The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes you to Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake. Many recreational opportunities await you on this 55,000-acre land and water project spanning the Salt River Valley in Northeast Missouri. Rich in history and home to Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) there are many local attractions to choose from. The lake is located in Ralls and Monroe Counties, 28 miles southwest of Hannibal, MO and 120 miles northwest of St. Louis.

Corps of Engineers "Jobs in Natural Resources" Video Released

Click Here to View Video

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Mark Twain Lake 2009 Food Plot Maps Available

Click Here for Food Plot Map Descriptions.

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Mark Twain Lake Rising

October 30, 2009 – The Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake project employees are monitoring rising lake levels due to recent large amounts of precipitation in the watershed. Major boat launch facilities and campgrounds are open although some smaller access areas are now closed. These include the Joanna and Lick Creek Trails and Hunter-Fisherman Access # 11 (Rt N), 20 (Hwy FF), 30 (Rt U) and the Duane Wheelan Access. The Joanna Trail and the Lick Creek Trail are also closed. You may find floating and submerged debris on the lake as the water rises so please be cautious, drive slow and wear a life jacket.
To check daily lake levels go to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, River & Reservoir Daily Report on the web at http://mvs-wc.mvs.usace.army.mil/dresriv.html . To inquire about conditions at your favorite lake location or other facilities contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at (573) 735-4097, email MarkTwainInfo@.usace.army.mil or stop at the office located north of Cannon Dam Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

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Corps of Engineers Waives Day-Use Fees at Recreation Areas on Veterans Day

October 28, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today announced it will waive day-use fees for veterans, active and reserve component service members and their families at the more than 2,400 Corps-operated recreation areas nationwide on Veterans Day, November 11.

"We began this initiative in 2006 to support and honor the men and women who have served the nation and the armed forces,” said Steve Stockton, director of Civil Works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "We encourage our veterans, active and reserve component personnel and their families to visit one of our many recreation areas and enjoy their favorite outdoor activities.”

The day-use fee waiver requires only verbal confirmation of service. This waiver covers boat launch ramp and swim beach fees. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services or fees for specialized facilities, such as picnic shelters. Other agencies that manage recreation areas on Corps lands are encouraged, but not required to offer the Veterans Day waiver of fees in the areas that they manage.

The Corps is the largest federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation in the nation and hosts more than 350 million visits each year at its lakes, beaches and other areas. Corps lands and waters provide approximately 4,500 miles of trails, 3,400 boat launch ramps and 33 percent of all U.S. freshwater fishing. To discover the Corps recreation area near you, please visit: http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/visitors.cfm

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Mark Twain Lake's Refuge

Oct. 26, 2009– Mark Twain Lake's 3,000 acre waterfowl is closed to boating and/or waterfowl hunting during duck season, October 31 to December 29, 2009. This resting area allows the migrants to feed and rest before continuing their journey to wintering grounds.

Mark Twain Lake’s waterfowl refuge, located on portions of the Middle Fork and Elk Fork Area, provides a stopover for migrants. The refuge is made up of various habitats, appealing to various migrating birds. Deep pools of water are feeding grounds for the diving birds and a safe resting area for other birds. Shallow water flood plains become feeding areas for dabbler's (mallards) and long-legged shore birds. The exposed mud flats hold many insects and invertebrates for the short-legged shorebirds. Flooded dead snag trees become roost and viewing towers for the double-crested cormorants and bald eagles.

When people think of a refuge; they envision thousands of geese and ducks taking to wing from a large body of water. A refuge is a place that provides shelter for resting and protection from danger. National Refuges started in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt. The first refuge was setup to protect the brown pelican population. Refuges establish suitable habitat for nesting purpose, as wintering grounds, or as a stopover for migrants.

Waterfowl can be seen and heard in the spring and fall moving in large flocks to nesting and wintering area. After traveling thousands of miles, the migrants need to stopover to feed and rest. Though our refuge holds waterfowl, usually species such as the double-crested cormorants, bald eagle, and white pelicans can be found there. For more information about our refuge contact Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 20642 Highway J, Monroe City, MO 63456 or phone (314)735-4097.

