Mile 62.0 - Miles 62-57: RBD Windy Bar Conservation Area

62 - 57 RBD Windy Bar Conservation Area

Windy Bar Island is a five mile long island completely protected by a Missouri Conservation Area by the same name with approximately 705 acres of riverfront forest and sand bar habitat. Schenimann Chute, a river side-channel, is located on the western side of the island and the main channel of the Mississippi the east side. Windy Bar Island Conservation Area is extensively forested with approximately 90 percent of the island chain composed of riverfront forest or wet-mesic bottomland forest natural communities. Cottonwood and willow are the dominant tree species on the island. Forested ephemeral wetlands, sandbar, and streambank/riverbank communities compose the remaining cover types that can be encountered on Windy Bar. The Island is important for federally endangered pallid sturgeon, interior least terns, and many Mississippi River fishes that are declining. Campers are limited to 14 consecutive days in a 30 day period. Groups of 10 or more campers need a special-use permit.