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Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:

Visit and learn about the new Big Muddy Refuge Headquarters!

Illustrated river waves in white
Presented by Tim Haller

You are welcome to bring snacks and soft drinks to share! (No alcoholic beverages please)

There's been a lot going on at the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, including the completion of the new Refuge Headquarters on a bluff overlooking the Overton Bottoms! So we decided to move this month's talk to the new digs.

Refuge Ranger Tim Haller will show us around the beautiful new building and fill us in on some of the new projects happening on the refuge statewide. From new property acquisitions to habitat projects and invasive species removal, there's a lot going on.

The Refuge currently manages 15 separate units.  Twelve of these units are located along the final 367 miles of the Missouri River and fall under the Comprehensive Conservation Plan objectives.  Three additional units away from the river are long-time US Fish and Wildlife Service owned lands that the Refuge recently took under management to allow them to be open for public use (hunting, fishing, etc..)  With the new additions this year the Refuge is approaching 19,000 acres under management.
Earlier this year the Refuge moved into its new headquarters building.   The building was constructed by Fish and Wildlife Service employees through the "Maintenance Action Team".  Over 70 maintenance personnel from across the nation joined the team to build the building.  Working in two-week shifts, depending upon the tasks, different sized crews worked 12 hour days to complete the work.   The team saved an estimated 1 million dollars versus the cost of contracting the building's construction.
Big Muddy Office

The new headquarters for the Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge Headquarters was completed in 2017.

Many challenges lie ahead for the Refuge. Exhibits for the lobby are currently under contract and expected to be complete within a year.  Improvements to the access road and a turn lane on highway 98 currently planned.   An overlook and nature trail near the headquarters also in the works.  All this while gaining ground and having some staff vacancies creates challenges indeed.

Meet Your Presenter

Big Muddy Speaker Series

Tim Haller

, Ranger

Related Presentations

Resources & Links

The Big Muddy Speaker Series in Rocheport

is hosted by these wonderful partners.

Click here for a list of upcoming presentations»

Special thanks to Les Bourgeois Vineyards for giving us the opportunity to use their beautiful space overlooking the Missouri River. All speakers are presenting for free! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us!

The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Kansas City and St. Charles.

The Big Muddy Speaker Series is partially funded by the Mo. Dept. of Conservation.

Upcoming Presentations

Leave No Trace Training on the Barge

October 14, 2026
St. Louis, MO

Join us for a special Big Muddy Speaker Series on the Living Lands & Waters Barge where Perry Whitaker will lead us in a Leave No Trace Training.

See Event

Missouri River Relief: 25 Years on the Big Muddy

November 10, 2026
Columbia, MO

Join us for a journey through time celebrating 25 years of Missouri River Relief's work on the Big Muddy.

See Event

Plastic Pollution, Gulf Hypoxia, and Water Quality

November 11, 2026
St Charles, MO

Jennifer Wendt from MidAmerica Clean Future guides us through understanding regional water quality challenges.

See Event

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by our presenters do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of Missouri River Relief, the Big Muddy Speaker Series or any of the partners that support this public forum. The Big Muddy Speaker Series believes that hearing diverse perspectives is a crucial building block for an informed public.
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