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FIREWOOD CUTTING AT MARK TWAIN LAKE

October 19, 2009 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced that firewood cutting for personal use will be allowed by permit on designated areas of Mark Twain Lake. The cutting period will begin on October 23, 2009, and continue through February 28, 2010. A fee for a firewood permit is $10.00. Firewood cutting for commercial use or resale is prohibited. Permits must be obtained in person between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Mark Twain Lake Project Office. Payment may be made by personal check, money order, credit card, or cash. For further information, contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office, 20642 Highway J, Monroe City, Missouri 63456, or telephone (573) 735-4097.

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Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer

October 10, 2009 - Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that recently
brought a tragic end to the lives of boaters on the Mississippi River and at Lake Shelbyville in
Illinois. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encourages boaters to be aware of this silent and invisible
killer on the water. The following safety information describes where carbon monoxide
poisoning can accumulate onboard a vessel, how to spot the symptoms of poisoning, and the
steps you can take to prevent carbon monoxide buildup while boating.

Why is Carbon Monoxide so dangerous?
Carbon Monoxide can accumulate anywhere in or around a boat regardless of what type of boat you have. It can also remain in or around a boat at dangerous levels even if the engine is no longer running. The colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas enters a victim’s bloodstream through the lungs, blocking oxygen and preventing the body from properly functioning. Prolonged exposure to small concentrations or sudden exposures to high concentrations are equally lethal. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include eye irritation, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. These symptoms are often confused with seasickness or intoxication so those affected may not receive needed medical attention before it becomes fatal.
Common Carbon Monoxide sources onboard vessels include:
- Engines
- Gas Generators
- Cooking Ranges
- Space & water heaters
- MORE -
CARBON/2-2-2

Protecting Yourself & Others
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends that boaters take the following steps to protect themselves and others from the dangers of carbon monoxide:
- Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors on and inside the boat. Do not ignore the alarms and replace as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Maintain a fresh circulation of air through and around the boat at all times.
- Treat symptoms of seasickness as possible carbon monoxide poisoning and quickly get the victim to a well ventilated area.
- Avoid any area of the boat where exhaust fumes may be present. If exhaust fumes are detected on the vessel take immediate action to ventilate the affected area.

More information concerning carbon monoxide poisoning can be found by visiting the U.S.
Coast Guard website at http://www.uscgboating.org

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Great Pumpkin Halloween Walk Mark Twain Lake

October 2, 2009— A creepy cast of characters will invade the Indian Creek Campground on October 16 and 17 for the Annual Halloween Walk; beginning at the magic hour of 6 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. To get into practice before Halloween night children and parents are invited to come to the event in full Halloween costume. Don’t forget your flashlight!

Indian Creek Campground is located off State Road HH, off Highway 24. For the safety of campers, workers and visitors no vehicles will be allowed to drive though the decorated loops during the hours of the event. All reserved sites are full but the first-come-first-serve sites are available.

For more information, phone the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097.

Visit our new Mark Twain Lake Partnership Page

Click here for more information.

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Construction at Hunter Fisherman Lot No. 11

September 25, 2009 - Construction activities beginning September 28, 2009 at Hunter Fisherman Lot No. 11 (Route N) will require the closure of a portion of the parking lot to vehicular traffic. The boat ramp and a small parking area will remain open for recreational use during the duration of the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encourages caution as visitors enter and leave the area. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For more information please contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097.

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Hunter Education Class To Be Offered

September 24, 2009 - The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers will sponsor a Hunter Education Course on October 9, 2009 (5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) and October 10, 2009 (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) at the Mark Twain Lake Project Office, 14 miles south of Monroe City, MO. Class registration begins on September 30, 2009. Included in the training will be gun safety, firearm and ammunition information, the role of the hunter, wildlife management, ethics, and hunter preparedness. Those successfully completing the course will receive a Missouri Conservation Heritage Card from the Missouri Department of Conservation. This certification is mandatory for anyone born on or after January 1, 1967 wishing to hunt turkey or deer and anyone participating in special hunts on Corps of Engineer project lands. The class is offered to anyone eleven years or older. Participants should bring to class on Friday their social security number, hunting/fishing license, and/or heritage card, and on Saturday bring their lunch. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children during the registration process that occurs on October 9 to insure the registration forms are completed accurately. Class size will be restricted to 30 students. On Saturday, October 10, the hunter education class will end at approximately 3:00 pm. A voluntary shooting exercise will be conducted at the shooting range for participants of the Hunter Education class at approximately 3:00 pm. Students wanting to participate with the shooting exercise must successfully complete the class, and arrange for their own transportation from the Mark Twain Lake Project Office to the Shooting Range. No transportation will be provided. Missouri Department of Conservation will provide firearms and ammunition.
Hunter education training is a form of life insurance. This type of training decreases the chance of being injured in a hunting-related accident as it serves to educate those who will take to the woods. In fact, seldom is anyone injured who has participated in such a course.
If you have questions, or wish to register, please contact the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 20642 Highway J, Monroe City, Missouri 63456, or by telephone at (573) 735­4097.

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Mark Twain Lake Celebrates a "Two-For"

September 20, 2009 - Mark Twain Lake celebrated twice Saturday, September 12.  The lake is getting a new visitor center and celebrated 25 years of service to the region and the nation.

First in late morning more than 125 people from across the region and as far away as Maryland gathered to mark a new beginning for the multi-purpose lake project by breaking ground for the new M. W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center.  The center, illustrated by large architect’s drawings will go up on the site of a previous facility, the shell of which was undergoing demolition in the background.  The original visitor center, by the same name, had to be closed in 2004 when structural deterioration was assessed, making it unsafe for visitors.

[ Full Story]

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Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake 25th Anniversary Ceremony and Visitor Center Groundbreaking

September 1, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mark Twain Lake Chamber of Commerce are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake. The event will be held on September 12, 2009 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Warren G. South Spillway.  Come and listen to music by Regûlarri, look at exhibits, visit the Clarence Cannon Dam power plant visitor area or attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new M.W. Boudreaux Visitor Center. The groundbreaking ceremony for the visitor center is at 11 a.m. at the Boudreaux Visitor Center site. The 25th Anniversary ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Warren G. South Spillway.  The food vendor for the event is the Monroe City VFW. 

The 25th Anniversary event is reminiscent of the annual get-togethers hosted by the Mark Twain Lake Association during the construction years, to observe and discuss the work accomplished on the construction of the dam and lake. The event will be a time to meet friends, share “stories” and see old photographs, memorabilia and exhibits on display by the Ralls and Monroe County Historical Societies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Please share these important events with the community. Come to the reunion and see your old friends. For more information, please phone the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097 or email  Clara.M.Queen@usace.army.mil.

Click Here for Flier PDF Download

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M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center Recreation Area Closed

August 20, 2009 - The M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center Recreation Area is closed until further notice. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the area to maintain visitor and work force safety as work begins to remove and replace the visitor center. No vehicle or foot traffic will be allowed in the area. Construction on the new center will follow the demolition of the old building.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009, as part of Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. The new facility will be complete and open to the public in late May, 2010.

Funding for this work has been secured under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stimulate economic and employment activity. The contractor for the project, John J. Kirlin Special Projects, LLC of Rockville, MD has received a notice to proceed with the construction.

Updates on the building’s construction will be available on this Mark Twain Lake webpage. Questions or comments may be addressed by contacting the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097 or emailing marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil.

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Mark Twain Lake gets new Visitor Center as a result of
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding

August 5, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Mark Twain Lake announces that a $4.482M contract has been awarded to John J. Kirlin Special Projects, LLC of Rockville, Md., for the design and construction of the new M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center. The new facility will be replacing the old one, which after being opened for 20 years was permanently closed in November 2004 due to accelerated structural deterioration.

Funding for the work has been secured under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stimulate economic and employment activity. The contractor will be utilizing local resources in the project’s design and construction.

Construction plans include the removal of the old building, which sits on one of the most scenic overlooks at Mark Twain Lake. The new visitor center will be built at the same location, which is also the site of the Northeast Missouri Vietnam Memorial.

[ Full Story ]

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat Inspections at Mark Twain Lake

May 25, 2009 - Memorial Weekend at Mark Twain Lake brought successful USCG (United States Coast Guard) Auxiliary vessel inspections on Saturday. Seth Wilson, Park Ranger for the USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers), hosted the four USCG vessel examiners from USCG Auxiliary Division 3 District 8. The USCG was stationed at John F. Spalding and the Ray Behrens Boat Ramps; they completed 30 courtesy vessel inspections with a combined 24 hours of volunteer service.
The USCG Auxiliary like the Corps of Engineers has a fundamental belief that the key to having an enjoyable boating experience is to place a priority on safety. Through vessel inspections, the USCG Auxiliary attempted to increase the knowledge level of the boating public with a promotion of a vital water safety message in conjunction with the USACE. Also, the Missouri State Water Patrol provided "Handbook of Missouri Boating Laws" to pass out to all boaters who had their boats inspected. The mission of the Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety program is to minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and negative environmental impact associated with the use of recreational boats through preventative means. Future inspections will be held at the lake with dates and times to be announced with the possibility of a special patrol event including one if their 28 ft. patrol boats.

Visitor Center Funding Approved for Mark Twain Lake

April 29, 2009 - The United States Army Corps of Engineers released a listing of Civil Works projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake Project is the recipient of funding for the replacement of the M.W. Boudreaux Memorial Visitor Center, a small watercraft barrier upstream of the dam and recreation area road repairs. 

We would like to acknowledge the continued support from partners, such as the Mark Twain Lake Visitor and Educational Resource Center Committee, who have worked for years to get the Visitor Center reopened. We can’t forget the many neighbors, teachers, community members, visitors and friends who wrote letters and emails and signed petitions of support.  Also, thank you to the media for keeping the story alive in the interest of the regional economic, cultural and educational benefits the project provides.

Corps Rolls Out Plan for Stewardship Area at Whitetails Banquet

March 24, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rolled out a historic environmental stewardship program at the annual Whitetails Unlimited banquet held Saturday night. An estimated 400 people attended the event held at the Knights of Columbus Hall and had an opportunity to learn about the project at a booth manned by Corps ranger Shelley Howald and Katelyn Young, student coordinator.

The local Whitetails Unlimited Chapter has pledged $1,500 toward the project in its fi rst year to develop two five-acre food plot demonstration parcels. The Northeast Missouri Environmental
Stewardship Demonstration Area will be a regional cooperative project at the Frank Russell Recreation area on Route J. The Frank Russell campground is the closest campground to the dam and has 65 campsites with electrical hookup. It is adjacent to the Joanna Trail and has a shaded horse corral, ampitheater and large pond.

The corps is farming partnerships with local chapters of Whitetails Unlimited, Wild Turkey Federation, Quails Unlimited , NARFE, FFA, and the National Resources Conservation Service, in addition to Hannibal Vo-Tech School and Forrest Keeling Nursery. Its location in the Frank Russell area will give tourists multiple opportunities to learn about Mark Twain Lake through dam tours, and the Visitor Center if it reopens. The already popular recreation area will provide wildlife enthusiasts and campers another reason to extend their stay at Mark Twain Lake. The project will give local residents and visitors to the lake area an educational opportunity to learn about land stewardship.

The program will allow numerous local wildlife groups to have hands-on volunteer opportunities in habitat design, vegetative composition, wildlife management, soil conservation and sustainable forest management.Included in this project are upland bird management units, food resource demonstration units, stewardship technology demonstration units, warm season grass establishment units, plant demonstration area, and proposed shelterhouse, nature/education center, proposed fi tness/interpretive trail and bicycle trail.  

Click here to download Stewardship Area Brochure

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Partnering With Mark Twain Lake

Click on above pictures for enlargements.

Questions or Comments? Please contact us.

E-mail: marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil

Phone: (573) 735-4097

Address:
Mark Twain Lake Project Office
20642 Highway J
Monroe City, MO 63456