City of Ste. Genevieve
STE. GENEVIEVE – We’re proud to announce the official opening of the Mid Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge!
Pictured are Vern Bauman, Chairman of Ste. Genevieve Joint Levee District, Bob Mueller, local historian and task force member, John Karel, chair of the task force, Mary Elise Okenfuss, task force member, Sandra Cabot, task force member, and Mayor Brian Keim.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday to celebrate this exciting new public space, which will offer opportunities for conservation, recreation, education, and community connection along the Mississippi River.
This achievement would not have been possible without the support of countless citizens and organizations who contributed their time and effort. A special thanks goes to the Ste. Genevieve Joint Levee District, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the dedicated members of the local task force whose leadership and commitment helped bring this vision to life.
Bob Mueller provided this photo additional information on the refuge project:
“The concept of establishing a wildlife refuge along the Mississippi River in the area adjacent to the Ste. Genevieve Urban Design Levee originally began in 2014. Representatives from the city, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, both Ste. Genevieve Levee Districts and the Missouri Department of Conservation began meeting periodically to discuss a vision, goals, and implementation options for a refuge. In June 2016, the City Board of Aldermen approved a conceptual plan developed in collaboration with these agencies, as well as the Corps of Engineers. As an early project resulting from that plan, the City applied for and received a grant from the Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative to begin improving wildlife habitat by planting trees appropriate for the Mississippi River bottom ecosystems in our region inside the levee.
“Another refuge goal was accomplished in 2021 in a cooperative effort between the city and the Fish and Wildlife Service to build an information kiosk and a gravel parking lot to accommodate better pedestrian and bicycle access to the area beyond the levee and the levee road.
“Currently, there are primitive hiking paths leading to the river across a field and through a wooded area adjacent to the river. The public is welcome to fish along the river within the refuge; however, no motorized traffic is allowed either on the levee or within the refuge.
“Due to the shutdown of federal agencies currently in effect, no partnering agencies were able to attend the ribbon cutting; however, John Karel, chairman of the Ste. Genevieve Levee Wildlife Refuge task force stated that they will be invited to be recognized at a future date: “There are plans in the works to get together again at a future date so that our partners in Fish and Wildlife, the Corps of Engineers, and additional legislators can visit and be recognized for their support.”
As part of the ceremony, Mayor Keim read a proclamation that he had issued regarding the refuge project. He then cut a ribbon to mark the official opening of the refuge.”