Ozark National Scenic Riverways, established by Congress in 1964, is Missouri’s largest national park and America’s first national river. There are 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers in the park within Carter, Dent, Shannon, and Texas counties. The Riverways includes lands that were originally state parks (Alley Spring, Big Spring, and Round Spring); other lands were added after the park was established, and today its size and the quality of its resources are truly national in scope. Our review is focused on the long-term stewardship of the stunning beauty of the Riverways, its outstanding springs and caves, its diverse and widely recognized wildlife, its important cultural resources and landscapes, and the river-based recreational experiences provided by its free-flowing and high-quality rivers. Many of these resources are globally significant and irreplaceable. As a unit of the National Park System, the purpose for management of Ozark National Scenic Riverways is to protect these resources in an unimpaired condition for public recreation, education, and scientific value.
Planning, Environment, & Public Comment
The National Park Service keeps a list of all of Ozark National Scenic Riverways’s current plans and projects. There are currently no projects with open public comment periods. However, you can still continue to learn more information regarding current and past initiatives that NPS is undertaking at Ozark National Scenic Riverways here.
Comment Anytime
While there are no current active public comment periods for major projects, you can always provide Ozark National Scenic Riverways and NPS with feedback and comments. These may be sent through this link or mailed to the following address:
Superintendent
Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P.O. Box 490
Van Buren, MO 63965
Please note that full content of your comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. You may learn more about this process on the National Park Service’s website.
New Superintendent
On June 10, 2020, Jason Lott was announced as the new permanent Superintendent for Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Prior to this role, Lott served as Superintendent for Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, and has worked with the National Park Service since 2002. Learn more about Jason Lott in this News Release from NPS.
Learn more about Ozark National Scenic Riverways at the following links:
