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Benedictine Bottoms

Image capture of Benedictine Bottoms

General

Size (acres):  2111.22

River Mile:  424.0 to almost 428.3

Bank:  Right descending bank

County:  Atchison

State:  Kansas

Ownership, Management and Access

Ownership:  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Acquisition Status:  Acquired from willing sellers in 1993 and 1994, under Water Resources Development Act 1986 authorization.

On-Site Management:  Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) administers and/or performs operation and maintenance activities on behalf of the Corps according to the terms of various agreements.

Site Access:  Motor vehicles are restricted to established roadways and parking areas. A levee system is present on the site and is not an established roadway for public access to the site.

  • Do not block farm roads, drive on levee slopes or along or across the levee crown. 
  • Do not illegally trespass on adjacent private lands to access the site.

Description, Use and Regulations

Description:  The Benedictine Bottoms, located along the Missouri River, contains a variety of features such as maturing riparian forests, native grasslands, emergent wetlands, food plots and scour holes.

  • Of historic note, it is the first Missouri River Recovery Program Site purchased by the Corps. The area was primarily in agricultural row-crop production at the time of purchase.
  • Completed environmental restoration activities include extensive native tree and grassland plantings and restoration of 450 acres of wetlands using low-level berms, water control structures, a pump, and water distribution system. In 2004 and 2005, the Corps modified river dike structures along the banks to increase habitat diversity and shallow water habitat. The Corps is currently constructing two side-channel chutes to create additional shallow water habitat at the site.

Status:  Open to the public. Site/habitat is in operations and maintenance status.

Site Use:  The area provides a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting and fishing.

Site-use Regulations:  
  • People visiting these areas must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including hunting, fishing, etc.  In general Title 36 Part 327 of the Code of Federal Regulations governs the use of Corps property.  Other regulations may apply to properties owned by other federal agencies.
  • Special regulations and restrictions may be posted on site.

Special-use Regulations:  See KDWPT website for information.

For More Information

Contact Information: 

Story Maps Link:  http://rsgisias.crrel.usace.army.mil/story_maps/nwo/mrrp/index.html#

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