Jefferson County residents can get a look at the newest expansion of one of its most interesting outdoors attractions Nov. 7. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour at the LaBarque Creek Conservation Area near Eureka is scheduled at 3 p.m.
The 15-acre addition represents just more than 1 percent of the overall park property and includes about a half mile of the property’s namesake LaBarque Creek. The land purchase was approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its April meeting and the property closing was in September.
According to a press release from the Department of Conservation, the purchase was made by Open Space STL through donations from the Mysun Charitable Foundation and the Robert Trulaske Jr. Family Foundation.
Protection of the LaBarque Creek watershed is considered a priority in the St. Louis region because of the pristine nature of the area and the diversity of species that call the stream home. A little more than 10 miles long, the tributary of the Meramec River is completely in Jefferson County.
In addition to the 1,285 acres of watershed in the expanded LaBarque Creek Conservation Area, public property protects land and water that begins at the stream’s headwaters in the adjacent Don Robinson State Park (800 acres). Two other conservation areas near the creek’s confluence with the Meramec River cover almost 2,000 acres: Hilda J. Young (1,300 acres) and Myron and Sonya Glasberg Family (634 acres).
At least 54 species of fish live in the creek, and the biodiversity of other aquatic life is almost three times greater than any of the 15 other Meramec River tributaries below LaBarque, according to the Department of Conservation.
“Thanks to its incredible ecological diversity and the pristine habitat it provides, LaBarque Creek is a true aquatic gem in our region,” said Gary Calvert, St. Louis Regional Administrator, Missouri Department of Conservation.
Founded as the Open Space Council in 1965, the independent agency works collaboratively with other organizations and government entities to conserve and sustain natural resources. Open Space STL will be represented at the ribbon cutting by its executive director, Bonnie Harper.
“This LaBarque Creek Conservation Area expansion builds on Open Space STL and MDC’s shared efforts to protect the LaBarque Creek watershed. We’ve previously partnered to expand nearby Young Conservation Area in 2021,” Harper said in a press release.
The 15-acre tract was sold by Jenna Walls, who is also scheduled to speak at the ribbon cutting and tour.
“Our family always felt we were so very lucky to be the stewards of a part of this magical valley and I personally feel that sharing that magic with others is this land’s greatest purpose,” Walls said. “After watching the MDC for 20 years on LaBarque Conservation Area, I came to understand their care and dedication to preserving natural lands for our beautiful state. They should be the next stewards of this precious area so many can experience its power in perpetuity.”
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area has a three-mile hiking trail that follows the creek for a short distance, then climbs the hills with a 300-foot elevation change. The natural surface trail includes several ups and downs before returning to the trailhead at the area parking lot on Valley Drive off Doc Sargent Road about seven miles southwest of Eureka.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.