| LaBarque Creek Conservation Area | |
| Iucn Category: | IV |
| Map: | Missouri |
| Coordinates: | 38.4166°N -90.7064°W |
| Location: | Jefferson County, Missouri, United States |
| Nearest City: | Pacific, MO |
| Area: | 1274acres |
| Established: | 2005 |
| Governing Body: | Missouri Department of Conservation |
| Url: | Official website |
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area (LCCA) consists of 1274acres in northwestern Jefferson County, Missouri. It is south of Pacific and southwest of Eureka. The LCCA is part of the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.[1] The Young Conservation Area is about 2miles to the east, Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area is 1.2miles to the northeast, Pacific Palisades Conservation Area is 3.3miles to the north, Catawissa Conservation Area is 3.5miles northwest, and Robertsville State Park is 4.7miles west.
In 2005 the Missouri Department of Conservation purchased from The Nature Conservancy and a private landowner.[2] Other acquisitions brought the total acreage to 639acres, and it opened to public use on November 15, 2007. In December 2010, these 639acres became a part of the Missouri Natural Areas System as LaBarque Creek Natural Area.[3] Three adjacent parcels of land totaling a combined 635acres were added to LCCA, bringing its total area to 1274acres and connected it to land that will become Don Robinson State Park to the south, forming a 2117acres block of public protected land. None of the more recently acquired land is part of the designated natural area.[4] [5]
The LCCA has a 3miles loop trail on its eastern side open to hiking only. The LCCA is open to archery deer hunting only.[6]
The LaBarque watershed has a great variety of terrestrial natural communities, including small sandstone glades, forested fens and many kinds of woodland. There are at least 42 fish species in LaBarque Creek.[6]