What Does This Impact?

We can still protect the only true wilderness remaining in this park, and prevent its future mismanagement.

Protecting the wild character of lands adjoining a proposed Ozark Rivers National Monument was emphasized by the National Park Service in 1961. Three such areas were identified by conservationists as outstanding wildlands: Upper Jacks Fork, Cardareva, and Big Spring. Mismanagement in the form of roads, development, and motorized intrusions have now ruled out all but the Big Spring area. Here the natural rugged hills and hollows have been undisturbed since at least 1924 when it was purchased for the state park. This remote tract of 3536 acres lies adjacent to a tract of US Forest Service land (4512 acres) that is also wild and primitive in character. There are no serious competing demands on this public wild land. Together these two federally-owned properties comprise a nationally important opportunity to protect a remnant of the primitive Current River Hills.

Based on 2005 figures from the US Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, the combined acreage for Big Spring Wilderness at 8048 acres could be expected to generate more than $300,000 each year, in recreation related economic activity. This particular wilderness would be expected to bring more visitors than most such areas in Missouri when we consider the attraction of nearby Big Spring, the national park, the facilities available at the town of Van Buren, and that it can be readily enjoyed both on foot or horse, as well as visually by car from the adjacent “Sky-line Drive.”