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the Ozarks
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
of southern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the U.S..
The park was created by an Act of Congress
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
in 1964 to protect the Current
Current River (Missouri)
The Current River forms in the southeastern portion of the Ozarks of Missouri and becomes a 7th order stream as it flows southeasterly out of the Ozarks into northeastern Arkansas where it becomes a tributary of the Black River, which is a tributary of the White River, a tributary of the...
and Jacks Fork rivers, and it was formally dedicated in 1971. The park's 80000 acres (324 km²) are used for many forms of recreation and are home to abundant animal and plant species. Canoeing is the most popular activity, with some 1.3 million visitors coming to the area each year. Other activities include horseback riding, hunting, hiking, fishing, camping and sightseeing.
The park service touts the Current River as one of the midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
's best float streams, in part due to the contributions of some of the nation's largest springs. The headwaters of the Current River begin at the confluence of Pigeon Creek and Montauk Springs in Montauk State Park
Montauk State Park (Missouri)
Montauk State Park is a Missouri State Park at the headwaters of the Current River near Salem, Missouri that is famous for its rainbow trout and brown trout angling.It has and was acquired in 1926...
. Other notable springs along its course include Welch Spring, Cave Spring, Pulltite Spring, Round Spring, Fire Hydrant Spring, Ebb and Flow Spring, Blue Spring, Big Spring, and Gravel Spring. The park contains the United States' largest concentration of first magnitude springs, (which are defined as having average flow of more than 100 ft³/s (3 m³/s)) in dolomite rock. The only comparable spring collections are the limestone springs of North Florida near Gainesville and the igneous-based springs of Idaho's Snake River^.
The park includes many cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s, including Round Spring Caverns, which offers ranger-led tours in the summer. Other notable caves include the Devils Well sink and Jam-Up Cave.
Historic sites include Alley Spring and Alley Mill, Welch Hospital and many CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
structures at Big Spring.
Facilities include campgrounds along the two rivers at Alley Spring, Round Spring, Pulltite and Big Spring. There are also a number of less developed primitive campsites, and there are group sites at Akers
Akers, Missouri
Akers is an unincorporated community in northwestern Shannon County, Missouri, United States. It is located about eighteen miles northwest of Eminence in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Akers houses a campground, general store, and access to the Current River, a popular canoeing location...
and Pulltite. Park rangers present campfire programs and nature hikes at the bigger campgrounds during the summer. There are also traditional craft demonstrations and free bluegrass concerts.
The park is located mostly in Shannon County
Shannon County, Missouri
Shannon County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States, and the second-largest by area in Missouri. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 8,324. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 8,423. Its county seat is Eminence. The county was...
with parts extending into Carter
Carter County, Missouri
Carter County is a county located in the central western portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. The county was officially organized on March 10, 1859, and is named after Zimri A. Carter, a pioneer settler who came to Missouri from South Carolina in 1812. ...
, Dent
Dent County, Missouri
Dent County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 14,927. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 15,119. The largest city and county seat is Salem...
, and Texas
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
counties. Communities surrounding the Ozark National Scenic Riverways include Eminence
Eminence, Missouri
Eminence is a city in Shannon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 600 at the time of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shannon County.-Geography:...
, Licking
Licking, Missouri
Licking is a city located in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Licking is located at...
, Salem
Salem, Missouri
-External links:* * Historic maps of Salem in the at the University of Missouri...
, Van Buren
Van Buren, Missouri
Van Buren is a city in Carter County, Missouri, United States. The population was 845 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. It is the county seat of Carter County. The city was organized in 1830 and was named for United States Secretary of State Martin Van Buren.-Geography:Van Buren is...
, Ellington
Ellington, Missouri
Ellington is a city in Reynolds County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,045 at the 2000 census. In 1925, the infamous Tri-State Tornado began just northwest of Ellington.-Geography:Ellington is located at ....
, Bunker
Bunker, Missouri
Bunker is a city in Dent and Reynolds Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 427 at the 2000 census.-Community:Bunker is a logging and lead mine community, founded by Sylvanus J. Bunker in 1907. There are a number of local sawmills still operating...
, and Mountain View, Missouri
Mountain View, Missouri
Mountain View is a city in Howell County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,430 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mountain View is located at ....
. Administrative offices are located in Van Buren.
History
Sarvis (2002, 2000) traces the controversy over the creation of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) in southeastern Missouri. Boasting clear rivers and spectacular landscape, the area saw a political contest for control of river recreational development between two federal agencies, the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS) and the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
. Local residents opposed NPS plans that included eminent domain acquisition of private property. Both agencies presented rival bills in Congress, and in 1964 the NPS plan was selected by Congress. In the long run the NPS has successfully accommodated and supervised OSNR recreation for two million visitors a year. By contrast, the Forest Service's nearby recreational activities have handled no more than 16,000 visitors yearly.
America the Beautiful Coin Series
In 2017, the park will be featured in the U.S. Mint series, the America the Beautiful Quarters.External links
- Official National Park Service homepage for Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- For more history of the area Ozark History & Culture page.
Further reading
& O.E. Meinzer. "The Large Springs of the United States" (USGS, 1927).- “Old Eminent Domain and New Scenic Easements: Land Acquisition for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways,” Western Legal History 13:1 (Winter / Spring 2000): 1-37.