Missouri's Conservation Department is lowering the water in two wetlands in the western part of the state to help plan for repairs.
The department says it's conducting aerial topographic surveys on the Upper Osage River flood plain, including wetlands on the Four Rivers and Schell Osage conservation areas south of Kansas City. The department says the surveys will help plan for upcoming wetlands renovations, which will include improvements to levees and other water-control structures.
The department says the drawdowns will be staged so there will still be some wetland habitat through the rest of goose hunting season, which ends Jan. 31. But there will be a reduction in hunting opportunities in some areas.
The permanent lakes at both Four Rivers and Schell Osage conservation areas won't be affected.
